Jennifer Moss

As a young girl, Lupe Ramos-Montigny traveled from Texas to Michigan to help her family harvest cherries in Old Mission Peninsula.  Her love for the state brought her back to Michigan to earn numerous degrees, have a 36-year career in education, along with a stellar political career.  She also chaired a committee to honor Cesar Chavez and continues to push that cause today.  Today’s Powerful Woman is Lupe Ramos-Montigny.

Powerful Women: Let’s Talk is created by WGVU NPR and made possible by WGVU NPR sustaining monthly donors. Become a sustaining monthly donor now at wgvu.org/donate to support WGVU NPR’s local programs, including Powerful Women: Let’s Talk.

Earlier today, Mel Trotter Ministries announced the Immeasurably More campaign, a $14.9 million fundraising campaign to fund the construction of a renovated Men’s shelter among other improvements.  It has been 54 years since any kind of significant renovation has occurred. 

National Salvation Army Week is officially here and runs through Sunday. This week is set aside to remind the country of the comprehensive nature of the services The Salvation Army provides to every United States zip code. And here in Kent County, they’re asking for your help for those teetering on what they’re calling, “pandemic poverty”.

“A number of families have been faced with job and income loss as a result of the pandemic, so they are finding themselves unable to pay bills and keep food on the table.”

AAA expects a significant rebound in the number of Americans planning to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend. And that includes those in Michigan. 

More than 37 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more between May 27 and May 31. That’s a 60% increase from last year, when only 23 million traveled, the lowest on record since AAA began recording in 2000.

May is stroke awareness month.  And it may have taken on new meaning since the onset of COVID.

It appears that when COVID-19 kept families apart, it meant fewer opportunities for loved ones to notice the signs of stroke. And so more people fell victim.  This month shines the light on the importance of recognizing the signs of stroke.

Angela Nelson is the Vice President of Multicultural Business Development at Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR), a Destination Marketing Organization.  Angela leads the organization's multicultural initiatives related to community relations, diversity and inclusion and workforce development.  Angela says her passion is the West Michigan community.  She's been honored as one of West Michigan's 50 Most Influential Women for her leadership role and she serves on numerous boards and committees.  Angela Nelson is this week's Powerful Woman.

The Gerber Foundation has awarded Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital a $350,000 grant to study rare diseases in undiagnosed neonatal patients.

The 350-thousand-dollar grant will allow researchers at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to study the use of two genetic tools, rapid whole genome sequencing and RNA-sequencing.

Here’s Dr. Caleb Bupp, Genetic Physican and Division Chief for Medical, Genetics and Genomics at Spectrum and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.  He says the grant is exciting.

Spectrum Health Butterworth, Blodgett and Zeeland Community Hospitals have been named to the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list.

The hospitals were named among the top performing hospitals in the Major Teaching and Small Community Peer Groups.

This is the eighth time that Spectrum Health Butterworth and Blodgett Hospitals have been recognized with this honor since 2010.

“Incredibly proud, honored and just so grateful for our teams that make this happen.”      

“Drug Take Back Day” is tomorrow.  It encourages communities to dispose of unwanted, unused and expired prescription medications.  Spectrum Health is offering drop off-sites with oversight by the Grand Rapids Police Department. It’s part of the 20th annual event sponsored by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)

“You can take off the labels, we don’t what they are, who they’re from. It’s anonymous and free.”

It’s National Volunteer Week and Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice are celebrating their dedicated volunteers.  Those volunteers deliver much needed care to people during what is arguably the toughest time of their lives.

WGVU talks with one local volunteer who seeks to comfort those in need.

“What hospice means to me is having the ability to impact somebody’s journey at the end of their life.  It’s wonderful to be able to help, not only the patient, but to support their families as they go through a very tough part of the life cycle.”

With more than 25 years of experience, Krista Flynn is the Regional President of TCF’s West Region, a position she has held since joining its predecessor, Chemical Bank, in July 2018.  TCF happens to be the largest financial institution headquartered in Michigan. Krista will soon become the West Michigan regional president of Huntington Bank, once the merger goes into effect on June first.

Krista is also very involved in West Michigan, sitting on numerous boards.  One of her passions is helping others succeed.  She especially likes to give back to the next generation.  Krista also loves a particular quote from Madeleine Albright-listen to find out what it is!  Krista Flynn is today’s guest on Powerful Women: Let’s Talk!

Powerful Women: Let’s Talk is created by WGVU NPR and made possible by WGVU NPR sustaining monthly donors. Become a sustaining monthly donor now at wgvu.org/donate to support WGVU NPR’s local programs, including Powerful Women: Let’s Talk.

A new scam may be brewing in West Michigan.  This one involving Monkeys and birds of all things.

The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan is warning consumers about a website that claims to have monkeys and birds for sale.  Here’s Communications Manager, Troy Baker.

“These exotic pets are they type that a lot of people would like to buy.  The problem is the more you look at it, the more red flags there are.”

This week the Grand Rapids City Commission approved a contract with the Grand Rapids Pride Center.  The contract is for an in-person training program for sworn members of the Grand Rapids Police and Fire Departments.  The goal is to build awareness of inclusive public safety practices.

“The city is hoping to expand the capacity and build awareness of inclusive public safety practices and recognize the affirm and show mutual respect for the 2-SLGBTQIA+ community.”

Coronavirus dealt a heavy blow to small businesses in the U.S., as countless businesses were forced by state governments to shut their doors for months on end or have heavy capacity restrictions. Though states are gradually reopening- numerous businesses shut down permanently.  But personal finance website, WalletHub reports some businesses have been more resilient than others and that includes some in Michigan. 

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, is inviting the community to take part in a two-day, community-wide park clean-up initiative. 

The event is called “It’s My Park Days” and has more than 30 projects available throughout the city on April 16 and 17th.  This is just a few days prior to Earth Day 2021.