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WMCAT launching Community Catalyst program

WMCAT's Adult Career Training program provides access to economic security.
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The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology reminds us that in recent years the city has received national attention as one of the best places to live, while also receiving attention as one of the worst places for African Americans on the economic spectrum. WMCAT seeks to bridge the inequities gap.

The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology is launching its Community Catalyst program. Each selected catalyst will be aligned with a community partner confronting a specific challenge and resolving it through an equity design process. It begins by interviewing those most affected.

“They’re going to define what roadblocks people are coming across and they’re going to actually prototype. So, they’re going to come up with some experimental solutions that that organization, that community partner, might be able utilize to make their work more equitable and they’re going to be able to pitch those to that community partner which is really exciting.”

Brandy Arnold is with WMCAT’s Public Agency. She describes the equity-centered design curriculum fosters leadership and collaboration along with system awareness and applying what’s learned in real-time.

“And so, we get to take them through that whole process where they really get to dig in and engage. And really get to learn about systems about our community and certain challenges they may be facing and then how to apply this innovative framework to sort of mitigate those inequities.”

Applications are being received now at publicagency.org through September 7th. The Community Catalyst program begins October 8th.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.