Downtown Neighbor Network

Community Garden Interest Meeting
2023-11-15 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Detroit) | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join us to learn more about the new community garden coming to Downtown Grand Rapids spring 2024! We want to gauge interest, gather ideas and feedback, and connect with those interested in being part of this new garden. A lot of decisions still need to be made and we want to hear from you to ensure we are building the ideal garden for the Downtown community.

Safety Subcommittee Meeting
2023-01-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Meeting dates for the DNN Safety Subcommittee meeting.
All interested neighbors are welcome to attend!
Friday, January 20, 11 AM
Friday, February 17, 11 AM
Friday, March 17, 11 AM
Friday, April 21, 11 AM
Friday, May 19, 11 AM
Friday, June 16, 11 AM
Friday, July 21, 11 AM
Friday, August 18, 11 AM
Friday, September 15, 11 AM
Friday, October 20, 11 AM
Friday, November 17, 11 AM
Friday, December 22, 11 AM*
*may be rescheduled.

DNN Jam Sesh
2023-11-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Zabhaz, 222 Division Ave. S., Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
Join your neighbors to jam!
Finding a place to be musical in a dense living area can be a challenge. Not anymore! We are welcoming neighbors with an instrument to play to jam together in the spirit of community. Don’t play an instrument, but want to join? Please bring a dish to pass to share with neighbors.
Please let us know what instrument or dish you plan to bring by signing up here.

Events Subcommittee Meeting
2023-01-16 14:30 - 15:30 | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Meeting dates for the DNN Events Subcommittee meeting.
All interested neighbors are welcome to attend!
Monday, January 16, 2:30 PM*
Monday, February 20, 2:30 PM
Monday, March 20, 2:30 PM
Monday, April 17, 2:30 PM
Monday, May 15, 2:30 PM
Monday, June 19, 2:30 PM
Monday, July 17, 2:30 PM
Monday, August 21, 2:30 PM*
Monday, September 18, 2:30 PM
Monday, October 16, 2:30 PM
Monday, November 20, 2:30 PM
Monday, December 18, 2:30 PM
*may be rescheduled.

Community Garden Planning Meeting
2023-12-06 17:30 - 18:30 | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join us for the second Downtown Community Garden planning meeting. This meeting, we will be discussing how best we can govern the garden.
Wednesday, December 6th @ 5:30 PM
DGRI Offices – 29 Pearl St NW Suite 1

DNN Advisory Board Meeting
2023-12-07 11:30 - 13:00 | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
All neighbors are welcome to join the DNN Advisory Board meetings.
Location: DGRI Offices, 29 Pearl St. NW.
Time: 11:30 AM – 1 PM.

Safety Subcommittee Meeting
2023-12-12 16:30 - 17:30 | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Meeting dates for the DNN Safety Subcommittee meeting.
December 12 at 4:30 PM.
DGRI Offices.

Communication Subcommittee Meeting
2023-01-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., 29 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Meeting dates for the DNN Communication Subcommittee meeting.
All interested neighbors are welcome to attend!
Thursday, January 12, 12 PM
Thursday, February 9, 12 PM
Thursday, March 9, 12 PM
Thursday, April 13, 12 PM
Thursday, May 11, 12 PM
Thursday, June 8, 12 PM
Thursday, July 13, 12 PM
Thursday, August 10, 12 PM
Thursday, September 14, 12 PM
Thursday, October 12, 12 PM
Thursday, November 9, 12 PM
Thursday, December 14, 12 PM

Mobility
2024-01-08 17:00 - 18:00
Join your neighbors to discuss and create mobility solutions in and around Downtown. This meeting is open to all Downtown neighbors, and folks who want more mobility options in our Downtown.
Every second Monday of the month at 5 PM at DGRI’s office (29 Pearl St. NW).
Neighbors want to focus on policy initiatives that can positively impact the lives of neighbors.
Some ideas: implement No Right Turn on Red, add more time for pedestrian crossings, create incentives to clean up construction signage and snow to unblock sidewalks and bike lanes, create predictable experiences for accessibility needs.
Meeting dates:

January 8
February 12
March 11
April 8
May 13
June 10
July 8
August 12
September 9
October 14
November 11
December 9

Storytelling, Welcoming, Gateways
2024-01-09 16:30 - 17:30
Join your neighbors to develop the story, branding, and events that make the neighborhood unique.
Every second Tuesday of the month at 4:30 PM at DGRI’s office (29 Pearl St. NW).
We’re focusing on telling the stories that make Downtown inviting, accessible, and a great place to be. We’re also excited to dive into real conversations about tough topics that neighbors care about.
Some ideas: on-street interviews, training a story corps of neighbors, sharing the Downtown experience on social media and radio, engaging other neighborhoods to make Downtown the “living room” in the “house” of Grand Rapids.
Meeting dates:

January 9 — ONLINE: Click here to join the meeting

February 13
March 12
April 9
May 14
June 11
July 9
August 13
September 10
October 15
November 12
December 10

Outreach
2024-01-11 10:00 - 11:00
Join your neighbors to get the word out! The outreach committee focuses on communicating about events, learning opportunities, and pertinent information that Downtown neighbors need to know.
Every second Thursday of the month at 10 AM at DGRI’s office (29 Pearl St. NW).
We’re focusing on connecting more neighbors to the information they need to know to build relationships in the neighborhood.
Some ideas: developing a Building Champion program to tap into each of the 86 residential buildings in our Downtown, creating a New Neighbor guide for Downtown living, and continuing to build out the Downtown Neighbor Perks program.
Meeting dates:

January 11
February 8
March 14
April 11
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
September 12
October 10
November 14
December 12

Division/Fulton Construction Preparation Meeting (City of GR)
2024-01-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Join the City’s informational presentation about the street reconstruction work expected at Division Ave. N and Fulton St. E. Neighbors are encouraged to attend!
To attend the virtual meeting, you must preregister here.
Project information is shared on the City website here.

Downtown Community Garden
2024-01-31 18:00 - 19:00
Pre-Season Education Opportunities: The DNN is partnering with Jade Rabbit to offer educational opportunities for neighbors to create the Downtown Community Garden!
Every last Wednesday of the month at 6 PM at DGRI’s office (29 Pearl St. NW).
The DNN is partnering with Jade Rabbit to prepare educational material, videos, and culturally relevant, multi-generational education opportunities. All ages are invited to join us!

January 31: Ancestral Food Heritage
February 28: Community Gardens + Your Food System
March 27: Planning Your Garden for Abundance
April 24: Planting Seeds + Seed Swap

More details will be announced for the growing season, starting in May 2024!

Mobility
2024-02-12 17:00 - 18:00
Join your neighbors to discuss and create mobility solutions in and around Downtown. This meeting is open to all Downtown neighbors, and folks who want more mobility options in our Downtown.
Tonight’s meeting (2/12/24) will be held virutally. Please join the meeting here at 5 PM:
Join the meeting
Neighbors want to focus on policy initiatives that can positively impact the lives of neighbors.
Some ideas: implement No Right Turn on Red, add more time for pedestrian crossings, create incentives to clean up construction signage and snow to unblock sidewalks and bike lanes, create predictable experiences for accessibility needs.
Meeting dates:

January 8
February 12 – virtual meeting
March 11
April 8
May 13
June 10
July 8
August 12
September 9
October 14
November 11
December 9

Storytelling, Welcoming, Gateways
2024-02-13 16:30 - 17:30
Join your neighbors to develop the story, branding, and events that make the neighborhood unique.
Every second Tuesday of the month at 4:30 PM at DGRI’s office (29 Pearl St. NW).
We’re focusing on telling the stories that make Downtown inviting, accessible, and a great place to be. We’re also excited to dive into real conversations about tough topics that neighbors care about.
Some ideas: on-street interviews, training a story corps of neighbors, sharing the Downtown experience on social media and radio, engaging other neighborhoods to make Downtown the “living room” in the “house” of Grand Rapids.
Meeting dates:

January 9
February 13
March 12
April 9
May 14
June 11
July 9
August 13
September 10
October 15
November 12
December 10

Color + Care Night
2024-02-15 16:30 - 18:00
Color your cares away with neighbors!
The DNN is giving a creative outlet for neighbors to get to know one another in a stress-free environment focused on building community.
Come color with us! Snacks and beverages provided.
Thursday, February 15, 4:30 PM – 6 PM at DGRI (29 Pearl St. NW). Register here: https://bit.ly/DNNcolor.
You can print this poster and share it with your neighbors!

Soccer Stadium Community Meeting
2024-02-19 18:00 - 19:30 | 666 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, 666 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Please RSVP with link at bottom of description.

In Person: at West Grand Neighborhood Organization: 666 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(note: this location may change due to community response)
Parking: there is on-street parking on Leonard near the office
Busing: Close to Rapid Bus lines 7 and 9
Hybrid Option on Zoom: Information will be sent in confirmation email

Agenda:

Brief Introductions
Expectations of Meeting
Presentation about the proposed Soccer Stadium
Q&A

This is a public meeting and members of the community are welcome! The WGNO Board will discuss supporting the project after the meeting has ended and will inform the development of their decision or if they have further questions.

RSVP Link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/west-grand-neighborhood-organization/wgno/community-meeting-soccer-stadium-discussion

Neighbor Exclusive! Grand Rapids Downtown Buildings Book Launch
2024-03-21 17:00 - 21:00 | Periwinkle Fog, 125 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
Join neighbors at Periwinkle Fog for an artists/author meet n’ greet!
Author and Artist Pamela VanderPloeg is releasing a book about Downtown Grand Rapids Buildings. Learn about buildings in the neighborhood – even yours!
From the post-Civil War Era to the mid-twentieth century, the buildings in our neighborhood contain stories worth sharing.
Stop by Periwinkle Fog anytime between 5 PM – 9 PM. Register here: https://bit.ly/DNNbooks.
Neighbors! You can print this poster to hang up in your building. Help us spread the word!

DNN Pizza Party
2024-04-17 17:00 - 19:00 | 130 Ionia SW, 130 Ionia SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
Grab a slice with neighbors in a meet n’ greet at Peppinos!
No agenda, just a chance to meet others who call the Downtown neighborhood home.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 5 PM at Peppinos: 130 Ionia SW.
