In Grand Rapids - Art Prize & Homelessness

Two weeks ago I visited Grand Rapids, MI for a retreat considering religion, America, and culture. The retreat was held downtown at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, a gorgeous older hotel nestled amidst the hum of the city. The retreat, as good retreats do, gave us time to sleep, catch up on reading, hang out in conversation, or enjoy the city. I was thrilled for the opportunity to catch up with some friends from different eras of my life, and enjoy the city. 

Within the city, I got to experience a prelude to a wonderful art experience, Art Prize; taking place from 16 September to 3 October. Many of the exhibits are incredibly ambitious and require extensive installation prior to the official start date. It was a delight to walk all over the heart of the city and view many of the submissions going into place. 

In walking around I began to notice some things, 'this city has turned a corner in its development.' 

Twenty years ago, my very young family lived in nearby Lowell, MI. Our second son was born in Grand Rapids, and at the time Grand Rapids was undergoing a season of redevelopment. Today, Grand Rapids has been redeveloped. I walked by only one building, in all of downtown, that was not occupied and had not been touched by a developer. It was kind of amazing to find this cityscape so occupied. 

The second piece I noticed was that Grand Rapids unsheltered population, very visible 20 years ago, was still present today. Notice in the picture above at the lower left corner of the art on the outside of the Grand Rapids Children's Museum is a sleeping bag. On the other side of the building were half-a-dozen or so individuals sleeping under the awning of the museum. 

Thinking back twenty years ago I recall volunteering with a non-profit, Dégagé, who hosted meals and other points of connection with the unsheltered in Grand Rapids. I walked past their facility, they are still in business. I also caught a familiar add on the radio for Mel Trotter Ministries, another place of care for Grand Rapids unsheltered.      

So a reality stood out in vivid colors; Grand Rapids is a very vibrant and bustling city, with citizens and visitors going about their business, right alongside the presence of people who are bearing life's challenges in some of the most dire of circumstances. 

This picture speaks to me because there are forces at work in the city I work in that are trying to push the unsheltered to the boundaries and out of the everyday living spaces. Grand Rapids says to me, you can build a vivacious downtown and you can express humble and helping compassion. Good business can be built even as those among us struggle with some of life's profoundest challenges. 

May the Lord help us care for the poor among us, for in truth we have all been poor; and keep our doors open so all people have an opportunity to thrive.