Back in 2017, the Steelcase Foundation Annual Report entitled, Remove Obstacles, Foster Justice took a deep dive into the Foundation’s efforts to address longstanding systemic inequities in our communities. While the words a few years old, the report’s opening statement from Steelcase Foundation Board Chair Kate Pew Wolters and President Julie Ridenour expounded on the…

In January, Dwelling Place received $150,000 toward its Campaign to Increase Affordable Housing in Grand Rapids. Dwelling Place will construct 119 units of affordable housing in the West Grand and Roosevelt Park neighborhoods and employ deed restrictions to ensure the units remain affordable for at least 45 years. Dwelling Place will fund a full-time social…

The Steelcase Foundation is excited to announce Daniel Williams, EdD will serve as its next president effective February 22, 2021. “We are delighted to welcome Daniel as the next president of the Steelcase Foundation,” said Kate Wolters, Chair, Steelcase Foundation Board of Trustees. “Daniel is an accomplished leader in urban education and works tirelessly to…

In October, the Steelcase Foundation awarded $165,000 over three years to Vibrant Futures (formerly Camp Fire West Michigan 4C), Kent County’s leading organization for education, business development, and training of childcare professionals to support its Bridge Program. The Bridge Program will build and refine Vibrant Futures’ course offerings and infrastructure to: Establish a tiered scholarship…

In October, Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) received a $54,000 grant to support implementation and planning for RULER, an evidence-based practice developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to transform communication between students, teachers, and staff through education in emotional intelligence. WPS, like many districts in Kent County, recognizes that its teachers and staff do…

In October, Oakdale Neighbors received a grant of $75,000 over three years to support its Learning Café, which provides an inclusive environment for K-12 refugee youth to learn, be mentored, build essential academic skills, and develop as cultural navigators and future community leaders. The Learning Café offers 1:1 drop-in tutoring, a Learner 2 Leaders college…

In October, the Steelcase Foundation awarded Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) $220,000 to refurbish the early childhood suite at 415 Franklin, to provide 72 childcare slots for low income-children ages birth to five on the city’s southeast side. The early childcare suite is part of the larger renovation effort to breathe new life into the…

KConnect, Kent County’s collective impact organization, was awarded $375,000 over three years to continue its system transformation work to ensure that all children have an equitable path to prosperity. Since inception, KConnect has worked to unify its partners by creating common language around chronic absenteeism, kindergarten readiness, certificates, and systemic barriers so partners can solve…

Realism is Loyalty (RIL) received $23,712 in April to provide intensive mentoring for some of the highest-needs youth who have spent time in the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center. Participants engage in deep mentoring, coaching, group sessions, and educational support with individuals with the lived experience to meet young people where they are and help…

KConnect received a $10,000 grant from the Steelcase Foundation in January 2020 to continue its work facilitating change in the Housing Sector. Since May 2018 KConnect has facilitated collaboration among area homelessness and housing providers with the goal of redesigning the system to bring the voices of those experiencing housing insecurity to the forefront, and…