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Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for New Americans, Immigrants, and Refugees in West Michigan.
WELCOME PLAN UPDATES
 Welcome Plan Nonprofit Workshop Series
Saturday March 9th, 10:30am - 2:00pm
Goei Center 818 Butterworth St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
If you're a Refugee, Immigrant, or New American that runs or works with a nonprofit organization, come join our next grant writing workshop! We will continue our education series with an advanced presentation on important grant budgeting practices.
Register Here
If you are thinking of starting a nonprofit please check out our Basics of Starting a Nonprofit Workshop Video!
 Office of Global Michigan's New Michigander Fund grants awarded to West Michigan Organizations!
Congratulations to A Glimpse of Africa, LAUP, Les Clay, Migrant Legal Aid (MLA), Puertas Abiertas, Restoration Community Church, Ukrainian Society of Michigan, United Sikhs, Immigrant Connection at City Life Church, and Empowering Youth Global Connection for being among the 17 organizations that received part of the $738,000 grant to strengthen infrastructure and capacity issued by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Office of Global Michigan!
Leadership Highlight Nominations
The WMWPC is asking you to nominate local leaders to highlight their work with our Refugee/Immigrant/New American population. Click on the image to check out last month's highlight Sanela Sprecic!
Fill out this form to enter your nominee's information
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Community Engagement
JOIN SWITCHBOARD'S LIVED EXPERIENCE ADVISORY PANEL
apply by Friday February 23, 2024
Are you a former refugee or newcomer to the U.S. who is now working in refugee resettlement? Are you interested in sharing your experiences of resettlement to help improve resources and training for refugee service providers? Apply now to join Switchboard’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel!
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Black History Month Film Screening
A glimpse of Africa
Full screening - Saturday, February, 24th
Please Join us for this remarkable documentary highlighting the immigrant and refugee communities in America. The film explores the story of an attempted terrorist attack against African immigrants and refugees in a small American city in 2016.
It also emphasizes the effort to embrace diversity and challenge intolerance, and racism. As we enter Black History Month, this inspiring film is a fitting way to connect. We value your time and contribution, support, and participation in this much-needed conversation. More movie info here.
If you would like to attend the screening, please register here.
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‘THRIVE’: TO THE NEXT LEVEL Youth Summit
Friday May 10th 8-2pm @ Devos Place
Chaperone and Volunteer Registration Ends April 5th
The Above the Influence-Kent County Youth Coalition Brand Ambassadors selected THRIVE as the theme for the 2024 KCPC Above the Influence-Kent County Youth Summit. Youth Summit has historically been a space carved out for middle and high school students to flock for encouragement, acceptance, and inspiration to live a life Above the Influence. With the goal to drive positive change in our community, while transforming health and wellness trends and overcoming pop culture messages that suggest that alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are not harmful. THRIVE: TO THE NEXT LEVEL make space for teens to focus on the POSITIVES in life, identify their purpose, learn how to avoid potential pitfalls like drugs and alcohol and position themselves to accelerate towards their future. The environment will offer support and inspiration to help teens move to the next level of becoming the best version of themselves..
Student Registration Deadline: March 29, 2024 – Student Registration Link: https://bit.ly/4871K18
Chaperone Registration Deadline: April 5, 2024 – Chaperone Link: https://bit.ly/3tr1lHU
Volunteer Registration Deadline: April 5, 2024 – Volunteer Link: https://bit.ly/41uIuZd
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Funding Opportunities
 $8.8 Million - Inclusive Entrepreneurship Support Grant
Michigan Diversity Council
Deadline Friday February 23rd
This is a highly competitive funding program created for the purpose of providing inclusive small business support in the following strategic economic competitiveness categories:
- Urban and Rural Mobility Electrification and EV Charging Infrastructure
- Clean Energy
- Infrastructure, including Affordable Housing and Regional/Public Transit
- Post-Secondary Education Attainment
- Talent Attraction and Retention
- Healthcare Innovation
- Childcare
- And other strategic focus industries per full eligibility criteria
This grant is intended for disadvantaged entrepreneurs in strategic sectors who meet at least one of the following qualification criteria:
- Business location in a Geographic Disadvantaged Business Area
- Veteran Status
- Service-Disabled Veteran
- Limited English Proficiency
- Disability
- Member of the LGBTQIA+ community
Apply Here
This is a highly competitive funding opportunity. We anticipate that 10-20 awards will be made, with grant amounts ranging from $250,000 to $2,500,000
Ready by Five Funding
The Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds various types of programs that serve expecting parents and children through the age of five who live in Kent County. This funding is administered by First Steps Kent.
Agencies apply through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process that occurs annually. If your organization would like to learn more about the requirements related to Ready by Five Millage funding and the process to apply for funds, we would like to hear from you! The next RFP will be released on April 18, 2024. Once the RFP is released, our team will only respond to questions submitted in writing and are required to post all responses online.
For this reason, we recommend that you reach out to Heather Boswell at hboswell@firststepskent.org before April 1, 2024, to schedule a time.
Learn more here!
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Education Resources
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Free English Class for Business Owners
Literacy Center of West Michigan
Dates to be determined with your feedback
English classes for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs whose English speaking skills are a barrier for them to starting or growing their business. We are having interested business owners complete the survey on the posters scannable link for their availability and the topics they would like to see in the next class.
Click Here to Complete the Survey
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Refugee Mental Health Series
Kent County Community Health Improvement Plan
Wednesdays / February 21st - March 20th
8:30am - 10:30am / 700 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids MI
Every month in Grand Rapids, people who are refugees are arriving after fleeing horrendous conditions in their homelands caused by war and civil unrest. Many arrive with mental health challenges, such as PTSD.
This 5 part educational series will provide useful information for both clinicians and non-clinicians who are working with refugees community members.
for more information and to register click here
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Great Decisions Programs
Free Event - Every Tuesday in February and March
Public Program: 6 pm - 7:15 pm
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids MI 49504
Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program provides background information and policy options for the most critical issues facing America each year and serves as the starting place for dialogue and discussion within the community. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) each year selects eight topics. Our Council develops a discussion series featuring those topics with complementary material provided by the FPA. It is our longest-running and largest community program on global issues.
View the February Schedule Here!
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Companionship Workshop
Mar 23, 2024, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Moran Park Church, 97 W 22nd St, Holland, MI 49423
Have you ever wondered how to sustainably support someone in distress without burning out?
Participants will learn:
- The five practices of Companionship
- Skills to listen consciously and with openness
- How to maintain an awareness of limits and boundaries
- Ways to ease the isolation these difficulties often bring
Register Here!
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'How to get the Bid' Workshop
Grand Rapids Chamber
February 22 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
What stands out in a bid? What practices help ensure your bid is successful? Connect with peers and gain potential business referrals at this informative West Michigan Minority Contractors ‘How to Get the Bid’ workshop. During this session, you will:
• Master the bidding process by learning the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind successful bids
• Explore key strategies that exemplify or disqualify a bid
• Examine real-life examples of the good, bad and ugly
Register Here
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Job Opportunities
Corrections Officer Jobs for Newcomers
Jackson County - 3855 Cooper Street
Jackson, MI 49201 $20 - $31.00/hour
- 8-week training and can also be paired with/mentored by others on staff from immigrant and refugee backgrounds
- The facility offers three shifts for workers and employees would supervise offenders, help facilitate hospital visits, supervise food services, visits off-site etc.
- Potential employees need to be work-authorized (not necessarily citizens) and have sufficient proficiency in the reading, writing and speaking of English.
- By virtue of having support services located on the campus facility, employees are exposed to a diverse staff of doctors, medical professionals, etc. from around the world.
- Health and support services for employees that are available to assist with stress, acculturation support to the system, and more.
Apply Here
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Building & Events Manager
The role of Treetops’ 906 partnership and Event Manager is to oversee all building maintenance and
coordination of on-site partners and events at the new Treetops Cross-Cultural Community Center. This
position will ensure the vision for the Cross-Cultural Community Center is lived out to its fullest capacity with
smooth, sustainable and effective use of space.
Click Here for more information
Email cover letter and resume to taryn@treetopscollective.org
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Looking for a rewarding career? Consider Kent County!
Working for the County, you will have the opportunity to serve the public and contribute to your community. We have employment opportunities in general government, health, public safety, judicial, recreational, and much more. To view our open positions and apply, please visit accesskent.com/jobs.
 Please share communications with Marcial Benavidez (marcial.benavidez@kentcountymi.gov) any communications that you would like to include on Tuesdays by 9am to be shared on the Weekly Wednesday Communication.
Want to Join the Collaborative?
 Completion of this interest form will connect you with our coordinator to learn more about the Welcome Plan Collaborative and get connected to a workgoup.
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