GLOBAL GATHERING PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Welcome Plan is preparing for our Second Annual Global Gathering Event!

We ask all collaborative members that are interested in participating or supporting this event to join our first Planning Committee meeting on Monday March 18th @ 2:00pm.

Dont forget to check out last years Global Gathering Highlight Reel!

^{FDA Alert - Elevated levels of Lead in Cinnamon Products}

^{The FDA is advising people to stop using and dispose of certain brands of cinnamon after testing revealed high levels of lead. These products typically have a long shelf life. Consumers are being advised to check their homes and get rid of these products.}

^{Learn more about this alert by visiting this FDA page https://bit.ly/439jnf3.}

Detroit Afghan Support Center

With the help of 88 service providers, The Office of Global Michigan (OGM) arranged much-needed support for 1,359 participants with the Afghan Support Center event in Detroit.

If your interested in having an event like this in your area, please provide your important insights in the survey below. Read more about this event by clicking the image!

"Origin" Free Film Screening & Panel Discussion | Wed, 3/13 | 5:30pm-8:30pm

DEI Leaders from Arbor Circle, Corewell Health, and University of Michigan Health West are partnering for a film screening of “Origin” followed by a panel discussion. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 13^th, 5:30-8:30 pm at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids. Produced by Ava DuVernay, Origin was inspired by Isabel Wilkerson's book, "Caste: Origins of Our Discontents." The film explores how social caste, rather than race alone, shapes bigotry.

This is a free community event, but registration is required. The movie is rated PG-13 and has some content, images, and themes that could be disturbing. 

FREE MASKS!

Ama Without Borders is aiming to distribute around 1 million masks in the next month

Register here to recieve free masks!

Building Leaders Building Communities (BLBC)

Wednesday, March 20th - May 29, Dwelling Place Community Building & Engagement Department Offices

106 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

A group of change makers who come together for a 10-week, hands-on, dinner workshop series where you will connect with neighbors to strengthen and grow your community together.

• Exciting interactive experiences led by experts in their field.
• Hands-on discussions with guest speakers.
• Utilizing a national leadership curriculum designed to engage, energize, and activate communities.
• A place to learn and acquire the tools to solve problems with the intention of creating long lasting change.
• Connect with elected officials and local community leadership opportunities.
• Workshops offered in both English and Spanish.

ASIAN INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Friday, April 12th Goei Center 8:30am - 5:00pm

The registration fee is $100 

WMAAA is thrilled to host the Asian International Leadership Summit, which aims to empower brands with global influence through sponsorship. By aligning with our summit, sponsors have the unique opportunity to engage in unparalleled networking, thought leadership, and market expansion. Click on the image for Sponsorship Packet

A Glimpse of Africa 2024 Events Sponsorship

Your kind donations, in-kind gifts, and partnership have been instrumental in the success of our programs and events.

As we gear up for 2024 community initiatives, we are honored to invite you to join us once again as a partner, sponsor, vendor, and supporter for one or more of the outlined events in the attached packet.

Click on the image for Sponsorship Packet

Buyer-Supplier Matchmaking at Making It In Michigan

Wednesday April 24th

Register by Wednesday March 27th

Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) are excited to partner with the MSU Product Center on the 2024 Making It In Michigan event. As a part of the event, PMBC and MDARD will host one-on-one matchmaking meetings bringing together purchasers including grocers, retailers, distributors, institutional buyers, or others looking to source Michigan-made food and beverage products, with Michigan food, beverage and agriculture businesses from around the state.

The Grand Rapids Policy Conference 

Tuesday, April 16 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

 Local and regional thought leaders will share insight on Grand Rapids' resilience and ability to tackle the problems and challenges ahead to create a thriving and prosperous West Michigan for all.

Attend to hear about these key issues:

• Meet the top Grand Rapids mayoral candidates
• Election integrity and what to expect in 2024
• Area leaders will discuss the top issues impacting their community and the things that will define success in the years ahead

Volunteers needed to support refugee resettlement efforts in Michigan 

Global Michigan continues to call for volunteers to welcome and support refugees from around the world seeking freedom and safety through the CHNV program, Uniting for Ukraine and the Welcome Corps.  

For questions about private sponsorship or other ways to get involved, visit Global Michigan’s webpage for resources to support refugee resettlement or contact LEO-RefugeeServices@michigan.gov. Connect with Michigan’s lead Private Sponsor Organization, Zaman International, at welcomecorps@zamaninternational.org for support with your Welcome Corps application.

To offer financial support, you can make a direct tax-deductible donation through our charity partner in this effort

Immigration Legal Assistance Services 

Due date – by 11:59pm, Friday, March 22^nd, 2024

The Office of Global Michigan is pleased to share a funding opportunity for Immigration Legal Assistance Services. Please see the attachment for additional details and a few key dates below.

Please submit any questions regarding this Request for Proposal (RFP) to LEO-RefugeeServices@michigan.gov by 12pm Tuesday, March 12^th, 2024

This information is also posted on our website at Office of Global Michigan.

OUR LGTBQ FUND 2024 GRANT

April 22nd deadline

Up to $100,000 will be awarded for programming that addresses social determinants of health for LGBTQ+ communities in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties.  Our advisory committee welcomes applications from both 501c3 organizations and community groups with a fiscal sponsor and will be prioritizing projects led by and serving LGBTQ+ Youth and LGBTQ+ people of color. Detailed information about focus areas for these funds, eligibility criteria, and the application process are in our grant guidelines (attached and on our website).  You can apply now using Grant Central through the April 22nd deadline- a comprehensive timeline can be found at GRFoundation.org/LGBTQFund. 

If you are considering applying you can learn more about the current request for proposal (RFP) by joining us for an optional application information session, on Zoom, on Monday, March 25^th from 4:30-5:30 pm - register here! 

Build Readiness for a New Minority-Owned Food and Agriculture Business Grant Program

Applications are due to MDARD by 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2024

the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) from minority-owned food and agriculture businesses and supportive organizations looking to increase capacity initiatives. In this phase one RFP, businesses should be looking to increase capacity initiatives in business plan development, grant management training, partnership development, and financial investment planning. More Information Here

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 Thursday 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 Monday, April 1, 2024, to schedule a time. 

Learn more here!

Crisis Response Training City of Holland

Thursday, March 14 from 3-5 pm. Holland City Hall

Professionals and volunteers who work in public service are invited to attend a training on the City of Holland’s Crisis Response Plan. Registration is at Eventbrite.

The City’s Crisis Response Plan (CRP) is a community strategy to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and restore community balance should the community be faced with a hate crime, racial or bias incident, or perception of racial or bias incident.

The training will also focus on immigration law and understanding victim trauma.

Presenters include representatives from the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office, Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates, the Flourishing Collective, and City of Holland Public Safety.

Companionship Workshop

Saturday March 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!

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

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!

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