Sentimentality is a time-honored emotion for graduating seniors, and Joseph VanArendonk was feeling that heavily as he approached his last week at Grand Valley State University.
What sets VanArendonk and his peers apart is the unprecedented mix of emotions that comes from experiencing a lifetime milestone during the pandemic of a lifetime.
VanArendonk channeled those feelings by writing his first ever song: “An Original Song for the (COVID) Class of 2020.”
The piece came together in a weekend. As he wrote a song full of the sentimentality and sadness he was feeling, he also found himself thinking about the he response to the pandemic itself, the lack of social distancing he had witnessed just that day and the strife it is causing.
“The song is just really my internal monologue that rhymes,” said VanArendonk, a human resource management major who is also president of the campus student a capella group, Euphoria.
So the next day he and some his friends, using proper social distancing, of course, recorded scenes for the video about the recommended ways to handle the pandemic, providing a change of tempo in the song and a message: “Understand that you are not alone.”
The result is about three-and-a-half minutes of catharsis and reflection, as well as gratitude and a little levity.
And VanArendonk is looking forward with hope amid the uncertainty. “It lifted my spirits to see an actual date set (Oct. 10) for the postponed commencement. Seeing a solid date is something I have recently learned to value,” he said.
In the 40-year history of a Grand Valley State University economic survey, the economic situation in West Michigan has seldom looked this grim, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley’s Seidman College of Business.
“Although negative, much of our data collected in the third and fourth weeks of March do not begin to reflect the impact of recent events,” said Long.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of March.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) slipped to -21 from +7. The production index dropped to -16 from +2. The index of purchases plunged to -30 from +9, and the employment index plummeted to -25 from +9.
Long said the Detroit automakers made good on their promise to report only 2020 quarterly sales, which reflect the aggregate of positive sales months of January and February and the negative month of March. “Even then, sales were off considerably,” he said.
Long said at this early stage, assessing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is almost impossible, but said “we are now in a historical collapse.”
“If, by some miracle, we were to have a viable vaccine in the next few months that could be widely distributed, the economy would quickly begin to recover,” said Long. “However, some marginal businesses have already been forced to close, and there will surely be more to follow. Unfortunately, this crisis is still just beginning.”
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world, financial implications on employees and businesses are profound.
Impacts are being felt across the economy, and the nonprofit sector is not immune. Researchers at Grand Valley’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy have analyzed IRS 990 form data and have identified trends in the nonprofit sector that nonprofits can expect to contend with as the pandemic evolves.
The research was led by Jeff Williams, director of the Johnson Center’s Community Data and Research Lab, and is based on an analysis of the financial vulnerabilities of nonprofit organizations.
Williams said models can help nonprofit leaders make educated decisions about their organizations, especially as it pertains to project management, disaster response and using solid data.
The Community Data and Research Lab identified three trends that leaders can use to inform decision making.
1. Before things get significantly better or worse, leaders can expect to see things ‘get weird.’
Williams said in times of crisis when we are looking for certainty the most — even if it’s bad news — is when events are most likely to be unexpected in terms of magnitude, order and topic.
“Adopting a mental posture of flexibility is key,” Williams said. “Being open about the impending storm in communications with service beneficiaries, clients and staff is essential for maintaining staff morale, too.”
2. Nonprofits are facing three distinct financial threats at the moment, each of which will impact different nonprofits in different ways.
As entire segments of the economy falter and the stock market tumbles, different types of nonprofits will see decreases in revenue in three very different ways: decreasing revenue from annual campaigns and gifts, dropping demand for services and/or changes to contracts, and decreasing value in investments and stock market fluctuations. Most nonprofits, for example, receive very little investment income, so stock market fluctuations will not be their primary concern.
Williams said a clear understanding of the different types of revenue declines is important because nonprofits are businesses that pay salaries and rent, and purchase supplies and equipment just like any other. However in the big picture, nonprofits serve a broader public mission. Williams said nonprofits should remember to secure their operations first, much like the instructions given to passengers on airliners about oxygen masks: Always secure your own mask before assisting others.
“While businesses are closing and people are at risk of losing employment, there is likely to be an increase of demand for safety net agency services, many of which will be met by nonprofit organizations and their staff,” Williams said. “But if a nonprofit cannot meet its business obligations, it will not be in a long-term position to assist its community in a time of need.”
The full report from the Community Data and Research Lab explores in depth the different financial problems nonprofits of different sizes and categories may face due to COVID-19. The report is available at JohnsonCenter.org.
3. The process of restoring normalcy isn’t a linear process. Multiple stages of recovery often exist, involving different sectors of the nonprofit world at different times.
Williams said while some disasters are a singular event, like a tornado or tsunami, others happen more slowly and recovery often takes many stages. When society works to recover from the pandemic, the nonprofit sector will see those stages take shape.
Right now, nonprofits are focused on immediate needs, like health care and direct emergency assistance, especially food. However, over time, as the situation stabilizes, the nonprofit sector will need to shift to education, housing and human services.
Once the virus is well contained, job training, workforce development and other economic and productivity concerns will come back to the forefront.
Finally, when people feel confident making longer-term plans to return to normal life, nonprofit operations will also return to a more normal activity level.
Upcoming research
Over the next several weeks, the Johnson Center will use additional IRS data to explore other financial aspects of the nonprofit sector, including cash on hand, changes in revenue sources, and what past economic shocks tell us about nonprofit organization creation and failure rates.
Produce from Grand Valley State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) will be donated to the needy in an effort to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAP, the university’s educational farm, is located just south of the Allendale Campus.
Youssef Darwich, farm manager and educator, said plans on where to donate the crops are still being finalized. Darwich has been maintaining the farm alone, without student help, in order to practice social distancing.
“The garden has to keep going. The food system is a really important asset and we want to get it to the people who need it,” he said. “We want to do whatever we can to give back.”
Darwich said, in about a month, radishes, beets, carrots, lettuce and green onions will be harvested.
The typical harvest season is May-October. Darwich said moving forward, he will shift to planting more hearty foods, like peppers, cucumbers, turnips, squash, tomatoes and melons.
He said farm shares may be available later in the season; share members of the garden are mostly faculty and staff members.
“Now, more than ever, we are reminded of the importance of being healthy and the foundation of health is good food,” said Darwich. “It’s an age-old saying — ‘let food be thy medicine.’ I really encourage everyone to focus on eating healthy to make you as strong as possible.”
Nathan Kemler is the new director for Grand Valley State University’s Galleries and Collections for the Art Gallery, where he will lead an operation that places a premium on surrounding the GVSU community with art.
Kemler will oversee a continuous display of art throughout 130 buildings and grounds at the university. A commitment to widely displaying art and making it accessible to all is a core value of the university and an important reason why Kemler wanted to lead the Art Gallery.
“Art is everywhere on campus. It is a borderless museum,” Kemler said. “I also believe art tells the story of the whole human experience, therefore I believe art matters because we matter. It’s a catalyst for social change. What Grand Valley has is a unique model that is not seen very often. You cannot move through Grand Valley without encountering artwork.”
Kemler replaces founding director Henry Matthews, who is now serving as distinguished university associate, Galleries and Collections. Kemler had been serving as interim director until the recent permanent appointment.
He will lead a team managing more than 19,000 pieces of art, including the largest public collection of Mathias J. Alten paintings in the world. Other high-profile collections include the recently acquired life’s work of photographer Douglas R. Gilbert, which includes rare Bob Dylan photos, and a highly regarded contemporary art collection procured in collaboration with artists in the Chicago area.
While at Grand Valley, Kemler has served as collections manager, curator of collections management, assistant director and then interim director before this appointment. He said over a 20-year career in the museum field, he has worked in every aspect, from collection care and curation to working with community partners and donors.
That wide-ranging experience will be an asset for the Art Gallery’s future, said Ed Aboufadel, associate vice president for academic affairs.
“Nathan brings extensive experience in the museum field, including the collection and exhibition of artwork,” Aboufadel said. “He is well-known across the state for his leadership of the Michigan Museums Association. Nathan’s collaborative leadership style will be critically important to the Art Gallery as we move forward in the 2020s.”
Kemler’s goals for the Art Gallery going forward include leading innovation efforts in digital initiatives, seeking even more community collaborations and curating collections that reflect the university’s learning values, such as stories of empathy and social justice.
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world, financial implications on employees and businesses are profound.
Impacts are being felt across the economy, and the nonprofit sector is not immune. Researchers at Grand Valley’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy have analyzed IRS 990 form data and have identified trends in the nonprofit sector that nonprofits can expect to contend with as the pandemic evolves.
The research was led by Jeff Williams, director of the Johnson Center’s Community Data and Research Lab, and is based on an analysis of the financial vulnerabilities of nonprofit organizations.
Williams said models can help nonprofit leaders make educated decisions about their organizations, especially as it pertains to project management, disaster response and using solid data.
The Community Data and Research Lab identified three trends that leaders can use to inform decision making.
1. Before things get significantly better or worse, leaders can expect to see things ‘get weird.’
Williams said in times of crisis when we are looking for certainty the most — even if it’s bad news — is when events are most likely to be unexpected in terms of magnitude, order and topic.
“Adopting a mental posture of flexibility is key,” Williams said. “Being open about the impending storm in communications with service beneficiaries, clients and staff is essential for maintaining staff morale, too.”
2. Nonprofits are facing three distinct financial threats at the moment, each of which will impact different nonprofits in different ways.
As entire segments of the economy falter and the stock market tumbles, different types of nonprofits will see decreases in revenue in three very different ways: decreasing revenue from annual campaigns and gifts, dropping demand for services and/or changes to contracts, and decreasing value in investments and stock market fluctuations. Most nonprofits, for example, receive very little investment income, so stock market fluctuations will not be their primary concern.
Williams said a clear understanding of the different types of revenue declines is important because nonprofits are businesses that pay salaries and rent, and purchase supplies and equipment just like any other. However in the big picture, nonprofits serve a broader public mission. Williams said nonprofits should remember to secure their operations first, much like the instructions given to passengers on airliners about oxygen masks: Always secure your own mask before assisting others.
“While businesses are closing and people are at risk of losing employment, there is likely to be an increase of demand for safety net agency services, many of which will be met by nonprofit organizations and their staff,” Williams said. “But if a nonprofit cannot meet its business obligations, it will not be in a long-term position to assist its community in a time of need.”
The full report from the Community Data and Research Lab explores in depth the different financial problems nonprofits of different sizes and categories may face due to COVID-19. The report is available at JohnsonCenter.org.
3. The process of restoring normalcy isn’t a linear process. Multiple stages of recovery often exist, involving different sectors of the nonprofit world at different times.
Williams said while some disasters are a singular event, like a tornado or tsunami, others happen more slowly and recovery often takes many stages. When society works to recover from the pandemic, the nonprofit sector will see those stages take shape.
Right now, nonprofits are focused on immediate needs, like health care and direct emergency assistance, especially food. However, over time, as the situation stabilizes, the nonprofit sector will need to shift to education, housing and human services.
Once the virus is well contained, job training, workforce development and other economic and productivity concerns will come back to the forefront.
Finally, when people feel confident making longer-term plans to return to normal life, nonprofit operations will also return to a more normal activity level.
Upcoming research
Over the next several weeks, the Johnson Center will use additional IRS data to explore other financial aspects of the nonprofit sector, including cash on hand, changes in revenue sources, and what past economic shocks tell us about nonprofit organization creation and failure rates.
The West Michigan industrial economy remains marginally soft, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of January.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged down to -9 from -7, but continues to be ahead of October’s much weaker -21. The production index recovered to -2 from -7. The index of purchases remained negative at -6 from -17, and the employment index fell to -7 from -2.
Long said the West Michigan economy is poised for a period of slower growth entering 2020.
He said the tariff wars are not over, but there has been progress. The new tariff agreement with Canada and Mexico will correct some inequities that have popped up over the past 26 years. “For West Michigan, the biggest beneficiaries will be our local auto parts producers who will have their tariffs to Canada reduced or eliminated,” he said.
Long said some West Michigan farmers may benefit from the Phase I trade agreement with China.
“Many of the tariffs that have disrupted Chinese pricing for many commodities and sub-assemblies for some of our local businesses are not included in the agreement,” said Long. “The agreement may contain a lot of loopholes that could allow China to fudge compliance numbers. In fact, it may be a year before we know if the agreement has actually done us any good.”
Long said the coronavirus could slightly dampen the world economy. “The CDC tells us that a vaccine is still about 12-14 months away, so world travel and other measures to contain the spread may put a dent in the Chinese economy, as well as other economies around the world, including our own,” he said.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
For more information, contact Brian Long at 269-870-0428.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that Roger That! is returning this February for the fourth year. Roger That!celebrates space exploration and the life of Grand Rapids native, Roger B. Chaffee, with a multi-day experience, featuring STEM school programming and a public celebration at the GRPM and an academic and public conference at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
The two-part event will feature speeches both days by NASA astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave, who was the only astronaut to fly on every shuttle that went into space. The free academic conference on Friday, Feb. 14 will include a keynote from Alice Bowman, one of the leaders of a mission that explored Pluto, along with programs for school groups and breakout sessions. School groups are invited for STEM programming on Friday, Feb. 14 at the GRPM, followed by public programming on Saturday, February 15.
GRPM Public Celebration
Join the GRPM for Roger That!on Saturday, Feb. 15.Visitors will learn more about Roger B. Chaffee and space exploration with hands-on activities including a jet propulsion activity, gazing at the daytime sky with telescopes, creating underwater ROVs, interacting with space artifacts and much more!
Community partners will engage with visitors through hands-on activities. New this year, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) and YETi CGI will join returning partners, Kent District Library (KDL), the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA), the GVSU Padnos College of Engineering, GVSU Physics Club and the GVSU Lunar Lakers.
Activities will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the GRPM. Activities are included with general admission. Planetarium shows take place every hour and are $4 per person; free for Museum members. For planetarium show schedules and to purchase tickets, visit grpm.org/planetarium.
Dr. Story Musgrave (NASA)
Astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave: From Farm Kid to Trauma Surgeon to Rocketman and Way Beyond
Astronaut Dr. Franklin Story Musgrave will present From Farm Kid to Trauma Surgeon to Rocketman and Way Beyond as part of Roger That! on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. in the GRPM’s Meijer Theater. Theater doors will open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are free and must be reserved in advance at grpm.org/RogerThat. Limited tickets available. Following the presentation, there will be a meet and greet opportunity with Dr. Musgrave.
Dr. Musgrave is an American physician and a retired National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut. He is a public speaker and consultant to both Disney’s Imagineering group and Applied Minds in California.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Musgrave earned an impressive list of academic credentials, including a combination of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics, operations analysis, chemistry, literature and physiology, as well as a medical degree from Columbia University. As an expert on cardiovascular and exercise physiology, Musgrave was selected by NASA to serve on future space missions.
Musgrave’s first space mission was on STS-6, the maiden flight of the Challengerspace shuttle (April 1983). Musgrave’s most important mission came in December 1993, where he led a crew in a successful effort to repair the faultily constructed Hubble Space Telescope. In addition to Musgrave’s impressive work history, he also published several scientific papers on aerospace medicine, exercise physiology and other subjects. Musgrave retired from NASA in 1997.
Roger B. Chaffee By NASA/photographer unknown – NASA [1] Great Images in NASA Description, Public Domain
Academic, Public Conference at Grand Valley State University
Join GVSU for a free, public academic conference on Friday, Feb. 14, including keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and celebrating Valentine’s Day with an educational “Love Story” theme. Those interested in attending should register at gvsu.edu/rogerthat.
GSVU will kick off the Roger That! academic conference with keynote speaker Alice Bowman, the Mission Operations Manager for New Horizons, presenting New Horizons: Exploring the Icy Heart of Pluto and Beyond at 11 a.m. Bowman’s presentation will highlight the watery elements of Pluto, theories of a subsurface water ocean and discuss the Sputnik Planitia ice field on Pluto, the most famous “heart” in the Kuiper Belt.
A plenary session will be held at 2:30 p.m., featuring guests from the Adler Planetarium and Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. The session will discuss Aquarius, a citizen-scientist program that allows students and scientists to work together, using underwater robots and additional technology, to search for pieces of a 600-pound meteorite that splashed into Lake Michigan in February 2017.
Following, Astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave will present The Way of Water: Essential, Engaged, Energetic, Adaptable, Cohesive, Transparent, Creative, Flowing, Synergistic, Multidimensional, Unbeatable and Beautifulat 5:30 p.m. in GVSU’s Loosemore Auditorium.
Additionally, GVSU will host an honorary dinner for Alice Bowman and Dr. Story Musgrave at the Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown, followed by a special showing of Space School in the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium. Tickets to the dinner are $25 and can be purchased at gvsu.edu/rogerthat.
Roger B. Chaffee and the Apollo Tragedy
On Jan. 27, 1967, tragedy struck NASA’s Apollo program when a flash fire occurred in command module 012 during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight, the AS-204 mission. Three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions; Lt. Col. Edward H. White, the astronaut who had performed the first United States extravehicular activity during the Gemini program; and Grand Rapids Native Roger B. Chaffee, an astronaut preparing for his first spaceflight, died in this tragic accident. The Grand Rapids Public Museum renamed its planetarium to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium the same year. The Planetarium was originally opened in 1994 and has gone through renovations to provide the best experience for Planetarium visitors.
Roger B. Chaffee, born in Grand Rapids, was an American naval officer and aviator, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut in the Apollo program.
Climate change, millennials becoming a majority of the workforce, and increasing critiques of tainted donors are changing the nonprofit sector in profound new ways, according to experts and thought leaders at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.
Those concepts are just a sampling of emerging trends in the philanthropic sector identified in the Johnson Center’s annual 11 Trends in Philanthropy report, which analyzes upcoming and developing issues in the nonprofit industry.
A significant change to the nonprofit sector in 2020 will be the people working in it. This year, millennials will make up more than half of the workforce in the United States, and the generation’s desire for greater flexibility, transparency and meaning in their work is reshaping how nonprofit workplaces function. Those wants, coupled with the lure of social enterprise companies, may be presenting new opportunities for professional impact.
Nonprofits will also be on the front lines of a global issue: climate change. As the impacts of climate change become more apparent, nonprofit organizations and those who fund them will play critical roles in disaster response, policy change, applying a sustainable and climate-focused lens to existing strategies and advancing new ideas for mitigating and reversing ecological damage.
Another major trend that continues to develop is the increasing number and frequency of so-called tainted money and tainted donors. Common examples of this trend include the philanthropy of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, and the giving of the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, which is linked to the opioid crisis. Some experts in the field even argue that the “cleanliness” of any money gained through capitalist practices should be considered suspect. But all of this concern puts the nonprofits who depend, to varying degrees, on private donations in an ethically complicated spot.
Other trends, which are also analyzed in-depth in the report, include:
— Increasing critiques of “Big Philanthropy”
— Data and mapping tools come together to empower community decision making
— Collaboration and consolidation in philanthropy’s infrastructure
— Data science for social impact
— Increased attention to sustainable development goals
— Alternatives to strategic philanthropy are emerging
— Corporate social responsibility employs many models to align business and philanthropy
— Inclusive growth requires urgent collaboration and deliberate patience
“The philanthropic sector is undeniably sharing in this time of marked upheaval and uncertainty,” said Teri Behrens, executive director of the Johnson Center. “Yet, we still see philanthropy as being best positioned to help unite us, domestically and internationally, to address some of the global challenges we face. We are a sector that focuses on solving problems.”
The full 2020 11 Trends in Philanthropy report is available online at johnsoncenter.org
Climate change, millennials becoming a majority of the workforce, and increasing critiques of tainted donors are changing the nonprofit sector in profound new ways, according to experts and thought leaders at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.
Those concepts are just a sampling of emerging trends in the philanthropic sector identified in the Johnson Center’s annual 11 Trends in Philanthropy report, which analyzes upcoming and developing issues in the nonprofit industry.
A significant change to the nonprofit sector in 2020 will be the people working in it. This year, millennials will make up more than half of the workforce in the United States, and the generation’s desire for greater flexibility, transparency and meaning in their work is reshaping how nonprofit workplaces function. Those wants, coupled with the lure of social enterprise companies, may be presenting new opportunities for professional impact.
Nonprofits will also be on the front lines of a global issue: climate change. As the impacts of climate change become more apparent, nonprofit organizations and those who fund them will play critical roles in disaster response, policy change, applying a sustainable and climate-focused lens to existing strategies and advancing new ideas for mitigating and reversing ecological damage.
Another major trend that continues to develop is the increasing number and frequency of so-called tainted money and tainted donors. Common examples of this trend include the philanthropy of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, and the giving of the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, which is linked to the opioid crisis. Some experts in the field even argue that the “cleanliness” of any money gained through capitalist practices should be considered suspect. But all of this concern puts the nonprofits who depend, to varying degrees, on private donations in an ethically complicated spot.
Other trends, which are also analyzed in-depth in the report, include:
— Increasing critiques of “Big Philanthropy”
— Data and mapping tools come together to empower community decision making
— Collaboration and consolidation in philanthropy’s infrastructure
— Data science for social impact
— Increased attention to sustainable development goals
— Alternatives to strategic philanthropy are emerging
— Corporate social responsibility employs many models to align business and philanthropy
— Inclusive growth requires urgent collaboration and deliberate patience
“The philanthropic sector is undeniably sharing in this time of marked upheaval and uncertainty,” said Teri Behrens, executive director of the Johnson Center. “Yet, we still see philanthropy as being best positioned to help unite us, domestically and internationally, to address some of the global challenges we face. We are a sector that focuses on solving problems.”
The full 2020 11 Trends in Philanthropy report is available online at johnsoncenter.org
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU
There are no signs of an impending recession, but the local economy will continue to slow in 2020, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of November.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at -10, up significantly from -21 in October. The production index is negative, but recovered to -9 from -34. The index of purchases recuperated to -18 from -21, and the employment index came in at -9 from -14.
Looking to 2020, Long said there is no evidence of the overall economy sliding into a recession, but there’s plenty of evidence to indicate a slowing for the industrial economy.
“Part of it has to do with the ongoing trade war with China and the soft business conditions around the world,” Long said.
All three local cyclical industries — office furniture, aerospace and automotive — have more than topped out, Long said, while some segments of the West Michigan agricultural industry, namely corn, soybeans and cherries, have had a marginal year.
Local employment numbers continue to set records. “Ottawa County posted the lowest unemployment rate of 2.3 percent,” Long said. “Of the major cities in Michigan, the Grand Rapids report of 3.3 percent unemployment is the envy of most other major cities in the state.”
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
Alan Steinman, director of Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute, will speak at an event hosted by FLOW (For Love of Water) that will focus on the government’s role in protecting health and the environment.
Steinman, a global expert on freshwater ecosystems and research, will present alongside four other experts on policy that relates to water during the event.
“Perhaps more than ever before, with the threats of climate change, invasive species and legacy contaminants impacting the health of the planet and its inhabitants, including humans, enlightened governmental regulation is needed to help ensure we have clean air, soil, and water not only for the current generation, but even more importantly, for future generations,” Steinman said. “It is an unfortunate fact that when we, as a society, opt for lax environmental regulations, economic development and growth trump environmental integrity every time. Governmental regulation can play a critical role in ensuring that economic vitality and environmental protection complement each other and create new opportunities, rather than being perceived as combatants on the planetary battlefield.”
Resetting Expectations: Community Engagement Session on the Role of Government in Environmental Protection and Public Health
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.
The event’s interactive presentation will trace the history of environmental regulation and illustrate how environmental policies protect individuals, families and communities while fostering innovation and economic gains.
“FLOW’s body of research and reports – Resetting Expectations: Government’s Role in Protecting Human Health and the Environment and the community conversations – is designed to show that the benefits of government protections are both measurable and overwhelmingly favorable in the realm of environmental protection, where the quantifiable benefits of protections greatly exceed the costs imposed on business and the economy,” said Stanley “Skip” Pruss, who authored the reports and is the former director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth and former FLOW board chair.
Other speakers will include:
● George Heartwell, former Mayor of Grand Rapids
● Skip Pruss, former director, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth
● Liz Kirkwood, FLOW executive director
● Dave Dempsey, FLOW senior policy advisor
The last half-century has witnessed sweeping changes in the public perception of government and its role in advancing the public interest and improving public welfare. Surveys today show public trust in government is in sharp decline and criticism of government has become a bipartisan social norm. To many, “government regulation” connotes undue interference with markets, competition, and the economy, yet, at the same time, surveys show overwhelming bipartisan support for an essential function of government: the protection of air, water, public lands, and natural resources.
A festive performance of songs of the holiday season concludes the 2019 Grand Valley State University Fall Arts Celebration.
The holiday celebration, “Beloved Songs of the Season,” is Monday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE. Performers from local school districts will join those from the university for the event.
The concert includes yuletide selections from British composers David Willcocks and John Rutter. Audiences will hear Willcocks’ brass choir settings of beloved carols as well as Rutter’s classical holiday masterpiece, “Gloria.”
The celebration is the perfect way to start the holiday season, said Danny Phipps, chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. The evening will also include a sing-along.
“Fountain Street Church, decorated for the holidays and coupled with both the visual and aural effect of massed choirs and instrumentalists, will be a feast for the eyes and ears to everyone who attends,” Phipps said. “This year the University Arts Chorale and Cantate will be joined in performance by the Hudsonville High School Varsity Voices, West Ottawa High School Vocalaires, and our special guests, the Jenison Elementary Honors Choir.”
All Fall Arts Celebration events are free and open to the public. For more information visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.
According to GVSU Economist Brian Long, the GM-related layoffs accounted for most of the drop in the West Michigan employment index for October. (Photo by WKTV)
The West Michigan industrial economy continues to see marginal growth despite effects from the GM strike, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of October.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) dropped significantly to -21 from +6. The production index fared worse, plunging to -34, from +6. The index of purchases dropped to -21 from -6 and the employment index fell to -14 from +8.
Long said GM-related layoffs accounted for most of the drop in the West Michigan employment index for October; he said he expects the local economy will return to steady slow growth in November.
“Of the 83 counties in Michigan, Ottawa County still posted the lowest unemployment rate at 2.7 percent. At 2.8 percent, Kent and Allegan counties tied for third place.” Long said. “It is good to see many firms are still looking for people at all levels.”
Long said it looks as though China and the U.S. may have come to an agreement and, if so, there could be a modest bounce in the economy if an agreement is signed. “We’ve been here before, only to have China pull the rug out from under us at the last minute,” Long said.
He added current signs still point toward a stagnation rather than a recession for the world economy.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
A Harvard University scholar and narrative historian, who presents accounts from a time in American history and gives context to today, will give the lecture for the Grand Valley State University Fall Arts Celebration.
Jill Lepore, described as the preeminent narrative historian of her generation, will deliver her talk, “American History from Beginning to End,” November 5 at 6 p.m. at the Eberhard Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A 5 p.m. public reception will precede the lecture.
Lepore is the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and also a staff writer at The New Yorker. Her most recent book is “This America: The Case for the Nation.”
She asserts that the United States is an experiment founded on three “truths”: political equality, natural rights and the sovereignty of the people. Nora Salas, assistant professor of history, said Lepore compels audiences to question if America’s mission has succeeded or failed in the past and what the resulting effect on the present day has been.
“Lepore’s work speaks to the significance of history for the health of our democracy and political institutions,” Salas said. “We hope the audience will gain an appreciation for the complexity of American history. As Lepore writes, “A good history should raise questions.”
All Fall Arts Celebration events are free and open to the public. For more information visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.
“What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.”*
Aristotle
*Aristotle probably would have said it this way: “Ποια είναι η ουσία της ζωής; Να υπηρετείς άλλους και να κάνεις καλό.” But in Ancient Greek and with waaaaay more accent marks.
Sounds like a dare
Ask Me Anything! is Nov. 2 at Kentwood Library. Learn about your community and your neighbors in a fun, relaxed environment. Visit the branch to “check out” different members of our community for a chance to learn from them and ask them anything. More info here.
In the ‘mark your calendar’ category…
Courtesy Grand Valley State University
Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes is an itinerant installation originally organized in 2009 by artist and architect Elina Chauvet in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Comprising 33 pairs of red shoes donated by the women of Ciudad Juárez — each pair representing a woman who had disappeared in that community — the piece is designed to draw attention to the fact that women were being killed without any consequences. Nov. 1, 2019-Feb. 28, 2020. Get the details here.
Do some good — here’s how
The SpartanNash Foundation invites store guests to join the fight against hunger during its companywide fundraising effort, Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. The SpartanNash Foundation’s retail scan campaign supports more than 100 local food pantries and food banks, and 100 percent of dollars raised will support food pantry partners in eight states. Learn more here.
Fun fact:
Volunteering keeps you young
Volunteering not only engages your mind and body, but it can actually help you age well and reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Grand Valley State University’s 17th annual Fall Arts Celebration features dance that combines movement and technology; art that challenges perceptions; music that captures the power and mystery of the sea; and more — this year’s events at Grand Valley State University are set to bring out ‘all the feels’.
Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes, an installation by Elina Chauvet
When: Nov. 1, 2019-Feb. 28, 2020
Where: Kirkhof Center Gallery, Allendale Campus
Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes is an itinerant installation originally organized in 2009 by artist and architect Elina Chauvet in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Comprising 33 pairs of red shoes donated by the women of Ciudad Juárez — each pair representing a woman who had disappeared in that community — the piece is designed to draw attention to the fact that women were being killed without any consequences.
A bit of back story on the artist’s use of red shoes as the focus of her work: Chauvet researched the disappearances extensively; in the course of her fact-finding, she discovered that many of the women who vanished had worked in shoe stores, had been buying shoes at the time they disappeared, or were looking for a job in a shoe shop.
Chauvet had also used shoes as a metaphor in the past to express her concern for the missing and dead women.
In 2017, Zulema Moret, Grand Valley professor of modern languages, arranged for Chauvet to direct an installation of Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes in Grand Rapids. This exhibition documents many of the community groups that participated in painting the shoes, as well as the installation at the Richard M. DeVos Center courtyard on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.
The Fall Arts Celebration shines a spotlight on some of the world’s preeminent artists, poets, musicians, dancers, and scholars. Each fall for the past 17 years, West Michigan audiences have enjoyed a series of six free events that celebrate the positive impact of the arts. For more information, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.
More art
Art of Today: Contemporary Collections from Chicago
When: Through Nov. 1, 2019
Where: Art Gallery, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
Working with Chicago-based artists, gallery owners and collectors, Grand Valley has acquired a collection of contemporary art over the last 15 years.
Curated from Grand Valley’s collection and enhanced with additional loans from Chicago, Art of Today comprises more than 40 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media works — bold and minimalistic works exploring simplicity in design, society’s relationship to the environment, as well as the intersection of pop culture and art by artists Alex Katz, Ellsworth Kelly, David Nash and Takahashi Murakami.
The challenging imagery of other artists — such as Tony Fitzpatrick, Jane Hammond, Erika Rothenberg and Kara Walker — examines the meaning of identity, race, culture and sexuality.
Lecture
Jill Lepore: American History from Beginning to End
When: Nov. 5, 2019; public reception at 5pm and lecture at 6pm
Where: L.V. Eberhard Center, second floor, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Jill Lepore (Courtesy GVSU)
What do you see when you look at 500 years instead of the last five minutes? Jill Lepore, the leading narrative historian of her generation, offers a different perspective on history. Lepore asserts that the United States is an experiment founded on three ‘truths’: political equality, natural rights, and the sovereignty of the people. Her thesis will challenge your imagination to put yourself in a place in history to help give context to the present.
Lepore is the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University. She is also a staff writer at The New Yorker. One of her latest books is These Truths: A History of the United States (2018), on TheNew York Times Best Seller list. Her most recent book, This America: The Case for the Nation, was published in May 2019.
GVSU Art Gallery
For more information about Grand Valley State University art exhibits, call 616.331.2563 or visit gvsu.edu/artgallery.
Mathias J. Alten: An Evolving Legacy
When: Exhibition dates are ongoing
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 1-5 p.m.; closed on holiday weekends
Where: George and Barbara Gordon Gallery, DeVos Center, Bldg. E, Room 103 and 202, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Often referred to as the ‘dean of Michigan painters’, the German-born American artist Mathias Joseph Alten (1871-1938) worked in a traditional representational style, incorporating the aesthetics and techniques of the Impressionist Movement in his paintings. Based in Grand Rapids, Alten created more than 3,800 works over his more-than-40-year career, including landscapes, seascapes, portraits and florals, all infused with light and punctuated with deft brushwork. Grand Valley State University holds the largest public collection of Alten’s work in the world.
Wandering Seeds: Experiencing and Engaging Haiti Through Study Abroad
When: Through Dec. 13, 2019
Where: Blue Wall Gallery, DeVos Center, Bldg. B, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
In 2018, a dozen GVSU students and three faculty members traveled to Haiti as part of a study-abroad program, led by Peter Wampler, associate professor of geology. Designed to provide an opportunity to experience Haitian culture and gain an understanding of daily life in rural Haiti, students from various backgrounds participated in a variety of service-learning and community-based teaching experiences, allowing them to contribute their energy toward real-world problems in Haiti.
Included in this exhibition are narratives and reflections by both faculty members and students who participated in the trip. Additionally, a number of photographs document their encounters, and a variety of original Haitian works of art attest to the vibrant and diverse artistic culture in the country.
Carnivals, Cognac and Cycling: Works of Art from the Robert L. Haskins and Erwin A. Raible Collection of Fin-de-Siécle Prints
When: Through Dec. 13, 2019
Where: Red Wall Gallery, Lake Ontario Hall, Allendale Campus
Courtesy GVSU
At the turn of the century, an explosion in print media occurred in Paris, one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Now-familiar artists — Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, and others — made names for themselves producing items such as posters, journal illustrations, theater programs and advertisements.
Drawn from the Robert L. Haskins and Erwin A. Raible Collection of Fin-de-Siécle Prints in the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet, Carnivals, Cognac and Cycling provides a view into the visual culture of late 19th-century France.
In 2019, 14 GVSU students conducted research for this exhibition for the course Modern Art and Modernity. Each student focused on one work of art for in-depth study, produced original research, and presented findings to classmates and now to a wider audience.
José Guadalupe Posada: Calavera Prints from the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet
When: Nov. 1, 2019-Feb. 28, 2020
Where: Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Courtesy GVSU
José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) — a printmaker and engraver who illustrated historic scenes, board games and commercial items, religious images, various books and newspapers — is most famous for his use of calaveras (depictions of skulls and skeletons) to satirize and mock the corruption of the wealthy and political elite.
He created La Calavera Catrina, his most iconic image, in 1910 at the start of the Mexican Revolution. The image shows a grinning skeleton wearing a women’s feathered hat, pointing out that death comes to everyone, even those in the upper class.
This exhibition includes 20 reproductions of his prints, from the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet. The works were purchased in 2002 from the family of Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, who printed them using the original plates and press.
Performances from the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance
For more information about performances from the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, visit gvsu.edu/mtd.
Faculty recital — Sookkyung Cho, assistant professor of piano, artist performer
When: Nov. 4, 2019, 7:30pm
Where: Sherman Van Solkema Hall, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
Pianist Sookkyung Cho uses a thoughtful expressionist style in her performances. A founding member of the New York-based Almava Trio, Cho has appeared at venues that include Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Château de Fontainebleau in France.
Additional recital by Sookkyung Cho
When: Nov. 23, 2019, 4-5pm
Where: Sherman Van Solkema Hall, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
The performance will include a variety of piano solo and ensemble music.
ReACT! presents: Difficult Dialogues
When: Nov. 17, 2019, 8-10pm
Where: Kirkhof Center, Room 2263, Allendale Campus
Grand Valley’s anti-violence peer theater troupe will use low-risk, interactive performance and discussion methods to help participants prepare to better engage someone on difficult dialogues about sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Bard to Go: Tossing on the Ocean public performance
When: Nov. 2, 2019, 1-3pm
Where: Keller Black Box Theatre, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
A 50-minute program introducing audience members to Shakespeare, Bard to Go takes the audience on a sea-faring journey with Prospero, a powerful magician, and his assistant Ariel, a magical spirit with strange powers. When Prospero and Ariel conjure a storm to shipwreck Prospero’s enemies, their magic spills over from their own play, The Tempest, and causes havoc for many of Shakespeare’s characters. This production includes scenes from The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Pericles, The Comedy of Errors and The Merchant of Venice.
Grand Valley Writers Series
The Grand Valley Writers Series brings in distinguished and emerging writers to read from their work, visit classes, and interact with students. For more information, visit here.
Craft talk and reading with Stephen Mack Jones
Stephen Mack Jones (Courtesy GVSU)
When: Nov. 5, 2019; Craft talk 1-2pm, Reading and book signing 6-7:30pm
Where: Kirkhof Center Room 2270, Allendale Campus
The first adult fiction novel by Stephen Mack Jones, August Snow, has received wide acclaim, including the 2018 Nero Award from the Nero Wolfe Society; it was also named a 2018 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. Jones has received the Hammett Prize for literary excellence in the field of crime writing from the International Association of Crime Writers.
A poet, award-winning playwright and winner of the Kresge Arts in Detroit Literary Fellowship, Jones lives in the metro Detroit area.
The growth rate of the West Michigan industrial economy improved again for September, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of September.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged up to +6, from +3. The production index moved down to +6, from +9. The index of purchases dropped to -6 from +2 and the employment index rose to +8 from +1.
Long said after three months of pessimism, there is a note of encouragement in September’s local index of employment.
“Numerous headlines proclaimed the national unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in September, a 50-year low,” he said. “However, the UAW strike and the apparent softening auto market has brought Michigan’s August (latest month available) unemployment rate up to 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent in August 2018.”
Long said cities where General Motors plants are located are feeling most of the heat from the UAW strike, but a few local firms who sell to GM could begin to see layoffs if the strike continues into November.
Looking ahead, Long said despite economic trouble spots all over the world, he doesn’t see an obvious event that would trigger a recession; an exception is the U.S. trade war with China.
“Although the industrial markets are squirming because of falling exports and tariff-related price increases, the current signs still point more toward stagnation rather than a recession,” he said. “A sudden announcement that the U.S. and China have reached a long-term trade deal could spark a new round of growth, but the Chinese government may be holding out until after the 2020 election for a better deal.”
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
GVSU’s annual Shakespeare Festival returns this weekend featuring one of the Bard’s most famous comedies “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.” Roger Ellis directs the production that centers around four young lovers who leave Athens due to a law that requires a daughter to marry the wrong man or die. The group ends up in the lair of some fairies who decide to have some fun with them and a group of bumbling actors. Opening night is Friday Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. with shows running this weekend and next.
Music for the Soul
Shayna Steele joins the Grand Rapids Symphony for the “Queens of Soul.” (Supplied)
The Grand Rapids Pops pays tribute to the voices that revolutionized rock and revitalized R&B with Queens of Soul on Sept. 27-29 in DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, to open the 2019-2020 Fox Motors Pops series. Special guest vocalists Shayna Steele, Kelly Levesque and Brie Cassil will be joining the Grand Rapids Symphony for such songs as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” and Patti LaBelle’s “New Attitude.” Tickets start at $18 for adults and $5 for students. Visit grsymphony.org.
Lending Your Voice
WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma with St. Cecilia Music Center Executive Director Cathy Holbrook. (WKTV)
St. Cecilia Music Center kicks of its season on Oct. 3 when country and folk singer Lee Ann Womack visits Grand Rapids. Or you could wait until Oct. 20 for when Judy Collins makes her way to the the facility located on 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Better yet, just visit scmc-online.org to check out the full St. Cecilia Music Center season, which includes a classical, jazz and folk. Want a few more hints? How about Rosanne Cash Feb. 19. For more, list to the Locally Entertaining podcast.
https://youtu.be/22R5IgxP_pg
Fun Fact: Country Royalty
Since Rosanne Cash is coming to Grand Rapids (in February), we could not resist digging into her family past. Most people know Rosanne is the daughter of country legend Johnny Cash. Her mother was June Carter Cash, who was the daughter of Maybelle Carter. Maybelle was one third of The Carter Family, which also included A.P. Carter and his wife Sara. The Carter Family is considering the first family of country music.
A familiar Grand Rapids artist; a famous Mexican printmaker and engraver who lived and worked during Mexico’s social and political upheaval; and a beloved Michigan artist all have works that are being featured in Grand Valley State University galleries.
For more information about Grand Valley State University art exhibits, call 616-331-2563 or visit gvsu.edu/artgallery.
The work of José Guadalupe is featured through Oct. 25. (Supplied)
“José Guadalupe Posada: Calavera Prints from the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet”
Kirkhof Center Gallery, Allendale Campus
Exhibition Dates: Through Oct. 25
José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) was a printmaker and engraver, who lived and worked in a period of Mexican history characterized by social and political upheaval. In 1888, he moved to Mexico City, where he quickly established himself and created some of his most important work. Posada illustrated historic scenes, board games and commercial items, religious images, various books and newspapers. He is most famous for his use of calaveras (depictions of skulls and skeletons) to satirize and mock the corruption of the wealthy and political elite. “La Calavera Catrina,” his most iconic image, was created in 1910 at the start of the Mexican Revolution. The image shows a grinning skeleton wearing a women’s feathered hat, pointing out that death comes to everyone, even those in the upper class. This exhibition includes 20 reproductions of his prints, from the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet. The prints were purchased in 2002 from the family of Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, who printed them using the original plates and press.
“Mathias J. Alten: An Evolving Legacy”
Exhibition Dates: Ongoing
George and Barbara Gordon Gallery
DeVos Center, Building E, Room 103 and 202, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Gordon Gallery hours: Friday and Saturday, 1-5 p.m.; closed on holiday weekends
The German-born American artist Mathias Joseph Alten (1871-1938) is often referred to as the dean of Michigan painters. Working in a traditional representational style, Alten incorporated the aesthetics and techniques of the Impressionist Movement in paintings infused with light and punctuated with deft brushwork. Based in Grand Rapids, Alten created more than 3,800 works over a more than 40-year career, including landscapes, seascapes, portraits and florals. Grand Valley State University holds the largest public collection of Alten’s work in the world.
“Watering Seeds: Experiencing and Engaging Haiti Through Study Abroad” will run through Dec. 13 at Blue Wall Gallery. (Supplied)
“Wandering Seeds: Experiencing and Engaging Haiti Through Study Abroad”
Blue Wall Gallery
DeVos Center, Building B, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Exhibition Dates: Through Dec. 13
In 2018, a dozen GVSU students and three faculty members traveled to Haiti as part of a study abroad program. The course, led by Peter Wampler, associate professor of geology, was designed to provide students from various backgrounds the opportunity to experience Haitian culture and gain an understanding of daily life in rural Haiti. In addition, students participated in a variety of service-learning and community-based teaching experiences, allowing them to contribute their energy toward real-world problems in Haiti. Included in this exhibition are narratives and reflections by both the faculty and students who participated in the trip. Additionally, a number of photographs document their encounters, and a variety of original Haitian works of art attest to the vibrant and diverse artistic culture in the country.
A French printed fan is part of the “Carnivals, Cognac, and Cycling: Works of Art from the Robert L. Haskins and Erwin A. Raible Collection of Fin-de-Siécle Prints.” (Supplied)
“Carnivals, Cognac and Cycling: Works of Art from the Robert L. Haskins and Erwin A. Raible Collection of Fin-de-Siécle Prints”
Red Wall Gallery, Lake Ontario Hall, Allendale Campus
Exhibition Dates: Through Dec. 13
During the period spanning the turn of the century, Paris, one of the most vibrant cities in the world, experienced an explosion in print media. Now-familiar artists, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, and others, made names for themselves producing items such as posters, journal illustrations, theater programs and advertisements. Drawn from the Robert L. Haskins and Erwin A. Raible Collection of Fin-de-Siécle Prints in the GVSU Print and Drawing Cabinet, “Carnivals, Cognac and Cycling” provides a view into the visual culture of late 19th century France. In 2019, 14 GVSU students conducted research for this exhibition for the course Modern Art and Modernity. Each student focused on one work of art for in-depth study, produced original research and presented findings to classmates and now to a wider audience.
“Pearl Walk” Make W. Wilkins is part of the exhibit featuring Wilkins work. The exhibit runs through Oct. 25. (Supplied)
Mark W. Wilkens, 1955-2017
“A Life in Paint”
West Wall Gallery, Eberhard Center
Exhibition Dates: Through Oct. 25
Born in America’s heartland, Mark Wilkens’ passion for nature and the environment blossomed in the sun-drenched countryside of the Iowan farmlands. Wilkens traveled often after his schooling in Iowa, Arizona and South Dakota, using the opportunity to visit museums and learn about different cultures. In 1990, after a number of years painting independently and working in graphics and illustration, Wilkens moved to Michigan, which would serve as his creative home for nearly 27 years before his death on March 17, 2017. This exhibition includes 25 works of art from the last three decades of his career, including a variety of watercolors and oils. It honors a passionate artist, whose commitment to paint was evident throughout his life.
GVSU DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL AND MEDIA ARTS FACULTY EXHIBITION
“Endless Possibilities”
Exhibition dates: Through Oct. 27
NOMAD Gallery by Richard App
74 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids
Hours: Noon-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays
This unified show will showcase the media in which faculty members work. The exhibition will showcase works across animation, ceramics, digital art, film, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, video art and more. Special performances, artist talks and workshops will also be offered in conjunction with the exhibition. Visit gvsu.edu/vma for more information.
A Grand Valley alumna was part of a research team that helped unlock at least some of the long-held mystery about the droppings of the wombat: Why are they shaped like cubes?
It turns out the Australian marsupial actually forms the unusual shape in its digestive system, a discovery that led to the research team, including alumna Alynn Martin, ’14, being recognized with an Ig Nobel Prize.
The annual awards are presented each September at Harvard University to honor “achievements that make people laugh and then think,” according to the organizers’ website.
Other winners this year studied how much saliva a 5-year-old produces and whether pizza consumption protects against illness (apparently only if it’s made in Italy). The stated goal of the awards is to honor the unusual and imaginative in scientific discovery, and Martin embraced that spirit.
“It’s not going to change anybody’s life but it’s a great little piece of information that we didn’t know before,” said Martin, who earned a master’s degree in biology at Grand Valley.
Martin’s part in the wombat waste discovery came during her time working on a doctorate in ecology at the University of Tasmania in Australia. She was working with researcher Scott Carver on wombats and disease when they examined a wombat cadaver. That’s when they discovered the cubic waste in the intestine.
The team sent cadavers to colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology for further analysis, such as the dimensions and elasticity of the intestine. All of the researchers were part of the award.
Aside from this interesting discovery about wombats, Martin has developed an affinity for the creatures that survive on grasses and roots (a dry diet that she said may also play a role in their waste formation).
First of all, they’re inarguably cute. Martin described them as burrowing marsupials with pouches specially configured to protect their young from the kicked-up dirt from digging. She also noted that wombats seem to play an unwarranted second fiddle to their fellow Australian marsupial and close relation, the koala.
She was fascinated by these animals whom she described as charismatic and surprisingly regimented. “Working in the field, you could see they were creatures of habit. It’s incredible that for wild animals that can go anywhere and do anything they pretty much stick to a routine,” she said.
A Grand Valley alumna was part of a research team that helped unlock at least some of the long-held mystery about the droppings of the wombat: Why are they shaped like cubes? (Supplied)
Since receiving her doctorate, Martin has gone on to work in Montana with the U.S. Geological Survey to assess the impacts of disease on wild big horn sheep.
Studying disease in wild animals is Martin’s life passion and part of what brought her to Grand Valley, where she studied under Amy Russell, associate professor of biology. Martin, who researched tricolored bats while at Grand Valley, credits Russell with providing the foundation for understanding population genetics as well as research training that is useful every day.
Russell said Martin, her first graduate student, is smart and passionate.
“I remember her being tremendously curious and just always wanting to be out in nature and to learn new things,” Russell said.
Wombats are burrowing marsupials with pouches specially configured to protect their young from the kicked-up dirt from digging. (Supplied)
After last month’s dip, the pace of the West Michigan industrial economy returned to a very modest growth rate, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of August.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) recovered to +3, up from -13. The production index bounced up to +9, from -15. The index of purchases flipped back to +2 from -6 and the employment index edged to +1 from -1.
Long called the trade war with China a two-edged sword. “The news media has highlighted the impact on farmers, which has resulted in falling prices for corn, soybeans, pork and other agricultural exports,” he said. “Many West Michigan industrial firms have come to rely on a wide range of industrial commodities subject to new tariffs that are driving up prices.”
Long said initially, many Chinese exporters were willing to accept lower prices in orders to retain the business relationship. “Both buyers and sellers believed the governments of both countries would soon reach an agreement, but that was 18 months ago, and now the rhetoric has turned pessimistic,” he said.
The world economy continues to slow, and the U.S. will eventually be drawn into the slowdown, Long said.
“The world political situation is a mess. The impending U.K. ‘hard’ Brexit could destabilize both the British and the European economies. Italy, France and Germany are dealing with populist uprisings. And, the U.S. is starting to focus on a major election that is still 14 months away, ignoring other problems,” he said.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
The art event for the 2019 Fall Arts Celebration is showcasing contemporary pieces, many of which originate from Grand Valley’s carefully developed collection of art in that genre.
“Art of Today: Contemporary Collections from Chicago” features more than 40 pieces, from paintings to photographs to sculptures, that offer compelling imagery examining the issues of the day.
A public reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Art Gallery in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. The exhibition runs through November 1.
All Fall Arts events are free and open to the public as a way to thank the community for its support of the university.
The exhibition also pays tribute to the important role that Chicago plays in the contemporary art world and Grand Valley’s alliance with the city’s art experts. Grand Valley art experts for the past 15 years have assembled a contemporary art collection by working closely with Chicago-based artists, gallery owners and collectors. This exhibition draws from Grand Valley’s collection and is augmented by loans from Chicago.
“Contemporary art takes courage and challenges us,” said Nathan Kemler, interim director of Grand Valley’s Galleries and Collections. “This exhibition provides perspectives on today’s society and allows our community to explore complex global themes that widen our awareness and build empathy about the human condition.”
Visitors can expect to see both bold and minimalistic work that explore and examine contemporary issues.
While leaders of nonprofit organizations know that their board members can have a significant impact on the work an organization does, few resources exist to help leaders build their own abilities to work with board members and select board members who can effectively foster success.
The Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University is working to help the nonprofit sector develop more diverse and inclusive boardrooms while ensuring effective board experiences that will help organizations thrive.
The Johnson Center is launching a new initiative, The Ecosystem for Nonprofit Leadership, in partnership with Ferris State University and other area nonprofit organizations. Co-chaired by Tamela Spicer, program manager at the Johnson Center, and Carlos Sanchez, director of the Latino Business and Economic Development Center at FSU, the initiative seeks to prepare community members for board service and develop greater nonprofit capacity to support effective boards.
“We know that nonprofits are vital to healthy communities and are instrumental in the success of local governments and businesses,” said Spicer. “However, governing boards can be the deciding factor in the success or struggles of a nonprofit organization despite competent leadership and staffing. We want to ensure that community members are equipped for board service and can easily connect to organizations that will foster that service.”
The initiative is driven by leaders from local organizations and aims to develop a curriculum that can be integrated into existing leadership programs, making board service training more accessible to the community.
The program is being supported by leaders from many area organizations, including Mercy Health, Kids’ Food Basket, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Urban League, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Amway and more.
Carillonneurs from around the world will come to the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses of Grand Valley State University this summer for the annual concert series that this year marks 25 years of performances at the Cook Carillon Tower.
All concerts are free – including free nearby parking — and open to the public. The concerts last approximately one hour and take place rain or shine.
The Cook Carillon International Concert Series on the Allendale Campus features a reunion recital along with the concert lineup. The performances will take place at 8 p.m. Sundays beginning June 23.
Cook Carillon Concerts
June 23 – Reunion recital
June 30 – Open tower tours
July 7 – Bernard Winsemius, (The Netherlands)
July 14 – Gijsbert Kok, (The Netherlands)
July 21 – Tim Sleep, (Naperville, Illinois)
July 28 – Laura Ellis (University of Florida)
Aug. 4 – Sue Bergren (Naperville, Illinois)
Aug. 11 – Lisa Lonie (Philadelphia)
Aug. 18 – Julianne Vanden Wyngaard (GVSU carillonneur)
The Cook Carillon Tower is named for major donors and longtime Grand Valley supporters Peter and Pat Cook, who died in 2010 and 2008 respectively. The tower’s 48 bells were cast in 1994 in the Netherlands. The bells for the Beckering Family Carillon, named for the Beckering family of Pioneer Construction, were cast in 2000 in France.
On the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, the 19th annual Beckering Family Carillon International Concert Series will present five concerts at the Lacks International Plaza located at the DeVos Center. The performances are at noon Wednesdays beginning July 3.
GVSU’s Beckering Carillon (Photo by Amanda Pitts)
Beckering Family Carillon Concerts
July 3 – Helen Hofmeister (Grand Rapids)
July 10 – Bernard Winsemius (The Netherlands)
July 17 – Gijsbert Kok (The Netherlands)
July 24 – Tim Sleep (Naperville, Illinois)
July 31 – Alex Johnson (Rochester, New York)
For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/mtd, or call Grand Valley’s Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484.
The West Michigan economy is slowing with evidence of a flat growth pattern, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of May.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) flattened to +3, down from +13. The production index held steady at +11, while the index of purchases dropped sharply to -2 from +16. The employment index rose to +15 from +4.
“The sharp drop in our index of purchases indicates many firms are putting expansion plans on hold and beginning to sandbag operations in the event that the economy continues to flatten,” said Long.
He said the local economic slowdown is related to the trade war with China and the possibility of tariffs on Mexican imports.
“The economic impact and direction of the ongoing multi-national tariff wars virtually defies prediction,” said Long. “What we do know is that the tariffs are starting to raise prices for a wide variety of commodities and pinch profitably for an increasing number of firms. Business planners hate uncertainty, and not knowing what new commodities might be impacted and what the resulting delivered prices might be causes future hiring or expansion plans to be put on hold.”
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
The West Michigan economy is chugging along like it has been for the past 10 years, but evidence is mounting that the pace may be slowing, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of April.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) remained positive but backtracked to +13 from +17. The production index rose to +11 from +5, and the index of purchases also increased to +16 from +4. The employment index slid from +15 to a 27-month low of +4.
“Although one month can never be construed as a trend, it was disappointing to see our local employment index take such a deep slide,” said Long. “Unemployment is always an economic laggard, resulting in most of our West Michigan counties continuing to post very good unemployment numbers.”
Long said although there are some significant signs that growth is slowing, there is still no sign that the economy is about to slide into a recession.
“We know the world economy is slowing and that will ultimately have at least some impact on our domestic economy,” said Long. “Various industries are starting to grow ‘bubbles’ which we hope will not all break at once.”
The ongoing trade dispute with China could generate a significant slowdown or even a recession if the war drags on, Long said. Most major capital projects are planned and executed over a long-term cycle, such as five years. He said these projects tend to have long and productive supply chains which stimulate growth. He also said some of the benefits of the 2017 tax legislation could be felt for years to come, making the U.S. the cheapest place in the world to do business.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
Teams from 40 West Michigan high schools will compete for robotic supremacy at the annual FIRST Robotics event hosted by Grand Valley State University.
The teams will compete on March 22-23 at Grand Valley’s Fieldhouse Arena in a challenge where they will use the robot that they have designed and built to fill a cargo ship and rocket with elements from space. Teams will race the clock, as well as their opponents, to pick up as much cargo as they can.
Grand Valley students and alumni will volunteer at the event to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM fields.
FIRST Robotics is a unique competition model where students gain real-world experience designing, programming, creating and marketing a robot to win the competition. Many teams work hand-in-hand with industry mentors and gain experience and skills not available in a traditional classroom setting.
While 2019 got off to a slow start in January, February’s report for the West Michigan economy shows a return to a pattern of slow growth that has been reported for nearly 10 years, according to Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of February.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) bounced back to +16 from -4. In a similar move, the production index rose to +16 from +4. The index of purchases also bounced to +16 from +3, and the employment index rose to +17 from +14.
Long said several business leaders continue to voice concerns over the still unresolved tariff war with China, and others are cautious about the potential decline in auto sales.
“Although several of our local auto parts producers remain modestly pessimistic about the prospects for 2019, we have yet to see any significant weakening in our local firms,” said Long. “Overall, the mood remains watchfully optimistic.”
Long said business confidence rebounded in February, after posting some near-record lows in January.
He said despite the weakness in last month’s survey, the employment index continues to remain double-digit positive.
“Employers are still complaining that they cannot find enough qualified workers,” he said.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
The West Michigan economy flattened in January, signaling a slow start to 2019, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of January.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged down to -4. The production index, which had been as high as +33 in November, softened to +4. The index of purchases flattened to +3, and the employment index came in at +14.
“The overall business outlook is much more cautious than it was just a few months ago,” said Long. “Several survey participants continue to voice concern over the price impact of the still unresolved tariff war with China. Others are cautious about the potential decline in auto sales. In contrast, firms associated with the office furniture industry remain watchfully optimistic.”
Long said the national economy turned out stronger than expected to start 2019.
“It is possible that the 2017 tax cuts may have a little more room to run than we expected,” he said. “However, the softening of the world economy will pull us in the opposite direction. The economy still has plenty of momentum to carry through the first two quarters of 2019 and quite likely beyond.”
Long said more than 58 percent of the Wall Street Journal’s panel of 60 economists expect the next recession to start in 2020, and 2019 could turn out to be just another year of slow growth.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
Two Grand Valley State University writing faculty members will discuss the inner workings of their creativity and craft during the annual Grand Valley Writers Series.
Chris Haven, associate professor of writing, and Gale Thompson, visiting professor, will present a faculty reading on Tuesday Feb. 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room, located on the Allendale Campus.
Haven teaches courses in intermediate and advanced fiction, beginning creative writing, style and techniques, and composition among other topics. His short fiction and flash fiction have appeared or are forthcoming in Threepenny Review, New Orleans Review, Arts & Letters, Massachusetts Review, Electric Literature, and Kenyon Review Online. His poems can be read in Cincinnati Review, Pleiades, Mid-American Review, and Beloit Poetry Journal, and prose poems from his Terrible Emmanuel series have appeared in Denver Quarterly, Sycamore Review, North America Review, and Seneca Review. He has been teaching writing at Grand Valley since 2002.
GVSU Associate Professor of Writing Chris Haven also will present on Feb. 5. (Supplied)
Thompson is the author of Soldier On (2015) and two chapbooks. Throughout her career, Thompson has received fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center and Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Her work has appeared in or is scheduled to appear in Gulf Coast, American Poetry Review, Guernica, jubilat, Bennington Review, and Colorado Review. She is also the founding editor of Jellyfish Magazine.
The Grand Valley Writers Series will offer two additional events this winter season:
Poetry Craft Talk and Reading with Janine Joseph and Oliver Baez Bendorf Thursday, March 14 Craft talk: 6:15-7:15 p.m., DeVos Center, room 121E, Pew Grand Rapids Campus Reading: 7:30-8:30 p.m., University Club, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Nonfiction Craft Talk and Reading with Sarah Einstein Monday, April 8 Craft talk: 3-4:15 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2270, Allendale Campus Reading: 6-7:30 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room, Allendale Campus
For more information, contact Todd Kaneko, series coordinator, at kanekot@gvsu.edu, or visit gvsu.edu/writing.
Sisters Ruth and Eileen Sherwood leave behind their ordinary lives in a rural Ohio town in pursuit of fulfilling their dreams in New York City.
Filled with swinging show tunes, Grand Valley State University students will showcase how “Wonderful Town” captures the thrill of two sisters trying to change their lives.
GVSU Opera Theatre will present “Wonderful Town” Feb. 8, 9, 15, and 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. All shows will take place in Louis Armstrong Theatre, located in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus.
Ruth is an aspiring writer played by Mikayla Berghorst, a junior majoring in vocal performance. Berghorst said her favorite aspect of adopting the character of Ruth has been portraying a different kind of personality than she is used to on stage.
“My favorite part about playing Ruth is being able to portray an older, strong-minded, sarcastic character because I have often played younger, weaker characters,” said Berghorst. “The most challenging part has been stepping out of my comfort zone on stage. Ruth is a wacky character, and I often find myself mentally and emotionally exhausted after rehearsals.”
Elise Endres, a freshman majoring in music, will portray Eileen in “Wonderful Town” — a dancer who wants to pursue a life on stage. Endres said her approach to the character is one of balance.
“Eileen is a very sweet people-person, but also a bit of a ditsy flirt and that element of this character has been fun to bring to the table and stage,” said Endres. “Having said that, the most challenging part of this character is really making her ditsy nature come to life while not making it too unbelievable!”
Dale Schriemer, GVSU Opera Theatre artistic director said “Wonderful Town” was an easy choice to bring to the Grand Valley stage. “It’s such a fun show and written by the genius team of Leonard Bernstein (music) and Comden and Green (book and lyrics),” he said. “It’s a delightful comedy with sing-along music, comic situations that are inventive and clever, and the whole cast gets to do a lot of different things.” “Wonderful Town” will be directed by alumnus, Christopher Carter, ’09.
Tickets for “Wonderful Town” are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and Grand Valley faculty and staff, $7 for students, and $10 for groups of 10 or more. They are available at the Louis Theatre Armstrong Box Office, located in the Haas Center, or via startickets.com. For more information, contact the Louis Armstrong Theatre Box Office at (616) 331-2300 or visit gvsu.edu/theater.
The 25th anniversary season of the Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival will continue when actors from Nassau in the Bahamas visit the Allendale Campus to perform one of the most critically acclaimed productions ever presented in the Bahamas.
The festival’s “Bard Beyond Borders” series will present performances of “Sizwe Banzi is Dead” January 31 and February 1 at 7:30 p.m. and February 2 at 2 p.m. in the Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre, located in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts. A condensed version of the production will be performed during Grand Valley’s Arts at Noon series on January 30 from 12-1 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center.
All performances are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Louis Armstrong Box Office at (616) 331-2300.
Written by Athol Fugard, “Sizwe Banzi is Dead” is set in the landscape of South Africa’s apartheid era, a time of institutionalized racial segregation that spanned from 1948 until the early 1990s.
The story confronts the struggles faced by people of color during that time and addresses broader questions of human worth and identity. This is done through the lens of a man getting his picture taken in a photography studio.
“Sizwe Bansi is Dead” was originally featured during the 2014 Shakespeare in Paradise Theatre Festival, and these performances will reunite the director and the original two cast members.
“This is a special offering to celebrate something which acknowledges that theater is a global communicator and that we can all connect through it,” said Karen Libman, professor of theater. “We are excited to offer our students and the community the chance to see high-quality theater that they might not necessarily see otherwise.”
Grand Valley’s history with the Shakespeare in Paradise Theatre Festival dates back to 2011 when Bard to Go, the university’s traveling student Shakespeare troupe, was first invited to perform at the festival. Bard to Go also performed at the festival in 2017.
While at Grand Valley, the Shakespeare in Paradise Theatre Festival actors will also facilitate theater workshops and classroom visits for students.
The Bard Beyond Borders series will continue in April with performances by a Shakespeare company from Egypt.
Philanthropic giving in the United States is a massive sector of the economy, topping $400 billion, and countless community and national organizations are benefitting from a surge in public interest.
Experts at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University expect to see the entire ecosystem of philanthropy — nonprofits, foundations, donors and volunteers — rally to support the cause of civil society and cross-sector collaboration in 2019.
However, the challenges the nonprofit sector faces in 2019 are significant, and Johnson Center experts said that addressing those challenges will require data-driven strategies and a willingness to experiment, evaluate and adjust over time.
With these challenges in mind, the thought leaders and experts at the Johnson Center have examined changes in the field and identified 11 trends in philanthropy they expect to see impacting philanthropy in 2019.
The trends cover a range of topics, from significant growth in nonprofit media to a downturn in religiosity, to ongoing uncertainty about the impact of 2017’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the nonprofit sector.
1. The Boundaries are Blurring Between Philanthropy and Business – Michael Moody, Ph.D., Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy
For as long as we have used “sectors” to define society, we’ve been particularly fixated on the boundaries between those sectors. But today, those boundaries – especially the once bright lines between business and philanthropy – are blurring at an accelerating rate. This trend is leading to great innovation, but its potential pitfalls are real, as well.
2. As Religiosity Changes, Donor Engagement Needs to Adapt — Tamela Spicer, M.A., program manager
Religious organizations have taken in a significant share of America’s philanthropic dollars for generations. But as Americans become less religious, and the traditional vehicles for giving evolve, nonprofits’ understanding of how faith and spirituality impact giving needs to expand.
3. For Nonprofits, the Tax Landscape is Far From Settled — Kyle Caldwell, president and CEO, Council of Michigan Foundations, and Donna Murray-Brown, president and CEO, Michigan Nonprofit Association and Member
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) included a number of provisions that affect the way nonprofits identify and calculate their tax liabilities. Many nonprofits are still working to understand, explain and account for these changes ahead of the 2018 filing deadline. However, the TCJA’s true impact — and even whether the tax code will continue in its current form through 2019 — remains to be seen.
4. Nonprofit Media is Experiencing a Growth Spurt — So is Philanthropy’s Response – Tory Martin, M.A., director of communications and engagement
Journalism is turning to a nonprofit model in the hopes of offsetting falling ad revenue and shoring up faith in a free press. And in a moment of near-daily attacks on the media, more and more foundations and donors are exploring what it means to support independent journalism and media literacy.
5. More Tools – and More Calls – to Align Foundation Culture with Mission and Values – Teri Behrens, Ph.D., executive director
Power dynamics in philanthropy are nothing new, but the sector’s increased focus on racial equity, environmental sustainability, and other social justice-related issues are pushing more organizations to take a look in the mirror. Foundation leaders are increasingly paying attention to the foundation as an organization, with a culture that supports or interferes with the ability to achieve their mission.
6. Nonprofits are Playing a Vital Role in Civic Engagement – Tory Martin, M.A., director of communications and engagement
Anecdotally, America seems to be experiencing a great surge in civic engagement. Countless nonprofits are benefitting from increased awareness, donations and public passion — but what really seems to be changing for nonprofits is their own awareness of the role they play in sustaining a healthy democracy.
7. Concrete Strategies are Emerging for Implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Principles – Juan Olivarez, Ph.D., Distinguished Scholar in Residence for diversity, equity, and inclusion
As professional organizations and agents of cultural change, nonprofits have been concerned with advancing social justice for decades. But as a sector, we have often struggled to find the right levers and tactics for living out our DEI values. Fortunately, the sector’s increased focus in this space is producing more practical strategies for organizations and communities alike.
8. Powering Communities While Protecting Individuals – Erica Czaja, Ph.D., director of the Johnson Center’s Community Research Institute
Communities working toward equitable change are increasingly turning to data to help them understand and solve their biggest challenges. Detailed data, broken down by characteristics like race and gender, are critical to uncovering stark inequities that might otherwise be hidden by total population averages. But this trend is simultaneously prompting serious questions about the entities that handle data and the security measures they take to protect individuals’ information.
9. The Wealth Gap is Becoming a Giving Gap – Michael Moody, Ph.D., Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy
Giving in the U.S. has long correlated with the up and down pattern of the nation’s economy. But what about an economy in which the most glaring “trend” is not an overall rise or fall, but a growing gap between those at the top and bottom? As wealth and income become increasingly unequal in this country, it appears that patterns in giving may follow this dramatic bifurcation.
10. As Donors and As Causes, Women are Taking the Lead in Philanthropy – Kate Pew Wolters, trustee, Grand Valley State University; co-chair, Johnson Center Leadership Council
Women have dominated philanthropy’s professional ranks for decades, and today, the number of women who are taking on roles as institutional leaders and major donors is on the rise. Yet the international spotlight currently falling on women and girls’ causes should be understood more as a blossoming of what’s been happening for generations, than as a wholly new trend.
11. Foundations are No Longer Wedded to the Long Game – Teri Behrens, Ph.D., executive director
Patience has been a defining aspect of institutionalized philanthropy for decades; permanent endowments meant foundations could afford to invest in change over the long term. Since 2010, however, there has been a significant shift toward creating foundations that have a defined endpoint. Donors’ reasons for creating these limited-life foundations vary widely.
For more information on the 11 trends, see the full report or visit johnsoncenter.org.
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Meet a musical treasure
“Music has always been a big part of my life,” said Bruce Ling, who began playing slide guitar when he was 4 years old and whose father and uncle are both professional musicians. “When I was 8, my band made $5 playing in a basement for a birthday party. I’ve been playing ever since.” Read the story here.
Just the facts, folks
The latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus offers two discussions focused on important topics: improving Michigan’s prison environment and how Calvin College is reaching out to inmates with education and life-changing opportunities, as well as the current opioid abuse and addiction public health crisis and how Kent County is working to address that crisis locally. Go here to read the story.
Common ground… troubled crossroads
Grand Valley’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies and the university’s Division of Inclusion and Equity will host a discussion about how Americans can work toward finding common ground for the common good, especially at the troubled crossroads of race and American memory this Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7pm. More info here.
Fun fact:
One month
The time it would take a sloth to travel one mile (.15 mph). Road trip!
