Tag Archives: iCI Nation

Wyoming PD receives heartfelt thank you from community and iCI Nation

1-featured, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Going Local, Holidays, Kent County, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Voices, , , , , ,
Community members took turns verbally expressing gratitude for Wyoming police officers and their service to the community (Courtesy, iCI Nation)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Wyoming police officers were the recipients of heartfelt appreciation and gratitude from community members on Thursday, Dec. 12.

While snow, wind and ice descended upon West Michigan – closing numerous schools and forcing many residents to work from home – Wyoming police officers donned uniforms and reported for duty.

As officers filed into the police station at 7 a.m. for a routine training session, they were met by 15 community members who took turns verbally expressing gratitude for the officers’ service to the community.

WPD officers listen as presentation participants share their personal ties to the law enforcement community (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Coordinated by iCI Nation founder Jennifer Franson and sponsored by W2W Healthy You, the Christmas Connect presentation featured a hot breakfast prepared by Wyoming Police Chief Kim Koster, Captain Eric Wiler, and Captain Tim Pols, as well as over several dozen donuts from Marge’s Donut Den.

“In the spirit of the season, we get to lead with peace and goodwill,” said Franson in supplied material.

Voicing gratitude

In a show of love and support, local community members – including residents, pastors, media professionals, nonprofit leaders, and more – honored the gathered police officers by each voicing an individual thank you, sharing personal ties to the law enforcement community, and praying over the officers before leaving.

(Courtesy, iCI Nation)

“All of these people came here, in this weather, because they understand and appreciate everything you do,” Franson told the WPD officers during the presentation. “We know that you all are going out and dealing with things every day that we don’t want to have to deal with.”

(Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Franson went on to say that it is important for local law enforcement officers to know that the community recognizes and supports their work as they put their lives on the line each day to keep our community safe.

“We want you to know that we’ve got your back,” one community member told WPD officers during the presentation.

Strengthening our cities

iCI Nation has been building successful partnerships between community and law enforcement since 2016. The local nonprofit is dedicated to providing a healthy environment that brings citizens, police officers and organizational resources together to create a stronger and healthier city.

“ICI reignites police hearts and passion for the mission of protecting and serving,” says Wyoming Police Chief Kim Koster. (iCI Nation website)

  • Javon Sanders (front) of the GRPD talks with WPD officers (Courtesy, iCI Nation)
  • Tracy, W2W Healthy You Lead Education Instructor, explains to officers how their work positively impacts youth (Courtesy, iCI Nation)
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Those connections are forged through monthly iCI Nation events for the community and police, including prayer gatherings for the faith community, presentations, and lunch and learns. The organization also builds collaborations through various local organizations and events.

Craig G. Founder of the PeaceWalker Project says, “The difference that iCI has made in this community is nothing short of extraordinary.” (iCI Nation website)

Learn more about iCI Nation and how you can help honor local law enforcement here.

(Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Strengthening our cities: iCI Nation builds bridges between community and local law enforcement

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Going Local, Kent County, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Voices, West Michigan, , , , , ,
iCI Nation founder Jennifer Franson (second from left) has spent the last decade building bridges between community and law enforcement (Courtesy, iCI Nation)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


First responders connect with community members at Resurrection Fellowship Church (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

iCI Nation has been building successful partnerships between community and law enforcement since 2016. The local nonprofit is dedicated to providing a healthy environment that brings citizens, police officers and organizational resources together to create a stronger and healthier city.

Leading that mission is iCI Nation Founder and Executive Director Jennifer Franson.

“We’re building relationships and trust between cops and community to strengthen the city,” said Franson. “That’s our mission. We’re building the connections and we’re building the bridges over the shared value of how we protect and serve together.

“It’s really just a reframing of value,” Franson continued. “Our shared value of how we protect and serve together.”

iCI Nation board member BJ (Barbara) VanStee agreed. “We support the community, we support the officers, and we try to bring them together and show our appreciation for all that they do for the community.”

A way to do more

Though Franson does not have a personal family connection to law enforcement, she has always been aware of the officers who put their lives on the line each day to keep our community safe.

Kentwood police officers connect with youth in the Kentwood Young Life group (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

For years, Franson prayed for law enforcement officers whenever she heard sirens, believing that was all she could do for them.

A women’s church group discussion regarding community connections prompted Franson to suggest hosting a “thank you” event for law enforcement. Franson emailed police chiefs at several local departments, requesting participation. Thirteen officers from five different departments attended.

However, as Franson met the officers at the event venue, an unexpected complication arose as she explained what was about to happen.

A Kentwood officer talks with a Kentwood Young Life youth (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

“You’re going to go in to lights, music, and a standing ovation from the women,” Franson told the officers. “We’re going to tell you why we appreciate you, have kids do a song and dance, pray over you and have cookies and coffee.”

The officers asked what they needed to do.

Franson explained the process again.

Again, the officers asked what they needed to do.

Franson finally asked, “What aren’t you getting? Don’t you get invited by the community just to say thank you?”

The answer was a resounding no; law enforcement officers were only invited by communities to talk about neighborhood or policy issues.

Franson was stunned – and determined to launch a community-wide change.

Generating change – without an agenda

The church event became an annual occurrence, increasing from those original 13 officers to an average of 65 officers each year.

“Our biggest year we had 95 officers there from over 20 different departments,” said Franson. “Our normal average got up to about 65.”

During a Faith & Blue event, Grand Rapids SWAT and local youth connected during a basketball game hosted by Rev. Darryl S. Gaddy Sr. of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church (Courtesy, Pastor Gaddy)

The reason it grew, Franson continued, was due to trust.

“It built trust with the police community once they realized we didn’t have any agenda,” said Franson.

Though the women prayed over the police officers, the main event activity was presenting each department with a banner saying, Thank you to our protectors.

“All the women signed it and wrote personal notes on it,” said Franson. “And that was it. There was never any other agenda other than to thank them, and that really made an impact.”

Local youth keep the GR SWAT team on their toes during the game at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church (Courtesy, Pastor Gaddy)

The women began taking prayerful ownership of the police, and the officers began trusting the women.

“It was like a community becoming a family,” Franson said. “Somehow these ‘crazy church women’ made a difference.”

Franson became known as “Police Jen” by the community, often looked to for information about local law enforcement happenings.

For almost a decade, iCI Nation has provided a healthy environment for the community to build trust with law enforcement as they unite in their efforts to protect and serve local cities.

iCI Nation founder Jennifer Franson (left) prepares to spread good news on camera (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

iCI Nation hosts monthly events for the community and police, including prayer gatherings for the faith community, presentations, and lunch and learns. The organization also builds collaborations through various local organizations and events such as the national Faith & Blue campaign.

Franson then spreads the good news of these collaborations through a weekly email, social media and videos.

Building understanding through appreciation

Franson and VanStee both believe that showing appreciation for law enforcement is vital to officers understanding that the community knows and appreciates what they do.

First responders were treated to a Thanksgiving luncheon hosted by Pastor Gary Hankins at Resurrection Fellowship Church (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“We pray for them quite frequently,” says VanStee. “I am thankful for all that the officers do in the community to keep us safe.”

Building credibility with the law officers is also essential.

“We build credibility that the officers sent to our event will feel safe,” says Franson. “I want to honor them for agreeing to be the venue for this [collaboration].”

Learn more about iCI Nation and how you can help honor local law enforcement here.