Tag Archives: KDL Kentwood Branch

Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Weeklong Celebration with Kent District Library Jan. 15-19

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(Courtesy, pxhere.com)



By Kent District Library


Black Americans have shaped our country and community in a myriad of ways. Join Kent District Library to learn more about Michigan’s Black history and how history ranging from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement shapes our present and can influence our future.

KDL is pleased to present Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Weeklong Celebration, which takes place from Jan. 15-19.

Schedule of Events

Monday, Jan. 15, Noon, Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch
Meditations on Democracy in Black America
Join award-winning author, documentary film producer and former University of Kansas professor Dr. Randal Jelks as he provides a moving narrative on the highlights from his book Letters to Martin. This event will include a book signing, relevant topic discussion and a proclamation by Michigan State Representative Kristian Grant. Directly following our kick-off event, the City of Kentwood will host an excerpt recital from the “I Have a Dream” speech and a proclamation by Mayor Stephen Kepley. 


Tuesday, Jan. 16, 6:30 pm, Grandville Branch
King’s Six Principles for Non-Violent Direct Action: Are They Doable?
Presented by author, podcaster and retired Calvin professor Dr. Michelle Lloyd-Paige, this call to action compels us to promote positive change and have a deeper understanding of society today.


Wednesday, Jan. 17, 5:30 pm, Wyoming Branch
Selma
Together with your library community, view Selma, a historical drama that features the troubling times of voting rights, equality and action in Alabama that will bring forth anger, grief and hope.


Thursday, Jan. 18, 1 pm, Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch
Fear Must Not Be Our Future
Join Pastor Joe Jones, former city commissioner and current Assistant Pastor of Brown Hutcherson Ministries, for a presentation on how our nation can improve and move forward with faithful action, not fearful guidance.


Friday, Jan. 19, 2 pm, Plainfield Twp. Branch
“Letters to Martin” Book Discussion
Participate in this small group opportunity to discuss the relevance of action in the reflections of Dr. Randal Jelks’s “Letters to Martin.”


For more information on these events and other topics, log on to Kent District Library.



Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you want to know

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WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."
          -Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate

 

‘Book’ on over

 

The new KDL Bookmobile was unveiled at a special event at Steelcase. The Steelcase Foundation helped to launch the project with a $208,000 grant.

This week the Kent District Library unveiled its new Bookmobile, or as KDL Executive Director Lance Werner called it, “a library on wheels.” The Bookmobile, loaded with books and materials, will be heading out to service underserved areas and places where there is not a library readily available.

 

The goal is to help improve reading proficiency with students, Werner said, adding that the target age is third grade as students who are not at a reading proficiency by third grade could face more problems as they get older. The bookmobile has a rotating collection that can be curated for the places it visits whether it be a school or a senior center.

 

The KDL Bookmobile is scheduled to come to the KDL Kelloggsville Branch, located at the Kelloggsville High School, 4787 Division Ave. on Nov. 17 and to the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE, Nov. 24. For a list of locations, visit kdl.org/bookmobile.

 

For more on the Bookmobile, click here.

 

 

Go Blue!

 

Godwin Heights will face off against Wyoming Lee this Friday in hopes of getting its sixth win and securing a place in the playoffs. And of course, WKTV will be there to cover all the action.

 

The playoff schedules will be announced on Sunday, Oct. 21 with Pre-District games kicking off the following weekend. All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.

 

 

By the Meter

 

Ada Limon

Two award-winning poets will be heading to Grand Valley State University Thursday, Oct. 18, to discuss their work.

 

Part of GVSU’s Fall Arts Celebration, poets Ada Limón and Carl Phillips will begin the discussion at 7:30 p.m. at GVSU’s Eberdhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids. Limón is the author of five books of poetry, including her new book The Carrying (2018). Phillips is the author of 14 books of poetry, including his most recent works, Wild Is the Wind (2018) and Reconnaissance (2015).

 

For more on the event, click here.

 

 

Fun Fact:

maestra

The Spanish work for a person who teaches music, usually referring to a woman. (Maestro is the male word.) This month, St. Cecilia Music Center announced its new Grand Band conductor Robin Connell. For more, click here.

Kentwood offers a winter concert series featuring local musicians

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Olivia Mainville performs Feb. 15

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

A rained out concert at last year’s Kentwood Summer Concert Series lead for the event to be moved inside to the KDL Kentwood Branch.

 

The venue switch was well received with the decision made for Kentwood to host a Winter Concert Series.

 

“This is the first year the City is hosting a Winter Concert Series,” said Laura Barbrick, the marketing and events coordinator for Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department’. “It actually worked really well inside the Library’s Community Room, so we decided to try it out this winter.”

 

This year, the Winter Concert Series features three concerts, one each in January (which featured singer/songwriter Matt Gabriel), February and March. If the series goes well, Barbrick said the city could look to expand the series.

 

On Feb. 15, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Olivia Mainville will be performing. Mainville, from Grand Rapids, discovered music in fifth grade when she began playing viola and upright bass in orchestra. More recently she released an album, “The Saddest Thing,” which featured a guest appearance from David Bowie’s bandleader and lead guitarist, Gerry Leonard.

 

On March 22 another Grand Rapids-based artist, Drew Nelson, performs. Nelson is known for American and traditional folk music. Nelson has released a number of albums including “Dusty Road to Beulah Land” and “Tilt-A-Whirl.” He also has opened for Melissa Etheridge and Edwin McCain as well as folk singers like John White Jr. and John Gorka.

 

Each of the concerts will feature a selection of food options from a local food truck. At the Feb. 15 concert, Pizzaiolo Wood Fired Pizza will be on hand and at the March 22 concert, D & D Gluten-Free will be at the library.

 

All concerts are at 6:30 p.m. at in the community room of the KDL Kentwood Branch, 4950 Breton Rd. SE.

Dash through the snow – maybe – as Kentwood hosts Valentine’s-themed run

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It’s love on the run — literally — as Kentwood hosts its first-ever Valentine’s Dash Feb. 10.

 

“We decided to add an additional race to our list of events due to the cancellation of our Ugly Sweater Run in November because of inclement weather,” said Spencer McKellar, a recreation program coordinator for the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, who is overseeing the Valentine’s Dash event.

 

“As a department we also realize there are limited outdoor recreation opportunities in the winter. By offering this new race during February, we hope to encourage members of our community to get out and enjoy our beautiful trails and parks throughout the entire year.”

 

The 3.1-mile course, which McKellar note is great for any skill level, will have participants start and end at the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, traveling along an east/west trail and into the Old Farm Park and adjoining neighborhood. Along the way, there will be Valentine’s candy stations.

 

McKellar said the library provides a warm place for both registration and the after party/awards program. Each participant will receive a knit cap and a goodie bag. There also will be a race raffle with a number of items raffled off including a night stay for two at the DoubleTree hotel, golf packages and other items.

 

Awards will be given for fastest time as well as best dressed with other runners helping to judge those in Valentine-themed costumes. Also at the after party will be music, Valentine-themed snacks, and a photo booth.

 

“We want to make this a fun Valentine-themed race with candy, prizes and lots of fun,” McKellar said.

 

Cost to participate is $30 per person with couples getting $5 off each registration. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Kentwood/ValentinesDash.

 

KDL starts accepting submissions for its annual poetry contest

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The Diatribe performs April 20 at the KDL Kentwood Branch.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Since 1996, April has been National Poetry Month and there is probably no better way to celebrate than by encouraging creativity and developing interest in poetry by hosting a teen poetry contest which is exactly what the Kent District Library will do again this year with its 14th Annal Find Your Voice: 2017 Teen Poetry Contest and Spoken Word Competition.

 

“We truly believe in giving students a place to express their creativity, and the poetry contest is just one of many offerings,” said KDL Kentwood Branch Teen Parapro Greg Lewis.

 

The poetry celebration starts to tonight with a book signing by Fable the Poet at 6:30 p.m. at the KDL Kentwood branch, 4950 Breton SE, which is hosting all of the KDL poetry competition events.

 

Fable the Poet, Kelsey May, Rachel Gleason, Shawn Moore, and G. Foster II make up the local spoken work The Diatribe which partnered with KDL last year to bring a spoken word component to the competition which was a popular addition.

 

“Since KDL’s partnership with The Diatribe began, many students who may not normally speak up, have found a safe comfortable environment in which to participate,” Lewis said. “Last year the Spoken Word competition was an enormous success, loud, raucous, and totally accepting with nearly 40 participants.”

 

The Diatribe will once again conduct workshops in area schools leading up to the event, which Lewis said he believes will help make this year’s event even more exciting.

 

The Find Your Voice: 2017 Teen Poetry Contest and Spoken Word Competition officially kicks off tomorrow when all of the KDL branches will start accepting submissions . Kent County residents in grades 6-12 have until April 30 to submit a poem. Each person may submit up to two poems.

 

All those who submit a poem are eligible to participate in the 2nd Annul Find Your Voice Teen Poetry Slam, which is May 18 at the KDL Kentwood Branch. Twenty winners, 10 in the juried contest and 10 in the spoken word contest, will each receive a $50 Meijer gift card. Juried winners will be notified prior to May 15.

 

To help get things rolling, the Spring into Poetry with The Diatribe, which features a performance by The Diatribe, will be April 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the KDL Kenwood Branch.

 

For complete guidelines for the Fine Your Voice: 2017 Teen Poetry Contest and Spoken Word Competition, click here. For information on other KDL programs, visit www.kdl.org.