Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council

10/13/2026

Thank you, WOOD TV8, for highlighting GGRWHC board member Steff Rosalez and the resources at Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities.

A Grand Rapids organization that started out as a small living room library has grown into two centers on the city’s southwest side that are reshaping the Roosevelt Park and Black Hills neighborhoods one child at a time. (Oct. 12, 2026)

10/08/2026

Summaries of recent Michigan History Conference continue: Carolyn Shapiro-Shapin, GVSU professor of history, discussed Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering, who developed an effective whooping cough vaccine in the 1930s while working at a Michigan Department of Health lab in Grand Rapids. A statue on Michigan Street honors their work: https://catalog.indexprojects.org/sculpturedowntowngr/item/4448

10/06/2026

Our Michigan History Conference presentation summaries continue. GGRWHC board member Sophia Brewer discussed Emma Ford, who, as a member of the Nineteenth Century Club, along with the Grand Rapids Study Club, hosted a statewide conference for Black women’s clubs in Grand Rapids in 1907.

10/02/2026

Our brief summaries of Michigan History Conference presentations continue. Rochelle Danquah, from Oakland University and the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission, discussed Michigan's role in the Underground Railroad (UGRR). Did you know that Cass County has a driving tour of more than 20 UGRR sites? https://www.urscc.org/ugrr-site-driving-tour.html

09/30/2026

There were many great presentations at the 2026 Michigan History Conference, including Delia Fernandez-Jones and Nora Salas, who discussed the Latinx Historical Marker Project. The project will commemorate historical places and events that helped shape Latinx history in Michigan today. Learn more: https://latinocommunitycoalition.org/latinx-historical-marker-project/

09/28/2026

We enjoyed visiting with many of you over the weekend at the Historical Society of Michigan conference at GVSU! Our kudos to conference organizers who curated terrific presenters and planned tours that took participants to all parts of Grand Rapids. 👏

09/22/2026

Join the last of the season Eastown Walking Tours on Sunday afternoon, beginning on Sigsbee Street. Details ⏬️ Eastown Community Association

09/17/2026

We add our congratulations to these outstanding nonprofit leaders, including board member Steff Rosalez 🎉 and to the Steelcase Foundation for recognizing the importance of a sabbatical.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-west-michigan-foundations-launch-first-kent-county-loqhc/

09/10/2026

We thank Lynn Liberato for an informative discussion on the 11 pioneering women who served as delegates to Michigan's 1961 Constitutional Convention. Grand Rapids Public Library League of Women Voters Greater Grand Rapids Area