Upcoming Ignite Events
Come dream with us about cultivating an equitable community, starting with a vibrant, multi-use space at 1530 Madison Ave SE.
Meet the people, experience the building, and catch a vision for its impact and future.
Come join the Madison Square Neighborhood for a morning of community engagement.
Meet the people, experience the neighborhood, and see the impact that the neighborhood has on it’s community, businesses, and organizations.
What’s the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation?
Together, NAACP GR, Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project, Building Bridges Professional Services, Rising Grinds Café, and Bethany’s Youth Services Department are strategically joining forces to create a multi-use space that becomes the epicenter of community, social innovation, and entrepreneurship done with an economic and equity lens in the urban core of Grand Rapids.
The Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation is located at 1530 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids MI 49507.
How does the Center for Community Transformation Engage in the Community?
GRCCT partners exist with a single mission, to create opportunities for transformation, addressing the lack of accessible employment for young adults and community residents and a lack of structured and consistent approaches to providing inter-agency and cross-sectoral opportunities for the community in a sustainable way.
Transformation happens at the pace of deep relationships
Rising Grinds Café Events & Catering: A neighborhood social enterprise with a café two blocks north of GRCCT, is launching an events and catering division. It will begin providing hospitality training for local residents and youth, scheduling and planning events, and catering community events.
Building Bridges Professional Services: This sustainable social enterprise trains and employs 25 local youth and residents in landscaping and provides discounted services to low income seniors. This successful program has the capacity to double its operation.
Bethany’s Youth Department: This program provides nearly 400 youth, ages 14-24, with mentors, case management, a basketball league, GED, housing support services, education, work experiences, civic engagement, and vocational training
NAACP GR: Celebrating 99 years of advocacy, community organizing, engagement with over 60 youth council members, this local partner will locate its offices in the space and begin expanding its community meetings and advocacy trainings.
GR Nehemiah Project: With the vision “to see all people flourish,” GR Nehemiah Project has celebrated success as the parent company of Rising Grinds Café (est. 2017) and Building Bridges Professional Services (est. 2006), and will incubate and develop additional community based initiatives and social enterprises.
Local Colleges/Universities: The renovated space will be used to further partnerships with local universities to host business, social work, public policy, and community development courses.
Artistic Community Meeting/Conference Space: The renovation will create new community meeting spaces. The event space, with a commercial kitchen can be used for group functions.
Vision Goal
Support
To give to the Ignite Campaign, simply click on the Donate button and enter the amount being given. Contributions will be allocated to the GRCCT building campaign.
Give $10 or more
GRCCT Frisbee
Awesome! Thanks for your support!
Enjoy the dog days of summer by tossing this Frisbee around with both your two legged and four legged friends!
Details:
- 9″ in diameter and weighs 85 grams
- GRCCT Logo displayed
- The disc is made from #5 plastic
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
40
Rewards Left
Give $15 or more
Sticker Pack
Get your hands on our new vinyl sticker pack! Pack includes stickers for the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, Building Bridges, and Rising Grinds Cafe.
Details:
- Includes 3 stickers
- Vinyl
- Weatherproof
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
45
Rewards Left
Give $25 or more
Tritan Water Bottle
Quench your thirst with one of these GRCCT water bottles!
Details:
- 26 oz bottle
- Wide Mouth Enclosure with Screw-on Cap
- Made with Tritan plastic material
- Color Matching Trim
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
50
Rewards Left
Give $30 or more
GRCCT Optimum Pigment-Dyed Cap
Snag one these limited edition caps!
Details:
- 100% garment-washed cotton twill
- Classic low-profile cap is unstructured and features a 6-panel design
- One size fits most
- Adjustable tuck-away leather back strap closure provides a snug, comfy fit
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
36
Rewards Left
Give $35 or more
GRCCT T-Shirt
Be one of the first to get your hands on a limited edition Ignite: The Movement T-shirts.
Details:
- Soft and comfortable fabric
- Available in Heather Navy, Heather Forest, and Heather Maroon
- Sizes XS-2XL
- Screen Printing on both front and back of shirt
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
50
Rewards Left
Give $45 or more
Rise & Grind Club
Drink your delicious, locally roasted coffee out of a one-of-a-kind hand crafted mug made here in Grand Rapids! Because, let’s face it, coffee tastes better out of a cool mug.
Details:
- Direct trade Guatemala San Miguel, light roast, by Ferris Coffee and Nut Co.
- Notes of nutty, cocoa, and apple
- Hand painted ceramic mug
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
20
Rewards Left
Give $50 or more
Cutting Board
Be one of the few to own a (type of wood) cutting board, built by students a part of the Grand Rapids Youth Build cohort.
Details:
- The Wood is a combination of hard maple, cherry, black walnut, purple heart, padauk, zebra wood, and other hard woods as available
- Finished with food safe cutting board oil
- 12″ x 18″
Estimated Delivery
Winter 2019
10
Rewards Left
Give $100 or more
GRCCT Fan Club
You get one of everything to showcase your love for the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation!
Details:
- GRCCT Frisbee
- GRCCT T-Shirt
- GRCCT Cap
- GRCCT Water Bottle
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
23
Rewards Left
Give $200 or more
Lawn Care Service
Have some crew members from Building Bridges Profession Services come for a one time lawn care service to either your home or business.
Details:
- Up to 10,000 sq ft
- Mowing
- Edging
- Trimming
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
2
Rewards Left
Give $250 or more
Name a Menu Item
Rising Grinds will work with you to create a drink or food item and name it after you, for a limited time!
Estimated Delivery
Fall 2018
1
Rewards Left
Give $1,000 or more
Meeting/ Conference Space
You and 25 guests will have access to the meeting/conference space for two hours to host a party, book club, whatever! Access to electricity and WiFi included.
Estimated Delivery
Summer 2019
3
Rewards Left
Give $1,500 or more
Transformative Giver
Get a name recognition on an art piece that will be showcased here at the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation.
Estimated Delivery
Spring 2020
100
Rewards Left
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I support more than one reward?
Yes! You just have to make a separate transaction.
Can I give without receiving a reward?
Yes! Just be sure to make a note on the paypal page that you are not wanting to receive a reward.
Do I receive every reward that falls under the dollar amount donated?
You receive whatever reward you click on to give towards. I.e. if you donate $15 you only receive the sticker pack.
How long will my food item be on the menu?
If you give towards creating and naming a food item on the Rising Grinds Cafe menu, it will stay up on the menu for half a year. If the item ends up being a huge hit, it may stay on the menu longer!
Will you ship me my reward?
We will offer shipping on most rewards, however, we would love for you to come pick it up and see our new space!
Do you send some sort of documentation stating I donated to a non profit organization?
Yes! Be sure to include your contact information when using paypal, so we can send you a thank you and a form for your records stating you gave to a 501(c)3.
If I gave towards the ‘Transformative Giver’ reward, will you notify me of when the art piece is completed?
Yes! You will be invited to come and see the piece and the newly renovated building.