The Future Community Hub in Boston Square!

While we unveiled renderings, reviewed plans and heard invaluable feedback from neighbors for the future community hub, we had so much fun seeing beautiful people, gathering together and connecting over food from Street Chef Shaw, Dee Mobley BBQ and Tish LoveDa Kids Ice Cream Truck. The fun was made complete by neighbor, DJ Blaze, who provided an incredible musical soundscape and spun the best jams from the 90s – 2000s.

Neighbors have voiced their desire to see a community space where they can go and gather for years. The future hub and the organizations that will provide services within it, like the early learning center with Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, were created through a collective design process with neighbors.

This open house was a glimpse into the future of what a designated space to find respite could be like – a living room for the community! The future community hub will also provide a health clinic, multi-purpose room, a community café, shared workspace and a second floor full of agencies and non-profits that will provide wrap-around services to families to increase access to resources and education that will improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.This community hub will be a front porch for the generations of neighbors to come!

Two days following the open house, architects on the project were already working on updates to the hub from the feedback taken from neighbors! Go Team!

Photos provided by: Michelle Smith for True Light Images

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE…the MLK Day Youth Speak 2022 Winners are…

1st Place – Aaron Howard (Age 15)
2nd Place – Samiya Kereny (Age 13)
3rd Place – Malachi Eddie (Age 12)

See all the entries in the video (in no particular order). Congrats to the winners and to all who participated! This is black history in the making! We are so proud of all those who entered and it was a hard decision for the judges who were “wowed” by the 19 incredible entries.

Each participant is welcome to attend the INVITE ONLY meet and greet with dreamer and entrepreneur Duke Turley Jr. of Dreams Take Work. Each participant will also receive a prize! Thanks to Rockford Construction for their partnership in this event.

And a special thanks to our judges who are residents from the neighborhood, and staff from AGR and Rockford Construction (Kim Williams not pictured in the group photo).

 
Neighbors Made All the Difference at “The Future of Local Business in Boston Square”!

If you missed the event or looking for a recap of the resources provided, check out a clickable PDF and a full 2-hour virtual event. The virtual event was held on January 19, 2022 with seven area partner organizations:

Clickable PDF with Resources
Video Recording of Virtual Event

It was the neighbors that made all the difference at the recent Boston Square Together open houses on January 18 and 19, 2022. There was a feeling of excitement from both attendees and partner organizations to connect and engage further. The conversations were thoughtful, sometimes lengthy, but filled with the possibility of growing through partnership!

“The Future of Local Business in Boston Square” hosted nearly 85 attendees that reflected residents from 49507 and beyond. The event focused on specifically engaging neighbors in the 49507 zip code in order to build connections for the future growth of the nearby Boston Square Business District. Seven partner organizations came together and provided a wide range of opportunities to support current and future business owners.

“There was an energy that neighbors brought to each open house,” explained Danielle Williams, director of economic opportunities at Amplify GR. “In turn, representatives from the partner organizations took a lot of time and effort to invest into each person seeking guidance for their next steps in business.”

Three open houses were offered with two in-person at the Old Revolution Church building at 1534 Kalamazoo Ave. and one virtual event on Zoom. Attendees gained resource knowledge from partner organizations, direct connections for the growth of their business/business idea, and met other neighbors looking to grow their businesses as well.

As an extra special feature, there were tasty treats from local black-, brown-, and women-owned businesses available for attendees from Malamazing Juice Co., Jerky Stock Robinson’s Popcorn Daddy’s Dough Cookies and Whispers Cafe.

Community Partner organizations included:

Photo: Two Eagles Marcus Photography

Everyone Could Use a Little More Happy!

With all that’s going on across the globe these days, everyone could use a little more happy! Amplify GR was excited to partner with Kent County Commissioner Monica Sparks, the creative genius behind the Community of Hearts initiative and other community stakeholders to present the Mobile Happy Lights Tour.
 
This is the very first mobile Chromotherapy and relaxation station to offer stress reduction with 9 therapies in one unit. Last week, neighbors at Adams Park Apartments were treated to complimentary 20-minute sessions to help improve their mood, lift productivity and reduce depression and anxiety. “Being in the mobile spa was peaceful, calming and relaxing,” expressed Jacqueline Moore, a resident of Adams Park Apartments. “The sea salts were not only soothing but also helped alleviate arthritic pain in my legs. I had a wonderful experience with the mobile spa!”
 
Adams Park serves seniors ages 62 and older as well as adults (ages 18 and older) with disabilities in the neighborhood we serve. It has been an honor and a privilege to get to know these neighbors by name over time. At the event, we heard some neighbor stories that truly affirmed the need for a little more love and light at a time when many of us are overburdened and unsure. It was amazing to see how positive neighbors responded to this biohack for health and wellness.
 
Special thanks to our friends at the StoreHouse for providing the relaxation gifts and supplies for neighbors to enjoy as they move forward their journeys toward making more time for self-care and relaxation! Learn more about the Mobile Happy Lights Tour here.

 

Are you a neighbor who has a business or wants to start one in Boston Square? There is an event coming up for those who live in 49507 and are interested in meeting organizations that focus on supporting businesses or business ideas. These partners have come together with the goal of growing the Boston Square business district with entrepreneurs already in the area.

Join one of the three open houses on January 18 – 19, 2022 by registering for free at bit.ly/bostonsquarebiz. 

You can choose to be in-person at the old Revolution Church building (1534 Kalamazoo Ave. SE) or virtual for an open house on Zoom.

Whether virtual or in-person, you can speak directly with individuals from:

IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
1534 Kalamazoo Ave. SE (old Revolution Church building)
(Masks required for any vaccination status. Extras will be available.)

IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
1534 Kalamazoo Ave. SE (old Revolution Church building)
(Masks required for any vaccination status. Extras will be available.)

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, January 19, 2022
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
ZOOM (link will be sent upon registration)

Register at bit.ly/bostonsquarebiz

Questions? Email info@bostonsquaregr.org

This event is powered by:

 

 

 

Groundbreaking celebrates the future of nearly 100 jobs coming back to Madison Square
From left, Commissioner Nathaniel Moody, Commissioner Senita Lenear, Jon Ippel (AGR), Andy Shannon (MCPc), Rachel Scott (Rockford Construction), Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, Melissa Fish (Office of Gov. Whitmer), and Sean Walsh (PNC Bank)

Wednesday, July 14, 2021, marked the celebration of two things: The groundbreaking of a beautiful new building coming to 1601 Madison Ave. that sat empty for the last 20+ years. Plus, a pathway that has been widened for neighbors to access good-paying jobs – something that this area used to be known for – as jobs are now coming back to the Madison Square area thanks to MCPc.

“One of the first relationships I made when starting this work was with Mr. Burl McLiechey,” explained Jon Ippel, executive director at Amplify GR at the groundbreaking event for 1601 Madison Ave. “He lives around the corner and has been a resident for more than 60 years… Burl is one person who continuously reminds me that relationship is at the center of everything we do – from jobs and entrepreneurship, housing, education, and community well-being – it’s the relationships that will build community in the long run.”

Jon Ippel, executive director at Amplify GR talks with local media about the significance of the project

Welcome to the neighborhood MCPc! Your commitment to this community and bringing vibrancy and jobs back to 1601 Madison Avenue is a big part of moving forward through relationship.

Check out the news coverage of this big day for the community and more information on the project:

MLive

MiBiz

FOX 17

WOOD-TV

WZZM

THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER

The first Boston Square Fair was a hit! 

“Boston Square is a jewel and we have greatness that needs to be shared!” — Victor Williams, founder of Boston Square Neighborhood Association and longtime resident.

On July 10, 2021, we celebrated that greatness together at the Boston Square Street Fair with hundreds of residents and friends of this area. We also said, “Happy Birthday” to Boston Square Neighborhood Association (BSNA)!

It was incredible to reconnect with neighbors and old friends. Plus, we met many new friends and laughed together around the dunk tank, played chess with all ages, shopped at local vendors, rocked out to local music (some of it in the middle of Kalamazoo Ave.!), and bonded over games and tasty treats.

After being apart for most of the last year, it was fulfilling to see so many beautiful faces again and to celebrate the community. Check out the photos and tag yourself and friends who made the reel provided by photographer Stephen Smith M. Ed.

Thanks to our event partners BSNA and Oakdale Neighbors who teamed up to make this inaugural summer celebration happen!

PHOTOS – BOSTON SQUARE FAIR 2021