On this week's episode, Host Janet Zahn speaks with Guest: Lori Tennenhouse, Artistic Director with the Grand Rapids Women's Chorus.

A highlight of the 30th season for The Grand Rapids Women's Chorus is the Michigan premiere of "Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray" on March 21, 2026, at Fountain Street Church.

This presentation features a 10-movement dramatic cantata following Murray’s life and work and includes the chorus, soloists, special musicians, and many musical styles.

Born in 1910, Pauli Murray was a trailblazing human rights activist, feminist poet, legal scholar, labor organizer, LGBTQI+, and the first recognized Black female Episcopal priest who influenced icons such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall.

Learn more about this special concert on their website: "⁠Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray." ⁠

Online: The Grand Rapids Women's Chorus

In this episode of WYCE’s Community Closeup, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Ben Swayze, Director of Kent County Parks, for a wide-ranging look at how our local parks serve West Michigan year-round.

While the park system is in “hibernation mode” during winter, Ben highlights four-season opportunities—from plowed and groomed trails and year-round restrooms at Millennium Park to cross-country skiing at Kaufman Golf Course and Palmer Park, complete with equipment rentals and heated facilities.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• Upcoming spring improvements at Johnson, Wahlfield, and Chief Hazy Cloud parks.
• Progress on the Grand River Greenway and White Pine Trail connection to Downtown Ada.
• A special Old-Growth Forest Dedication and guided family hike at Lepard Preserve in Caledonia this May.
• Kent County’s regional trail network.
• Volunteer opportunities.
• Park gift cards and printable park maps.
• How to stay connected through the Kent County Parks quarterly newsletter and social media.

Community Closeup is produced in partnership with The Rapidian, our hyperlocal news service of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center.

More online: Kent County Parks Department

In this episode, we welcome Francisco Martinez, Event and Public Relations Officer, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.

The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan is a non-profit organization serving the Latino and broader West Michigan community. The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan is sponsoring the 2026 LatinX Youth Conference, which takes place on March 5, 2026, at the GRCC Ford Fieldhouse.

The focus of this year’s LatinX Youth Conference is to support eighth-grade students as they transition into high school…a critical time when students are exploring who they are, identifying their skills, and building confidence in their knowledge.

The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan’s goal is to support them during this transition, so they feel empowered and prepared to become successful leaders for the future.

This year’s LatinX Youth Conference will include panels on career pathways as well as an interactive expo where students can engage in hands-on activities.

Learn More: Hispanic Center of Western Michigan