Women's LifeStyle Magazine, April 2019, Beautiful You

APR 2019

YEARS LOCAL

EE FR

Grand Rapids|Holland|Grand Haven

MEG GOEBEL

WOMAN UP & CELEBRATE

OF CELEBRATING

WOMEN

Ten Ways to Feel Beautiful Physical Acceptance and Wellness “I Started Wearing Makeup at Age 33”

BEAUTIFUL

Clockwise from top: A selection of blocks by Uncle Goose Plush bunnies by JellyCat Children’s books by a wide range of authors Rattle by Kid-O

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Contents PUBLISHER Two Eagles Marcus ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Roxanne O’Neil EXECUTIVE PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Carole Valade EDITOR Elyse Wild editor@womenslifestyle.com PRODUCTION DESIGNER Larissa Espinosa EDITORIAL INTERN Moya Tobey CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allison Arnold Cindy Bouma Elyse Wild Kayla Sosa Moya Tobey Samantha Suarez COLUMNISTS Erick Gerson Kelsey Emmanuel Kelsey McCracken Laura Youells Leonica Erwin Melinda Myers PHOTOGRAPHY David Specht Two Eagles Marcus ADVERTISING SALES sales@womenslifestyle.com Sarah Anderson Eve Shetterly CALL (616) 458-2121 EMAIL info@womenslifestyle.com MAIL 3500 3 Mile Rd NW, Ste A Grand Rapids, MI 49534 IN MEMORIAM Victoria Ann Upton, Founder 1955 - 2018 To extend an uplifting, inclusive and vibrant invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community.

April 2019 Edition #253

womenslifestyle.com FEATURES

32

What Your Favorite Drink Says about You

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

28

From Farm to Tatoo: Tater Tats Gets Kids Excited About Eating Vegetables

31

Recipes

7 Physical Acceptance and Wellness 8 Ten Ways to Feel Beautiful This April 10 My Adult Beauty Journey: I Started Wearing Makeup at Age 33 12 Getting that Workout Glow: How Exercise Makes You Beautiful 14 Oh, Make Me Over! with Erick Gerson 17 Haven Skincare and Massage: A Trauma Sensitive Spa Experience

LIFE AND STYLE

20 Integrate Natural Elements into Your Interior 22 From Garden to Bouquet: Growing Your Own Cut Flowers

26

FOOD AND DINING

A Legal State: Women in Marijuana

31 Recipes: Pecans, Please 32 What Your Favorite Drink Says about You

LEARN & DO

20

Integrate Natural Elements into Your Interior

10

My Beauty Journey: I started Wearing Makeup at Age 33

ABOUT THE COVER: Meg Goebel is the president of the Paul Goebel Insurance Group, and is bring honored this month at the Michigan Women Forward Woman Up & Celebrate luncheon on April 18. Read more about Meg on page 24.

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24 Michigan Women Forward Honors Meg Goebel and India Manns 26 A Legal State: Women in Marijuana Give Their Perspective on Michigan’s Green Frontier 28 From Farm to Tattoo: Tater Tats Gets Kids Excited about Eating Vegetables 29 Grand Rapids Co-Op Find Possible Home

34 Reader’s Lounge 35 Her Legacy: Valeria Lipczynski 37 Faces and Places 38 April Events 39 Event Spotlight: The AHA Encourages Healthy Family Lifestyles at the Grand Rapids Heart Ball 40 Event Spotlight: “Extremely Close” by the Grand Rapids Ballet 41 Event Spotlight: 21st Annual Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Gala

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

From the Editor CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: ELLE YARED, ELYSE WILD, ERICK GERSON AND ERICA BYERS PELTON

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elcome to our April edition, “Beautiful You.” Within these pages you will find articles about how to nourish your authentic-self in your wellness practice; a moving reflection on one woman’s relationship with makeup; an inspiring makeover from renowned makeup artist Erick Gerson; the science behind how working out can make you positively glow; and a profile on one locally owned spa that specializes in a trauma-sensitive approach to skincare and massage.

Some of the best things in life are free! including

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine!

Thank you to our community advertising partners for making it possible.

ONLINE ONLY CONTENT We have too much great content to fit it in all in the print edition every month.

Please visit womenslifestyle.com for exclusive online content featuring:

Additionally, we celebrate two women who have waged major impacts on Grand Rapids, India Manns and Meg Goebel. Both women are being honored at Michigan Women Forward’s Woman Up & Celebrate luncheon. Our newest writer, Allison Arnold, spoke with Manns and Goebel to bring us an inside look at what inspires them in their work to better our community.

On page 28, we introduce you to Jenna Weiler, founder of Tater Tats, a company that makes vegetables cool through temporary tattoos and elevates small farmers across the country. Read up on the latest from the Grand Rapids Co-Op, which is closer than ever to opening its doors and bringing true community ownership to the downtown area. In, “A Legal State,” we talked to four different women who work in various capacities in marijuana to get their take on what legalization means for our city and our state.

As always, we invite you to participate in the best of our community with the events calendar on page 38. Get excited for another stunning display of the arts with “Extremely Close” by the Grand Rapids Ballet. Two outstanding fundraisers are taking place this month, giving you the opportunity to enjoy an altruistic night out: The Junior Diabetes Research Foundation’s 21st Annual Promise Gala: Carnivale for a Cure and the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball.

Haircare with Stylist Joanne Riley

Veteran hair stylist and owner of the Team Healthy Hair Product Line shares her top tips for gorgeous hair.

Recycling in West Michigan Learn how to recycling almost everything in your home.

Happy reading, Grand Rapids!

-Elyse Wild, Editor Beer City Dogs

Local nonprofit provides vocational training and employment for adults with developmental disabilities.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Read previous editions online at WomensLifeStyle.com

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Women’s LifeStyle is a dynamic multi-media platform designed to make beneficial connections in our community. The positive, upbeat, award winning and popular locally owned publication is supported by a dynamic mobile friendly online presence and an interactive website (including an events calendar, embedded video), as well as friendly, helpful and consistent social media interaction with the community. With 490+ distribution locations, Women’s LifeStyle is favored by an active, engaged and progressive audience. You are now looking at the 253rd edition. All content ©Women’s LifeStyle, Inc. 2019.

Julianna Buck, Roboticist

We talk to a WMU Robotics Team member about qualifying for the World Championship

FEB 2019

MAR 2019

Dr. Kristy Todd Mitigating the Risk Factors of Heart Disease

History on the Bench: 17 T H C I R C U I T C O U R T J U D G E

JUDGE CHRISTINA ELMORE WOMENʼS HISTORY MONTH | SOLDADERA COFFEE | LAUGHFEST | EMBODY THE STARS

Matters of the

Heart

American Heart Association Go Red for Women Heart Health Tips SPONSORED BY

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Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Beautiful You Sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Growing Roots

Growing Roots is a farm that provides a natural setting for those with developmental or cognitive challenges, such as autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, mental illness and cognitive impairments. There are many ways to volunteer on the farm, as well as donate money to the cause. The organization’s main needs, listed on the website, are help with spreading the word and funding for future programming. Head to wegrowroots.org to learn more and fill out a volunteer application.

Pursuing a Dream Foundation

This organization is combining recreational activities for children, teens and adults with disabilities in hopes of making a more accessible and empowering world for everyone. They seek to break barriers for those with disabilities by hosting events and activities, such as fishing, shoot-outs, pheasant, turkey and deer hunts, salmon charters, hiking and beach trips. To become a volunteer for the foundation’s upcoming fishing event in May, visit pursuingadream.org.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore

Empower the next generation of women through Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore. The organization seeks to teach young girls “courage, confidence and character” through team-building activities, outdoor education, earning badges, selling cookies, going on trips, learning about science and doing community service projects. Volunteer to help girls sell cookies, assist with transportation or other activities and more. Learn how you can contribute at gsmists.org.

4-H Tech Wizards

Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards is a nonprofit seeking to connect youth with mentors in the fields they are interested in, specifically the STEAM fields: science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. When youth sign up, they must commit to one year and two hours a week of programming. Anyone who is interested in sharing knowledge with the future generation of workers is encouraged to volunteer. Visit the Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards Facebook page for more information.

Camp Blodgett

Camp Blodgett is seeking to give every kid the summer camp experience through scaling summer camp fees and free annual school programs in Kent and Ottawa counties. There are many ways to help the camp’s operation, whether volunteers want to share a special skill, like put on an educational or artistic workshop, or fill any need, like cleaning up the property or a cabin, there’s room for helping hands.

To get started, visit campblodgett.org/volunteer.html.

“Together with community partners, we a

Be a Rose is a nonprofit organization in greater Grand Rapids founded Diana Sieger, President with the singular purpose of empowering women. Its mission is to provide health and wellness education to underserved women and school-age girls and to distribute hygiene products to these populations at zero cost. Be a Rose is not alone on this journey. Various organizations — food pantries, homeless shelters, transitional homes, domestic abuse shelters, public schools and refugee agencies — are working together to end period poverty, improve reproductive and physical health for each marginalized person through committed service and advocacy. Be a Rose is also a ministry of global health in the lives of girls in our partner school Paul Mbiu Primary in rural Kenya. Be a Rose is humbled to continue to expand its capacity and reach into communities with often-forgotten groups struggling to manage menstruation and end period poverty in Grand Rapids.

“I enjoy being a part of a support system for women and girls in our community. With the work we do, we are giving women the opportunity to be empowered and reach further heights.” - Kristina Anderson, Student Affairs and Community Partnership Coordinator

“Together with community partners, we are extending our reach to provide hope and opportunity for everyone in Kent County.”

Diana Sieger, President

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Learn more at grfoundation.org Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Health & Beauty

BY SHAHAD ALZAIDAN

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How Messages of Wellness Can Stand in Contrast to Self-Care

ellness, or the state of being in good health, particularly when actively sought after, has become a popular endeavor. While achieving “wellness” is a noble pursuit, it has been undermined by damaging subliminal messaging with a heavy focus on the physical. These detrimental messages dictate that you must look a certain way, whether that means wearing certain styles of clothing, possessing a particular body shape, or holding a specific socioeconomic status, in order to participate in wellness activities. By beginning to dismantle some of the dangerous hidden messages surrounding the wellness world, we can begin to discover what it means to find physical acceptance, and ultimately, truly feel well.

THE PERFECT YOGI

With a myriad of evidence-based benefits such as anxiety relief and increased flexibility, yoga is a wellness seeker’s dream activity. While this ancient practice combines physical, mental and spiritual disciplines, in the Western world we heavily focus on the physical practice of yogic postures.

If you don’t currently do yoga, what comes to mind when you think of it? The pervasive image is that of a slender female, often white and blonde-haired, with extreme range of motion and flexibility. She is usually outfitted in the trendiest athletic wear, and contorted in different postures against beautiful backdrops. It is important to note that there is no shame in fitting these parameters. However, it is even more important to point out that these parameters should not be used as the measure of achievement we must aim for in order to obtain wellness. The way we approach yoga is a prime illustration of how an activity intended to increase holistic wellness, can be twisted to fulfill a harmful societal narrative focused on the physical.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

STRONG IS NOT THE NEW SKINNY

One of the most popular wellness campaigns that have recently emerged is the quest for strength. This stemmed as a rebuttal to the “skinny above all else” epidemic. While upon first glance this saying might seem positive- after all, strength is an admirable trait- upon examination, we can see why this type of messaging is problematic and still rooted in diet culture. This saying is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at creating yet another construct for our bodies to fit into. It still works by objectifying our bodies and loses sight of the fact that our physical strength is not a determinant of our worth.

“When we move beyond the physical expression of wellness, we can dig into the practices that serve us most.

Furthermore, it continues the focus on the external, forgetting the fact that people can possess formidable strength and not look a specific way. Aside from the fact that strength is a relative measure, when we focus on the external, we put conditions on our self-love and acceptance. Now, instead of being skinny enough to be worthy, we must be strong enough to be worthy. Same story, different characters.

There is nothing wrong with having physical goals and pursuing them. It is admirable to challenge yourself, to be dedicated to a physical practice, reaching further than what your perceived limits led you to believe

you could reach. However, the intentionality behind these actions is crucial. An act motivated by self-love affects our overall well-being much differently than one carried out of shame. To buy into the “strong is the new skinny” fad means we must be strong enough to be acceptable, which is simply false. Your body’s strength will ebb and flow with life’s cycles, and you are complete and whole no matter how physically strong you are.

WELLNESS THAT SERVES US

Your physicality is not the price you must pay to participate in pursuing holistic health. When we move beyond the physical expression of wellness, we can dig into the practices that serve us most. Instead of self-care being heavily focused on the external, it can venture into the shadow side of ourselves, into the spaces that need healing the most. Self-care can look messy and not feel so great. It can mean poking at our wounds in an attempt to awaken parts of us that have not been tended to in a long time. Self-care can happen in the quiet moments, in the spaces of grief, trauma, and pain. To search beyond the physical will lead us much further into the wellness world than focusing on the external ever could.

The next time you pursue an activity to get you closer to your wellness goals, pause for a moment and check in. Where is the motivation coming from?

When it comes from a place of love, compassion and acceptance, then you can be assured that you are honoring yourself. The more we begin to recognize these messages, no matter how camouflaged they are, the more empowered we will be to participate in activities that are for our highest good.

An immigrant living in the heart of Grand Rapids, “Shoosh” is a practitioner of mindful living and a believer in the healing and transformative powers of love, kindness and dance.

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Health & Beauty

10 Ways to Feel Beautiful In

APRIL

1 4

Smile and laugh often.

Be positive and appreciate your life.

Show compassion and forgiveness.

BY PEACHES MCCAHILL

3

Do not engage in meaningless gossip.

5

Listen. You have two ears and one mouth.

Feed your body with healthy foods.

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“Beautiful people don’t just happen.”

Remain playful.

Wash your face with ethically-made, organic products.

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8

2

Beauty is evaluated both inside and out. You must especially focus inward.

Here are some simple thoughts to help magnify your beautiful self.

-Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Stay in your lane and stop competing with others.

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8

6

Give of yourself and your resources.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peaches McCahill is founder and president of The McCahill Group, a leading provider of health, wellness, beauty and talent solutions, and owner of M Power Studio. She has a passion to inspire others with simplistic lifestyle suggestions.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Health & Beauty

My Adult Beauty Journey: I Started Wearing Makeup at Age 33

BY LEONICA ERWIN

I

didn’t start wearing makeup until I was 33 years old. I wasn’t allowed to wear it growing up. The only lesson my mother taught me about makeup is that it is hard to find colors to match my brown skin, and it will make me age faster. I remember sneaking to wear lipstick once when I was 12. I got it from my friend Sarah, who was white. It was a light pink color that matched her complexion. I thought I wiped it off with a Kleenex before I got home, but I didn’t do a good job. My mom yelled at me and told me to look at myself in the mirror. I was shocked to see that the pale pink color didn’t look as pretty on my complexion as it did on Sarah’s. In fact, I looked like a clown. It was a blow to my self-esteem even though my mom assured me that I didn’t need any makeup.

She finally gave me permission to wear eyeliner when I was 16-years-old. By that time, makeup was overrated. I wore eyeliner and played around with lipstick, but it wore off so quickly that it was pointless.

I focused instead on establishing my family and my career. My goals were way more important than my looks.

I’m a driven and determined individual, so I achieved most of the goals I set for myself at a young age.

By the time I was 33, it was time for me to identify some new aspirations. I decided I wanted to learn how to do my makeup. I was timid at first; I didn’t know where to start. I knew I wanted to make sure I avoided products with harsh and unhealthy chemicals.

I also didn’t want to be one of those women who was critiqued for wearing too much makeup.

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I only watched someone apply a full face of makeup more than a few times. Using the Internet, I started researching how to apply it and practiced on myself. It was so much fun. I experimented with eyeshadow first, using YouTube and Instagram reviews to find products and try different techniques.

“I can draw beauty, happiness and peace on my own face, even when I cannot bring it to those dealing with the hardships in life.”

I gained a new appreciation for makeup as an art. It’s more than smearing some color on your face: it takes skill. You have to have a vision that complements your facial features without turning you into a different person. As an older aspiring makeup artist, I know that eyesight is as important as your vision for your look— you literally have to be able to see what you’re doing. I’ve worn prescription eyeglasses since I was 6, so trying to put on makeup was a humbling experience for me.

If I don’t wear contacts, I have to get very close to my mirror, which is already magnified three times.

At first, I asked myself if I was too old to venture into the world of makeup, and I actually felt sad at the thought of not trying. I told myself, “If I really were a real artist, I would use my fingers to paint a picture on canvas even if I were blind. Why should my aging eyes stop me from learning and practicing a skill that gives me pleasure?”

At one point on my journey, I realized that applying eye shadow was giving me both an emotional and creative release. I felt a little more powerful and confident when my eyes sparkled. I found myself buying all kinds of colorful and glittery palettes.

I stocked up on brushes for applying, blending, shimmering and lining. I fell absolutely head over heals in love with mascara. I started getting my eyebrows groomed.

Makeup allows me to escape reality while creating a new me. I can draw beauty, happiness and peace on my own face, even when I cannot bring it to those dealing with hardships in life. Looking good and feeling good helps me make the world a better place. I can play with my makeup and become art. I am art, and what a wonderful discovery that is to make later in life.

Leonica Erwin is a natural hair advocate and blogger.

She writes about her hair journey at dalovelee1.com.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Health & Beauty

Getting That Workout Glow:

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HOW EXERCISE MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL

fter you are finished working out, do you notice that your skin gives off a certain natural glow? Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; when you workout, your blood circulation increases and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. Those oxygen and nutrients repair damaged skin, increase collagen production and produce natural oils. When we exercise, the oils produced by our skin acts as a natural moisturizer.

Thus, your skin ends up feeling supple, hydrated and glamorized.

Another side effect of exercise that we take for granted is sweating. Being sweaty might not be the most appealing thing, but it’s one of our body’s best ways to detoxify. It especially helps our body’s largest organ (the skin!) flush out toxins that can cause clogged pores and acne. Once those toxins have been purged to the skin’s surface, it is important to clean them off. Even though you might want to keep that workout glow for tonight’s dinner date, I recommend using cleansing wipes or taking a shower right after your workouts because stale sweaty skin is an ideal home for acne.

PRE AND POST WORKOUT CLEANSING

Working out with a full face of makeup is an unpleasant environment for your pores. Once your pores open up, they won’t get the ventilation they

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BY KELSEY EMMANUEL

need, and bacteria will get trapped under your makeup.

Carrying face wipes to clean off a majority of your makeup before exercising will help your skin be able to breathe. Some people feel more confident when they wear makeup during workouts. In that case, stick to non-comedogenic makeup and lighter products, such as powders.

When we exercise, the oils produced by our skin acts as a natural moisturizer.

Thus, your skin ends up feeling supple, hydrated, and glamorized.”

Showering right after you workout is the best way to cleanse your body of all of the toxins it just sweat out. But if you are in a time crunch and have only 30-minutes to fit in a workout, then this is where face and body wipes can come in handy. Wiping down your skin after a workout is much better than letting sweat linger on your skin for hours.

SWEAT TO DESTRESS

Exercise is a stress-reducer. Everyone has different levels of cortisol in their body which is the body’s stress hormone. High levels of cortisol can cause poor sleep quality, skin breakouts, and decreased collagen production. When we exercise, our body naturally releases hormones called endorphins. Endorphins trigger the positive feeling that you have after workouts. Endorphins help combat those high cortisol levels and can leave you with better beauty sleep and looking refreshed in the morning. Because endorphins are a mood booster, workouts can start you off on the right foot by feeling more confident and motivated for the day’s agenda.

Always remember that confidence is the best kind of beauty.

HAPPY SWEATS!

Kelsey Emmanuel is a certified CrossFit Level 1 trainer. Follow along with her workout tips and tutorials on Instagram @kelsey. emmanuel and on Facebook at Kelsey’s Health Journey.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Health & Beauty

Oh,

Make Me Over!

ELLE YARD, ERICK GERSON AND ERICA BYERS PELTON

MAKEUP BY ERICK GERSON/ E.G.MAKEUP LLC | HAIR BY ELLE YARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

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elcome to Oh, Make Me Over! A beauty column in partnership with renowned makeup artist Erick Gerson. Each quarter, we will pick a random winner from a number of entries on Facebook to receive an exclusive makeover by Gerson. This month’s winner was Erica Byers Pelton, an extraordinary woman who has overcome insurmountable challenges through the power of positivity.

To enter the next makeover contest, visit our Facebook page (facebook.com/WLMAG) on April 4 for entry details.

BEFORE ERICA BYERS PELTON AND HER HUSBAND, CURTIS PELTON

AFTER

ERICA’S STORY Twenty-Five years ago, Erica Byers Pelton was in a car parked at an Meijer with four of her friends. One of her friends pulled out a gun and began waving it around. Moments later, just as Byers Pelton said she was getting out of the car, she saw a flash of fire from the muzzle. The bullet pierced her neck, missing her jugular vein and vertebral artery by 1 mm. At 17, she was paralyzed from the neck down. Byers Pelton has experienced a slew of health problems and undergone countless surgeries since the shooting; and she faces each challenge with gratitude for the miracle of her survival. When she was 19, Erica met Curtis, the love of her life.

They married four years later and have raised a beautiful family together. On the day of her makeover, the couple was celebrating the 25th anniversary of Byers Pelton’s accident, the day that marked the beginning of her new life.

To read more about Erica Byers Pelton’s story and her work to better accessibility for wheelchair users in our community, pick up our June Edition.

PRODUCTS USED: Face O MAC Studio Fix-Concealer Kryolan Pro Concealer O Eyes: Viseart Eyeshadow Palette O Cheeks: Nars Creme Stick and Powder Blush In Orgasm.

O Lips Stila All Day Wear lipstick in Patina O Eyebrows Jane Iredale pencil O Setting powder Kat Von D translucent powder and Fix plus setting spray by Mac Cosmetics.

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Hair by Elle Yared/ Rubies Salon O Surface Theory Styling Spray O Surface Push Powder O Surface Shift Shaping Wax O Surface Theory Firm Styling Spray O Surface Bassu Shine Spray

Erick Gerson is a makeup artist from Mexico. He has won consecutive wedding makeup awards, appeared on TV shows and been published in magazines all over the world.

To connect with him, visit erickmakeup.com or check out his Instagram @erickmakeup.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Health & Beauty REAGAN REYNOLDS, OWNER OF HAVEN SKINCARE AND MASSAGE

Haven Skincare and Massage: A Trauma Sensitive Spa Experience

BY MOYA TOBEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

T

he stress of everyday life piles on with each passing day. The burden of incomplete projects or unsatisfied supervisors can be challenging for anyone.

Finding a way to relieve that stress can be equally difficult. Haven Skincare and Massage (4829 E Beltline Ave NE Suite 302) offers a safe place to find that much needed time for relaxation.

As soon as you walk in the door, your body begins to unwind and your mood lifts. The space is dimly lit to provide a comfortable atmosphere, and all clients are asked to leave their shoes at the door and are provided with a pair of slippers. A few steps further lead into the waiting room where a complimentary foot wash is given before every appointment. When owner Reagan Reynolds opened Haven on February 20, she did so with the intent to offer much more than a spa experience to the women who walk through the door.

“I started to realize that so many women who were coming through as clients were dealing with [abuse and trauma] too,” Reynolds explained.

As a woman who has also dealt with emotional abuse and trauma, Reynolds felt under-resourced, and she doesn’t want that to be the case for other women. In the waiting room of Haven, there is a table with pamphlets from organizations like Safe Haven Ministries and local therapists. Getting treatments at the spa can lead to personal and revealing conversations and while

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Reynold’s therapists aren’t licensed counselors, they can at least point women who may need some help to someone who can assist them.

Haven creates a safe atmosphere for women who have been traumatized or abused, by giving them choices.

For instance, many spas will use specific scents for each treatment. At Haven, all lotions are unscented, then based on the client’s preference a variety of scents can be added. For people who have experienced trauma, certain scents can act as triggers, and Reynold’s wants to avoid causing that to happen. She explains that being in an abusive relationship can often lead to not being able to make decisions for yourself, so just letting the women they serve have a choice of what scent they want, or if they would rather stay clothed for a massage, can make a huge difference.

Haven client Ellen Adams testifies to the experience Reynolds set out to create.

“I think it’s that dual role of Haven as not only being a spa for women who walk in there but also doing good in the world, and that makes my heart happy,” Adams expressed.

Some of Reynold’s future plans for Haven include hosting a pop-up self-defense class for women and helping as many people as she can.

Learn more about Haven at havengr.com.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

19

Life & Style

Incorporating Natural Elements into Your Home Decor

H

umans feel at ease in nature, so it makes sense to bring what makes us feel most peaceful into our homes, right? Bringing the outside in doesn’t mean your home needs to look like a lodge up north - incorporating elements of your outdoor surroundings will do the trick.

If you often find yourself trying to relax in your home but can’t seem to let your eyes rest on anything, it’s probably because there is a lack of softness and greenery. Use a critical eye to examine your décor.

Does that bookshelf feel stark? Is the mantle looking a little lifeless? There’s no need to completely gut and start over with these surfaces, just add a fern stem to the vase or a potted plant next to the collection of books. Small potted succulents are not only very popular in home décor, but are also useful to fill a bare spot that “just needs one more thing.” Play around with how you group things; remember the rule of grouping in odd numbers. Incorporating wood bookends can create a high-end look while still adding a natural aspect. The greenery you decide to use can be a whole new textural element that you haven’t considered before. You’ve already mastered mixing patterns and textures in your accents, but now choosing an airy fern for a vase, a sturdy potted succulent and a spikey

20

BY KELSEY MCCRACKEN

grassy plant adds depth and contrasting texture to your composition.

“Layering in small and large amounts of natural texture is important for achieving that peaceful environment for which we all strive.”

Many people think because they have wood floors they shouldn’t add any more wood elements to a room; however, most room designs with hardwood floors will include a rug to anchor the furniture. So go ahead and add a wood coffee table or a live edge wooden bench in the entryway. Softer elements, like rugs, break up what could be thought of as “too much” wood and make it much easier to incorporate additional wood tones. Additionally, the pieces you add don’t need to have that “just chopped it down out back” look if that’s

not your style. Choose something with a glossier finish and a metal leg for an elevated, cleaner design. The important thing is that you’ve chosen something made by nature, and not by a machine!

Layering in small and large amounts of natural texture is important for achieving that peaceful environment for which we all strive. Need a big change? Try a grasscloth wallpaper as an accent. Whether you cover just one wall to which you want to draw attention or put it above wainscoting, it’ll bring in the components for a more calming home. Some fairly effortless ways to get the desired natural look can be through a jute or other natural material rug or a textured fuzzy pillow.

From a full on lodge interior to a sleek design, natural materials enhance any space. Adding this softer characteristic doesn’t need to be daunting because it can be achieved in small steps.

Kelsey is an Interior Designer at Stonesthrow Furniture, and graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with a BFA in Interior Design.

She has a passion for historical home preservation and mixing multiple colors and textures in the spaces she designs for her clients.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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21

Life & Style

From Garden to Bouquet – Growing Your Own Cut Flowers

K

eep your flower vases filled all summer long with beautiful blossoms picked right from your own garden and containers. Growing seeds, plants and tender bulbs that can double as cut flowers makes it easy to create casual, fresh-cut bouquets for your dinner table, guest room or to share with family and friends.

For early spring flowers, look to spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils, and cool weather annuals like pansies and snapdragons.

Clipping branches from trees and shrubs such as forsythia, quince and daphne is another good way to bring spring into your home. Your perennial garden can provide bleeding heart, iris, hellebores, peonies and much more.

If the selection in your spring garden is limited, strike up a trade with a friend. Pick some of theirs in the spring and share some of yours in the summer. Then make a note to add more spring-blooming bulbs and perennials to your landscape.

Gladiolas and dahlias add pizazz to summer and fall bouquets. These spring-planted bulbs combine nicely with other summer flowers and continue to

22

BY MELINDA MYERS

bloom well after other flowers have faded in the heat of late summer.

The flower-packed spikes of gladiolas are available in a rainbow of colors that will inspire your creativity.

These inexpensive bulbs are easy to plant and take up very little space. Pop them into containers, flowerbeds or even your vegetable garden. Start planting in midspring and continue every two weeks until midsummer for months of colorful flower spikes.

With dahlias, you can choose from dozens of different flower sizes, flower styles and colors. For easy, eyecatching bouquets, plant a color-themed blend such as the Sugar Plum Mix from Longfield Gardens. Another option is to select colors that will harmonize with flowers that are already in your gardens such as phlox, sunflowers, asters and lilies.

Hybrid lilies are perennial garden favorites as well as fabulous cut flowers. Plant the bulbs of Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies and Oriental-trumpet lilies in spring, for color and fragrance that lasts all summer long. To ensure months of flowers, be sure to plant a few bulbs of each type of lily.

Annuals play an essential role in any cut flower garden.

Extend your budget by starting zinnias, sunflowers,

larkspur and cosmos from seed, and supplement with greenhouse-grown transplants of snapdragons, celosia, amaranth and statice.

Foliage can elevate an ordinary homegrown bouquet from good to great, and your garden can provide all sorts of interesting options. Incorporate the leaves of perennials such as hosta, baptisia, artemesia and sage as well as flower farmer favorites such as bells of Ireland, bupleurum and dusty miller. Shrubs such as ninebark, boxwood, viburnum and holly are another source of attractive foliage and some offer colorful berries as well.

Cutting and arranging flowers is a fun way to exercise your creativity and bring the beauty of your garden indoors. The more you do it, the easier it gets, and you’ll soon be sharing your flowers with friends, neighbors, family, coworkers and everyone who stops by.

Melinda Myers has written numerous books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Her web site is MelindaMyers.com.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

23

Michigan Women Forward Honors

MEG GOEBEL and INDIA MANNS

A

BY ALLISON ARNOLD PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

motivational celebration of women and achievement will take place at Woman Up & Celebrate, held on April 18. Hosted by Michigan Women Forward (MWF), the luncheon is MWF’s largest fundraiser of the year and will honor two instrumental women in the community, Meg Goebel and India Manns, with the Women of Achievement and Courage Awards. According to Judy Welch, Executive Director of MWF, the organization has honored more than 140 women across the state.

There is no question when it comes to the two honorees and their commitment to making positive change. The words “achievement” and “courage” epitomize their attitude and life’s work.

Meg Goebel has exemplified strong leadership skills as president of the Paul Goebel Group since 1994 when she bought the insurance agency, which was built by her father in the 1930s. She is involved with a number of boards and organizations, including Planned Parenthood and Broadway Grand Rapids.

Meg Goebel

“Meg Goebel has been a long time supporter of the Michigan Women’s Foundation and also Power of 100 Women”" Welch said. “Meg has done so much for the community.”

India Manns has been an active member of the Grand Rapids community since she moved here in 2013. She currently serves on 19 boards and committees statewide.

“We love that she is all about being an advocate for diversity and inclusion,” Welch expressed. “When she came here that was her mission and passion.”

We spoke with both honorees to learn what drives them in their profound efforts to better our community.

“Equality and fairness are important to me. Everything that I do...it’s always about equity and fairness because it should be a level playing field and everybody should be given a shot.

— India Manns

India Manns

Editor’s Note: Manns was featured on the January 2018 cover of Women’s LifeStyle Magazine. To read more about her, go to womenslifestyle.com.

24

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Q&A

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine: Why is MWF important to you?

Meg Goebel: Well, one of the major things that makes it important is it’s the only foundation in Michigan where the funding goes only to women and girls. I think that in our day and time that’s kind of a nice thing because they’re the only one out there in Michigan that does specifically that.

IM: [Christina Arnold, founding director of The Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion], is quite the inspiration...I admire people who tend to forge on in very difficult situations and the fact that she’s born and raised here — we know what the climate is like now, and I can only image 15, 20, 30 years ago or so and what the challenges would have been. [I admire] all that she’s done and achieved and how she constantly pushes forward regardless of the obstacles.

India Manns: The first year I went they were trying to raise money to get all of those rape kits processed. I was so moved just by that and years later you hear about the success.

WLM: What is your favorite book?

WLM: What advice would you give to young women?

IM: It’s called Who Moved My Cheese.

MG: Find something that rocks your world, that makes you passionate.

Visit miwf.org/events1/womanupandcelebrate for ticket information for Woman Up & Celebrate.

IM: I would definitely tell them to follow their heart, to be brave. A lot of times we try to go for the safe road and not necessarily the easy road, but the safe road.

MG: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

WLM: What are you most passionate about?

MG: I’ve had a long term relationship with Planned Parenthood. I’ve always been a big advocate of reproductive freedom...I’m passionate about art, I’ve collected art since the mid-80s...and education.

IM: Equality and fairness are important to me. Everything that I do...it’s always about equity and fairness because it should be a level playing field and everybody should be given a shot.

WLM: Are there any women who give you inspiration?

MG: All the time. Not just national figures...Cecile Richards was somebody who I looked up to as the CEO of Planned Parenthood. I thought what a brave thing for anyone to do, but locally we have some amazing women.

Find something that rocks your world, that makes you passionate.” —Meg Goebel

Meg Goebel in front of her collection of Broadway Grand Rapids posters. Broadway GR is one of the many boards she sits on.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

25

A Legal State:

Women in Marijuana Give Their Perspective on Michiganʼs Green Frontier

O

n November 6, Michigan voters came to the polls in record numbers, showing up 4.3 million strong, the highest turnout for a midterm election in the state in nearly 50 years. Their collective voice reverberated across the ballot as they elected the state’s second woman governor, the first openly LBTQ+ person elected statewide and passed the Marijuana Legalization Initiative (Proposal 1), making the Mitten State the 10th in the country to legalize recreational marijuana.

Proposal 1 passed by more than half-a-million votes and legalizes recreational use and possession for persons 21 years of age or older and enacts a tax on marijuana sales.

On its face, Proposal 1 may seem to be a win for those who like to indulge now and again without the fear of prosecution; but it could be the foundation for creating modern and equitable drug laws and ensuring that our most vulnerable populations face one less barrier in accessing secure housing, employment and food stability. Additionally, according to various reports, it could bring about annual tax revenue in excess of $130 million.

We talked to local four women who work or volunteer in cannabis-related fields and got their take on what legalization could mean for our city.

BY ELYSE WILD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

THE ADVOCATE

Tami VandenBerg is the co-owner of The Meanwhile and The Pyramid Scheme and the former executive director of Well House, a nonprofit that provides lowcost housing for people experiencing homelessness.

A long-time advocate for legalizing marijuana, she is a board member of MILegalize, an organization established in 2015 to work toward statewide legalization. On November 6, VandenBerg was in Detroit with nearly 100 other cannabis activists, some who had worked for decades to bring about the sea change they were witnessing.

“I’ll never forget it as long as I live,” VandenBerg expressed as she described watching the numbers come in when it became clear that Michigan voters were going to end marijuana prohibition and usher the state into a new era.

Prior to becoming a business owner, VandenBerg was a social worker and frequently came across people who had limited or no access to state sponsored resources due to a marijuana charge on their record.

“I saw it over and over again,” she said. “People coming through the door, disproportionately people of color, and I would try to get them jobs and subsidized housing, and having a marijuana charge on their record made that really hard.”

VandenBerg began digging, determined to solve the problem from the root. What she unearthed convinced her that ending marijuana prohibition would be vital to elevating underserved communities.

“What I found was that a lot of what people think about pot, there is no scientific bases for,” she said.

TAMI VANDENBERG, CO-OWNER OF THE MEANWHILE AND THE PYRAMID SCHEME AND BOARD MEMBER OF MILEGALIZE

26

Historically, minority communities have been the most deeply impacted by marijuana prohibition. A 2013 study by the ACLU found that whites and blacks used marijuana at nearly the same rates, but blacks were nearly four times more likely to be arrested on marijuana-related charges. VandenBerg notes that approximately 20,000 people a year are arrested across the state for marijuana-related offenses, and she is thrilled that such a large number of people will no longer be negatively impacted in such a way.

“That is a giant win,” VandenBerg expressed. “My second hope is that we are going to get expungements, so people with charges no longer have to deal with that when they apply for housing and assistance. Those things alone will be extremely helpful for all of us.”

In July of 2018, the City Commission approved an ordinance allowing medical marijuana in Grand Rapids, ten years after voters passed a statewide ballot initiative that established a medical cannabis program for serious and terminally ill patients. The city began accepting applications for medical marijuana facilities in January of this year and has so far received 90 applications. As of this writing, the City of Grand Rapid website states that the City Commission has not yet indicated their intent for local action regarding Proposal 1.

According to colorado.gov, Colorado saw recreational marijuana sales of $1.5 billion for 2018 alone.

VandenBerg says that achieving equity and ensuring that a diverse range of communities have equal access to participate in the forthcoming “green rush,” in Michigan is critical and only achievable through intentional policy.

“In terms of the legal industry, I want it to be fair. I want people to have an opportunity to get into it.”

“If it can work here, it can work anywhere.

-Shoran Williams Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

SHORAN WILLIAMS AND JOSLIN MONAHAN OF CANNALEX LAW

“What is nice about marijuana is that it is new to everyone,” Monohan said. “It’s fun to learn something new.”

Monohan and Williams represent a wide range of clients, from large corporations to caregivers to investors to medical marijuana patients and more.

King worked to help Proposal 1 pass by doing what she does best: educating people through communication. She gave talks to the ACLU and other groups who wanted to hear about legalization and its potential benefits for the citizens of Michigan. She was in Detroit with VandenBerg when the election results came in, a moment she describes as “unbelievable.”

Monohan says that while it is too early to tell what the laws will be for marijuana businesses in Michigan (the State Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has until December 6, 2019 to begin accepting applications for recreational stores), curious parties can look to the West to get a preview of what the market may look like.

“I never thought it would happen, but it happened. It was very exciting, very rewarding and very hopeful, not just for people who own marijuana businesses, but the idea that expungements could happen. When Prop 1 passed, it gave businesses the confidence that things could be really great for Michigan, better than what we thought.”

“A lot of our clients are going out to Las Vegas, California, Colorado and Washington to see what products people are making, how they are producing it, what people like to buy and what the stores look like,” she said.

King notes that while Proposal 1 is a huge victory, there are still challenges ahead. She advises citizens to be diligent in monitoring how their communities manage licensing and regulation.

Williams adds that the financial potential for the recreational market in Michigan is predicted to be second only to California.

THE ATTORNEYS

Shoran Williams and Joslin Monahan are attorneys at Cannalex Law, a law firm located in Grand Rapids that specializes in marijuana law. Williams joined Cannalex in March of 2018. She moved to Grand Rapids from Atlanta, where she established her own firm, Reid Williams.

“It was the beginning of the marijuana explosion in Michigan,” Williams, who has been practicing law for 25 years, said. “It was new ground about how the laws are going to be interpreted and enforced. Trying to get marijuana accepted in West Michigan seemed like the perfect fit for me... making the best arguments and getting people to understand what marijuana can be, what it can mean for businesses, what it could mean for families, what CBD can mean for health — figuring out what all of that means and putting it in a format that everybody can accept, is fun.”

Monahan had her own real estate law practice in Montana before she moved back to Michigan, her home state. While working with a substantial real estate client, people began asking her questions about real estate in relation to marijuana facilities. When she began working with her own marijuana clients, she would call Bob Hendricks, a partner in Cannalex and whom she and Williams refer to as the “marijuana law guru of Michigan,” for advice. She officially joined the firm in 2017. Like Williams, she is thrilled to be traversing a new frontier in law.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

“California will always be the biggest, Colorado will be the boutique, and Michigan is poised to be behind California in terms of what we provide, how we provide it and the number of businesses in the state that provide marijuana in its various forms,” she stated.

A key indicator of this is that among the 30-some states where medical marijuana is legal, at more than a quarter of a million, Michigan has the second most medical marijuana patients. The success of the industry in the Mitten could sway more conservative areas of the country, such as the South and the Great Plains, toward ending marijuana prohibition, because, as William puts it, “If it can work here, it can work anywhere.”

“The people who want to be in and want to do something in cannabis, if you live in an area where most of the citizens voted for recreational marijuana, and your city or township opts out, then you need to either run for office or start a petition drive to move it back on the ballet,” she said. “That is the kind of activism that is really important to make everything more inclusive.”

To keep up with medical and recreational marijuana in Grand Rapids, visit grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/ Programs-and-Initiatives/Medical-Marihuana.

ROBERTA KING, OWNER OF CANNA COMMUNICATION

THE MARKETER

Roberta King is the owner of Canna Communication, a multi-pronged communications firm exclusive to the cannabis industry. King represents law firms, such as Cannalex, growers, dispensaries and more.

King notes that the passing of Proposal 1 demonstrates that the underlying narrative about marijuana that has prevailed for decades is changing.

“It’s difficult because marijuana has been underground for so long,” she commented. “It has gone from, ‘Keep it on the down low,’ to, ‘You need to have a website and get your name out there.’ The message to the public is that this is a legal substance now and let’s learn about it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERTA KING

27

was like, this could be an educational thing, we could package them by the seasons, it could be fun for kids to connect with vegetables.”

Almost on a whim, Weiler created a Kickstarter for Tater Tats. Very quickly she saw funding and support come in; she raised just more than $7,000.

Soon after, she was able to start designing and coming up with products.

“I just kind of ran with it from there,” she smiled.

Today, Tater Tats is Weiler’s full-time job. She sells her tattoo packs at local farmers markets and events.

Additionally, the packs are sold in stores across the country. Weiler sometimes sets up a pop-up tattoo parlor at various events or shops.

“Farmers markets will host it as a marketing tool to get people there,” Weiler explained. “We still do the smaller packs, but we’ve partnered with colleges, elementary schools, farm-to-school gardens, lots of farmers markets, and lots of small farms.”

JENNA WEILER, FOUNDER OF TATER TATS

Farm to Tattoo: Tater Tats Gets Kids Excited About Eating Vegetables

BY KAYLA SOSA PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

F

our years ago, Jenna Weiler had an idea that very quickly turned into a reality: Tater Tats.

Weiler was working part-time at Groundswell Farm in Zeeland where she had a CSA (community supported agriculture) share. A CSA is a program in which community members can put in work or pay a fee to get a monthly supply of fresh produce from a farm. After doing that for a while, Weiler started to work on the farm as an employee.

“I was from Detroit and had zero agricultural experience,” Weiler said.

“But the first day I went out there, it was almost an all-women crew, and it was

28

“I’ve just always had dreams of healthy food access and how to get kids excited about vegetables." — Jenna Weiler, founder and CEO of Tater Tats really positive. I felt like I was learning so much about how things grew.”

Being around fresh, healthy, organic food inspired Weiler to not only love veggies and fruits more, but to want others to feel the same. That’s where Tater Tats comes in.

While temporary tattoos are totally fun, Weiler has a deeper meaning behind all of it: She donates 10 percent of Tater Tats sales back to small and sustainable farms.

In doing so, she supports local farmers and the work they do to promote healthy eating and lifestyles. Last year, Tater Tats gave out sixteen grants of $500 each.

Farmers can apply for the grants through an application process, where they can talk about a specific need they may have.

“Some are small farms who are just getting going, but then some are how people are doing different creative things to get healthy food and support local agriculture in their communities,” Weiler said.

Weiler’s overall goal is to bring the community together to learn more about healthy food options and support more locally grown food, rather than looking to the big-box grocery stores, which carry non-local produce.

“We don’t value good food,” she said. “We used to spend 50 percent of our income on food a hundred years ago, but now we spend like less than a third on food. We’ve filled our lives with other things; technology has evolved … plus we have cheap food accessible to us in the form of junk food and highly processed stuff.”

Weiler said if people can see the human side of food production, rather than just the produce section at a big grocery store, they might appreciate it a little more.

“The more human connection you can have, the better,” she said.

For instance, joining a CSA at a local farm allows regular people to interact with farmers while learning more about the food they’re eating, how it’s grown and how farmers are impacted by our choices.

“I’ve just always had dreams of healthy food access and how to get kids excited about vegetables,” Weiler said.

“That possibility doesn’t exist for all people,” Weiler said. “What I’m interested in exploring is how do you make that experience more available to all parts of the community and at a convenient time and place?”

Working in the fields at Groundswell, Weiler and other employees joked about what kind of vegetable they might get tattooed on them.

While Weiler seeks the ultimate solution, she’s working daily to educate people of all ages on why loving your veggies is important.

“My friend Jamie was like, ‘I would get a tater tat!’

Meaning, a potato tattoo,” Weiler said. “But then I

Learn more about Tater Tats at tatertats.com.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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29

Grand Rapids Food Co-Op Finds Possible Home

A

BY KAYLA SOSA PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

fter seeing that there wasn’t a fully stocked grocery store near her house in Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids resident Linda Jones wanted to do something about it. She saw that the community would need to come together to change that by starting a food co-op.

“Our original reason for starting was because all the major grocery stores are on the edge of town, there’s really not much right in the middle,” Jones said.

Jones, along with other community members, established the Grand Rapids Food Co-Op or cooperative. A food co-op is grocery store owned by members. Each household buys one share, and in turn, gets one vote.

“It’ll be receptive to what the community wants in the store, and we want to support the local farmers, the local food web,” Jones said. “Producers who are making local food items, we have a place for them to sell. And we want it to be full-service grocery store so that it has everything you need.”

That means more than just produce, but health and beauty, cleaning and paper products as well.

Each share is $250, and each household who buys a share gets to vote to create a board, which makes most decisions regarding the store. If there’s a major decision to be made, Jones said all the owners will come together to vote.

“Each household always just has one vote,” Jones explained. “It’s equal representation, it doesn’t depend on how much money you have or how much power you have. Everyone shares the decision making.”

Households will have the option to invest more into the co-op, or loan more money to the business and earn interest back later.

“It’s democratic capitalism, is what I call it,” Jones said. “Rather than whoever has the most money, has the most power.”

The store is set to be at the corner of Wealthy Street and Division Avenue, and is part of the Inner City Christian Federation Tapestry Square Project, sitting on the path of the Silver Line bus route and right by the US-131 ramp.

Jones said the store itself will be about 10,000 square feet and will also include a deli, a hot bar, a salad bar, grab and go items and, maybe, a cafe. In this part of town, central downtown Grand Rapids, there isn’t easy access to a local, healthy grocery store, especially not within walking distance. Additionally, the area is home to an economically diverse population including many low-income residents; the co-op is meant to serve everyone.

“For us, it’s important that as many people in the community can be involved, so that the store meets their needs,” Jones expressed. “It’s sort of a social-justice-meets-food-justice-meetsempowerment project.”

30

Jones said the grocery store will not only provide healthy food options, but offer educational resources on healthy eating. Owners with an EBT card will receive an additional discount, as a part of the Food For All Program, up to 15 to 20 percent, on anything but alcohol.

The store will open up a handful of jobs with opportunity for advancement.

As Grand Rapids grows and develops, there are many conversations about gentrification; when development happens in an area to make it better, but in turn pushes out an existing community. This can be seen in various forms across the city, but Jones thinks the co-op might be an answer to that problem.

“You want a community to be thriving, but you don’t want people pushed out because it gets trendy,” Jones said. “It seems to me, if anything can answer the question, a co-op could, because it’s owned by that community… and it’s keeping the money right there in the community.”

The co-op plans to make significant strides in growing its ownership this year; currently, they are 176 owners strong, and hope to reach 1,000 in order to begin construction in 2020.

To join the co-op or learn more, visit grfoodcoop.com.

LINDA JONES, PRESIDENT OF THE GRAND RAPIDS FOOD CO-OP

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Food & Dinning

AprilRecipes

Pecans, Please I

COURTESY OF FAMILY FEATURES

ncorporating nutritious ingredients is an easy way to step up your mealtime.

American Pecans can super-fy nearly any recipe by adding flavor and nutrition.

American Pecans and their unique mix of unsaturated fats, plant sterols, fiber and flavonoids add up to help promote a healthy heart. In fact, according to the Food and Drug Administration, research suggests but does not prove that eating 1 1/2 ounces of most nuts, such as pecans, each day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may help reduce your risk of heart disease. One serving of pecans (28 grams) contains 18 grams unsaturated fat and only 2 grams saturated fat.

Banana Pecan Cherry Oatmeal

1 2 1/2 1 1/4 1/4 1/4

cup old-fashioned oats cups water cup pecan milk banana, sliced cup pecan halves cup dried tart cherries cup honey

In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine oats and water. Microwave on high 3-4 minutes, or until oats are

cooked through. Watch carefully to avoid boiling over.

Remove from microwave, stir and divide between two bowls. Pour 1/4 cup pecan milk over each bowl.

Divide sliced banana, pecan halves and dried tart cherries between each bowl and drizzle with 2 tablespoons honey.

Serve immediately.

Cherry Pecan Energy Bites Makes 10-12 energy bites

1 cup toasted pecan halves or pieces

1 cup dried cherries

4 medjool dates, pitted 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats

1 tablespoon cacao powder, plus additional, for coating (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

In a food processor, combine toasted pecans, dried cherries, dates, oats, cacao powder and vanilla extract.

Pulse until ingredients begin to bind and form loose, dough-like ball.

Roll into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in additional cacao powder, if desired, and transfer to airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to seven days.

Note: To make gluten-free, substitute 1/4 cup of certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats.

31

Food & Dinning

BY SAMANTHA SUAREZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID SPECHT

WHAT YOUR FAVORITE DRINK SAYS ABOUT YOU

Find out which drinks make you seem basic, sophisticated or ready to party!

W

hile you will attend many happy hours and try out many drinks throughout your life, there is always the one beverage you fall back on. Mine, for example, is the gin and tonic. This “signature drink” is more than just a delicious refreshment you mindlessly order: It’s also the first impression you give your bartender.

After all, bartending is more than mixing cocktails and serving beer. It’s one of the most social jobs out there, where constant interaction is expected and social perceptiveness is a must. You’ve all seen that classic movie scene where the tired patron lets out all their feelings and shares their life story with the empathetic bartender that wipes down the bar table. Jessica Konieczki, daytime manager and bartender at the Rockwell Republic, is no stranger to this scene. After five years of bartending, she has acquired a ton of regulars.

“After I see the same person more than once, I notice they usually order the same drink,” she said. “Everyone wants to feel like a VIP, so when they come in, and I anticipate what they want, they really enjoy it, and I think that keeps them coming back.”

We thought Konieczki was the perfect person to give insight as to what people’s drink orders say about them. Go ahead and find yours!

32

GIN & TONIC

Jessica Konieczki: Gin and tonic drinkers usually just like gin and tonic, and that’s pretty much all they drink. It’s an easy go-to. It’s a bit too piney for my taste though. The type of gin someone orders is also telling. If they order well gin, they’re just in it for the buzz.

If they order Hendricks, they’re in it for the flavor preference.

WINE

JK: I feel like red wine drinkers are very patient people. They’re actually in it for the taste of red wine, not to chug a glass of alcohol, which brings me to white wine people.

White wine is usually served cold so you can drink more of it at once. I myself love a good Riesling! I feel like as white wine drinkers, we aspire to be red wine drinkers, but we just can’t get there. Red wine is one of those drinks you have to sip on, and white wine drinkers are just too impatient for that.

CRAFT BEER

JK: They probably have a beard or are wearing a beanie. Or both.

DOMESTIC BEER

JK: Domestic beer drinkers are set in their ways. I have a lot of customers that come in and ask if we have Bud Light on draft, but we only carry it in bottles. I recommend something to them to get them out of their comfort zone a little, but that’s still on the same level. If they ask for a Miller Light, I’ll recommend a Perrin Gold, especially if it’s on draft.

JESSICA KONIECZKI, DAYTIME MANAGER AND BARTENDER AT THE ROCKWELL REPUBLIC

“Everyone wants to feel like a VIP, so when they come in, and I anticipate what they want, they really enjoy it, and I think that keeps them coming back.”

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

MARTINI

JK: It all depends on the type of martini they like. Fruity martini drinkers are all about fun and games. People who like straight-up martinis or dirty martinis can drink anyone under the table!

LONG ISLAND ICED TEA

JK: This is my favorite drink to comment on. Whenever someone orders one of these, my opinion is that they’ve had a bad day and want to get drunk as quickly as possible. Or they’re ready to party, and want to get drunk as quickly as possible.

VODKA SODA

JK: I would say people who order these are both in it for the alcohol and watching their calorie intake.

WHISKEY

COSMOPOLITAN

JK: Cosmos are very fruity and fun, but they have a lot of alcohol. I think of them as vodka cranberries on steroids. I’ve made so many of them at this point, I can make them in my sleep. Whenever I see people drinking cosmos, I think of Sex and The City, so I would say it’s a classy, strong woman drink.

JK: We have a selection of over one hundred whiskeys here, so whenever someone asks me for a whiskey neat or on the rocks, I immediately ask for their preference. If they say well whiskey, they probably don’t know much about whiskey. If they have a more sophisticated preference, I see them as a badass who knows their alcohol.

TEQUILA

JK: This is the one drink that doesn’t give me a hangover. But, I do notice most people get really sloppy when they have it… at least I do!

SHOTS

JK: If someone orders a fruity shot like a white gummy bear or a sex on the beach, then I think they’re new to the drinking game.

They’re just so juvenile. If you get a straightup shot of Fireball or Jameson, then I think they know what they want, are ready to have fun, and are not high-maintenance.

VODKA CRANBERRY

JK: This drink is just so basic. I don’t want to say I get annoyed when people order it since it’s so easy to make and it does go down smoothly, but I would say they should broaden their horizons!

WHISKEY COKE

JK: It’s usually younger people who order this.

It’s an easy go-to that you don’t really have to think about.

BLOODY MARY

JK: My first thought is that you’re hungover and looking for that hair of the dog. I never trust anyone that can drink more than two of these though. They’re so filling!

Konieczki has a bit of advice for other women manning the bar: “Don’t be timid. Be strong.

You’re going to run into men that assume you don’t know anything about whiskeys and bourbons. There will be people you can’t please no matter what. There will be long and hard shifts. Be yourself, be confident, and be engaging and you’ll get great interactions and meet all sorts of interesting people!”

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Learn & Do

Strings Attached

by Diane DeCillis

Strings Attached explores the theme of how strings bind us in our lives and relationships. Diane DeCillis uses details and measured observations to paint the emotion of a poem. She also explores feminism and different cultures through a Lebanese experience.

Some poems give a gentle reminder that being an outsider is OK and to embrace the differences that define who we are as women. These poems don’t need to be read in any particular order.

READER’S

BY LAURA YOUELLS This month, we are featuring four books of poetry in celebration of National Poetry Month. Each work, while unique, brings about an awareness of experience through an empathetic connection of emotion between the reader and author. Some will hurt and some will heal, but we all need to feel a little vulnerability in our experiences to find healing.

The Sun & Her Flowers

by Rupi Kaur

In The Sun & Her Flowers, Rupi Kaur uses simple phrases in her lyrical prose that cut through to an emotional experience. Her illustrations add a rawness and depth to her words. The book reads like a journey of growth in five sections from wilting to blooming. Some poems felt like a memory stuck in my throat, but the memory isn’t as lonely on the page reading Rupi Kaur’s words.

Laura is an Adult Paraprofessional at the Comstock Park branch of Kent District Library. When she isn’t working she enjoys reading, watching movies, doing home improvements and going on hikes with her dog Wyatt.

Self-Preservationist

by Elaina Smith

Self-Preservationist is a book of poetry published by the author Elaina Smith of Grand Rapids. Not only does this book contain her poetry, but it also contains a lot of her local photography. Touching on some mental health topics like anxiety and depression, Elaina shares a lot of anguish and insight. Be sure to check out this little gem!

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf

by Ntozake Shange

This last book is a choreopoem, a term coined by this work, or a form of dramatic expression that combines mediums. This piece combines poetry and performance, so it reads like a script. There are seven women of various colors of the rainbow who all have different personalities.

They endure horrible experiences that women today still face, but they come together at the end to create something amazing.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

HerLegacy Meet the Women of West Michigan Who Made History

Valeria Lipczynski (1846-1930) First woman delegate to a Polish National Alliance National Convention

Celebrating YEARS

D

Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Grand Rapids Public Library

ubbed the Queen of the Poles, Valeria Lipczynski was a dynamic figure in the Grand Rapids immigrant community from the time of her arrival at age 23.

Emigrating from Prussian-occupied Poland in 1869 when fewer than a dozen Polish families lived in Grand Rapids, Lipczynski worked as a correspondent to national Polish newspapers to recruit families to the city--and took care of them when they got here. She delivered babies, found jobs, taught English, American history and good citizenship.

She was a one-woman settlement house, helping women into respectable positions and encouraging fellow immigrants to seek political office by organizing the Polish Democratic Club.

Among other social, political, religious groups, Lipczynski helped found such parishes as St. Adalbert, St. Isidore, and Sacred Heart, and cultural organizations such as men’s and women’s choirs and the Wiarus Society to maintain Polish traditions.

the Polish National Alliance, the largest fraternal organization in the U.S., and founded the Society of Polish Ladies, which in 1899 became the first women’s organization admitted to the PNA. By 1901 Lipczynski had become the first woman delegate to a PNA national convention, and she was soon after the first woman elected to its board of directors and designated commissioner-at-large for the entire United States.

During World War I Lipczynski’s home became a center for Polish relief work in Europe. Clothing and supplies were collected and money raised to return a free and independent Poland to the map of Europe. For her efforts Lipczynski was awarded the General Haller Swords medal, and in 1925 the Polish government bestowed on her its prestigious Golden Cross of Merit for patriotic services during the Great War, her earlier efforts for immigrants, and her work with the PNA. This whirlwind of a woman deserved every one of her medals!

Grand Rapids couldn’t contain this Polish powerhouse. She joined The Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council is dedicated to educating the community and celebrating the legacies of local women, preserving knowledge of their past and inspiring visions for their future. For more information or to get involved, visit ggrwhc.org

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

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See more photos at womenslifestyle.com/party-pics Van Andel Institute • 14th Annual Winterfest • February 21, 2019 • Cascade Hills Country Club • Photos by Two Eagles Marcus

GRCC Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion • 37th Annual GIANTS Awards • Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 • DeVos Place • Photos by Two Eagles Marcus

Women’s Resource Center • 30th Annual Pillar Awards • Thursday, March 14th, 2019 • JW Marriott • Photos by Two Eagles Marcus

Submit your event coverage request at womenslifestyle.com/photos Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

37

Learn & Do

April Events

Compiled by editorial staff.

We do our best to ensure the accuracy of each listing. Time, date and location of events are subject to change.

model, work on crafts, play N64 or play with legos, check out the space, have fun with friends and make new ones. Little Space Studio. 5 pm.

LittleSpaceStudio.com

April 12-13

April 2

Fridays

April 12-14

April 3

Saturdays

April 18-20, 25-27

Peace Corps Application Workshop and Information Session. Learn how to make your application stand out, and look at volunteer openings. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library.

7 - 8:30 pm. Grpl.org

April 23 & 30

Mondays

Curiosity Labs. Get a hands-on experience during your visit to the museum. Grand Rapids Public Museum. 11 am - 3 pm. Grpm.org

Tuesdays

Mindstorm Saturdays. Kids ages 10 and up can have a chance to explore robotics every Saturday. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library. 10 am 12 pm. Grpl.org

Ongoing

A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy. Tour one of the finest sculpture collections in the world. Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Meijergardens.org Fred and Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming. Take the opportunity to experience exotic butterflies up close. Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Meijergardens.org

Membership Exchange with John Ball Zoo. Starting April 1, enjoy free admission to John Ball Zoo just for being a Grand Rapids Art Museum member, and John Ball Zoo members will receive free admission for two adults at the GRAM. Artmuseumgr.org Family Storytime. Read and sing together as a family, for ages 6 and under. Kent District Library-Alto Branch. 10:30 am. Discoverlowell.org Nature Buds. Bring your little ones out for guided and self-guided play rain or shine. Blandford Nature Center. 9:30 am - 10:30 am.

Blandfordnaturecenter.org Meanwhile Movie. Enjoy a movie night with friends and family. Peter Wege Auditorium. 8 pm. Grcmc.org Creative Movement. This class is for individuals who want to find freedom and movement back in their lives; classes are geared toward individuals needs. The Hammock LLC. 5 pm.

Discoverlowell.org

Thursdays

Open Studio Night at Little Space. A night of arts, crafts and meeting new creatives. You can come, paint, draw,

Live Music at New Holland Brewing.

New Holland Brewing Company.

10 pm. Downtownholland.com Drop-in Studio: Mini Museums. See GRAM’s collection in A Decade at the Center, then create your own mini museum. Grand Rapids Art Museum.

1 - 4 pm. Artmuseumgr.org

April 1 - 6

Spring Break Late Nights. Over Spring Break the museum will have extended hours. Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Open until 7 pm. Grpm.org

Lakeshore Member Mixer. Mix and mingle with other Local First members!

Valeo / Training. 5 - 7 pm.

Localfirst.com

Extremely Close. Grand Rapids Ballet.

April 12-13 at 7:30 pm; April 14 at 2 pm. Grballet.com The Wolves. The Wolves is a portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals.Spectrum Theater. 8 pm.

Actorstheatregrandrapids.org Introduction to Botanical Illustration.

Discover the art of plant illustration in a relaxed atmosphere. Frederik Meijer Gardens. 6 - 8 pm. Meijergardens.org

April 23 - May 16

Committing to Community Nonprofit Board Training. Learn what it takes to be a successful nonprofit board member with this three session course. Varnum LLP. April 23 from 3 - 6 pm; May 2 from 3 - 6 pm; May 16 from 3 - 6 pm. Acg.org

April 26-28

April 9 & 27

Intro to Coding. A workshop for beginners interested in learning about coding. Start Garden. 6:30 pm.

Grandcircus.co

April 11, 18, & 25

Grand Rapids Symphony Presents Mahler’s Symphony No. 3.

DeVos Performance Hall. 8 pm.

Devosperformancehall.com

Strong by Zumba. Join a 4 week session of high-intensity workout training set to high-energy music.

Lions & Rabbits Gallery. 7 - 8 pm.

Lionsandrabbits.com

James and the Giant Peach. Come face to face with adventure, adversity and giant insects in this fun musical.

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. April 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm; April 28 at 2 pm.

Grct.org

April 30 - May 5

Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Waitress. DeVos Performance Hall.

April 30 - May 2 at 7:30 pm; May 3 at 8 pm; May 4 at 2 pm and 8 pm; May 5 at 1 pm and 6:30 pm

Red Green - This Could Be it.

DeVos Performance Hall. 7 pm.

Devosperformancehall.com

April 7

Pride & Joy: The Marvin Gaye Musical.

The DeVos Performance Hall. 4 pm.

Devosperformancehall.com Sunday Classical Concert Series: Cafe Music Performed by Patti Garvey and Friends. Grand Rapids Art Museum.

2 - 3 pm. Artmuseumgr.org

April 10

Open Studio: Paul Cezanne & Henri Matisse Inspired. People of all ages and abilities are welcome to create with us! Artists Creating Together.

6 pm - 7:30 pm.

Artistscreatingtogether.org

April 11

Pruning Trees and Shrubs. Bring out the natural beauty of your trees and shrubs and learn to prune with confidence. Frederik Meijer Gardens.

4 - 6 pm. Meijergardens.org Gallery Talk with Artist Jerry Gretzinger. Join Jerry Gretzinger as he discusses his map panel project and other works in the exhibition.

Grand Rapids Art Museum. 6 - 7 pm.

Artmuseumgr.org (CONTINUED ON PAGE 40)

Author Talk and Book Signing: Jeff Zentner

Book Signing: Kathryn Erskine

Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 PM

Monday, April 29 at 6:30 PM

Wyoming Branch

Grandville Branch

kdl.org/communityreads 14605

38

Book Signing

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Learn & Do:

Event Spotlight

The American Heart Association Encourages Healthy Family Lifestyles at the Grand Rapids Heart Ball

K

ids are full of energy in and out of school. Do you know how many minutes of activity your child should be getting every day?

O Thirty minutes O Forty-five minutes O Sixty minutes Answer: The American Heart Association recommends that adults get thirty minutes of physical activity most days; and that children ages 6-17 years old should get at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorousintensity physical activity, mostly aerobic. Children 3-5 years old should be physically active and have plenty of opportunities to move throughout the day.

Only about 1-in-5 adults and teens get enough exercise to maintain good health. Being more active can help all people think, feel and sleep better and perform daily tasks. And if you’re sedentary, sitting less is a great place to start.

While an hour each day might sound like a large chunk of time, there are many ways to incorporate activity into your family’s routine. It all adds up.

Here are some ideas:

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Schedule a time each day for an outdoor activity with your children. The weather is changing for the better. Hike a local nature trail or ride a bicycle path.

This might include following the Riverwalk through downtown Grand Rapids.

Join a Team

Encourage children to join school or club sports teams.

Many baseball and soccer leagues in West Michigan are still accepting players.

Schedule Family Playtime

Take a walk or play a family game of tag after dinner

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

BY CINDY BOUMA

each night. Choose activities that require movement, such as bowling, catch or miniature golf. You may even have a dance contest in your own family room.

Shoot hoops at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Choose Toys Wisely

Give children toys that encourage physical activity, such as balls, kites, skateboards and jump ropes. Give them a frisbee that you can enjoy on the shore at Collins Park on the banks of Reeds Lake.

Limit Screen Time

Experts warn that one to two hours of screen time a day should be the limit for children, but some are logging more than double that amount. Set boundaries, keep the television and electronic media out of your child's bedroom and limit computer usage to school projects.

Plant a Garden

Caring for plants gives your children a reason to get outside each day. Learning how to grow a garden teaches the food system while sampling the harvest encourages healthy eating habits. Visit the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market for inspiration.

Chip in with Chores

Team up to take care of your lawn and do other home-maintenance projects as a family. In the end, your home will be better off and so will your family’s health.

“We are working on building the next generation of healthy hearts in West Michigan,” said Jeanne LaSargeBono, executive director of the American Heart Association (AHA) in Grand Rapids. “We’re working with our school systems and families to let them know that playtime and physical activity is important for our youngest residents.”

This message is amplified with the efforts the association is placing into other area coalitions like

the Get Real Campaign with Kent County Health Improvement Plan.

“If you take time to model healthy behaviors you are establishing healthy habits that will follow them their entire life,” said LaSargeBono. "Active kids learn better. When kids are active, they focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform and behave better in class.”

This month, the AHA hosts its annual Grand Rapids Heart Ball. The theme this year will is “Play it Forward,” and guests are encouraged to bring new sports equipment that will be donated after the event to Grand Rapids Public Schools after-school programs.

Additionally, the AHA will be raising funds for Hands-Only CPR Training Kits for area schools. This effort helps ensure that our community is training the next generation of lifesavers. Guests will have a ball that night with a silent auction, dinner and inspirational speakers highlighting the lifesaving mission of the AHA. Tickets are still available by visiting heart.org/GrandrapidsHeartBall.

What: Grand Rapids Heart Ball When: April, 26; cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.; ballroom opens at 7:30 p.m.; dinner and programming begins at 8 p.m.

Where: 20 Monroe Live, 11 Ottawa NW Cost: $250 39

Learn & Do:

Event Spotlight

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38)

From Pig Farm to Thriving Neighborhood. Hear the story of the Ottawa Hills Neighborhood from beginning to present day. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library.

7 - 8:30 pm. Grpl.org

April 20

Hand Lettering. This class will build upon your own handwriting to create artfully drawn letters using pencil, marker, brush pen and watercolor enhancement. Frederik Meijer Gardens. 10 am - 1 pm.

Meijergardens.org

April 12

Pop Scholars Improv. Peter Wege Auditorium. 7:15 pm. Grcmc.org April 13 Gender Beyond Binary. Explore gender beyond binary with our reading and discussion of Who Are You? by Brook Pessin-Whedbee. After the reading, learn from each other’s diverse personal experiences. Little Space Studio. 10am-noon.

Littlespacestudio.com

Mega 80’s - Prince Remembrance Show. The Intersection. 8 pm.

Sectionlive.com

April 22

Backyard Edibles. In this workshop, learn how to create a backyard perfect for wildlife and wild edibles. Blandford Nature Center. 12 pm - 1:30 pm.

Blandfordnaturecenter.org

April 23

River City Improv. Peter Wege Auditorium. 7:30 pm. Grcmc.org

Extremely Close

E

April 14

By The Grand Rapids Ballet

Brit Floyd - 40 Years of Wall World Tour. DeVos Performance Hall.

7:30 pm. Devosperformancehall.com

BY MOYA TOBEY | PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG

Gazelle Girls Half Marathon. Calder Plaza. 7:40 am. Downtowngr.org

xperience the beauty and grace of dance with the Grand Rapids Ballet's presentation of Extremely Close, opening Friday, April 12 at 7:30 pm and playing at various times through Sunday, April 14.

“Extremely Close” is choreographed

by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), and staged

by Meredith Dincolo the Director of Pre-Professional programs at HSDC. The piece has been performed several times across the globe and is known as a ballet with such grace and beauty it captivates and draws the audience in, leaving them in awe. Alejandro Cerrudo is known for his enchanting scenery and music choice, and Extremely Close does not disappoint.

“There is something about the environment he creates with the whole piece, the scenic elements,” Dincolo explained. “The music he chooses creates an atmosphere that really defines the piece.”

Extremely Close includes a performance of Val Caniparoli’s Ibsen’s House, a rendition of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s most well-known plays

40

Cooking with Craft Beer. Learn to cook with the best craft brews Grand Rapids has to offer. Downtown Market.

6-8:30 pm. Downtownmarketgr.com

such as A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabler, set to a live performance of Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No. 2 played by musicians from the Grand Rapids Symphony. The live music, according to dancer Nathan Young, creates energy and connection between the dancers and musicians that just isn’t possible with a recording, which makes for a truly mesmerizing dance.

Lastly, James Sofranko, artistic director of the Grand Rapids Ballet, choreographed an original piece for the production that will have a New Orleans feel. Compared to the more serious tone of Ibsen’s House, this piece will be more fun and light-hearted with music from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Purchase tickets at grballet.com.

What: Extremely Close When: Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m.

Where: Grand Rapids Ballet, 341 Ellsworth Ave SW, Cost: Tickets start at $48.

April 16

Yoga Under the Whale. Grand Rapids Public Museum. 5:30 - 6:30 pm.

Grpm.org Treasures of Your Library: A White Glove Event. Come for a special evening of exploring our city’s rich history. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library. 5 - 7 pm. Grpl.org

April 17

Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945, The Decision to Drop the Bomb.

James D. Hornfischer will cover the crescendo of U.S. operations in the Central Pacific during WWII. Gerald R. Ford Museum. 7 pm.

Fordlibrarymuseum.gov

Sensory-Friendly Evening. Experience various aspects of nature in a lowstimulus environment special for kids on the autism spectrum or have sensory processing needs.

Blandford Nature Center. 6 pm - 8 pm.

Blandfordnaturecenter.org Hope Bridge Walk & GRPM Sensory Friendly Night. GRPM is partnering with Hope Network in honor of Autism Awareness month. Blue Bridge.

5 - 7:30 pm. Grpm.org ArTalks. Get a personal glimpse into the studio practice of local artists.

Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library. 7 - 8:30 pm. Grpl.org

April 26

Revive & Solo Installation by Myles Bennett. LaFontsee Gallery. Opening reception from 5-8 pm. Lafontsee.us

April 27

Spring Clean-up. Help the FSFM team tidy up the grounds and plant some flower in preparation for opening day.

Fulton Street Farmers Market.

1 - 4 pm. Fultonstreetmarket.org

April 18

Music in the Stacks: Jordan Hamilton.

Hear cellist Jordan Hamilton play a wide range of music, experimenting with the traditional cello combined with a variety of genres. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library.

7 - 8:30 pm. Grpl.org

April 19

Fundamentals of Web Development.

Learn introductory concepts of HTML and CSS. Start Garden. 10 am.

Grandcircus.co

EOS Talks. Get connected with the tools to guide your company through a successful launch of the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

Grand Rapids Chamber. 8 - 9:30 am.

Grandrapids.org

April 28

Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra Concert.

DeVos Performance Hall. 3 pm.

Devosperformancehall.com

For more event listings,visit womenslifestyle.com.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

Learn & Do:

Event Spotlight

21st Annual

Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Promise Gala

BY MOYA TOBEY

S

pend a night in Brazil at Carnivale for the Cure with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Proceeds from the festive event go toward finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease that suddenly appears in adults and children. After hosting the fundraiser for 21 years, the foundation is hoping to yet again have record-breaking donations; last year, the event raised a record amount of $385,000 for the cure.

T1D is a disease in which the affected person’s pancreas is unable to produce insulin, which is a hormone necessary for the body to gain energy from food.

Those diagnosed must constantly monitor their blood sugar level and inject themselves with insulin according to when they eat and their activity level for the day. On top of all this, people with T1D are at risk for devastating long-term health complications such as heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, blindness and amputation.

Carnivale for the Cure includes a threecourse dinner, a cocktail reception, appetizers and an open bar. The entertainment for the night features samba dancing and music with Brazilian decor and acts that will make you forget you’re in West Michigan. Admission is $200 per person and businesses can purchase a table or sponsor the Gala if they wish. Attire is black-tie optional but feathers, glitter and sparkles are encouraged. The fundraiser will be held from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. on Friday, April 26 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

For ticket information, visit jdrf.org/ greatlakeswest/events/21st-annualpromise-gala

What: Carnivale for the Cure with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation When: Friday, April 26, 6 p.m.-11 p.m.

Where: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave NW Cost: Tickets start at $200

COME AND SEE

WHAT’S NEW KIDS’ GIFTS TOYS, GAMES AND MORE! • Unique kids’ books • Baby shower/ birthday gifts • Lots of locally made items FOLLOW US >>

909 Cherry St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 hopscotchstore.com • 616.233.4008

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

41

Revealing the

GIANTS T

he 37th Annual GIANTS Awards and Banquet took place on February 23. Since 1983, thirteen African American individuals and/or organizations are recognized annually for their exceptional contributions shaping the history and quality of life of greater Grand Rapids. Victoria Ann Upton, the founder of Women’s LifeStyle Magazine received the William Glenn Trailblazer Award (posthumously). The award was accepted by her daughter Charice Upton-Brown. 2019 Giants Award Honorees: Mari Beth Johnson-Jelks (Walter Coe Public Service Award), Jason Slaikeu MD, MBA (Eugene Browning Medical Service Award), LaSandra A. Gaddy (W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award), Lisa M. Knight (Ethel Coe Humanities Award), Troy Yarbrough of Preferred Construction Group (Milo Brown Business Award), Cole Williams (Phyllis Scott Activist Award), Victoria Ann Upton (Posthumously) (William Glenn Trailblazer Award), India Manns (Raymond Tardy Community Service Award), Bishop Dennis J. McMurray & Dr. E. Jean Lackey-McMurray (H.C. Toiler Religious Life Award), Carrie L. Jackson (Martha Reynolds Labor Award), Hattie Beverly Education Award, and Floyd Skinner Justice Award (Not awarded this year.)

Walter Coe Public Service Award - Mari Beth Johnson-Jelks Mari Beth Johnson-Jelks is a decorated public servant with a legacy of service to the city of Grand Rapids. Over the course of her 30 years as a public administrator, she was promoted throughout the ranks of leadership and recently retired from her role as managing director of Administrative Services.

Mari Beth is one of the architects of the “Grow Your Own” workforce development initiative implemented by city leadership. She is committed to creating career mobility pathways for emerging leaders, leaders of color, and community residents to employment in local government.

Eugene Browning Medical Service Award - Jason Slaikeu MD, MBA Dr. Jason Slaikeu’s commitment to community public health extends far beyond his role as a vascular surgeon, chief of his Vascular surgery division, and chair of the Spectrum Health Medical Group Board of Directors.

Like Dr. Eugene Browning, Dr. Slaikeu leverages his wisdom and influence to champion equity and inclusion by reducing the barriers that can hold back emerging leaders of color in health care careers. As a senior leader in one of West Michigan’s largest health systems, Dr. Slaikeu uses his voice, expertise, and access to educate, empower, and heal.

W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award LaSandra A. Gaddy LaSandra Gaddy’s humanitarian and civic engagement stem from her inherent belief in the value and strength of all people, with a focus on uplifting historically marginalized

42

communities. LaSandra is a true example of blooming wherever you are planted. Whether as a vice president raising 5 million dollars to disrupt the cycle of homelessness in our community, or as the CEO of Women’s Resource Center, where she inspires women from all walks of life to redream their lives, LaSandra’s ability to tackle problems, lead for public good, and champion justice mirrors the life and legacy of W.W. Plummer.

Ethel Coe Humanities Award - Lisa M. Knight Using her gifts and talents to improve the quality of life of others is the thread that unites the many forms Lisa Knight’s artistry takes across her service in community. Whether in community as the diirector of Health, Wellness and Youth at the Grand Rapids Urban League or on stage starring in an Ebony Road Players theater production, she uses her artistry as a human connector to heal disconnects, empower, and restore. Like her award namesake, Ethel Coe, Lisa fearlessly carries the mantle of responsibility to use her artistry to speak out against disparities and to encourage solutions rooted in shared destiny and collective humanity.

Milo Brown Business Award - Troy Yarbrough Like Milo Brown, Troy Yarbrough is a business owner with a social enterprise approach to entrepreneurial life.

Troy’s ability to build both relationships and buildings with honesty and integrity has made his construction firm, Preferred Construction Group an industry leader in renovations to health and educational facilities. Troy also invests in his employees’ career advancement and leadership potential. Today, we honor him for his commitment to being an innovative entrepreneur and for his passion for helping others find their footing in life.

Charice Upton-Brown, daughter of Victoria Upton and Two Eagles Marcus, publisher of Women’s LifeStyle Magazine

Phyllis Scott Activist Award - Cole Williams Cole Williams is a dreamer who unleashes the least of these to dream. He debunks toxic masculinity and invites men to be vulnerable, authentic, transparent and whole.

Cole models what he preaches, sharing his own experiences to inspire men to unleash their own greatness. He works to heal generational divides and redefine the face and voice of the black man, black fathers, and black children. He helps men navigate all of the unspoken and informal truths of being fathers --whether incarcerated, blended, divorced, single, or widowed.

William Glenn Trailblazer Award Victoria Ann Upton (posthumously) Victoria Upton was the quintessential trailblazer.

Her legacy of breaking molds, creating trends, and being fearless in the face of insurmountable odds continues to ripple in community. She began Women’s LifeStyle, a multifaceted media platform, 21 years ago to give women a place to engage, connect and learn. She also worked to expand opportunities for women and people of color in West Michigan through her tireless efforts with organizations such as Local First, ArtPrize, Gilda’s Club, the American Heart Association, Laughfest and Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women.

We lost Victoria in September, but we honor her tonight the bright light she was and continues to be.

Raymond Tardy Community Service Award - India Manns India Manns is a modern revolutionary who uses board and committee service to advocate, inspire and make a difference. She has worked steadfastly

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

for the past five years on community and nonprofit governing boards to ensure that women and people of color are considered for leadership roles. She has been the catalyst behind several campaigns that have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support movements like the establishment of the YWCA Helen Claytor Recognition Society, scholarships to provide low-income students with the opportunity to tour historically black colleges and universities, and more.

H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award - Bishop Dennis J. McMurray and Dr. E. Jean Lackey-McMurray Bishop Dennis J. and Dr. E. Jean McMurray have served as change agents in the community for over 25 years. Responding to the call of God upon their life, the McMurrays founded the Renaissance Church of God in Christ in 1992 with only themselves and their three small children, all under the age of 5 at the time. Several wide-scale movements and outreach initiatives have come from their commitment to walk in purpose. In 1996, they established AWAKE, a fiduciary and mobilizing agency for a host of national, regional, and local initiatives. The McMurrays are more than religious leaders; they are catalysts of social change and community action to advance the wellbeing of children and families. With great joy, we bestow to Bishop Dennis J. McMurray and Dr. E. Jean McMurray the 2019 H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award.

Tastess of Traverse la C t Weekend Firs

July 13-14, 2019 (Saturday - Sunday)

Martha Reynolds Labor Award - Carrie L. Jackson As a career Labor Union leader, Carrie L. Jackson has spent her professional career protecting the interests of automotive workers on the job and in society. She has over 25 years of experience interpreting the contracts to ensure that union workers receive the benefits they are promised. That commitment to service extends into community. She enjoys neighborhood canvassing and grassroots efforts.

She serves as the secretary and co-chair for the voter registration committee for the Grand Rapids chapter of the NAACP. She has also served on similar voter registration initiatives with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and with APRI and Proactive.

Giant of Giants Award Recipient Michael B. Johnson, Sr., this year’s Giant of Giants, is known to many in his local community and beyond, and he embodies servant leadership. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he attended Grand Rapids Public Schools and went on to college with goals of using his education and experience to help others with their varying needs.

Alpena, MI

Shipwrecks

AND

Lighthouses

August 3 - 4, 2019 (Saturday - Sunday)

Tour Highlights:

Tour Highlights:

Humble beginnings for this honoree included working in the 1960’s at Rydell’s Drug Store, Neighborhood Youth Corp, and at Consumer’s Power Company. He is a member of St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church and sang as a youth with the Children’s Bible Hour, and is one of the founders of Background.

Today, he is still an active member in several organizations, just to name a few, North Star Lodge #5 Prince Hall, Life and Golden Heritage NAACP membership, the Southeast Community Association, American Legion Post #59, Kent County Children’s and Family Council, Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour Experience.

This honoree’s life is comprised of many accomplishments, including the past recipient of the Raymond K. Tardy Community Service Giants Award (1990) In the 1970’s, he acted as a licensed apprentice at James H. Cole’s Home for Funerals. It was his Wayne State University mortuary science education and compassion for people that led him to work at and eventually direct and acquire ownership of the oldest black-owned funeral parlor in Grand Rapids: Brown’s Funeral Home. He is a member of the Funeral Directors Association on both state and national levels.

In addition to the other accomplishments, this year’s Giant of Giants has always valued education and a commitment to lifelong learning. This is evident in the way he was instrumental in the installation of the Grand Rapids Junior College Milo M. Brown Scholarship, which helps to offset tuition costs for students. He is known by his acts of dedicated service and support, and he has garnered the respect of several generations of individuals and families through his business, his generosity, and his reliability.

Read the Book ~Take the Trip

Hemingway’s North Country

Petoskey, MI

The Nick Adams Stories

• One night accommodations at a August 16, 2019 • One night accommodations at a first-class hotel • 4 meals included first-class hotel • 5 meals included • Shop • A choice of either wine tasting at Thunder (Friday) Hop to many of Traverse City’s finest shops Bay Winery or dessert sampling at As You • Wine Tasting at two remarkable wineries on Wish Gourmet Eatery • A cruise on board the Tour Highlights: Old Mission Peninsula and three exquisite glass-bottomed Lady Michigan, to see • 2 Meals included • A Nick Adams Tour wineries on Leelanau Peninsula • A tour of shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary that will take us to some of the most the Village at Grand Traverse Commons • Guided tour to the old and new relevant and authentic locales in American • Champagne sunset cruise on the Nauti-Cat Presque Isle Lighthouses literature • A visit to Ernest Hemingway’s family vacation home on Walloon Lake Your Price: Your Price: • A visit to Horton Bay, Michigan; a small $749.00 per person, double occ. $399.00 per person, double occ. resort town Hemingway visited frequently $889.00 single occupancy $489.00 single occupancy growing up $669.00 per person, triple occ. $369.00 per person, triple occ.

$679.00 per person, quad. occ.

$359.00 per person, quad. occ.

$149.00 per person

Call today to request a detailed brochure, or visit our website for more information and to register for one of these amazing tours!!!

616.636.4628 | www.countrysidetours.net |PO Box 48, Sand Lake, MI 49343 Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • April 2019

43

Support Locally Owned Business

FOOD, BEVERAGES & RESTAURANTS

n Aperitivo n Beltline Bar n Bistro Bella Vita n Brewery Vivant n Byron Center Meats n Daddy Pete’s BBQ, LLC n Erb Thai n Essence Group n Ferris Coffee & Nut n Field & Fire n Grand Central Market n Grand Rapids Brewing Company n Grand Rapids Cheesecake Company n Grove n HopCat n Malamiah Juice Bar n Matchbox n Nutcase Vegan Meats n One Trick Pony n Ottawa Beach Inn n Railside Golf Club n Reserve Wine & Food n Rockwell / Republic n 6eight Coffee n Stella’s Lounge n The B.O.B. n The Cheese Lady n The Cottage Bar n Terra GR n Twisted Rooster n The Green Well n The Waldron Public House n Wheelhouse

FLORAL & GARDEN n Ball Park Floral & Gifts n Eastern Floral n Flowerland n Romence Gardens

SHOPPING & RETAIL

n Art of the Table n Better Way Designs n Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus n Family Sewing n Frames Unlimited n Gazelle Sports n Iris Boutique n Rylee’s Ace Hardware n Spirit Dreams n Shakedown Street n Stonesthrow n Supermercado Mexico n Switchback Gear Exchange n The Shade Shop n Two Dutch Hens

PET PRODUCTS & SERVICES n Chow Hound Pet Supplies n Fido & Stitch

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

n 616 Lofts n A-1 Locksmith n EPS Security n Gerrit’s Appliance n Gordon Water n HBA of Greater Grand Rapids n Morris Builders n Rockford Construction n Standale Interiors n Tazzia Lawn Care n Verhey Carpets n William’s Kitchen + Bath

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TRAVEL & LODGING n Breton Travel n City Flats Hotel n Countryside Tours n Witte Travel

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

n Grand Rapids Community Media Center (GRCMC) n Grand Rapids Public Library n Grand Rapids Public Schools n Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW) n Neighbors Development n Slow Food West Michigan n The Rapid n The Rapidian n West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS

n Design 1 Salon Spa n Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness n Grand Rapids Natural Health n Grand Rapids Wellness n Grand Ridge Orthodontics n Harvest Health Foods n Manic Muse Salon n Renew Mama Studio n The Hairport n The Village Doula GR

FINANCIAL & LEGAL n Adventure Credit Union n United Bank

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT n ArtPrize n Celebration Cinema n Community Circle Theatre n Grand Rapids Art Museum n Grand Rapids Civic Theatre n Grand Rapids Public Museum n GRandJazzFest n GRTV n LaFontsee Galleries n LowellArts n River City Improv n Sanctuary Folk Arts n Showspan n The Ruse Escape Room n Triumph Music Academy n UICA n Wax Poetic n Wealthy Theatre n West Michigan Whitecaps n WYCE 88.1 FM

Local First •345 Fuller Avenue NE • GR, MI 49503 • (616) 808-3788 • www.localfirst.com