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Recent Posts
- Two new interviews from the GRPS Uncovered project and an upcoming Community Historians event
- New Interview for the GRPS Uncovered podcast
- New GRPS Uncovered podcast for 7/7/2025
- Radical Grand Rapids: Places, Dates, Actions and People
- New book by long time community activist Paul Mayhue: Another Brother in The Struggle
Author Archives: Jeff Smith (GRIID)
A Legacy of Organized Resistance: the Rosa Parks statue in Grand Rapids
The only statue in Grand Rapids that doesn’t feature someone who spent part of their life in this city, is that of Rosa Parks. The statue is located at the west entrance to a downtown community gathering space, also known … Continue reading
From militant strikes to anti-communist purges: the Grand Rapids labor movement after WWII
In previous articles we have looked at the fight for an 8 hour work day in Grand Rapids, the 1911 Furniture Workers Strike and the impact that the 1936-37 Flint Wildcat Strike had on Grand Rapids organizing efforts. Each of … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #9 – Gentrification as modern day colonialism
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #8 – Milt Ford, founder the the LGBT Resource Center at GVSU
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #7 – African American Community responds to Red-lining with Auburn Hills Project
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #6 – The Anti-Nuclear Movement in Grand Rapids
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #5 – Marian Clements, founder of Well House
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #4 – Hendrik Meijer and Anarchism
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #3 – People First!
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #2: White Lies
This past semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Grand Rapids People's History Project 