The Grand Rapids Activist Calendar went “live” online about a year and a half ago with the simple goal of connecting folks to all of the grassroots organizing efforts happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since launching, the Calendar has collected hundreds of events displaying them both online and sending out a regular mailing to hundreds of subscribers via email and Facebook.
We’ve recently rolled out a new website with some improved features. It is now easier to add events to the calendar – which is a critical component of our work. We rely on folks in the community – both those doing “organizing” work and those sympathetic to such ideas – to let us know about what is going on in the community. Additionally, we have launched a blog to highlight organizing efforts going on that aren’t “event” based. For example, there is a strong campaign going on right now to boycott businesses in Holland, Michigan that don’t support LGBT folks after the City Council there voted against expanding their anti-discrimination ordinance. In the past, there would have been nowhere to highlight this important and vital activism.
Folks are encouraged to subscribe to our bi-weekly email list for updates on upcoming events, to check us out on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or check out our continually updated online calendar at http://calendar.diygr.org.