Welcome to the new academic year!

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Thank you to all of our partners who participated and attended this year's Summer Institute! Our teachers Click here to read a brief summary and see photos from our 3 days together. One teacher noted that the most valuable thing about Summer Institute was the partnerships, saying, "The partnership opportunities blew me away and I can’t wait to connect."

With summer wrapped up and a new school year underway, we’re excited to dive into Student Action Projects with our teachers! Five teachers have already submitted their brainstorming documents, and we’re off to a strong start.

Now is the perfect time to join one of Groundswell’s committees! Our committees bring together community partners, educators, and leaders to guide programs, spark new projects, and create opportunities for students to connect with their place.

Why join?

🌱Collaborate with passionate educators and community partners

🌿Shape projects that directly impact classrooms and our community

🌻Share your expertise while learning from others

🌳Build relationships and make a difference

Commitment: Each committee sets its own meeting schedule. Some meet just a few times a year, while others gather more regularly depending on projects and needs. Either way, your involvement is impactful and appreciated.

Learn more about our Advisory Council and committees here.

Here are our 2025–26 Groundswell Advisory Council Leaders:

Chair: Michelle Storey, EGLE

Vice Chair: Courtney Marek, Ada Parks & Recreation

Secretary: Christina Catanese, GVSU AWRI

Chair of Professional Learning Committee: Wendi Vogel, Kent ISD

Chair of Projects Committee: Micah Herrboldt, Kent County Recycling and Education Center

Chair of the Teacher Committee: Keith Piccard, Allendale Middle School

Chair of the Advancement Committee: Vacant, reach out to Clay Pelon

Have questions for want to learn more?

Just click on any Advisory Council member’s name to send them an email.

We truly value the time, energy, and perspective our partners bring to the Groundswell network! This survey is a way for us to check in with our partners about how things are going—especially around our Advisory Council structure, communication tools (like newsletters, social media, and The Place Space), and overall connection to the work of Groundswell.

Your feedback will help us understand what’s working well, where we might improve, and how we can better support collaboration across our network. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

Thank you for helping us make Groundswell stronger and more connected—we couldn’t do this work without you!