Groundswell Updates - Nov. 15, 2024

This last year there were some changes in how the Groundswell Advisory Council is organized. After several rounds of work with last years GAC, it was decided to create a more nimble GAC with broader partner check-ins twice a year. As always, we welcome input from all partners and encourage you to join one of our working committees: Projects, Professional Learning, or Advancement.

The following are members of the Groundswell Advisory Council:

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

We met on September 9, 2024 and you can find a draft of the meeting minutes here that provide updates on grant funding, committee work, and much more! Our next meeting will be on Monday, December 9, 2024.

We're excited to host our Winter Dinner & Dialogue on Thursday, December 12 from 4:30 - 7 PM at GVSU's Seidman Center. This annual event celebrates the Groundswell community and expresses our gratitude to the educators and partners who support the Groundswell Stewardship Initiative.

Groundswell will be hosting Dr. Annie Whitlock as the keynote speaker. Dr. Whitlock is a GVSU history/social studies faculty and the current President of the Michigan Council for the Social Studies. She has an extensive background in place-based work and is the author of Place-Based Social Studies Education: Learning from Flint, Michigan and Hollywood or History? An Inquiry-Based Approach to Using The Simpsons to Teach Social Studies.

We are thrilled to host her and learn about the importance of place-based education in today's classroom culture and as a tool to enhance student engagement! Click the button below or here to register.