On Tuesday, July 12, 2016, GRIL Alumni attended a City Commissioners’ meeting open to the public. We attended in conjunction with the Micah Center and a number of other urban initiative organizations to voice our concern on the decision making process behind the urban development of Grand Rapids. Many people have seen the numerous apartment complexes being constructed around the city, usually in buildings that were once abandoned, which is great for the city; however, the decision making process often excludes the residents and business owners of resident areas, which is not great for the city. A letter was written by a number of these organizations and the city commission was open to the idea of implementing a task force to accomplish the transparency desired by many residents. Here is one small piece of the letter: “This call is based on several shared values and understandings. First of all, we believe that growth and inclusivity are not mutually exclusive propositions. Removing persistent barriers to equity and investing in communities of color is the right thing to do, but it is also critical to our city’s economic future. Our city’s success depends on the ability of our growing majority to be leaders, entrepreneurs, workers and problem solvers who feel that they belong to the wider Grand Rapids community.” As alumni, we need to continue to voice our opinion on this issue. Ben Brewer (GRIL U, 2008)