When faced with widespread problems like crime, teen pregnancy, and high dropout rates, a common response is to feel disempowered. Grand Rapids Initiative for Leaders(GRIL) seeks to change that.
With faith as a foundation, GRIL aims to build self-awareness and leadership skills in urban teens and adults, in order to cultivate community change. Graduates of theDeVos Urban Leadership Initiative started GRIL in 2006, and since then, 246 teens have graduated from the program.
“The majority of our young people live in Grand Rapids, they go to urban schools, and the majority [of them] are minorities,” said Tatum Hawkins, Community Relations and Development Coordinator for GRIL. To Read More