June 14, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is participating in community Pride festivals in Grand Rapids and Holland and preparing educational resources, as part of a focus on being a welcoming and inclusive campus and community.
“GRCC is proud of its role in being the community’s college, being the place where everyone belongs,” President Charles W. Lepper said. “Pride Month is a time for us to share our support for our LGBTQ+ students and community members, and to recognize our mission to serve everyone and reflect on the value of diversity and inclusiveness.”
GRCC volunteers will be at the Grand Rapids Pride Festival on June 17 on Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids. The event, which is in its 35th year, is organized by the Grand Rapids Pride Center and runs from noon to 10 p.m.
GRCC Lakeshore Campus team members will be participating in the Holland PRIDE Festival on June 24, located in Centennial Park. The event is organized by Out on the Lakeshore, and runs from noon to 5 p.m.
GRCC team members at both events will be available to talk about educational opportunities at the Main Campus in Grand Rapids, GRCC Lakeshore Campus in Holland and available online.
Information will be available about support services, financial aid, and state programs including Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which can reduce the cost of tuition.
A limited amount of GRCC Pride t-shirts and materials will be available at both events.
Pride Month was first designated by President Bill Clinton in 1999, and has been a national event to uplift LGBTQ+ voices and advocate for rights.
June was selected as Pride Month to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, considered the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States.
The GRCC Library has an LGBTQ+ resources page on the Library and Learning Commons webpage and this month has a display of books about the Stonewall Riots. The library is located at 140 Ransom Ave. NE, in Grand Rapids.
The events build upon the work of the college’s LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team, which is dedicated to supporting GRCC’s greater commitment to equity and values of diversity, innovation, respect and responsiveness. The team works to provide resources that highlight and celebrate LGBTQ+ students, employees and community members.