Grand Rapids, Michigan –   The Grand Rapids African American Community Task Force—a group dedicated to advocacy and opportunity for the African American community—will host the third annual Southeast Grand Rapids Community Economic Development Conference (#SEGR) from September 16th to 20th. The virtual event aims to spur the alignment of development objectives for minorities within Southeast Grand Rapids. It will feature a number of keynote speakers and workshops, including Hip Hop for Mental Health Conversation, Black Business Expo, and more.

“We will continue to push back against the top-down leadership style that's utilized by most institutions who claim to serve the needs and interests of the Black community,” said Rodney Brown, Community Organizer with the Grand Rapids African American Community Task Force and SEGR Economic Development Conference. “Our strategies include supporting individuals and organizations who otherwise have been locked out due to institutional barriers. We also build and expand capacity or profiles for these individuals and organizations so they can engage better with their communities. We utilize a dynamic, grassroots approach to community engagement with and on behalf of the Grand Rapids Black community and Black communities in the surrounding areas.”

The Southeast Grand Rapids Community and Economic Development Conference 2020 is being hosted in collaboration with the #GRassrootsUP Project (GRUp). The conference is supported by the Neighborhood Match Fund for the City of Grand Rapids and initiatives of the Grand Rapids African American Community Task Force. Collaborators include the Grand Rapids Media Initiative and Film Incubator (GR-MiFi), Michigan Black Expo, Inc., and the Boston Square Neighborhood Association. Sponsors include Spectrum Health’s Healthier Communities.

“Spectrum Health is honored to be a part of the Southeast Grand Rapids Community & Economic Development Conference,” said Ovell Barbee, senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer for Spectrum Health. “The threads between the community and economic vitality are tightly woven with community health. We are pleased to be working with partners like the Grand Rapids African American Community Taskforce and Michigan Black Expo to elevate discussions that impact the health and wellbeing of our community.”

The core focus of the Grand Rapids African American Community Task Force is to foster collaboration amongst the Black community to help enhance the quality of life. The task force aims to accomplish this by opening doors for justice, advocacy, and opportunity. The group seeks to end discrimination and help to repair the systems of institutionalized racism that live within every facet of the Grand Rapids community. 

“Our goal is to grow our capacities and continue to have a positive impact through our work with the Southeast Grand Rapids Community, the Economic Development Conference, and the Grand Rapids African American Community Task Force," said Brown. "We directly engage with local neighborhoods that need the most support in all aspects of community and economic endeavors.”        

The conference is perfect for anyone looking to get connected, make a difference within the community, and address negative trends that have been identified in Southeast Grand Rapids. Those looking to learn about the community and economic development opportunities within the region will have the opportunity to explore the potential for innovation and collaboration through their participation in the virtual conference. 

Those interested in learning more about SEGR or who are looking to attend the virtual event are encouraged to visit them online here. 

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About the Grand Rapids African-American Community Task Force:
The Grand Rapids African-American Community Task Force is an organized and systemic framework for the collective advocacy and community engagement efforts, interests, and domain of the African-American or Black Community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and surrounding areas. Our core purpose is to foster collaboration among the African American or Black community in enhancing our Quality of Life by opening the channels of advocacy and opportunity, seeking justice through intentionality of effort in closing the door(s) of discrimination and repairing the breaches of humanity and decency in confronting and correcting the vestiges and systems of institutional racism in every facet of community life. For more information, or to get involved please visit: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanAmericanCommunityTaskForce/