EVENTS

Upcoming Event

Stay tuned for upcoming September events!


Past Events

June 2010
Community Outreach

in partnership with Blandford Nature Center


May 2010
Professional Development

hosted by Grand Valley State University, Inclusion and Equity Division
featuring Dr. Jeanne Arnold, Vice President, Inclusion and Equity Division
Participants were engaged in an informal dialogue with Jeanne Arnold, a professional with extensive experiences in traditional social work and higher education environments. Dr. Arnold shared her educational, professional and community leadership experiences with participants under the "Unconventional Leadership Experiences and Opportunities" professional development theme of the year.


May 2010
Community Outreach

in partnership with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks


April 2010
Social Networking BL²ENDer
Blue Water Grill
5180 Northland Drive, Grand Rapids, MI


March 2010
Community Outreach
in partnership with Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF)


December 2009
Social Networking BL²ENDer
at JW Marriott Grand Rapids
six.one.six "Mixology" lounge
235 Louis Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI


November 2009
Professional Development
hosted by Cornerstone University
"Global Leadership Experiences & Opportunities"
featuring Sandra Upton, Ph.D., Dean, Business Programs, Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS) Division. Participants were engaged in an insightful dialogue with Dr. Sandra Upton, a professor, dean and organizational development consultant, with extensive business and higher education leadership experience.


October 2009
Community Outreach

hosted by Mercantile Bank of Michigan
“Understanding your Credit and Buying your First Home”
featuring Andrew M. Baker, AVP, Mortgage Lender at Mercantile, and Takara Taylor, BS, Licensed Realtor at Audu Real Estate


September 2009
Professional Development
hosted by Steelcase Inc.
"Global Leadership Experiences & Opportunities"
featuring Brian Cloyd, Vice President, Global Community Relations, Steelcase Inc. Participants were engaged in a dialogue with Brian Cloyd, a Steelcase Inc. executive with extensive corporate leadership experience, and learned more about his background and global leadership experiences and opportunities available today.

Photos courtesy of 1080 HD Productions.


August 2009
BL²END presents "A New Conversation"

sponsored by SMG and the Convention/Arena Authority
featuring partner organizations including the Asian Professionals Organization; Grand Rapids Young Professionals; West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI


July 2009
Community Outreach event

in partnership with the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
North Park Elementary School
3375 Cheney Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI


June 2009
Social Networking BL²ENDer at Bistro Bella Vita
44 Grandville Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, MI


May 2009
Community Outreach
hosted and sponsored by Guiding Light Mission
255 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI
www.guidinglightmission.org


April 2009
True Colors® Personal Success Seminar at GRCC Tassell M-TEC Building
622 Godfrey SW, Grand Rapids, MI
featuring MarcQus Wright of Quality Collaborators

www.qualityteams.com


April 2009
Social  Networking BL²ENDer
at Republic
45 South Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI


March 2009
Professional Development

hosted by Amway
"Global Leadership Experiences & Opportunities"
featuring Candace Matthews, Chief Marketing Officer, Amway. Participants were engaged in an insightful dialogue with Candace Matthews, an Amway executive with extensive corporate leadership experience, and learned more about her background and global leadership experiences and opportunities available today.


February 2009
Social  Networking
with The Grand Rapids Symphony
Symphony with Soul concert, and "post-concert" Celebration of Soul reception
DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI



January 2009
Social  Networking BL²ENDer
at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids
six.one.six "Mixology" lounge
235 Louis Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI

December 2008
Social  Networking BL²ENDer
at Churchill's Bar & Bistro
 70 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI


November 2008
The "Young Professionals Issues" Forum
brought together local community leaders and dynamic young professionals from BL²END, the Grand Rapids Young Professionals, and the Center for Community Leadership, a resource of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, to discuss topics critical to recruitment and retention of young professionals, including employment, diversity, entertainment, transportation, and downtown housing options.

 
Panel Members

  • Mike Freed, CFO, Spectrum Health
  • George Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids
  • Eli Lumpkins, Commissioner, City of Grand Rapids
  • Rich MacKeigan, General Manager, SMG
  • Suzanne Schulz, Planning Director, City of Grand Rapids
Moderator
Eva Aguirre Cooper, Communications Director, WOOD TV8/WOTV4/WXSP

October 2008
Professional Development

sponsored by Cascade Engineering
"A New Day: The Changing Face of Executive Leadership" Career Panel, featured local executives of color who shared their educational, professional, and community leadership experiences responsible for shaping them into the influential leaders they are today.

Panel Members

  • Sonali Allen, Vice President of Community Development, Mercantile Bank
  • Kenyatta Brame, Senior Vice President, Department of Business Services, Cascade Engineering
  • Floriza Genautis, CEO & Founder, Management Business Solutions
  • Mark Iverson, Director, Organizational Integrity, Saint Mary's Health Care/Trinity Health
  • Karen Morris,Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Government Relations, Meijer, Inc.
  • Patrick Miles, Jr., Member, Dickinson Wright PLLC
  • Lauri Parks, City Clerk, City of Grand Rapids
  • Jonse Young, Donor Services Director, Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Moderator
Shaquanda S. Gordon, PHR
, Manager, Human Resources - Eastern Region, Priority Health


September 2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer at McFadden's
58 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI


August 2008
Community Outreach
BL²END partnered with the Inner City Christian Confederation (ICCF) to make a difference in the lives of low-income families within our community.


July 2008
The Second Annual Minority Intern Skyline Reception
took place on the 17th floor of the Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett law firm located at Bridgewater Place, in downtown Grand Rapids. The event was hosted by the Multiracial Association of Professionals (MAP), a program of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Black Professionals and Executives Network (BPEN), BL²END, and the Asian Professionals Organization (APO).


June 2008
Professional Development

"Networking in the 21st Century"
Sponsored by Spectrum Health
Presenter: Jerry Conrad
, MA, DTM, CSP, CEO, S.G. Maverick, Inc.


May  2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer

Spectrum Lanes


April  2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer
at Naya Bistro & Wine Bar
1144 E Paris Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI


March 2008
Community Outreach

The Process: From a Student to a Professional” Panel, in partnership with
Grand Valley State University, Office of Multicultural Affairs

BL²END Panelists
Anissa Eddie, School Social Worker, Cedar Springs Public Schools
Darquillius Johnson, Graduate Assistant, Grand Valley State University,
Office of Student Life

Cynthia Offutt, Human Resource Manager, AIS Construction Equipment
Angela Nelson, Contributions Specialist, Alticor, Inc.
Marnique Harris, Student Outreach & Recruitment, Western Michigan University College of Aviation


March 2008
Professional Development

"Young Professionals and Career"
Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank
Presenter: Christopher Macon
, Professional Development Consultant, Fifth Third Bank


January 2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer
at Churhills Bar & Bistro
70 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI


November 2007
Social Networking BL²ENDer
at McFadden’s
58 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI

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