About

The Urban Innovation Exchange is an initiative to showcase and advance West Michigan's growing social innovation movement. A supplementary site of Rapid Growth Media, UIX GR, is made possible with financial support from WMCAT, Kendall College of Art and Design, Open Systems Technologies, Design West Michigan, and Steelcase.

The Project Editor for UIX Grand Rapids is Matthew Russell. As a journalist, designer, bicyclist, collective member and owner of Bartertown Diner, located at 6 Jefferson SE; founder of Wednesday Evening Cookies; and barista at The Sparrows Coffee, Tea, and Newsstand, located at 1035 Wealthy SE, Russell’s roots in the community have unearthed, and will lead to many more, stories about social innovation throughout West Michigan. He is always interested in hearing new stories on social innovation and ideas to pitch to a dedicated and talented team of writers for this project. Drop him a line, or story idea, at [email protected].

The principle photographer and photo editor for UIX GR and Rapid Growth Media is Adam Bird who can be contacted at [email protected]. Bird currently lives in Grand Rapids, where he also serves on the board of directors for both The Geek Group and Give Camp Grand Rapids, as well as the marketing committee for the Susan G. Komen Foundation West Michigan.

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