🌱LAWM Criminal Record Expungement Program + SpringGR 250 Project

Happy Monday, neighbors! These are the most important things going on today in Grand Rapids.

First, today's weather:

A little afternoon snow. High: 39 Low: 30.

Here are the top stories today in Grand Rapids:

1. A new three-year program will help Kent County residents trying to clear their criminal records. Legal Aid of Western Michigan (LAWM) launched the expungement project in October after receiving a $550,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It will provide free education, resources, and legal services for people looking to get a clean slate. Although LAWM provides legal services to 17 counties, the grant-funded program targets lower-income Kent County residents with a focus on communities of color. (mlive.com)
2. Local nonprofit SpringGR recently unveiled its new program called "The 250 Project," designed to support the growth of minority business owners in Grand Rapids. The project will seek to help minority-owned businesses with at least $100,000 in revenue and one employee scale up their revenue to at least $250,000 or by 30% by the end of 2022. Applications for businesses that want to go through the program open on Dec. 1; informational sessions will be held on Dec. 16 and Jan. 13. (grbj.com)
3. Authorities with GRPD are still trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding a deadly shooting in the southwest side of Grand Rapids. Police aren’t releasing the names of the victims because of “complications with accurate ID.” They have also stated the shooting was not a case of domestic violence and that there is no danger to the public, but have not yet elaborated further. (WOODTV.com)
4. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is showcasing an international Christmas and holiday cultural celebration, focusing on the sounds of the holiday season. (mlive.com)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. I'll see you around! If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.