Grand Rapids boasts a long legacy of philanthropy, volunteerism and innovative approaches to addressing societal challenges. Our “climate of giving” can be a drawing card to organizations dedicated to advancing the individual and collective good – like Chicago-based Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), which held its 2025 National Conference in Grand Rapids November 5-8.
CCDA’s mission is to “strengthen and inspire Christian Community Development practitioners for community transformation through equipping and connecting” and a big part of its annual conference is giving attendees diverse opportunities to learn and grow.
To that end, CCDA arranged site visits, or “Go & Sees,” to 12 local community service providers during its four-day Grand Rapids stay:
- Amplify GR, building supportive neighborhoods on the city’s southeast side.
- Bridge Street Ministries, equipping and empowering youth through holistic development.
- City Life Church, a core-city church of many ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Escape Ministries, connecting “at-risk” youth with opportunities and resources.
- Fresh Coast Alliance, supporting men and women returning from incarceration or starting their recovery journey.
- Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, a collaborative hub creating opportunities and transformation in southeast GR.
- Heights of Hope, focused on championing community members’ gifts and promoting youth leadership.
- ICCF Community Homes, a three-decade project to transform a neglected neighborhood.
- Mel Trotter Ministries, helping men, women and children overcome homelessness.
- New City Neighbors, growing future leaders by empowering them to grow and prepare food.
- The Other Way Ministries, a community development organization whose programs include the member-driven AGAPE food co-op.
- Treetops Collective, connecting with and investing in refugee and immigrant women and teen girls.
Attendees could also tour Roosevelt Park, a majority-Hispanic neighborhood currently undergoing an unprecedented level of investment, and take a tour of downtown murals, many of which celebrate cultural diversity and spotlight community voices.
A Collaborative City
“Grand Rapids has so much to teach the nation about collaboration and long-term connection,” says Scott Overpeck, Director of Membership & Conference for CCDA. Go & Sees gave attendees a first-hand look at successful charitable programs and initiatives, inspiring them to build their capacity and apply proven strategies and techniques in their own missions. “It was great for our attendees to be able to learn from so many local leaders,” enthuses Overpeck. He reports that participating local providers were eager to “show others how to do the work” to uplift people’s lives and transform communities.
More than 300 of this year’s 2,170 CCDA conference attendees participated in the Go & Sees, traveling to community sites primarily by buses provided by CCDA. Experience Grand Rapids supplemented the effort by offering Rapid bus passes for those who utilized public city transportation.
CCDA has a strong local presence and set up its own Go & Sees, but EXGR has helped other groups identify and connect with community service providers for site visits and volunteer opportunities. Director of Convention Services Brandy Martin says that many groups are interested in local volunteer projects that focus on sustainability, and she has also referred meeting clients to organizations like AYA Youth Collective, In The Image, Kids’ Food Basket and the Women’s Resource Center.
“There is much more to a conference than moving groups in and moving them out,” says Martin. “Our convention services team can collaborate with meeting planners on virtually every aspect of an event, on and off the convention floor.”
SpecialEvents.com reported in 2025 that “giving back” is a significant meetings industry trend and that many organizations are “partnering with nonprofits to provide purpose-driven experiences that resonate beyond the event itself.” Whether it’s getting inspiration from local charities or pitching in to assist with their missions, Grand Rapids is uniquely qualified to deliver such experiences.
