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Our Inclusive Community

The people of Grand Rapids reflect the full range of human experience – in who they are, where they come from, what they look like, how they worship and so much more. All of them have contributed their own unique colors and brushstrokes to the canvas of Grand Rapids, creating a rich, vibrant community that emphasizes collaboration while honoring diversity.

However, we as a community recognize that we can and should do more to make all of our citizens feel equally included. The Office of Equity and Engagement for the city of Grand Rapids is dedicated to advancing policy and systemic change that fosters liberation and belonging among our community.  Likewise, Experience Grand Rapids is committed to promoting community, workforce and supplier diversity – both to ensure that everyone gets to participate in the area’s economic success and to make visitors to the area see themselves reflected in the people they encounter here.

Our Vice President of Engagement & Inclusion leads this effort by designing and implementing policies that support our commitment, building relationships with diverse community groups and collaborating with local partners to create inclusive career pathways. The focus is on making Kent County an equitable, welcoming place of belonging for everyone who lives, works and visits here.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Statement

Experience Grand Rapids is committed to ensuring that our mission assists Grand Rapids/Kent County become a more sustainable, diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive destination.

Every effort will be made to ensure all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, visible and invisible disabilities, class, cultural and religious beliefs are welcomed throughout our community.

For us, inclusion is not an endpoint, but rather a continuing effort to make both residents and visitors feel more at home, more empowered and more delighted with their time here. We’ll highlight some of our – and the region’s – progress on this page.

A group of people, including two men and two women, are engaged in a lively conversation in a cozy, dimly lit restaurant setting with warm lighting and greenery in the background.
The image shows two individuals, a man and a woman, wearing chef's uniforms and working in a commercial kitchen setting with various cooking equipment and supplies visible in the background.

The Grand Rapids community thrives because of the people who make visitors, newcomers and longtime residents feel welcome. Explore hospitality, tourism, aviation, and entertainment — industries full of creative roles, welcoming environments, and real pathways to advancement right here in Kent County and around the world.

Photo by AVES Films for Experience GR

Craft Your Career

In 2026, Experience Grand Rapids launched a program designed to inspire the next generation to explore meaningful, long-term careers in hospitality and tourism. 

Craft Your Career showcases real stories from diverse professionals who have built dynamic careers in restaurants, hotels, attractions, and other tourism and hospitality-related businesses across Kent County. The goal is to get young people to see hospitality not just as a job, but as a craft where they can grow, lead and leave their mark – no matter the color of their skin, the neighborhood they grew up in, where their parents came from or what they believe.

Craft Your Career is an outgrowth of our work with the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, which we helped launch at majority-minority Ottawa Hills High School in 2019 and has now expanded to seven area schools. The Academy exposes high school students from all backgrounds to a variety of hospitality and tourism career opportunities in event management, recreation and attractions, lodging, food and beverage, sustainable tourism and more.

We also host an annual Savor & Soar event to give students a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of local hospitality businesses and give them the opportunity to meet with industry leaders. The event includes a formal five-course dinner and a career fair where students, parents and guardians can learn about careers and apply for jobs in the industry.

Ultimately, fostering a truly inclusive community in Grand Rapids and Kent County is an active, ongoing journey rather than a final destination. By honoring the unique backgrounds of all residents and visitors, the city of Grand Rapids, Experience Grand Rapids and many other inclusion-focused local organizations are laying the groundwork for lasting systemic change.

Ensuring that every individual – regardless of race, gender, ability or belief – feels a deep sense of belonging and has an equal opportunity to thrive is vital to the region's shared prosperity. Our continued commitment to these values will ensure that this is a place that remains welcoming, collaborative and empowering for everyone.

The People of this Place

Before we can look forward, we must take a look back at the people who helped shape West Michigan, from the first French fur traders to the latest influx of refugees escaping wars and others seeking a better standard living. Visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum to view the Newcomers: the People of this Place exhibit.

Indian Burial Mounds at Ah-Nab-Awen Park

History of Native Americans in GR

Indian Burial Mounds at Ah-Nab-Awen Park

History of Native Americans in GR

Old Grand Rapids

History of Europeans in GR

Tulip Field in Holland Michigan - Nick Irwin Images

History of Dutch in GR

The image shows a group of people examining artwork displayed on the walls of the Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives. The foreground features a woman in a light-colored sweater standing in front of the artwork, while the background includes additional framed pieces and what looks like a text-based display.

History of African Americans in GR

Grand Rapids Hispanic Festival

History of Latinos in GR

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History of Asians in GR

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