Local Tours & Breakout Sessions
Local Tours & Breakout Sessions will connect attendees with ready-to-use resources and opportunities to help their communities thrive. These sessions will cover everything from essential skills to innovative new ideas.
More session details coming soon.
Thursday, September 23
10:15 AM–NOON
Local Tour- ArtPrize 2021 Tour
Location: Imperial Ballroom-Amway Grand, Walking Tour
Tour Guides: Craig Searer, Executive Director, ArtPrize
Katie Moore Exhibitions Manager, ArtPrize
Speakers: West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology Team
Grand Rapid’s ArtPrize began nearly 12 years ago as an experiment—a totally new event, unlike anything the world had ever seen. ArtPrize is an all-volunteer, artist-led initiative focused on creating projects and events in unique spaces. Since its inception, millions have participated, displaying their work, opening their spaces to artists and visitors from around the world, and sparking countless conversations about what art is and why it matters. Art plays an integral part in forming community identity and creating connections. On this exciting bus tour, hosted by ArtPrize staff, we will discuss the concept of Community Wealth Building and how it relates to arts and culture throughout Michigan. We will view indoor and outdoor works of art throughout the city in public parks and museums, in galleries and vacant storefronts, in bars and on bridges. Please join us and come away with ideas to take back to your community.
Local Tour- 2030 District Tour
Starting Location: 220 Lyon Street, Bus Tour—MASK REQUIRED
The Grand Rapids 2030 District is a public-private partnership committed to creating high-performing buildings and smart mobility options that drawdown carbon in Grand Rapids’ built environment, increase marketability and profitability of property owners, and strengthen the greater community’s vibrancy.
Local Tour- Evolution of Grand Rapids Tour
Starting Location: 220 Lyon Street, Walking Tour
Tour Guide: Mark Miller, Managing Director of Planning and Design Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc.
See how far Grand Rapids has come—in such a short period of time! Mark Miller from Grand Rapids Inc. will lead you on a walking tour of downtown Grand Rapids, take you to Bridge Street via the shuttle bus, then head to Uptown. If there is time, a trip to Grandville Ave. will happen as well—especially the Plaza Roosevelt project.
Breakout Session-Updating the Master Plan
Location: Ambassador East–Amway Grand
Sponsored by:
Moderator: Scott Borchart, Regional Account Executive, Gordian
Speakers: Lynée Wells, Founder & CEO, Aligned Planning
Andrew Moore, Executive & Planner, Williams+Works
Christopher Germain, Senior RRC Planner, MEDC
Whether a routine five-year update, or the first big rewrite in a while, updating your master plan is a chance to engage residents and think about your community’s assets and aspirations. This session will be a refresher on the basic requirements of the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, as well as a discussion of how new tools and trends affect your planning.
Breakout Session- General Law Village–What’s New & What’s Not
Location: Ambassador West–Amway Grand
Moderator: Roberto Valdez, Village President, Blissfield
Speakers: John Schrier, Attorney, Parmeter Law
Robert La Fave, Village Manager, L’Anse
When we met in 2019, we discussed the ins and outs of the General Law Village Act. Now, two years later, hear directly from village leaders on what has changed and what has remained the same.
3:00–4:00 PM
Building Bridges: Putting the Power to Create Trust & Belonging in Residents’ Hands
Location: Ambassador East–Amway Grand
Moderator: Anita Ashford, Councilmember, Port Huron
Speakers: Jamiel Robinson, Founder/CEO Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses
Ana Jose, Program Manager, Transformando West Michigan
Minya Irby, Agency Principal, Cooper Irby Brewster Professional Services
The MML Foundation will present on what we learned from the Bridge Builders Microgrant program. With a panel of Bridge Builder Grantees, we will have an open dialogue on how small dollars can be transformational, how to foster local leadership, and how to foster a sense of agency in communities.
How Small- to Medium-Sized Cities Can Partner to End Homelessness
Location: Senator Vandenberg Room–Amway Grand
Moderator: Joseph Greene, Mayor, Caro
Speakers: Eric Hufnagel, Mayor, St. Johns; Executive Director, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
David Anderson, ISK’s Director of Housing; Member of Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission; Mayor of Kalamazoo
Lyn Raymond, Director of the Lakeshore Housing Alliance at Greater Ottawa County United Way
Homelessness is complicated and solutions require collaboration. Join a conversation with elected officials who also work in the homelessness response system to better understand homelessness, the challenges it can pose, and solutions your community can be engaged in.
Many Talents, Many Solutions: Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
Location: Governor’s Room–Amway Grand
Moderator: Kathy Winczewski, Councilmember, Ludington
Speakers: Dr. Timothy Scarlett, Associate Professor of Archaeology, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University
Hear from Dr. Timothy Scarlett on hydro-generated power storage in historic mines in the UP. Scarlett is an anthropologist working with a multi-disciplinary team to address climate change and energy generation needed to reduce carbon emissions. “Energy transition is multi-dimensional, complex, non-linear, non-deterministic, and highly uncertain… It’s a multi-layered process with multiple actors.”” -Fattouh, Poudineh, and West, 2019
The Other CEO: Hear from Jackson’s Chief Equity Officer
Location: Ambassador West–Amway Grand
Moderator: Veronica Paiz, Councilmember, Harper Woods
Speaker: John Willis, Chief Equity Officer, City of Jackson
Jackson, MI hired their first chief equity officer in 2020, and created their Racial Equity Commission at that time. Several Michigan communities have either hired people to focus on equity, created commissions to do so, or have created equity plans to get started on their journey. Is your community considering diving into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work? Attend this session to learn what the City of Jackson has been up to and their plans for moving forward.
Owning the Narrative–Messaging for Municipalities
Location: Imperial Ballroom–Amway Grand
Moderator: Cardi DeMonaco, Jr., Councilmember, Eastpointe
Speaker: Rob McCarty, Managing Partner, The Image Shoppe
See the marketing world through the eyes of Rob McCarty who brings a passion for inclusivity and culture. Leave this session with a new perspective on how municipalities can view themselves as a brand and utilize this vantage point as they approach solutions within their communities.
4:30–5:30 PM
Advancing Sustainability: Tools for Being a Green Community
Location: Imperial Ballroom–Amway Grand
Moderator: Shanna Draheim, Director, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League
Speakers: Matt Naud, Resource Recycling Systems
Julie Staveland, MI Department of EGLE
Amy Tweeten, City of Petoskey
Local governments are faced with a host of climate and environment-related issues that challenge the physical and economic resiliency of their communities. Preparing for and adapting to changes in our climate and natural systems can seem daunting. But there are many straightforward solutions and strategies that communities can adopt that not only help mitigate risk but improve the lives of residents and help grow our local economies. In this session, attendees will hear from local and state practitioners about programs and policies that communities can use to “go greener” and improve their sustainability.
Cybersecurity: A Field Guide for Local Leaders
Location: Ambassador East–Amway Grand
Sponsored by:
Speakers: Kelly Mahoney Schafka, Account Executive, Dewpoint
Mike McGowan, Systems Engineer, Dewpoint
Listen to best practices and develop a plan for tackling local government IT security. Hear about success stories in IT Security from Dewpoint clients such as the City of Eaton Rapids, for how to segment networks to ensure security of highly protected data and help train city employees on cyber best practices.
Neighborhoods for More Neighbors: Making Room for Everyone
Location: Senator Vandenberg Room–Amway Grand
Moderator: Colleen Brown, Mayor, City of Montrose
Speakers: Linh Song, Councilmember, Ann Arbor
Eric Hufnagel, Mayor, St. Johns; Executive Director, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
Ryan Kilpatrick, Executive Director, Housing Next (Ottawa County)
Yarrow Brown, Executive Director, Housing North (Northwest Lower Peninsula)
Many of our communities have faced tight housing markets and rising prices in recent years as they have attracted new residents, potentially putting homes out of reach or displacing others. How can we make space in our communities to welcome new neighbors without pitting them against older neighbors?
Trust & Belonging in the Work Place
Location: Ambassador West–Amway Grand
Moderator: Rock Abboud, President Pro Tem, Beverly Hills
Speaker: Steve Robbins, Founder and Owner of S.L. Robbins & Associates
Dr. Steve L. Robbins is founder and owner of S.L. Robbins and Associates, a consulting firm on issues of human behavior based in Grand Rapids, MI. Often called a “diversity expert.” For Steve, who is often called a “diversity expert,” issues of inclusion are fundamental issues of human behavior in a world filled with differences. In this session, hear how his unique life experiences have allowed him multiple perspectives on issues of inclusion and diversity and how that translates into creating an inclusive, professional environment.
Friday, September 24
9:00–10:15 AM
Marijuana Petitions Ballot Proposals
Location: Ambassador East–Amway Grand
Sponsored by:
Moderator: John J. Gillooly, Attorney, Garan Lucow Miller
Speakers: Nick Curcio, Attorney, Curcio Law Firm
Leslie Dickinson, Attorney, Foster Swift
Municipalities have been receiving initiatory petitions for both ordinances and charter amendments for recreational and medical marihuana. The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) provides, “Individuals may petition to initiate an ordinance to provide for the number of marihuana establishments allowed within a municipality or to completely prohibit marihuana establishments within a municipality.” The medical marihuana statute, MMFLA, does not provide for an initiatory process. As a result, citizen groups are submitting petitions for charter amendments. This session will cover both ordinance and charter amendment petitions for recreational and medical marihuana. These questions will also be addressed: What happens if a proposed ordinance goes beyond the statutory parameters? How does the statute relate to a city charter, which may have its own petition requirements? What role do municipalities play in ensuring that the various legal requirements for ordinances and charter amendments have been followed?
Live with the League Director’s Cut
Location: Ambassador West–Amway Grand
Sponsored by:
Moderator: Matt Bach, Assistant Director, Strategic Communications Michigan Municipal League
Sean N. Beckman, PE, Project Manager, ROWE Professional Services Company
Speakers: Chris Hackbarth, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
John LaMacchia II, Assistant Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
Jennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League
Herasanna Richards, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League
Yes, the American Rescue Plan and other federal legislation are huge topics for municipal leaders. That doesn’t mean we can take our eye off the ball for one second on the other issues affecting local government. Hear the latest on short-term rentals, Open Meetings Act, gravel mining, revenue sharing, shoreline erosion, and other policy topics of interest in Lansing and D.C. Your MML State and Federal Affairs team are on deck to keep you in the know.
9:00–11:00 AM
Local Tour- A Walk in the Park—The Importance of Parks & Rec During a Global Pandemic
Tour Starting Location: 220 Lyon Street, Bus Tour—MASK REQUIRED
Tour Guides: Stephanie Adams, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
Amy Brower, Executive Director, Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association
We know that parks and trails play a vital role in creating a community and that has been even more apparent this past year during the pandemic. Our attendees will have the opportunity to hear about the incredible partnership Friends of Grand Rapids Parks has created with the Grand Rapids Parks and Recs department and get a firsthand experience seeing parks and trails that have been key in connecting people throughout the city.
Local Tour- Innovative Solutions for Attainable Housing Tour
Starting Location: 220 Lyon Street, Bus Tour—MASK REQUIRED
Tour Guide: Ryan VerWys, President & CEO Inner City Christian Federation, Grand Rapids
Jan van der Woerd, Vice President, Real Estate Development & Management, Inner City Christian Federation
Come tour completed examples of innovative housing in the Grand Rapids area, with conversations about creating new housing units that don’t cost a fortune.