Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities

Happy Birthday to our CEO, Steff Rosalez! Steff has worked at GAAH for more than half of the organization's existence, and she has played such a pivotal role in shaping the work we do today. Join us in sending her warm wishes on her birthday today.

If you are interested in feeding a bunch of local musicians or know someone who does, reach out to Kas at [email protected] or call 616-472-0692
Our campers creativity is fueled by good food!

We are counting down the weeks for Girls Rock week! If you like spending time with awesome people and like to support local musicians sign up to volunteer. We are looking for lead band coaches, assistant band coaches, camp support and a synth instructor⚡️

Visit our POINT page to sign up at https://pointapp.org/orgs/2332

There are still open spots for campers to sign up for another amazing year of Girls Rock! Grand Rapids. Camp week is filled with music, jam sessions, empowerment, self reflection, and so much more. To sign up your student visit linktr.ee/gaahgr to sign up!

We are a month away from camp week!! We cannot wait to host a week filled with jam sessions, workshops, and community. If you are interested in sponsoring a lunch please reach out to Kas at [email protected] or call 616-742-0692

It's time to FIND YOUR PHOTO! 📸

We are still looking back at our 25 year anniversary celebration with joy, and gratitude for all those who made it possible, including our friends Mai
and Kyana from Black Youth Creatives, who did an amazing job capturing joy in the photo booth!

Click here to find your photos from the event! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14uc1nXn-v2BrcKaM6TBMSMpVlzxJxWkN?usp=drive_link

Summer program is here! We are already in week two of our summer camps at both the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center, and we have curious and creative minds hard at work.

🧩 🤔

to Día del Sol last week! What was your favorite part of the celebration?

¡ al Día del Sol la semana pasada! ¿Cuál fue tu parte favorita de la celebración?

We are looking for our next Cook Arts Center Studio Manager!

Know anyone who is an artist, musician, or some other creative who is also really organized and loves working with youth? Share this cool opportunity with them!

Or maybe it describes YOU! Click here to see the full description and apply today: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12WM99m8JBdHNSJ1e8kdW1LE4w6mtsHzG/view?usp=sharing

GAAH is excited to employ 7 teens in our centers this summer who are participating in the GRow1000 program.

The GRow1000 Youth Employment Program is an initative created by the city of Grand Rapids that connects teens and young adults with meaningful opportunities to explore a career and obtain valuable work experience while earning money.

These teens have already brought so much enthusiasm and joy to their work and we can't wait to see how they continue to grow with us this summer.

Learn more about GRow1000: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Programs-and-Initiatives/GRow1000

Did you know GAAH is a Meet Up and Eat Up site? Meet Up and Eat Up is a United Way program that works to improve the quality and availability of meals to youth in West Michigan. GAAH’s Cook Arts Center is a registered meal site that provides breakfast and lunch for children 18 and younger Monday through Friday all summer long. We are proud to support our neighbors by creating equitable access to food and opportunities for connection.

Learn more about the Meet Up and Eat Up program: https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help/community-resources/meet-up-and-eat-up/

Please join us in welcoming the newest member of our team, Cook Library Center Administrator Alejandra Gallegos-Ordaz (she/her)! 👋

Alejandra loves providing community support in many different capacities, but being behind the scenes is her favorite way to make things happen! Thus, creating processes and organizing things are some of her professional passions. Community is highly important to her, and her hope is, wherever she goes, to create an environment where everyone feels valued and welcome. She leads her work with patience, compassion, and empathy. Alejandra grew up in Holland, MI, and graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Her background in Sociology highly informs her goals and values. Advocacy and justice form part of her professional and personal life in an effort to create a more equitable, loving community. In her free time she loves to be creative through drawing and painting, cuddling with her cats, and being with her loved ones.

Día del Sol photos are here! Thank you to Bryan Esler for donating his time to beautifully capture the celebration.

📷️ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j9gxVahQqlW6JNcj7JTzmOvD8sy8kYxy?usp=sharing

Photo booth pictures from our friends at Black Youth Creatives will be shared soon.

¡Gracias! Thank you!

Because of your outstanding support, over $45,000 was raised at Día del Sol to further our mission to build environments of curiosity and creativity with our neighbors to cultivate inclusion and justice.

Last night, we celebrated GAAH's 25th anniversary with friends old and new. We reflected on our humble beginnings and honored those who have helped us build a community that is inclusive and welcoming to all. We shared memories and stories. And we looked ahead to where our work will take us as we journey onward and updward.

A very special thank you to everyone who made the event possible. We can't wait to move into our next 25 years with you all!

Support our next 25 years: https://gaah.networkforgood.com/projects/216262-gaah-25th-anniversary

Happy Día del Sol day! ☀️

We can't wait to celebrate with you all tonight. Tickets are sold out(!!!), though there will be a limited number of tickets available at the door.

You don't have to have a ticket to participate in our silent auction, though! View this year's exciting auction packages and start bidding!
https://gaah.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/24ddsauction

📣The Día del Sol silent auction is LIVE!
https://gaah.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/24ddsauction

This year, the auction is open to everyone. You do not need to purchase a Día del Sol ticket to participate. Here's how to start bidding:

1. Visit the auction website at the link below.
2. Click the orange "Join the Auction to Bid" button and complete the contact form with your name, email, and phone number. If you already registered, click "Log In."
3. View the auction catalog and start bidding!

Once registered, you can bid and even set a max amount to allow automatic bids up to that amount. If you’re outbid, you will receive an email or text notification, depending on your communication preferences, giving you the opportunity to increase your bid.

The auction closes at 7:15 PM tomorrow, Thursday, June 13th. Winners will be notified via text or email, and sent a personal check-out link to pay your winning bid.

If you are not attending Día del Sol, we will contact you after the event to arrange pick-up. Shipping is also available for an additional charge.

Happy bidding!
https://gaah.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/24ddsauction

📣The Día del Sol silent auction goes live ONLINE tomorrow at 5:30 PM!
https://gaah.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/24ddsauction

This year, the auction is open to everyone. You do not need to purchase a Día del Sol ticket to participate. Here's how to get registered:

1. Visit the auction website at the link below.
2. Click the orange "Join the Auction to Bid" button and complete the contact form with your name, email, and phone number.
3. View the auction catalog and start bidding tomorrow night!

The auction will close at 7:15 PM on Thursday, June 13th. Winning bidders who are not attending Día del Sol will be contacted after the event to arrange pick-up. Shipping will also be available for an additional charge.

More details will be shared tomorrow!
https://gaah.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/24ddsauction

Thank you to all of our 2024 Día del Sol sponsors! It brings us joy to have so many supporters who uplift and are part of our curious and creative community.

https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

We express and celebrate the things that bring joy, the good in others, and the good in situations. Sometimes, that thing is making slime! How have you shared joy while at GAAH?

Did we mention that we are raffling off 2 hot air balloon ride tickets at Día del Sol?!!😯 The only way to enter to win is by joining us at the event...so get your tickets now! (and don't forget to use code LASTCHANCE before midnight tonight to get 25% off your purchase!)

https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

Sponsored by Christine Carrizales and the Steelcase Foundation.

**The code is working now! If you tried to use the code this morning without success, please try again. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Día del Sol is one week away! TODAY ONLY, use code LASTCHANCE at checkout to get 25% off tickets. We can't wait to celebrate with you next Thursday!

🎟️https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

Did you know that the Dominican Sisters helped make Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities a reality? Sister Kathi Sleziak led the vision that became GAAH and was the Cook Arts Center's first Executive Director...back when it was still called Grandville Avenue Academy for the Arts.

We are grateful for the continued partnership with the Dominican Sisters who are sponsoring Día del Sol this year.

Tickets and sponsorships are still available! We hope you can join us on June 13th! https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

We are back for another year of camp!
Our Girls Rock! Grand Rapids camper registration is open. To sign up your student visit linktr.ee/gaahgr if you have any questions reach out to Kas at 616-742-0692

Día del Sol will be a joyful celebration this year featuring caricature portaits, a silent auction, delicious food from El Granjero Mexican Grill and El Globo Restaurant, performance by the Puerto Rican Cultural Committee, a special walk down memory lane as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, and SO MUCH MORE!

Join us on June 13th! Get your tickets today!
🎟️ https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

We are grateful for the support of Profile Films as sponsors of Día del Sol!⁠
⁠
It's the last chance for your business to become an event sponsor! Head over to our Día del Sol website now to commit your support!
https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

Girls Rock! Grand Rapids is more than just teaching music. It's about empowering young people and shifting culture through music! If you are interested in volunteering visit our POINT page to look through all the volunteer opportunities. If you have any questions, reach out to Noemi at [email protected] or at 616-600-8427

https://pointapp.org/orgs/2332

Thank you to our friends at Grand Valley State University for their sponsorship of Día del Sol!⁠ A special shout out to our friend and GAAH board member Marlene Kowalski-Braun for facilitating this support.
⁠
There are only a few short weeks before event day, so now is the time to commit your support for creativity, curiosity, inclusion, and justice!
https://gaah.networkforgood.com/events/65928-2024-d-a-del-sol

Our registration for Summer Camp is now open at both the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center! Camp runs Monday through Thursday with Thursdays being field trip days. Visit linktr.ee/gaahgr to register your student!

¡Nuestra inscripción para el campamento de verano ya está abierta tanto en el Cook Arts Center como en el Cook Library Center! El campamento se realiza de lunes a jueves y los jueves son días de excursiones. ¡Visite linktr.ee/gaahgr para registrar a su estudiante!

Did you know GAAH has a close partnership with local schools? Education systems have historically oppressed students of color, so we partner with GRPS and other schools that our neighbors attend to make sure students have what they need in and out of the classroom. Through intentional conversations, relationship building, and advocacy, we work together to uplift students and cultivate inclusion and justice in our communities.

Girls Rock! Grand Rapids 2024 will be our 11th year of camp and we are super excited to continue the joy of creating music and empowering young musicians! There are all kinds of volunteer opportunities to get to know amazing people and youth.

If you are interested in volunteering visit https://pointapp.org/orgs/2332 to sign up or contact Noemi at [email protected] for more information.