We can do better. Together.
Thrive + Prosper is an emerging movement focused on making Grand Rapids a better place to live. Where it’s normal — not newsworthy — for everyone to thrive and prosper.
We’re a collective of local businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, community organizations, faith organizations and residents with
a shared vision.
Change cannot be achieved in a vacuum. It needs collaboration, and for those involved to plan intentionally for actions that actually make a difference to people in our communities.
We must find the answers by working together, because if we’re going to build a city where everyone can thrive and prosper, we need everyone involved in finding solutions.
We believe that opportunity is a result of access to a certain set of circumstances. And by removing barriers, we can improve access and spur economic vitality for all. But change is hard.
Change happens at the pace of deep relationships.
Our unifying aspirations
Innovation for human flourishing
We are committed to learning. We seek to move from only theory to community-guided solutions, recognizing the capacity of a collective approach that includes lived experiences.
We are curious, take risks, expect significant results, and accept failure as part of human flourishing.
Economic mobility + wealth creation
Despite having enormous resources as a community, we often operate out of a scarcity mentality. We believe in having an abundance mentality, a posture of humility/peacemaking instead of rivalry, which allows us to create partnerships, which are hard but worth it.
As we work together toward more thriving in our community, we commit to being willing to make sacrifices and do the hard work of resolving actual conflict that facilitates more economic vitality in our city.
Love of city
We love our city and want to see all people who live within it thrive. Everyone should feel like they belong, can use their talents, and have opportunities to prosper. This requires building relationships and changing behaviors that have directly and indirectly negatively impacted some community members more than others.
Ensuring all city members have an opportunity to thrive is a demonstrated way of loving our city in its entirety.
Principles
Mission
Vision
Partners in the work
