Upcoming Events › Adult Programs

Record collecting—is it hoarding? No, not really, well maybe sort of . . . but records are irresistibly flat, black, circular solid gold. Music shapes, and is shaped by society. Records provide a rich history from old-timey to country, from the chitlin’ circuit to rock n’ roll, and jazz from hot to cool, See and hear the best of vinyl with record collector Jon VanderPloeg—78s, 45s, 33s and no MP3s.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Motown introduced mainstream America to African-American artists and groups such as the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. Along with a great number of other talented performers, many of these artists grew up in or moved to Detroit. The challenges and opportunities faced by African-Americans in the Motor City is reflected in the development of Motown Records and the broad array of other performers that called the city home. As the “Sound of Young America,” Motown also reflected the growth of the Civil Rights Movement both nationally and in Detroit, the changes in Detroit, and the turmoil of the 1960s as a whole. This program traces the development of Motown Records during the 1950s and 1960s as Detroit experienced profound changes that helped shaped the style and message of its artists.

Architects and developers solved the post-WWII Grand Rapids housing shortage with a new vision, using innovative materials and building techniques. They reshaped and expanded the city, developing new neighborhoods and creating stunning modern designs. Join Pamela VanderPloeg architectural researcher at West Michigan Modern, for a photographic journey into the heart of Grand Rapids’ mid-century modern architecture, 1945-1970. This program will be presented at Temple Emmanuel designed by internationally renowned modern architect Eric Mendelsohn.

Did you know that Michigan has some of the biggest UFO cases on record? The 1966 sightings over Southest Michigan and 1994 sightings over Grand Rapids each had hundreds of eye-witnesses to them, including law enforcement and radar returns. Find out more about these incredible events as well as several other unusual and well-documented UFO sightings from the Great Lakes State from William Konkolesky, Director of the Michigan Chapter of the Mutual UFO Network. He has appeared in or contributed to UFO documentaries for the History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Discovery Channel, SyFy, and ABC.

Enjoy the outdoors while helping clean up a city park. Whether you want to jog, walk your dog, take the kids to a playground, or just sit and smell the fresh air, we all need clean green spaces in the city. Vibrant parks and green spaces are essential to our well-being. Come join the Friends of the Grand Rapids Parks to scrape and paint the splash pad at Alger Park. All you’ll need to bring are your work gloves and lots of energy.

Tour the little brick building on Grand Rapids’ West Side that achieved the world’s highest LEED rating—LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Learn how the building’s owners transformed the 95-year-old building into a catalyst for sustainable and restorative development in Grand Rapids. The building features a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, uses solar panels on the roof, used repurposed materials, has a rain garden and is 60% less expensive to operate than a traditional office space. Join Eric Doyle of Catalyst Partners on a behind the scenes tour of this green space.