Grand Rapids Community College Campus Common Reading Initiative has selected “Grand Rapids Grassroots: An Anthology,” as the 2026 common read for GRCC students.
The novel will kick off a multi-year initiative surrounding the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the 175th anniversary of the city of Grand Rapids, and all culminating in the 250 year celebration of America in July 2026.
“Grand Rapids Grassroots,” is a collection of stories, articles, and poems by individuals who dedicated their lives to activism, community engagement, and neighborhood organization to help the city of Grand Rapids become a more inclusive, welcoming, and united place. A worthy cause that the Common Reading Committee hopes will inspire students who walk the same streets as those in the book.
This initiative aims to engage the campus community in a year-long exploration of democracy, history, belonging, and collaborative programming in historically underrepresented communities.
“When we think about the mission of GRCC, it says preparing students to reach their goals and have an impact in our community, so the committee chose ‘Grassroots’ because it shows that anybody can be an activist,” Faculty Librarian and Common Reading Initiative Chairwoman Sophia Brewer said. “And so it’s about letting our students know that they can become an activist in some of the ordinary things that they do everyday.”
The stories of the change agents in the book don’t just manifest in Grand Rapids, for many of them their work extended far beyond. All possessing different physical qualities, coming from different places and backgrounds, but all sharing the same common goal. Equality and belonging for all.
“I think the book really captures a diverse audience in terms of the stories,” Librarian, College Archivist, and Chairman of the Common Reading Initiative Mike Klawitter said. “It’s from a variety of storytellers and from…different perspectives, and it really highlights what Grand Rapids is today.”
In a time where a lot of people get information from their phones, the committee hopes that students and the community try to adopt reading books into their routine to access information. But also to be inspired to create significant stories of their own.
“The book encourages reading longer stories, and essay selections,” Klawitter said. “Most of us read very short things through social media or email or whatever source of information we use. So it’s really good and helpful to read things that are a little bit more in-depth and longer to give you a better perspective on what issues are.”
Along with inspiring more reading of books, adopting a sense of pride in where you come from and planting a seed of power and resilience are things Brewer hopes students take away.
“I hope it encourages people that every single voice matters and that we should share our concerns and do things to positively impact our communities,” Brewer said. “I hope it builds pride. I hope it inspires.”
Students are encouraged to check out “Grand Rapids Grassroots” in the library on the 5th floor of RJF. A raider card is not required however you must sign the book out so you can be notified of future events surrounding this year’s Common Reading Initiative novel.
