Holland Young Professionals

Holland First, a program of the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce,  is now accepting applications for the class of 2008.  The program is free of charge and offers eight instructional sessions that explore personal leadership and cultural concerns while focusing on area programs and resources.

Dante Villarreal, Business Consultant with the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, will facilite the program.  You might also know Dante as the winner of the 2007 HYP Golf Outting!!! 

If you’d like additional information please click here: Holland First Brochure and Application

2008 Schedule:

February 26, 2008…………………………..Orientation/Community History

March 4, 2008………………Economic Development/Business

March 11, 2008………………..Community Resources

March 18, 2008………………………..Law Enforcement

March 25, 2008……………………………….Government

April 1, 2008………………………………………Education

April 15, 2008…………………………………..Art/Culture

April 22, 2008…………………………………..Graduation

UPDATED WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24…POSTPONED!
Saturday, November 3rd, the Holland Garden Club and Evergreen Commons Senior Activity Center need your help at the Community Garden!

A crew is needed to strip remaining garden beds, prune, design and lay a new brick path. Evergreen will supply the materials, equipment, beverages and LUNCH for the crew; however, folks should bring their own gloves if so desired. “If we had just ten people we could get the job done that day!” exclaims Kathie Spitzley, Master Gardener & Community Garden Coordinator.

The Community Garden is located at Central Avenue and 20th Street with a large parking lot behind the green space, directly across from The City of Holland Greenhouse. Please RSVP by Thursday, November 1 to Adrienne Schumacher at 886.9546 or 355.1136 - friends, supervised children and spouses are all welcome, this is a family friendly environment/activity!

The power of one initiative continues…items gathered at each HYP event will be donated again to The Community Action House (CAH) pantry for public distribution.  CAH is committed to helping families achieve self-sufficiency.  The 2007 Point-in-Time Homelessness Study Results are in, and on one day in our community CAH found:  279 children that were homeless or on the verge of homelessness, 50 women that chose the uncertainty of homelessness over the agony of domestic violence, 25 individuals facing foreclosure or eviction within 30 days of this study, 4 pregnant women who were homeless; all right here in HOLLAND.  For more ways to help CAH end the cycle of poverty by empowering families and individuals, see their website at www.communityactionhouse.org  Click "more" to view calendar.

Read more

The Seventh Annual Tulipanes Latino Art & Film Festival is poised to take the stage on Labor Day Weekend, Thursday, August 30-Sunday, September 2, 2007, with a wide range of cultural representation in film, art, dance, food and music for the whole family.

Building on the success of past year's centralized locations, Tulipanes 2007 will again feature a main stage in Centennial Park, with other activities happening within blocks at the Knickerbocker Theatre, Park Theatre, Herrick Library, Holland Armory and the Holland Area Arts Council.

Read more

Did you know that Kalamazoo, MI made it on the Fast 50 for the Kalamazoo Promise? I didn't…  I just came across a posting on FastCompany's blog, FCNow.  I was not aware that the Kalamazoo Promise also provides internship bonuses for college interns in an effort to retain more college graduates in the area.  Interesting stuff.  Here's a quote from FCNow:

Southwest Michigan First also wants to retain some of that college talent. The group approached companies about offering internships and bonus scholarships - $5,000 at the end of the summer if a student does a good job. So far more than two dozen companies have signed on. "We want these kids to think about working in our community first," says Kitchens. "We looked around and no one had a benchmark saying you should retain 30 percent of college students, but maybe they should."

link:  http://blog.fastcompany.com/archives/2007/08/01/innovation_kalamazoo_contd.html?partner=rss 

Have you ever thought about how walkable Holland is?  Here’s a great little tool that will give you an idea of what is available to you within walking distance.  For those of you that live in the downtown area, Holland ranks 54/100.  Put in your own address and find out your walkable score!

Holland, MI - Walk Score