Women's LifeStyle Magazine - June 2020 - Tina Freese Decker

Grand Rapids|Holland|Grand Haven

JUNE 2020

Tina Freese Decker

DURING A PANDEMIC

FR EE

LEADERSHIP

West Michigan COVID-19 Business Coalition The West Michigan COVID-19 Business Coalition is a collaborative effort by several West Michigan organizations working to provide resources, guidance, and businesses services to the employers and employees of our community that have been affected by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

Leaders from Experience Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Chamber and The Right Place, Inc. convened the coalition aimed at making critical information more accessible to all area businesses and their employees. Coalition members include Asian PaciďŹ c American Chamber of Commerce (West MI), City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., Kent County, LINC UP, Local First, National Business League, Inc., Urban League of West Michigan, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber and West Michigan Works!

COVIDWM.ORG

Small Business Owners!

We Are Here WITH and FOR You GROW is here and will continue to support small businesses, entrepreneurs and our community with the tools, information and resources we have available as a Women’s Business Center, as a Small Business Administration Partner and as community members here in West Michigan.

Business Resources in One Place We're maintaining a list of webinars and resources listed on our website that have been created with small business owners in mind. These are tools provided by major organizations including the SBA, SBDC, IRS, Google and many local organizations, including many webinars createdby GROW volunteer facilitators.

• • • • • • • •

Human Resources Resilience & Managing Stress Mental Toughness Cloud-based Business Tools Opening Safely for Employees & Customers Managing Cash Flow Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Marketing In Times of Crisis

GROW GROW staff is also here to assist business owners to navigate funding options and other business concerns as our stay at home orders are lifted. We will help clarify your situation and do our best to identify the best options for your business.

Visit growbusiness.org/covid Email: info2@growbusiness.org to get started.

Contact us to Get Started While our office is closed we are fully staffed virtually, and ready to help!

Reach out to us online at growbusiness.org or email us directly at info2@growbusiness.org.

Stay connected

Contents

JUNE 2020 Edition #267

womenslifestyle.com

PUBLISHER Two Eagles Marcus EDITOR

FEATURES 10

Everyday Athena

14

Leadership During a Pandemic: Q&A with Tina Freese Decker, President and CEO of Spectrum Health

16

Inspired Voices Podcast

18

She’s Out of This World: Grand Rapids Native Pioneers Space Travel for Women

22

Grand Rapids Mutual Aid Creates Community

Elyse Wild editor@womenslifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Elyse Wild Kayla Sosa Michelle Jokisch Polo COLUMNISTS GROW Greater Grand Rapids Women’s

HEALTH & BEAUTY 24

How Spending Time Outdoors can Improve Your Mental Health

32

Learning about a Virus

History Council Kate Sage, DO Lindsey Tym Susan Erhardt PHOTOGRAPHY

FOOD & DINING 8

Dreams by Bella Photography SALES sales@womenslifestyle.com

Recipes: Good-for-You Sweet Treats Fruit Tarts No Bake Salted Caramel Bars

LEARN & DO 12

Reader’s Lounge

20

Her Legacy: Etta Van Norman

26

Director of Wealthy Theatre Sarah Nawrocki’s Top Ten Family Movies to Watch This Summer

28

Safely Re-Opening Your Business During COVID-19

MAIL

30

Virtual Event Listings

3500 3 Mile Rd NW, Ste A

34

Know How to Fold ‘Em: How to Store Your Clothes to Save Space

36

Compost is Part of the Circle of Life in Gardens

(616) 951-5422 CALL (616) 458-2121 EMAIL info@womenslifestyle.com

Grand Rapids, MI 49534 IN MEMORIAM Victoria Ann Upton Founder 1955 - 2018 To extend an uplifting, inclusive and vibrant invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community.

ABOUT THE COVER

Tina Freese Decker, President and CEO of Spectrum Health |photo courtesy of Spectrum Health

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Join In

Sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Grand Rapids Pride Center

For 30+ years, The Grand Rapids Pride Center has been empowering Grand Rapids’ LGBTQ+ community through support services and awareness. There are many ways to get involved and help them in their mission, including making a monetary donation, buying something off of their Amazon wishlist, volunteering for data entry, house cleaning, facilitating support groups and programming or serving on an advisory committee. Visit grpride.org/portfolioitem/volunteer to sign up!

Grand Rapids Trans Foundation

The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation was founded in 2015 to provide educational support to trans individuals in our community through substantial scholarship. Additionally, they offer courses such as the gender-affirming voice and communication group course, which runs from June 1-July 27 via Zoom.

Donate to their scholarship fund at grtransfoundation.org/howtohelp, or inquire about volunteer opportunities at info@grtransfoundation.org

Grand Rapids Urban League The Grand Rapids Urban League supports all people in achieving self-sufficiency and equality. Their dynamic programming involves employment, health, education, racial equity and youth. Support their work by making a financial donation. Donations provide funding for training adults in areas of job readiness and retention, computer literacy, and entrepreneurship; providing technology for children and adults; providing educational opportunities and mentorship, counseling and more. To donate, visit grurbanleague.org/get-involved

Girls Growing 2 Women

This organization provides young women with the building blocks for empowerment and education by forming a positive, tight-knit supportive sisterhood that encourages participants over their high school period to think independently and become leaders in their community through regular meetings and special activities. Support their mission by making a donation at girlsgrowing2women.com/donate.

Ebony Road Players

This Grand Rapids theatre company that inspire, educates and engages cultures of our community with high-quality theatre productions focused on the black community. Ebony Road Players has productions and events planned throughout the year and invites anyone to volunteer. Visit ebonyroad.org/getinvolved to apply.

Our future is bright.

Melanie Orozco-Zavala Union High School Class of 2020, Challenge Scholar

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Hats off to all graduates who followed their dreams and are ready to become tomorrow's leaders.

Congratulations, Class of 2020! grfoundation.org 5

From the Editor This past weekend our city was one of many in the nation in which citizens expressed their grief and pain through protest. Dismantling racist systems is urgent. My black friends and their black children live in a reality in which they must navigate the world to survive systems built against them. Yes, it hurts and it’s painful and it’s an issue that seems staggering, but I urge you not to turn away.

If you can turn away, know that you must not. We are living in an age in which information is abundant; educate yourself. Our community is home to wonderful black owned-businesses, but many still struggle to survive; put your dollars where it matters. Many organizations are working to provide education and resources to recognize and dismantle inequitable systems that impact people in our community every day; get involved. At Women’s LifeStyle, we commit to helping you engage with these resources.

Earlier this week, Governor Whitmer rescinded the shelter-in-place order and our economy is slowly and safely opening back up. While we may be excited to return to the normal we’ve missed, we know there truly is no returning. Several beloved businesses in our community have closed for good, and vulnerable communities have been made even more so. On page 22, read about how women-founded and led Grand Rapids Mutual Aid has distributed more than $54,000 to families impacted by the pandemic, with all funds coming from others who wanted to help.

Learn about safely re-opening your business as restrictions are lifted (28), and Dr. Kate Sage gives insight into the life of a virus (32). In a special Her Legacy column, The Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Councils tells us about the role the Grand Rapids Red Cross played in WWI (20). On page 18, we are inspired by the story of Christina Koch, a Grand Rapids native who was part of the first all-woman spacewalk earlier this year. As always, I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I do, and I hope they inspire you.

PHOTO BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

We are experiencing a pivotal moment in history; the pandemic has at once exposed our deepest flaws and our greatest strengths. The events of this weekend echo across the landscape of our city, and it is my hope that our hearts hear it and hold it and act on it. As we rebuild our world, we must create a whole new one. I encourage you to recoginze opportunities to do so in our own community in the coming days, weeks and months.

Women’s LifeStyle is a dynamic multi-media platform designed to make beneficial connections in our community. The positive, upbeat, award winning and popular locally owned publication is supported by a dynamic mobile friendly online presence and an interactive website, as well as friendly, helpful and consistent social media interaction with the community. Women’s LifeStyle is favored by an active, engaged and progressive audience. You are now looking at the 267th edition. All content ©Women’s LifeStyle, Inc. 2020.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Connect from home.

Treating anxiety, depression, and more Teletherapy is available for all ages.

200+ licensed, West Michigan clinicians.

Visit pinerest.org/telehealth or call 866.852.4001.

Virtual walk-in psychiatry now available for adults from the Psychiatric Urgent Care Center. Call 616.455.9200.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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GOOD-FOR-YOU SWEET TREATS Courtesy of Family Features

W

hile eating healthy and enjoying sweets seldom go handin-hand, choosing the right combination of nutritious ingredients can allow for guilt-free indulgences that shirks conventional dieting wisdom. In fact, some eating plans take it a step further by actually encouraging eating big in the evening when you’re naturally hungriest to help achieve your weight loss goals.

Fruit Tarts

Recipe courtesy of Always Eat After 7 PM

Custard: 8 egg yolks 1 cup raw honey 1 tablespoon coconut flour 3 cans (13 2/3 ounces each) fullfat coconut milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest Sugar Cookie Crust: 1/2 cup coconut oil, plus additional for greasing 1/2 cup palm shortening 1 cup coconut palm sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 egg yolks 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup blanched almond flour 1/4 cup coconut flour 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch Toppings: 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced 1 mango, peeled, pitted and sliced into 1/2-inch strips 1/2 cup raspberries 1/2 cup blackberries 1/2 cup blueberries 1/2 cup red grapes 1 cup strawberries, thinly sliced fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Remove from heat and let cool, continuing to stir occasionally. Once cooled to room temperature, pour into individual custard cups. Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes, or until serving.

To make crust: Heat oven to 350 F. Line bottom of pie pan with parchment paper and grease with coconut oil.

In large mixing bowl using electric mixer on high, beat coconut oil and palm shortening 30 seconds. Add coconut palm sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla until combined.

Beat in almond flour, coconut flour and starch. Chill dough in refrigerator 15 minutes.

Press chilled cookie dough into bottom of pie pan and 2 inches up sides. Bake 12 minutes, or until crust is golden and browned on top and edges. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Place cooled crust in refrigerator 30 minutes or overnight before assembling.

To assemble fruit tarts: Spread custard over chilled crust. Decorate top in circular pattern with kiwis, mango strips, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, grapes and strawberries.

To make custard: In saucepan, whisk egg yolks and honey until smooth. Mix in coconut flour.

In medium saucepan over medium heat, combine coconut milk, vanilla extract and lemon zest; bring to boil then remove from heat.

Before serving, chill at least 30 minutes or freeze 1 hour to help keep toppings in place.

Remove from freezer and set out at room temperature 20 minutes before slicing. Garnish with mint leaves.

Pour hot milk mixture into egg yolk mixture, stirring while pouring. Over low heat, simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

No Bake Salted Caramel Bars Recipe courtesy of Always Eat After 7 PM

Cookie Layer: 2 1/2 cups raw pecans 8 pitted dates, soaked in hot water 10 minutes then drained 2 tablespoons blanched almond flour 1 teaspoon coconut flour 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 cup granular zero-calorie, natural sweetener 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted Caramel Layer: 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar 1/2 cup granular zero-calorie, natural sweetener 2 tablespoons full-fat coconut milk 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 pinch sea salt 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon baking soda Chocolate Layer: 2 cups stevia-sweetened chocolate chips 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1/3 cup dry roasted macadamia nuts, chopped coarse sea salt

To make cookie layer: Place large skillet

over medium heat. Spread pecans over skillet and toast, stirring often, 8-10 minutes until golden. Remove from heat.

Transfer toasted pecans to food processor and pulse until fine. Add dates, almond flour, coconut flour, sea salt, sweetener and coconut oil; pulse until dough forms.

To make caramel layer: In skillet over medium heat, combine coconut palm sugar, sweetener, coconut milk, coconut oil, sea salt and vanilla extract; bring to boil. Once boiling, decrease heat to low and cook 5 minutes, stirring often.

Remove skillet from heat; whisk in baking soda. Return pan to low heat and cook 2 minutes, stirring often.

Remove caramel from heat and let cool and thicken 5 minutes.

To make chocolate layer: In double boiler, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil. Stir until mixture is smooth then remove from heat.

To assemble salted caramel bars: Line bottom and sides of 9-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some hanging over sides. Lightly rub parchment paper with coconut oil.

Press cookie dough into bottom of pan to create even layer. Place in freezer 5 minutes to harden.

Pour caramel over cookie layer and spread to coat evenly. Place in freezer 5 minutes.

Pour chocolate over caramel and spread to cover evenly. Sprinkle with macadamia nuts and coarse salt. Place in freezer 10 minutes until chocolate sets.

Use overhanging parchment paper to ease set mixture out of pan. Transfer to cutting board and slice into bite-size bars.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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Everyday Athena Tania Bermejo Spectrum Health Healthier Communities

This is the fifth chapter in a series spotlighting members of our community who epitomize the Athena standards and live by its principles. Readers will come to know these women, the companies they are representing and the forward thinking employers who have a commitment to elevating women and fairly compensating those women for their contributions in their workforce.

The Athena principles: LIVING AUTHENTICALLY LEARNING CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING FIERCELY ACTING COURAGEOUSLY FOSTERING COLLABORATION BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS GIVING BACK CELEBRATING

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine: Tell us about your work at Spectrum Health.

Tania Bermejo: I oversee a team in Healthier Communities. And if you’re not familiar with Healthier Communities, we do prevention and education of disease with a health equity focus. We do pretty amazing work. Before COVID-19, we were doing cardiovascular prevention and diabetes prevention because if you look at the Kent County data, there’s a huge disparity between acquiring diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially for black and brown communities.

That’s an issue that we need to systemically change internally and externally. So that has been our work with making sure we are tapping into the community, making sure we have resources, making sure people have access to those resources, and making sure we look at the person as a whole and not just a metric.

We know that health is more than that. There are social determinants of health. More than 50 percent of your health is determined by your zip code. We have been doing a targeted approach on zip codes like 49507 and 49503 because we see that overall social determinants of health increased by the zip code you live in. Now, diabetes and cardiovascular disease were my pre-COVID-19 focus.

Now with COVID and the disparities we have seen, we have been challenged to pivot, to make sure we have resources and that people know about us and that they feel comfortable calling or mainline and making sure we have Spanish speaking providers on our team. The average system, a provider maybe has six minutes with a patient, but we challenge the health care model to provide any time between an hour if needed, with our providers.

WLM: What are some of the biggest changes you have seen over those eight years?

TB: Our department is very, very unique in that we have always kind of had a framework of community first, and that framework has not really been popular until recently. I feel way more like excited than ever because now people are paying attention not only in health systems, but all throughout. That is helping us ask, “Hey, health systems, what are you truly doing for the community?” Because it should start in the community. But we have such a challenging, sick model, and that’s not going to go away anytime soon because we we’re challenging this monster that’s the sick model that creates revenue. Wow can we change that narrative of putting community first and then set up the framework. It’s going to take a while. But I’m very excited that compared to eight years ago, we were not having this popular conversation, but now we are.

WLM: Tell me about why the Athena principle of giving back resonates with you. You love what you do, and it’s directly tied to improving the lives of others on an individual level but also a generational and community level.

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ATHENA PRINCIPLE: GIVING BACK PHOTO BY DREAMS BY BELLA PHOTOGRAPHY

TB: I feel like we all should give back because, well, I’m not here in a vacuum. I’m here because other people have placed growth in me and wisdom in me. Every day I want to make sure that I leave this world a better one. We all should, especially if we have capacity and knowledge. I feel like that giving back is my social responsibility. And not in a way of, “I am giving you this, so now I feel better.” To me, giving back is actually listening. What does the other person need? I could give you this is and say, “here you go!” But actually, that is just going to make me feel better. Instead, ask, “Do you want this?” And then give. think giving back is up bilateral communication that puts servant leadership first as a listening first to the other person.

WLM: One of the things we are seeing with COVID is an exposing of inequities, and people wanting to help. What advice do you have for people who do want to help and give back, but to do so in the correct way that benefits the recipient?

TB: All of these disparities have existed. I think what COVID has done is unveiled it, in a way. It has forced people to look at it, which can be seen as a good thing. The thing is, when you are forced to look at it, it comes down to what are you going to do about it? You are given this opportunity to analyze it and look at it, and that is when the real leadership comes out. This also has to be an ongoing analysis of processes that happens and make sure to ask, “who am I serving? With what purpose?”

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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Learn & Do

READER’S

by Susan Erhardt

I

t’s June, and that means a spate of articles on “getting a beach body.” Well, guess what? The way to get a beach body is to go to the beach with your body. The end. If you need a little help believing that, here are some of the best books to help you make peace with food and your body.

Intuitive Eating

by Evelyn Tribole

Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating

by Christy Harrison

After you’ve read Christy Harrison’s book and you’ve realized that dieting is a waste of your time, Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole will guide you through the steps of making peace with food and returning to the natural, intuitive eater you once were, before dieting came into your life. You will learn step by step to honor your hunger, challenge the food police, cope with emotions without using food, move your body in a way that feels good, and more. You can become a person who says “no” to a cookie and doesn’t feel deprived – or eats a cookie and doesn’t feel guilty.

This was a fantastic read. I highlighted passages to revisit on almost every page. The author delves into the racist, classist roots of dieting, explaining how our cultural weight bias and desire for thinness started a long time before any proclamations about body size and its relation to health. One of the most surprising things she explains is the impact that weight stigma has on our health. The weight stigma we are subject to is worse for our health than living in a large body! She backs up her statements with many good quality studies, all footnoted in the back of the book.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

The Body is Not an Apology

by Sonya Renee Taylor

Body Kindness

by Rebecca Scritchfield Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield is built on the idea that good health comes from being good to yourself. This book has a lot of great information concerning improved health, including food, sleep, exercise, and relationships. She gives the reader information needed to make healthy choices without the goal of weight loss. She explains research showing that you can be fit even if you are fat, since inactivity is what is linked to heart disease and other issues, rather than simply being fat. Scritchfield even advises taking a hammer to your scale, which sounds rather fun.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Sonya Renee Taylor reminds us that there was a time in our lives when we didn’t judge ourselves for our appearance. She examines the origins of the shame most of us feel about our bodies, and tells us we don’t need to apologize for the way our bodies exist in the world. We need to not only stop hating our own bodies, but also need to understand how we perpetuate body shaming against others. She offers insight on how to change what we tell ourselves, see things from a new vantage point, and start living in the present, with the bodies we have.

In her words, “radical self-love demands that we see

Susan Erhardt has been a youth librarian at Kent District Library since 1992. When she’s not at work she loves to walk, travel with her family, read, and scrapbook.

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INTERVIEW BY ELYSE WILD

Leadership During a Pandemic:

Q&A with Tina Freese Decker, President and CEO of Spectrum Health 14

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

In 2018, Tina Freese Decker became the President and CEO of Spectrum Health, the first woman in the health care system’s history to do so. Today, Spectrum Health has 4 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 150 ambulatory sites and telehealth offerings, 31,000 compassionate professionals, 4,600 medical staff experts, 3,300 committed volunteers and Priority Health, a health plan serving 1 million members. We talked to Freese Decker about leading the health system’s response to a global pandemic.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine: How would you describe your leadership style?

Tina Freese Decker: I try to be as authentic as possible.

People want leaders who are trustworthy, have integrity, are transparent about what’s going on. I try to make sure that I connect to people through that authentic approach. I also make sure I reflect on what my own values are and how I can be true to myself and take care of myself. I know that if I can’t do that, I won’t be a very good leader for others. I also know that I try to balance thinking big and thinking small. Part of my job is to think about the implications for the future and understand the possibilities that are ahead and embrace those from an innovation perspective. I also understand how things work in small areas: The detailed plans, the messages that we have to get across. I approach any decision it in terms of big and small.

I think especially in today’s world, it’s important that we have a plan, that we understand what the knowns and unknowns are and communicate those. But I also recognize when it’s time to make a change and to be adaptable and flexible. And so we have to balance both of those. Sometimes that’s very difficult to do because you want to stay the course in some areas. I know myself well enough that I’m OK with asking for help when we don’t know what is going on, and also saying we need to pivot and be adaptable or stick to convictions and provide direction.

WLM: That’s a great segue to my next question, which is how your approach is shown to be beneficial right now during this time when I’m sure you are having to make a commitment to a course and then maybe completely pivot the next day based on new information. Can you talk a little bit about how your overall approach leading up to this situation is helping you lead right now?

TFD: My approach engages from a collaborative perspective. There are decisions that we always need to make, and there are decisions where you can be at the head of the table, but you can also have a seat at the table. I really believe in that collaboration and listening and understanding different points of view and making sure that we can move forward with those.

I also believe especially at this time, that it’s important to talk to others because they know what’s going on. And so I often walk around and talk to people, understand what’s going on, and they’re saying what their recommendations are moving forward so that we can make the best decision. Engaging with people is essential; over-communicating and over-listening are critical. So for us, that is the daily email update, live town hall sessions where I can answer questions or just walking around and talking with people. As I walk around or I do those town halls, I’m also really working to over-listen and hearing directly from people about what’s working and what’s not working and what their ideas are. Consistent, clear, calm communication is essential whether I’m giving it or I’m receiving it.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

WLM: It sounds like a lot of your work is putting forward the effort to connect with your employees.

Having a leader say, “Hey,what do you think? How’s your day? How is this working like that?” makes such a huge difference.

TFD: Absolutely. As COVID-19 was just starting to come into our communities, I made a point to travel to all of our hospitals. I wanted to get a sense for what was going on in each of the communities and understand what they are proud of so far, what they were concerned about, what we could do to help them, what we could get out of the way so that they could actually get some things done and care for their community. That has been really beneficial. The other thing that I did when I was rounding is I wanted to just continue to communicate, but also give them confidence, share some of the best practices that we were learning across the organization and let them know that we are working on the top issues: testing and PPE and how to care for patients and how to keep them safe. Reiterating those things and focusing on the top of mind issues was extremely important.

“Engaging with people is essential; over-communicating and over-listening is critical.”

— Tina Freese Decker

We celebrated graduation, and we asked many of our team members to identify if they have someone graduating from preschool to med school and any degree in between. We’re trying to bring some lightness and joy.

The other area that we’re celebrating is our wins small or big. It can be celebrating someone that is leaving one of our inpatient units because they’re a survivor of COVID-19 or because they just stopped their cancer treatment and they’re in remission. We have to take the time to rejoice in those very positive things, those small steps make a big difference as we go forward.

Lastly, I go back to the communication. So, as you said, it matters if you are listened to. I believe in very strongly that we need to make sure we’re engaging with our people, that they understand that we care and that we follow through on the action steps to ensure that they are safe, that we’re doing everything we can to protect them and help them do their job in the most efficient and effective way possible.

WLM: This is quite a moment in our world, our history, our community? What are you most proud of the staff of Spectrum Health for?

TFD: I am just incredibly proud of our team members and all of our partners. Every day our team comes together ready to support each other, ready to serve our patients and members, and to really live our mission of improving health, inspiring hope and saving lives. I’m grateful for the innovativeness, the generosity. I saw them living our values of compassion, collaboration, curiosity and courage. One of things that I saw is that this really brought us together as a team. One role of a leader is to build the best team possible, and you bring individual strengths into that and you mold it to make sure it’s complimentary with other strengths. I saw that everyone was building off of each other’s strengths to make it even better going forward. That’s the area that I’m most proud of, is our people and our community. Our people are making the day right now. They are helping our community be healthy, and I’m very proud of them.

WLM: What advice do you have for other leaders right now?

WLM: I love that you said over listening because being listened to touches such a human part of us that sometimes I think we forget is there until we’re in a situation where we truly feel like we’re being listened to.

And that brings me to my next question: How are you supporting your staff to help them stay motivated, find joy and feel safe?

TFD: There’s a number of things that we’re doing. We’ve continually focused on resilience and understanding what our team members need, and everyone needs something a little different. At the heart of it, it’s connecting to people. Healthcare is personal, so we need to connect and make sure each of us is doing OK. Taking the time to do so. Everyone gives their compassion, their heart and soul to caring for others. Here’s what we need to do to care for them: We’re trying to do some other engaging activities.

We just celebrated Nurses Week and Health Care Week.

We had the lighting of the luminaries to celebrate people.

TFD: It’s really important to communicate and to listen.

Communication needs to be often, and it needs to be transparent. It’s not only with your team, but it’s with others. There are knowns and unknowns and we start to separate them out: What do we know and what don’t we know? And then how do we communicate what we know with confidence? And then how do we find out the answers to the unknowns? It’s helping people understand the steps that we’re going to take, the optimism that we have going forward and how we can put together that plan and be flexible. Communicate that process, and be authentic, be true to your values. Being a leader is not a race. It’s a journey, an emotional and a physical one. You really have to be true to your passions, your values and to yourself as you go forward.

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Inspired Voices PODCAST w/ Elyse Wild

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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BY KAYLA SOSA

She’s Out of This World Grand Rapids Native Pioneers Space Travel for Women

-OFFICIAL NASA PORTRAIT OF CHRISTINA M. HAMMOCK, NASA ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS OF 2013. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

M

ichigan native and astronaut Christina Koch has certainly left her mark on the state, the world and even beyond. As one of the first women to walk in space and having broken the record for the longest continuous time in space as a woman in 2019, she has a list of achievements to look back on.

“A lot of kids dream about being an astronaut,” Koch said. “I just never outgrew it.”

Koch was born in January of 1979 in Grand Rapids and lived in the Dearborn area for a while before moving with her family to North Carolina as a young child.

With family still in the Sparta area north of Grand Rapids, Koch spent her summers on the family farms in Michigan.

“I still feel really tied to the area, and I’m really glad to have been from West Michigan,” Koch said.

Studying both physics and electrical engineering at North Carolina State University, Koch graduated with two bachelor’s degrees and graduated from the NASA Academy Program at the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Immediately out of college, Koch was hired by NASA as an electrical engineer and over the years contributed to multiple scientific instruments on several space missions.

Almost foreshadowing her future space mission, Koch spent 2004-2007 traveling the Arctic and Antarctic regions, spending a lot of time in isolation and freezing temperatures.

“After I was seeing some of my work launched into space and the missions fulfilled, I went back to working in remote science spaces, like Antarctica,” Koch said.

Koch went back and forth between working in the south pole and electrical engineering for NASA. She later worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before being selected

by NASA to be part of Astronaut Group 21 in 2013.

In March of 2019, and after years of training and waiting, Koch finally launched for the first time from Earth to the International Space Station. During her 328-day trip, Koch participated in multiple historic, all-women spacewalks and broke the record for being the first woman to stay that long in space. Before Koch, Peggy Whitson previously held the record for 289 days. Koch’s mission is now being used as research for the physical, biological, and mental effects of longterm space travel on women.

Today, Koch lives near Houston, Texas, where the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is headquartered.

“I like to say that my career is kind of two-fold,” Koch said. “It was working as an electrical engineer for space science instrument missions for NASA and then working as a field engineer or research associate in remote science spaces all over the world.”

Koch said she always knew from the time she was young that she had an interest in space.

“Growing up, I was inspired by the night sky, I was inspired by the ocean,” Koch said. “Family trips to the Kennedy Space Center got me interested even more.

Actually, as a kid, I had posters in my bedroom of both Antarctica and space because I think I was just really drawn to this idea of science and exploration of the frontier.”

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

EXPEDITION 60 FLIGHT ENGINEER CHRISTINA KOCH OF NASA WORKS INSIDE THE QUEST JOINT AIRLOCK CLEANING U.S. SPACESUIT COOLING LOOPS AND REPLACING SPACESUIT COMPONENTS. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA

“A lot of kids dream about being an astronaut. I just never outgrew it.”

there’s a way that we have found microgravity can inform and help us push the boundaries of our knowledge.”

For example, Koch looked at protein crystals, which grow better in microgravity than on Earth, for pharmaceutical research.

“I got a chance to see with my own eyes crystals that had never been seen before that could eventually be used to treat diseases here on Earth,” Koch said. “That was an honor.”

Beyond that, Koch participated in multiple historic space walks and did months of research and work while she was at the space station.

When she left Earth as a “rookie” last year, she didn’t know that she would have such an extended stay in space.

“Coming back to Earth has allowed me to kind of gauge just how transformative it was both on a personal level and then also the accomplishments that I was able to contribute to professionally for NASA and for advancing the goals of the space station,” Koch said, describing the International Space Station as a scientific laboratory that does unique research that can only be done in microgravity.

“All the benefits of that research are meant to come back to Earth and benefit our life on Earth,” Koch said. “So we do science everywhere in every realm from fundamental physics to medical research, human research, space science, Earth science, technology development - everything you can think of basically

“Everything that meant to us professionally and hopefully to the world as well was just a significant part of the mission,” Koch said. “I would say that stands out as my number one memorable event that I got to participate in.

While she doesn’t live in Michigan anymore, Koch felt a sense of home when she looked at Earth from space and easily made out the familiar Mitten-shaped state surrounded by blue waters.

“Almost anywhere on Earth, it is one of the most recognizable places,” Koch said. “It was awesome to be able to pick out so precisely where I was born, where I was from, where I knew my family was, where I knew our farms were, to be able to see that from space and Michigan’s position not only on the Earth but in the Universe. I felt very fortunate to be from such a distinctive region.”

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Women, WWI and the Red Cross

BY KATLYN BOSCH VERMERRIS FOR THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL The image here of Etta Van Norman in her Red Cross garb represents the significance attached to costuming during WWI, when women’s uniforms identified public roles and collapsed social boundaries. No doubt, Van Norman’s vast experience as a dedicated club woman had ensured her leadership role and position on public platforms; but no one only seeing her could have predicted that in 1923 she would preside over a Detroit club luncheon to pressure the governor to enforce prohibition—or that she had represented local clubs at conferences all over the nation.

At age 51 in 1918, Van Norman had already served as president of the local Federation of Women’s Clubs. In the future, she chaired state committees for the Michigan Federation and was a frequent speaker at state conferences.

“The Red Cross is the heart of America, a heart full of devotion and love and sacrifice” -- Grand Rapids Herald, 1918. Famed nurse Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881, in time to offer disaster relief after the Michigan Thumb Fire in September. But upon U.S. entry into World War I in 1917, the American branch focused its efforts away from domestic relief and onto overseas civilian aid.

The work of the Red Cross extended from training nurses to coordinating knitting campaigns. While its national leadership was largely male, the business of its local auxiliaries was almost universally conducted by women.

In Grand Rapids and across the nation, women truly kept the light of life burning during and after the war.

The Grand Rapids Red Cross headquarters were in the Klingman Building on Ionia. It was open daily for dropin war work rolling bandages or wrapping Christmas packages, but the city’s numerous auxiliaries had their own workrooms and leaders. Often neighborhoods had auxiliaries; but institutions like the Grand Rapids Herald also sponsored workrooms, and Herpolsheimer’s department store had workers on every floor of its building.

Long-time clubwoman Etta Van Norman ran the Herald auxiliary. She had the advantage of a built-in work force, and the newspaper’s famous Santa Claus Girls “proved as efficient in rolling and folding bandages . . . as they were filling bags of cheer for children.” The Herald’s pages promoted Red Cross efforts and reported on working conditions and results. Its own workroom offered new, blue “daylight” bulbs for evening work; and, during March 1918 alone, over 1700 volunteers and store clerks at Herpolsheimer’s created 22,355 wound dressings.

Mass participation in this war effort brought together elite philanthropists, middle-class clubwomen, and factory workers who could all aid the Red Cross while still caring for their families. Children could be engaged in a prominent Junior Red Cross program, which featured its own auxiliaries and projects knitting together yarn scraps, collecting rubber, etc; and the Red Cross provided training classes for women, including first aid, home nursing, surgical dressings, and even dancing--skills that women could continue to develop after the war.

Some Red Cross efforts overlapped with those sponsored by the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LIBBY VANDERPLOEG Defense. In fact, the latter’s massive registration campaign in Kent County, collecting nearly 23,000 surveys of women’s skills, interests, and time, was undertaken partially to connect volunteers to the Red Cross for best placement. Herald auxiliary leader Etta Van Norman also promoted the CND registration campaign.

During the course of the war, over one third of the U.S. population worked for the Red Cross and raised money to address humanitarian needs. But not everyone was enamored. When Grand Rapids attempted to raise $500,000 for overseas relief, 75 local manufacturers pledged $6 per employee; but $3 was to come out of employee paychecks. One man refused to attend a Red Cross meeting saying, “To hell with the Red Cross!” He was fired from Luce Furniture factory.

Finally, the mobilization of American women during WWI demonstrated their collective power and left them with new experience to carry into the future.

GGRWHC’s programming to honor the 19th Amendment centennial has been interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. For now, please stay safe but celebrate with us virtually and in print! Visit the digital suffrage exhibit on our website (ggrwhc.org); follow our calendar electronically and in WLM; and stay tuned about August 26th: HER VOICE HER VOTE!

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

WHAT WE BELIEVE i understand suicide is an effect of an illness i understand mental illnesses are treatable i understand stigma is the #1 reason why someone would not seek treatment for mental illness; education and awareness are vital to saving and changing lives i understand reaching out to those who are suffering could save a life; let someone know you are available and treat them with respect and compassion i understand most people who are suicidal do not want to die; they want their pain to end i understand speaking out about suicide may empower others to share their stories i understand feelings of guilt are part of the grieving process on the way to finding peace and acceptance i understand those who die by suicide do make it to heaven

Call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 SUPPORT iunderstandloveheals.org/covid-19

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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BY MICHELLE JOKISCH POLO

Grand Rapids Mutual Aid Creates Community

I

t’s been a little over two months since Governor Gretchen Whitmer first made the decision to shut down non-essential services and businesses, and close down school buildings. (The most current “stay home, stay safe” order is in effect until May 28th.) In the meantime, hundreds of folks across West Michigan have been left without income.

Unwilling to just sit by and watch the economic fall out harm their neighbors, West Michigan residents Sarah Doherty and Amy Carpenter came together virtually and started to plan. Their plans led to the creation of the Grand Rapids Area Mutual Aid Network (GRAMAN).

Doherty says GRAMAN was started to help those struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus era. The purpose of the fund is to get cash into the hands of those who need it the most with no stipulations in place.

“Amy and I, we understood that there are a lot of nonprofits that are funded by wealthy donors, and

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a lot of charity in the area, but that not everyone gets access to help and opportunities that they need and often there are barriers in place like extensive applications or referrals,” Doherty said.

Mutual Aid and Giving Circles have been around since the late 1700s when the Free African Society was founded to provide support to newly free African Americans. Doherty says anyone is able to start a mutual aid group. “Mutual aid is about gathering resources in community and sharing it with others.”

Rebel Sidney Black, a community organizer, describes mutual aid as the random person from the internet bringing you a hot meal when you can’t get out of bed. It’s cleaning or spiritually cleansing the home of someone who’s too severely depressed to do it themselves. It’s staying up late talking to a suicidal friend, helping unpack an apartment after someone moves, giving rides to chemo, visiting or writing letters to folks in prison and walking someone’s dogs

when they can’t do it themselves. It can also look like sharing coping skills, survival skills or job search skills. Mutual aid can be sharing medicine, making medicine, helping sift through doctors to find a good fit. Mutual aid can also be fighting to change the structural causes of oppression so that everyone can be more free.

GRAMAN is run by volunteers and relies mainly on monetary donations from community members to help provide food resources and financial aid to those who need it the most.

“Everybody knows what they need to survive and the thing that people need is money and I think that’s becoming clear for folks in Grand Rapids,” Doherty shared.

Thus far, the group has raised nearly $50,000 dollars.

Doherty says donations can range from $10 per donation to $1,000.

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“A little bit can make a huge difference,” she expressed. “We have been able to get where we are not from grants, or nonprofits but from individual people who have decided they have some extra cash they want to use to help others.”

The group who determine how GRAMAN funds are spent is made up of people of color from the local community who have been affected by institutional and systemic oppression and understand how resources and services function in Grand Rapids.

“This group of folks who are calling themselves ‘The Giving Circle’ meets together virtually and they look at the people’s requests, and what resources are available locally and then they determine how funds are going to be distributed,” Doherty explained.

“This is mutual aid, it’s not a social service agency; it’s folks who have decided that they want to give to their neighbors and who trust us to be accountable to the community.”

— Sarah Doherty, co-founder of Grand Rapids Mutual Aid

The messaging from GRAMAN has consistently been that it’s about solidarity, care and community building.

“It’s not gate-keeping,” Doherty stated. “We are not trying to replicate the nonprofit sector. We want to get funds and resources for people who need them.”

In just under five weeks, GRAMAN made 88 payments, distributed more than $54,000 and delivered over $25,000 worth of groceries to 310 families. All cash distributions are made to people of color and other historically marginalized people.

Grocery distributions are done on a first come first serve basis to anyone in the local Grand Rapids community.

Requests for support are made through a simple google form accessible to anyone with a smartphone or computer with an internet connection. In the upcoming weeks, Doherty says they hope to release a phone number to make their services more accessible for those without a reliable internet connection or a computer at home.

“This is mutual aid, it’s not a social service agency; it’s folks who have decided that they want to give to their neighbors and who trust us to be accountable to the community,” Doherty said.

While many in Michigan and in Grand Rapids are struggling right now, GRAMAN is experiencing overwhelming support from the community to help those who have lost jobs, income and support amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Some of the most common ways we are using funds is for housing, utility payments, grocery

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

shopping for high-risk folks or those without transportation and health bills,”Doherty explained As part of their organizing efforts, she says the group is encouraging local community members who have resources and haven’t lost their income during the pandemic to share their stimulus check from the government with others. The stimulus check is a one time $1,200 credit from the U.S. government in response to the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Resources and funds that you need are distributed in ways that are inequitable, so folks who have those resources, who still have their income, we are encouraging them to donate some or all of their stimulus checks to us,” she shared.

Undocumented immigrants, incarcerated folks and those without social security numbers are examples of people who are not eligible to receive the $1200 stimulus check.

For Doherty and Carpenter, the work GRAMAN has been able to do is thanks to the community’s willingness to show up for each other and to recognize how systems of oppression have kept indigenous people, undocumented immigrants and people of color away from resources and capital. They do not plan to become a nonprofit, but do plan to continue to build trusting relationships in the community and create opportunities for the community to hold them accountable.

To contribute to the Mutual Aid Fund, visit this site. To request assistance, complete this form.

Note: This article originally appeared on urbancorecollective.org and has been updated.

Michelle Jokisch Polo is a Grand Rapidian transplant from El Salvador & Ecuador.

She loves asking questions and will take any opportunity to do so. She is passionate about creating spaces where intersectionality is encouraged and marginalized voices are elevated. Besides speaking Spanglish on a regular basis, she enjoys writing, drinking coffee, taking walks, reading poetry and riding her bike.

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BY ELYSE WILD

How Spending Time Outdoors Can Improve Your Mental Health

E

ven under normal circumstances, by the time West Michigan winter lets go of its wet grip on spring, we are more than eager for the opportunity to spend as much time outside as possible.

After enduring the coronavirus shelter-in-place order, I think it’s fair to say that getting into the great outdoors (or heck, even your backyard) is key in maintaining mental health through a time when many of us have felt trapped inside.

If you need any other reason beside, you know, the gloriousness of West Michigan in the summer, Christine Mushlock, LMSW and outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Service adds, “Our minds and bodies are affected by our environment. Stressful home, school or work environments can contribute to muscle tension, elevated blood pressure and increased levels of stress

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hormones in the body, which over time, can contribute to elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Research shows that spending time outdoors, in natural environments, can reduce these symptoms as well as improve cognitive functioning, energy and mood.”

Since coronavirus shutdown orders began to roll out across the nation, reports of anxiety and depression have risen; in a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 45% of adults reported that the pandemic has negatively impacted their overall mental health.

And, healthtrends.com reported that Michigan ranked number 1 nationwide from tweets about anxiety and depression. If you are among those experiencing these emotions, Muschlock says that getting outdoors might help

“It’s not rocket science that anxiety and depression take a toll on a person’s emotional, social and physical well-being,” said Mushlock. “And while spending time outdoors won’t cure depression and anxiety, there is an ever-growing body of research that shows a multitude of mental and physical health benefits of time spent outdoors, which scientists and researchers are trying to better understand” And while the governor may have rescinded the shelter-in-place order, social distancing is still required.

The question is, how do we even begin to enjoy the summer we look forward to all year long? We still can; it’s just going to look a little different.

Visit State Parks

State parks, trails, forests and other public lands

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

remain open for day use. Keep in mind that while the grounds remain open many amenities, like concessions, playgrounds, viewing platforms, dog areas, volleyball and basketball courts and more, will be closed. Hand washing stations won’t be provided, so be sure to carry hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes in your beach bag or hiking backpack. Trash services at these sites have been halted and the state is asking visitors to bring bags for carrying out garbage. Social-distancing is still required among individuals who aren’t living in the same household. And did we mention you don’t need a Recreation Passport to enter state park and recreation areas? The state is allowing free entry to everyone until at least two weeks after the stay-at-home order is lifted.

Boating

Boating falls under the list of acceptable outdoor recreational activities under the governor’s order. Take out your motorboat, or slip your canoe or kayak into your favorite body of water (don’t all Michiganders all have one?)

Hit the Trails

Kent County boasts more than 100 miles of beautiful hiking trails and they are calling your name. Hike, bike, jog — whatever you wish — as long it is in compliance with social distancing guidelines. As with state parks, trail facilities, which include bathrooms, playgrounds, campsites, courts and drinking fountains, remain closed. Find a trail near you at kentcountyparks.com

Grill

Summer is a time in which Michiganders engage in the sacred ritual of grilling. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat-enthusiast, a charcoal-purist or sing the praises of propane, there is something about food prepared on a grill that makes it just taste better. And, there is something about cooking on the grill that just feels so satisfyingly primal. Buy fresh veggies from the Fulton Street Farmers Market, or stock up on locally sourced meat from Louis Earl Butcher.

Get Mindful

Mushlock suggests practicing mindfulness while outdoors.

“Mindfulness is a common coping approach in supporting management of mental health symptoms,” she said. “Mindfulness encourages the person to tune into their senses and increase their awareness of the present moment. Whether it’s going for an evening walk or walking out to get the mail, just being outside is an experience. What you see, hear, smell and feel outside is different than what you sense indoors. Think of what you are sensing next time you’re outdoors (the breeze, the birds, the scent of the air). Consider what you notice, how it feels, if you find it pleasant.”

Mushlock emphasizes that one doesn’t necessarily need a measurable purpose to spend time outdoors.

“Researchers exploring the mental health benefits of spending time outdoors would absolutely encourage people to ‘stop and smell the roses.’” she said. “Being outdoors provides us with a tangible opportunity to exercise curiosity, to pause and shift our focus and awareness to something more pleasant and positive.

Even with all the limitations and restrictions put into place due to COVID-19, the outdoors remains as one of the most accessible and enriching resources available.

People don’t need to start an outdoor exercise routine or go on a retreat to benefit from the great outdoors.

Simply step outside and notice.”

“While spending time outdoors won’t cure depression and anxiety, there is an ever-growing body of research that shows a multitude of mental and physical health benefits of time spent outdoors, which scientists and researchers are trying to better understand” —Christine Mushlock, LMSW

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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Director of Wealthy Theatre Sarah Nawrocki’s

Top Ten Family Movies2 to Watch This2 Summer

by Sarah Nawrocki

Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985) Great Scott! This is arguably one of the best blockbuster films ever. Just pay attention to the first five minutes of the film. Slow down and really take in all of the detail and foreshadowing in this mere title sequence. Amazing, right? Now if only we had a DeLorean to drive us to the end of this pandemic...

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Chris Columbus, 2001) Since we can't be at Universal sippin' on butterbeer and casting spells around Diagon Alley, this is the next best thing. There are some pretty tasty butterbeer recipes online, so put on your dress robes and conjure up some popcorn. But first: Accio remote!

Hook (Steven Spielberg, 1991) Clap your hands if you believe this is one of the most magical films of the 90's! Oh, and also clap to bring Julia Roberts back to life. This film is such a visceral adventure, and with an incredibly stacked cast. There's even a cameo from Glenn Close! Did you see her? Don't BOO hoo if you didn't. She's sneaky like a… scorpion?

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (John Hughes, 1986) More like Ferris Bueller's YEAR off, amiright? But seriously, John Hughes is such a witty writer/director.

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This film is fun for living vicariously through Ferris as he goes on an adventure that most every teen wishes they could. Why didn't I think of these Inspector Gadgetesque tricks when I was in high school? (Sorry not sorry, Matthew Broderick. You did what you did.)

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Mel Stuart, 1971) Speaking of living vicariously, who wouldn't want to tour a chocolate factory? (Ignoring the fact that it's also a walking textbook of health code violations.) I don't know about you, but I'll trade floating down the Muskegon river for the chocolate river any day of the week.

Jumanji (Joe Johnston, 1995) Running out of games to play at home? Wish one would be more interactive than DnD? Based on the book

by Chris Van Allsberg (GR celebrity!), this is another great adventure with Robin Williams. If you can look past some dated CGI, you'll find yourself in a world illustrated like it's straight out of Van Allsberg's book.

Onward (Dan Scanlon, 2020) Speaking of DnD, I was pleasantly surprised by Pixar's latest film. I'd only recently been introduced to playing Dungeons & Dragons, so to see it woven into a world where fairy tales are everyday life is clever, adorable, and made me want to buy the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Okay, fine. I didn't need a Pixar movie to make that happen.

The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987) Need some good inspo for writing your first campaign?

This movie has everything! "Fencing. Fighting. Torture.

Poison. True Love. Hate. Revenge. Giants..." Everyone should see it at least once.

Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) If we're talking princesses, then we have to mention the most important one of them all: Leia. I know we've passed May the Fourth, but is there ever a bad time to marathon some Star Wars movies? I especially love the original trilogy.

The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) For a film that was created only a decade after sound was introduced to cinema, it's considered a classic for a reason. Did you know that inspiration for this story also came from Holland, MI? Take a drive through Tulip Lane and find yourself inspired as author L. Frank Baum was when he penned the novel. And above all right now, let's live in Dorothy's words of wisdom: There's no place like home.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

COURTESY OF GROW

Safely Reopening Your Business During COVID-19

T

he massive shutdown of businesses from the Covid-19 pandemic has been one of the most dramatic economic disruptions in history. In many parts of the country states are easing restrictions on businesses and they are cautiously resuming operations. This caution is warranted as public health officials tell us that rushing to reopen without protective measures could lead to future waves of infection and another shutdown.

If you’re a small business owner that’s been given the green light to reopen, how do you do it in a safe and responsible way? The task may seem daunting but take heart, there are two powerful forces working in your favor. First, you’ve got plenty of support from a variety of organizations including government organizations like the SBA, SBDC, along with small business associations and non-profits such as GROW, LocalFirst and the Grand Rapids Chamber. You also have sympathy, loyalty and pent up demand from your customers. In fact, according to Kelli Smith, Director of Lending at GROW, some of the best resources for businesses are customers and peer companies.

Second, there are templates and guidelines about how to reopen already available. Many companies have adjusted operations because they never shut down. These businesses can provide a road map for businesses like yours, which are ramping up again. Of course, much depends on what kind of business you have, how many employees, the location of the work, and the location and volume of customer interactions.

According to Smith, “We’re all in the same storm but we’re riding it out in different boats.”

Below are some key ideas to keep in mind that apply across a range of businesses.

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Before you open, have a plan.

Smith sees this as perhaps the key issue for reopening. Don’t assume you will simply flip the sign over and it will be business as usual. Understand the financial path ahead, think in phases, get input from industry professionals and most importantly, “be prepared to pivot, especially based on customer feedback.” A good plan takes into account two key groups – employees and customers.

For Employees The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recently issued guidelines to better protect workers from Covid-19: •Discourage them from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment.

•Install high-efficiency air filters or increase ventilation.

•Have a plan for immediately isolating employees or customers who become sick in your workplace.

•Replace face-to-face conversations — internally as well as those with customers, clients, and vendors--with phone calls or other remote forms of communication as much as possible.

According to Smith, “Your employees are your walking, talking billboard.”

They will tell others whether they feel safe or unsafe. And this could affect the second key group, your customers.

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For Customers It’s not enough to follow CDC guidelines and keep your customers safe. They need to see these precautions and feel safe.

Government leaders may ease restrictions; however, customers will ultimately decide when and how they reconnect with businesses and who they feel is looking out for their safety.

Understand that safety measures will affect sales and profits.

•Safety materials for workers. Protective and cleaning equipment such as masks, gloves, sanitizers and temperature monitoring equipment may be needed. Office modifications could include warning signs on commonly touched objects, greater distance between office cubes or installing panels between them.

•Process changes to reduce employee interaction and congregation. OSHA recommends measures such as alternating workdays or extra shifts that reduce the total number of employees in a facility at a given time. Nonessential travel to locations with ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks should be postponed. If some workers can do their work from home, they should.

•Modifications to employee/customer interactions. These include limiting the volume of customers coming into your business and modifying how customers interact with your staff such as distancing in checkout lines. Customers may also need masks, sanitizers, and signs to control movement through your location.

These steps could reduce the amount of business you will conduct on a given day.

Be clear about your company’s policies and procedures from mask requirements to changes in routes through the location.

After you open, be proactive and responsive.

•Monitor employee health. In addition to the measures mentioned above, some employers are taking their employee’s temperature daily. Depending on the availability of testing, some employers are considering offering it at the work site.

•Be prepared to handle issues over new restrictions. Be clear about your company’s policies and procedures from mask requirements to changes in routes through the location. Both employees and customers should know exactly what is expected of them and what will happen if policy is not followed. This can include new cleaning and sanitizing protocols, too.

It’s a time of great stress for small businesses. “The unknown is the greatest challenge,” Smith noted. But it’s also a time of innovation. She also shared that companies are being creative and finding new revenue streams they never would have four months ago. The key is planning, reaching out for support, and continuing to move forward.

GROW is a service focused on current and aspiring business owners. They are the local entrepreneurial resource to help owners the next steps, empowering and supporting them with professional expertise for a lifetime.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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June Virtual Events Happy Pride!

Visit womenslifestyle.com for coverage of Pride Month in Grand Rapids.

Daily, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Virtual Visits: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. While many would rather be standing in the solarium amongst the butterflies, how lucky we are to be able to still see and connect with nature in our community through social media. Every day, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the staff of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park post Virtual Visit videos where they showcase different plants, sculptures and more at the park. Visit the park’s website to see a full list of cataloged videos and visit the social media channels to see all posts. meijergardens.org

June 1-30

Summer Wonder. Join the Kent District Library for a variety of virtual events focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math. facebook.com/pg/KentDistrictLibrary/events

Through August

Virtual Heartside Historic Tours. Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids is hosting a six-week Virtual Historic Heartside Home Tour Experience.

Tour guide Caroline Cook will share images and stories highlighting the origins, hospitality, culture and history of Heartside at various locations in Grand Rapids. This online event series is free, but you must RSVP to participate. Register for the event via Eventbrite to get your ticket. After registering, you will be sent an email confirmation with your order number and a link to join via Zoom.

The series will take place as follows: May 27 (12-1pm): Grand River Ramble: A Focus on Origins, June 10 (12-1pm): Immigrant Gateway: A Focus on Who, June 24 (12-1pm): Entertainment Expedition: A Focus on Hospitality, July 8 (12-1pm): Historic Habitation: A Focus on Living, July 22 (12-1pm): Civic Awakening: A Focus on Culture, August 5 (12-1pm): Fait h & the Future: A Focus on Churches. The series has already begun and the remaining events will take place from 12-1 p.m. on June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22 and August 5. facebook.com/pg/dwellingplacegr/events

Every Wednesday, June 10-July 1, 7 p.m.

Poetry, Prose and Pride Facebook Live.In celebration of Pride Month, Schuler Books will host a Facebook Live Event hosted by local author and poet Rosie Accola, with special guest Rivka Yeker, Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Hooligan Magazine, writer, cultural organizer and a Libra based in Chicago. Their writing practice is rooted in intergenerational trauma/ancestral healing, post-Soviet Jewish identity, queerness and media and cinema theory. facebook.com/pg/schulerbooks/events.

June 5, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

GRAND RAPIDS PRIDE FESTIVAL 2019 | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELYSE WILD

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Grand Rapids Virtual Arts Festival. Due to the global pandemic COVID-19, the annual Festival of the Arts was canceled for this year. In its place, the Grand Rapids Art Museum is hosting a virtual arts festival that will be streamed on WoodTV.com. The video compilation will feature performances from Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Symphony, Girls Choral Academy, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Opera Grand Rapids, Ebony Road Players and more.

In addition, Grand Rapids Art Museum, UICA, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives, Grand Rapids

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June Virtual Events Public Museum, DisArt and others are submitting videos to include in the event. facebook.com/pg/FestivalGR/events

June 10, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Virtual Book Club: Braiding Sweetgrass. Local bookstore Books & Mortar is hosting a virtual book club event for the book “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Email info@booksandmortar.com to RSVP. The book is available for purchase, for 10 percent off, on the bookstore’s website: booksandmortar.com/events

June 11, 4:30 p.m.

Virtual Parenting Series - Arbor Circle.

Arbor Circle, a local mental health organization, is offering free virtual parent support through an upcoming Zoom call for parents to connect with others and discuss the unique challenges they are facing during this time. facebook.com/pg/arborcircleorg/events BOOKS AND MORTAR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB: BRAIDING SWEET GRASS EVENT TAKES PLACE ON JUNE 10

June 11, 6 p.m.

Bollywood Dance Lab. Local professional dancer and instructor Laura Armenta, owner of Armentality Movement Arts Center, is presenting an online version of a regular class she offers through her studio, Bollywood Dance. The modern fusion dance style brings the best of Indian culture and films through vibrant music, colorful outfits and graceful movement.

Armenta encourages women of all generations to join for a fun, fit activity.

Tickets are $10 and Armentality members receive 15 percent off.facebook.com/pg/Armentality/events

June 12, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Virtual Coffee Hour with Local First. Join Local First West Michigan, local business owners and community members for a virtual coffee hour. Get updates on what the business support organization is doing right now and what you can do to support your local businesses. RSVP on Eventbrite to get the Zoom link. facebook.com/LocalFirstWestMichigan.

June 29, 8 p.m.

LGBTQ/Pride Night at The (Virtual) Drunken Retort. The online performance event is back at the end of the month for their annual pridethemed performance event. Finish off your pride month by breaking out all of your work about celebrating your identity, sharing your story, struggles, and celebrating the beauty of the LGBTQ community. There will be 14 open mic slots for poets, musicians, singers, comedians, and any other talented human beings but members of the LGBTQ community will be prioritized when signing up. facebook.com/TheDrunkenRetort.

VIRTUAL BOLLYWOOD DANCE LAB.WITH LAURA ARMENTA TAKES PLACE JUNE 11

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

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Health & Beauty

BY KATE SAGE, D.O.

LEARNING ABOUT A VIRUS B

efore starting with viruses, and what they are, and how they infect people, it’s worth taking a step back to discuss the different types of organisms that live on this planet. The main ones that infect people are bacteria, fungus and viruses.

Bacteria

Bacteria are tiny one celled organisms that live everywhere and on everything. For example, there are up to 50,000 different types of bacteria that live in soil. Not all bacteria harm or infect humans. Some are helpful, like the bacteria that live in our gut to help us digest. Bacteria usually have DNA like humans do, and can reproduce on their own. There are types of bacteria that live in our mouth, noses, gut, on our skin, and everywhere in between. Sometimes the bacteria that live on or in human bodies can become “opportunistic” and cause an infection after living peacefully for years.

Staphylococcus, or “Staph” is a prime example of this. If tested with a swab, every single person would grow some type of Staph in a petri dish. But in the right circumstances, for example in a cut or a wound, that same Staph can cause an infection. Antibiotics can kill bacteria. However, bacteria can mutate, and some strains of bacteria are now antibiotic resistant.

Staphylococcus is again a good example of this, and MRSA is a strain of Staph that is resistant to many types of antibiotics. Some commonly known bacterial infections include pneumonia, tetanus, meningitis, and whooping cough.

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Fungus

A fungus is a species that is made from a spore. This includes yeast, mold, and mushrooms. It’s able to reproduce on its own. Again, fungus lives everywhere, including on the human body. It doesn’t necessarily cause harm, but it can. Some common examples of fungus are Athletes Foot or vaginal “yeast infections.”

There are some that are more dangerous, including a few that can be inhaled and cause lung disease.

Virus

Viruses are much smaller. They’re not considered living because they need a host to survive. They can’t reproduce on their own. They’re not made of cells, and basically are just little packages of DNA/RNA that attack living cells and commandeer them to reproduce and make more virus cells. Human immune systems can fight a virus by creating antibodies to the virus. Viruses can mutate though, so when the viral DNA/RNA changes, they can re-infect a host. Some common examples of viruses are influenza (‘the flu”), the common cold (e.g., a rhinovirus), and some of the stomach illnesses that cause vomiting and diarrhea (e.g., a norovirus). Antibiotics don’t work for viruses.

However, there are some anti-viral medications that can slow the spread of the virus in the body, and make the illness last a shorter amount of time or be less severe.

Tamiflu is an example of this for the flu. It’s not an antibiotic and it does not kill the flu virus. It does stop the flu virus from mutating in the human body and therefore slows it down.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

A falsely positive antibody test can also a bad thing: if someone tests positive for antibodies, but they really are negative, that person would be a false sense of confidence that he or she cannot get infected.

Viruses are hard to “kill” since they’re not alive.

Washing hands and surfaces will remove the virus from those areas and slow the spread. There are vaccines for some viruses, like the flu. Basically the vaccine injects a small sequence of the viral DNA/RNA into the person, and the human immune system can make antibodies.

That way, when the human encounters the virus in real life, they already have antibodies. However, since viruses can mutate, vaccines aren’t always 100% effective. Other viruses that have vaccines are mumps, measles, and polio.

The coronavirus has been known to scientists for a long time. It’s called a coronavirus because the shape of the virus looks like a little globe with spikes coming out the top like a crown, hence the name “corona”, which means “crown.” There are lots of different kinds of coronaviruses which are unique because of the DNA/RNA inside them. The shape of all of them is the same though, and that is why they all fall into the family of coronavirus. Some types of coronaviruses cause respiratory symptoms like a common cold. Many types of coronaviruses are known to infect animals, but not necessarily humans. Some coronaviruses jump from species to species. There have been coronavirus outbreaks before, most notably the SARS outbreak in Asia in 2002. The current coronavirus is called COVID-19. As of now, there is not a vaccine, but scientists are working on it. Part of the hold-up is testing it on enough people to make sure it’s effective, but not dangerous. Some people that are infected with

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

COVID-19 are also getting infected with a bacterial “opportunistic” infection like pneumonia. In that case, an antibiotic may be used to treat the pneumonia, but it’s not really treating the COVID-19 virus itself.

COVID-19 Test

The test that is probably most familiar is the swab that is inserted into the nose. This is the test for an active COVID-19 infection. A person may not have symptoms, but may still be harboring the virus. The test actually looks for the virus itself, or particles from the virus, which are captured on the swab. If this test is positive, it means that the person is currently fighting a COVID-19 infection, whether the person is symptomatic or not.

Antibody Test

The antibody test is different. This is a test to see whether your body has made antibodies to COVID-19. This is a blood test. There are several on the market right now, with varying degrees of accuracy. Having a positive antibody test means that your body has been exposed to COVID-19 and your immune system has started preparing antibodies. You do not necessarily have COVID -19 currently if you have a positive antibody test. There are two types of antibodies that are usually tested for (and five kinds of antibodies total in humans, for those interested in immunology). IgM antibodies happen relatively

quickly. Your body starts making these as soon as your body recognizes an infection. If an IgM test is positive, a person likely has been exposed or had COVID-19 recently. IgG antibodies typically happen a bit later, usually seven to ten days after the body recognizes an infection. IgG antibodies may prevent future infection from COVID-19, but no one knows for sure yet. If an antibody test is performed too soon, like when someone first gets the virus, IgM and IgG may still be negative on testing. If someone gets a test in the mid part of the virus, the IgM antibody may be down, but the IgG may not be detectable yet. A person may end up having antibodies eventually in either of those cases, but the antibody test may still show up as negative. A falsely positive antibody test can also a bad thing: if someone tests positive for antibodies, but they really are negative, that person would be a false sense of confidence that he or she cannot get infected.

Dr. Katherine Sage is an Orthopaedic surgeon. She likes to write about medicine, science, and women’s place in the universe.

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Know How to Fold ‘Em: How to Store Your Clothes to Save Space

BY LYNDSEY TYM

O

ne of my absolute favorite tips to share with clients is how to save space in dresser drawers.

How many of you, or your kids, end up with tons of casual t-shirts? I know I end up with a lot of them from participating in 5k’s, fundraisers, and all kinds of other places. These are great to keep on hand for the casual wear or the gym, but these shirts take up space in drawers and the ones on the bottom of the stack always end up forgotten. Not anymore!

When implementing this tip, take all of the shirts out of the drawer. You may want to take the opportunity to wash them all while they are out and wipe down the drawer (or drawers) they were stored in. When you are ready to put the shirts back into the dresser drawer, try folding them in this new way for optimal space saving: lay the shirt flat and front side down, fold it in half matching up the sleeves, fold the sleeves over top of the rest of the shirt so it now forms a large rectangle, from the bottom of the shirt fold in half, again from the bottom fold the shirt in half so it is now forms a small rectangle.

Here is the best part and the most crucial: rather than stacking the newly folded shirt in the drawer laying it on its largest surface area, lean it up against the drawer front (or back) with the fold facing up. Continue this process with the remainder of shirts so they are stored like files in a filing cabinet rather than a stack. While starting out, you may need to lean the shirts a little to

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get them to stay fold side up until you have enough shirts to keep them in place.

Storing shirts like this not only saves space, but makes all of the shirts visible and you should be able to see which shirt is which by the folds facing up.

I started folding t-shirts like this a few years ago and cannot tell you how easy it was to remember how to fold the shirts and store the shirts like files. Ultimately this trick has saved so much space in my dresser that I ended up freeing up a whole drawer, and now store leggings and pajama pants the same way using similar folding techniques. Once you fold the t-shirts this way a time or two, you will remember it easily. Try teaching your kids or try it out in your own dresser!

Happy organizing!

Ultimately this trick has saved so much space in my dresser that I ended up freeing up a whole drawer, and now store leggings and pajama pants the same way using similar folding techniques

Lyndsey Tym, owner of Simple Spaces, desires to help others declutter and simplify in their homes to free up time for the things they love. Learn more at facebook.com/ simplespaceslyndseytym.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Compost is Part of the Circle of Life in Gardens COURTESY OF MCC

T

he season for fresh fruits and vegetables grown right in the backyard is upon us. Warm weather breathes life into fresh berries, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, and many other delectable fruits and vegetables.

Home gardens can be supplemented with delicious finds from the supermarket or farmer’s market, including melons, corn and more.

The bounty of the garden can be made more abundant and fruitful with the addition of the right soil amendments. Compost is a key element of rich, nutritious soil. Scraps from items that have been grown in the garden can then be reused in the production of the compost that feeds that same garden. It’s a continuous circle of garden life.

Getting started with compost is relatively easy. Homeowners should choose an outdoor space near the garden but far away from the home so that it won’t be disturbed by kids or animals. Some people opt for an open compost pile, while others choose closed bins to contain the possible smell and to camouflage the compost. A sunny spot will help the compost to develop faster, according to Good Housekeeping.

The next step is to start gathering the scraps and materials that will go into the compost. Better Homes and Gardens suggests keeping a bucket or bin in the kitchen to accumulate kitchen scraps.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • June 2020

Here are some kitchen-related items that can go into the compost material: • Eggshells • Fruit peels • Vegetable peels and scraps • Coffee grounds • Shredded newspaper In addition to these materials, grass and plant clippings, dry leaves, bark chips, straw, and sawdust from untreated wood can go into the pile. Avoid diseased plants, anything with animal fats, dairy products, and pet feces.

A low-maintenance pile has an equal amount of brown and green plant matter in the compost plus moisture to keep the bacteria growing and eating at the right rate.

Aerating the compost occasionally, or turning the bin when possible, will allow the compost to blend and work together. Compost will take a few months to form completely, says the Planet Natural Research Center. The finished product will resemble a dark, crumbly soil that smells like fresh earth.

Compost will not only add nutrients to garden soil, but also it can help insulate plants and may prevent some weed growth. It is a good idea to start a compost pile as a free source of nutrition for plants and a method to reduce food waste in an environmentally sound way.

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FOOD, BEVERAGES & RESTAURANTS

■ Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano ■ Aperitivo ■ Bistro Bella Vita ■ Brewery Vivant ■ Byron Center Meats ■ Essence Group ■ Ferris Coffee & Nut ■ Field & Fire ■ Grand Rapids Cheesecake Company ■ Grove ■ Malamiah Juice Bar ■ Railside Golf Club ■ Reserve Wine & Food ■ Terra GR ■ The B.O.B. ■ The Cheese Lady Grand Rapids - CHZ Enterprise ■ The Green Well

AUTOMOTIVE

■ Arie Nol Auto Center ■ Community Automotive Repair ■ Harvey Automotive, Cadillac, Lexus, Auto Outlet ■ Pfeiffer Lincoln

SHOPPING & RETAIL

■ Art of the Table ■ Bill & Paulʼs Sporthaus ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Schuler Books ■ Spirit Dreams ■ Stonesthrow ■ Supermercado Mexico ■ Switchback Gear Exchange ■ The Shade Shop

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

■ A-1 Locksmith ■ EPS Security ■ Gerritʼs Appliance ■ Gordon Water ■ Morris Builders ■ Nawara Brothers Home Store ■ Rockford Construction ■ Tazzia Lawn Care ■ Verhey Carpets

BUSINESS SERVICES

■ Innereactive ■ The Image Shoppe ■ Womenʼs LifeStyle Magazine

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

■ Grand Rapids Community Media Center (GRCMC) ■ Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW) ■ Grand Rapids Public Library ■ Neighbors Development ■ Slow Food West Michigan ■ The Rapid ■ West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)

PET PRODUCTS & SERVICES ■ Chow Hound Pet Supplies

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS

■ AgeWise Eldercare Solutions ■ Design 1 Salon Spa ■ Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness ■ Grand Rapids Wellness ■ Grand Ridge Orthodontics ■ Mommas Home ■ The hairport ■ The Village Doula GR

FINANCIAL & LEGAL ■ Lucy Shair Financial ■ United Bank

TRAVEL & LODGING ■ Breton Travel ■ Countryside Tours ■ Witte Travel

When you support a locally owned business, more resources stay in the community and get reinvested in the economy.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ■ Celebration Cinema ■ Community Circle Theatre ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Glitter Booth Photo Booth ■ Grand Rapids Art Museum ■ Grand Rapids Civic Theatre ■ Grand Rapids Public Museum ■ LaFontsee Galleries ■ LowellArts ■ River City Improv ■ ShowSpan, Inc. ■ The Ruse Escape Room ■ Triumph Music Academy

FLORAL & GARDEN

LOCAL FIRST means PEOPLE FIRST Communities thrive when the economy puts people first.

■ Ball Park Floral & Gifts ■ Eastern Floral ■ Romence Gardens

Local First •345 Fuller Avenue NE • GR, MI 49503 • (616) 808-3788 • www.localfirst.com