Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Michigan Career & Technical Institute
Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
Black Leadership Advisory Council
Michigan Community Service Commission
Executive Order 2020-107 established Michigan Workforce Development Board
MiSTEM convenes a statewide network of leaders in education, business and local communities to empower the next generation of innovators.
Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
formerly MI Compensation Appellate Commission
Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
Black Impact Collaborative
Black Impact Collaborative (BIC), is a group of organizations formed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The mission of the organization is to identify and illuminate the needs of Black people in Greater Grand Rapids. BIC is focused on enhancing the lives of people of African descent by cultivating community and healing; and promoting intellectual, cultural, and thought leadership. BIC shares a set of 7 Impact Areas that they implore leaders across Kent County and the State of Michigan to use as they are making decisions about how to respond to COVID-19 now and about the future for BGGR. The 7 Impact areas are:
The Education Committee of Black Impact Collaborative (BIC) looked at the impact of the pandemic on our children, schools, educators, families, and communities. BIC found that the pandemic highlighted significant educational opportunity gaps that impacted students in Kent County. As a result, the Home Stretch is a student advancement program designed to come alongside families to address the stressors created by Covid-19. A BIC Student Monitor provides an additional layer of support to ensure students have an opportunity to perform well in the current school year. BIC strongly believes all students deserve the opportunity to maximize their academic and personal potential. Students are paired with an adult monitor to work virtually one on one. The sessions are designed to occur one hour per week and included a personalized student plan. There is no cost for families to participate. The program serves students in K-10th grade in Kent County. The main academic focuses are Math, English Language Arts, Spanish, World History, and Science. In addition, time management, study strategies and tips, stress management, college preparation, career readiness, and self -advocation skills are taught.
The BIC is seeking to expand programming intended for 50+ community members to provide unemployed older workers with coaching, tools, and resources to help them compete with confidence to reenter the workforce. BIC will provide access to career and workforce training to black community residents over the age of 50+. The goal is to develop a partnership with AARP Foundation which launched the BACK TO WORK 50+ to provide unemployed older workers with a suite of tools and coaching resources to help seniors compete with confidence for today’s high-quality in-demand jobs. In addition, BIC will seek additional partnerships to secure workforce development partners to add a robust training curriculum in hopes of reaching and serving older adults by incorporating tools and resources that address the unique challenges workers over 50 may face as they look for new work opportunities.
The BIC provides quarterly conferences, technology training, snow removal and yard clean up services, estate and legacy planning services, volunteer development, and workforce re-readiness programming. It is expected that additional partners can be identified to expand existing services to the elderly. The community center will allow a venue for scheduling training sessions. Direct services will continue to be provided to older elder persons. These include snow removal and medical rides when needed. Basic technical training on the use of phones and computers is intended to address the issue of isolation and loneliness.
Black Impact Collaborative intends to use its' community space to play a crucial role in providing residents with a sense of belonging and identity. BIC will offer a place for people to connect, socialize and engage in activities, fostering a sense of community spirit and shared purpose. Program offerings such as technology and work force readiness programs for seniors/elders, workshops and seminars, community meetings, educational programming, mentoring/coaching programming, youth programming. In addition, the Community Center will service as a meeting place for community and will be the primary Hub for the 50+ career and workforce development training. Workshops, seminars, trainings, and demonstrations will take place in the community center. The space will be available Monday - Friday and can be made available on weekends as requested.
The BIC provides Health Navigation to the community at large. This program allows their navigators to assess the needs to the community and provide the direction to those who can provide resources to meet those needs. This navigation is an expanded rule after they were in the thick of providing contact tracing for those most vulnerable during COVID.