Creston Neighbors Come Together for Mental Health: A Recap of Dinner + Talks
This past October, the Creston Neighborhood Association was proud to host Dinner + Talks: Mental Health Partners in Action at Lucy’s on Plainfield Avenue. Neighbors gathered for a free meal, lively conversation, and an inside look at a remarkable coalition of organizations working to strengthen mental wellness right here in the Second Ward.
The evening was more than just a showcase, it was a reflection of something our community has been building for years.
A Community-Driven Initiative
The work on display that night didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with residents. Through surveys and open community meetings, Second Ward neighbors identified mental health as a top priority, and voted to direct participatory budgeting funds from the City of Grand Rapids toward addressing it. That decision set the foundation for a coalition of five partners: be nice., Arbor Circle, Calvin University, the Kent County Health Department, and the North End Wellness Coalition.
Meet the Partners
be nice. has been training community members to recognize the signs of mental health struggles and take action through their simple four-step framework: notice, invite, challenge, empower. As part of this initiative, they launched a public awareness campaign across the Second Ward and distributed Action Plan brochures directly to resident homes.
Arbor Circle brings counseling and supportive services directly to where people are – on the street, in schools and shelters, and at their Outpatient Counseling Center and the Bridge Youth Shelter. Their approach meets neighbors wherever they are in their journey.
Calvin University’s nursing program has been partnering with the Creston/Belknap neighborhood since 2001, using a Community-Based Participatory Research model that puts residents in the driver’s seat. That long-standing relationship gave rise to the Mental Health Ambassador (MHA) program, which trains everyday community members to promote mental health in their social networks. The results have been striking – between 2021 and 2024, 22 trained ambassadors made over 3,700 connections with more than 1,600 community members, and the program is now evidence-based. Through this grant, 40 people right here in Ward 2 received that same training. Interested in becoming an ambassador yourself? The online training is available to the public at calvin.edu/MHA for $30 and takes about 8 hours to complete.
The Kent County Health Department contributed its expertise in connecting people to resources, creating a Mental Health Crisis brochure. A practical guide to navigating available help in Kent County, and maintaining kentcountyhealthconnect.org as a referral hub for community partners and residents alike.
Finally, the North End Wellness Coalition brings it all together with a holistic vision of wellness for the Creston and Belknap neighborhoods. In addition to their weekly Wednesday walks, newsletter, and free fitness resources, they are developing Georgie’s Farm Market, a community space aimed at addressing the food desert in our area while offering health education, cultural awareness, and financial literacy programming.
Why This Matters
Mental health has long carried stigma that keeps people from seeking help or even talking openly about what they’re experiencing. The work these partners are doing – in our schools, door-to-door, at community events, and in our neighbors’ social circles – is quietly and steadily changing that. One conversation at a time.
If you missed Dinner + Talks, you can view the full presentation above. And if any of these programs sparked your interest, we encourage you to reach out to the organizations directly or contact CNA at 454-7900 or contact@crestongr.com.
Mental health is a community issue, and Creston is showing up for it.
