United States
(She/They)
Digital marketing and content guru. Writer. Social justice advocate. Foodie. Moviegoer.
Completed "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" in Master Mode.
Beat Resident Evil 2 Remake in Hardcore Mode with an S Ranking.
Written Work
This winter, Grand Rapids' first Korean barbecue and karaoke joint opened at 169 Louis Campau Promenade in the heart of downtown. K-ROK's owner and operator, Rob Yoon, opened the new hotspot with hopes of bringing more pop to Grand Rapids' nightlife while sharing Korean food and culture with the community.
It's been a long and bumpy road for the cannabis plant. From being completely illegal and demonized to later decriminalized and only allowed for medical use and, finally, to the legal sale of recreational marijuana in the city.
When Alice Lyn Jasper moved from Brooklyn to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for school, it was the perfect opportunity to dabble in outdoor recreation. But there were a few setbacks: she was new at it, and she's a woman of color.
Despite his status as a public figure in Grand Rapids' food and beverage scene, my tito, (Tagalog for "uncle") George Aquino, did not expect to enter a career in hospitality. Believe it or not, he received his undergraduate degree in writing at the University of Iowa.
Editor's note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. As a dedicated spoken word artist, Jocelyn Barnes uses her voice and platforms to find healing through self-reflection and as a catalyst for activism. She was recently named as a host for The Drunken Retort and communications lead for the Diatribe.
By Samantha Suarez | Photography By David Specht There are few pleasures in life greater than satiating one's hunger by eating something you're craving. Growing up, however, many Americans don't venture outside the usual rotation of dishes such as, pancakes for breakfast, grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch and turkey on Thanksgiving.
If I asked a random group of people to name their favorite dishes from Japanese, Thai, or Chinese cuisine, I'd probably be met with a flood of diverse responses: ramen, sushi, pad thai, tom kha, dumplings or Peking duck, to name a few.
Media Interviews
Mutually Inclusive Season 2 Episode 3 | 26m 36s | Our screens have been flooded with headlines of the surging hate crimes and incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islanders. America has a vast background of discrimination towards AAPI communities.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - After a year in which Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have reported increased discrimination, organizations are celebrating their stories in West Michigan this AAPI Heritage Month.