At the 2025 Families Learning Conference hosted by the National Center for Families Learning, Grand Rapids was highlighted as a national example of strong Family Learning Community leadership.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan serves as the backbone organization for this work, convening partners and aligning adult education, workforce pathways, and family supports. A featured conference video spotlighted how the Literacy Center is helping parents build literacy, career skills, and long-term opportunity while strengthening outcomes for their children. A follow-up video continued to elevate the impact of this locally led collaboration.
This effort is supported by the Sharon Darling Innovation Fund, an NCFL initiative investing in community-driven family learning innovation. Together, these partnerships are helping position Grand Rapids as a leader in two-generation strategies that expand opportunity for families.