City gathers to discuss race and social equity - The Pioneer

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  One of the guest speakers was Ferris faculty Dr. Rita Walters. Walters shared her experiences since coming to Big Rapids eight years ago, highlighting some personal encounters. (Pioneer photo/Alicia Jaimes)

  One of the guest speakers was Ferris faculty Dr. Rita Walters. Walters shared her experiences since coming to Big Rapids eight years ago, highlighting some personal encounters. (Pioneer photo/Alicia Jaimes)

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One of the guest speakers was Ferris faculty Dr. Rita Walters. Walters shared her experiences since coming to Big Rapids eight years ago, highlighting some personal encounters. (Pioneer photo/Alicia Jaimes)

One of the guest speakers was Ferris faculty Dr. Rita Walters. Walters shared her experiences since coming to Big Rapids eight years ago, highlighting some personal encounters. (Pioneer photo/Alicia Jaimes)

City gathers to discuss race and social equity

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BIG RAPIDS — With more than 50 people in attendance, area residents, city officials and Ferris State University students and faculty spent their Friday evening tuning into the first Conversation on Race and Social Justice event.

“We’re so excited that all of you could join us here this afternoon as the city of Big Rapids has its first discussion on race, social equity, and justice,” Ferris professor and event moderator Dr. Kasey Thompson said.

Originally set to happen in person, because of the coronavirus, the event was hosted via Zoom call and Facebook Live.

“Here in Big Rapids, we want to make sure we’re not only addressing the issues … but we also want to be preemptive, and we want to get ahead of any issues as they may occur,” Thompson continued.

According to Thompson, over the past several weeks, city officials, business owners, members of the police department, and Ferris faculty, staff and students have gathered to discuss some of the issues that have surfaced in the city of Big Rapids.

“(We are here) to not only be talking about the issues, but developing plans and mechanisms and putting them in place so we can address them so we can be a star-city, not only for the state of Michigan, but for the broader country as well,” Thompson said.

Kicking off the first discussion was Mayor Tom Hogenson.

“I felt the need to speak out on this issue for some time because of what’s happening in the greater world,” he said.

“I’ve always felt a strong kinship to the idea of looking at diversity and promoting equity and social justice in everything we do. I don’t think it’s just something you do in a series of meetings — though that’s a fine way to start — I think it’s a way you live.”

By becoming more engaged in the process, Hogenson said he hopes everyone interested in partaking in this broader conversation will help them look for ways to make Big Rapids a more welcoming area.

Sharing from personal experience

As well as hearing from city officials, guests had the opportunity to listen to a Ferris student, as well as faculty and others who have encountered their own personal experiences in Big Rapids.

“If I were to give a short spiel about my impressions of Big Rapids, I would say it’s a small, rural town, rather homogeneous, that has an ideal flow," Ferris faculty Dr. Rita Walters said. "Folks know each other. Folks have some very clearly-defined rules, and that you have to find a way to fit in, and that fitting in it not easy for people of color or persons who identify with other minority groups.

“Now, I base that on the eight years that I’ve been a faculty member at Ferris State University."

Residing in Lansing, Walters said she often finds herself frequenting hotels and restaurants, especially during the winter time — experiencing mixed emotions.

“In those spaces, I’ve found that I’ve been accepted,” she said. “I’ve never been denied entrance. I’ve never been denied service. However, I’ve been watched.”

In her time in the city, Walters said she's noticed that when she enters an establishment in her business attire, she is more likely to be greeted with a smile.

However, if she enters a business with jeans and a hoodie, Walters said she is more likely to be confronted with looks like she is not “one of us,” she said.

“That has been an area of concern for some time now,” Walters added.

Though she said it is not her everyday experience in Big Rapids, it does occur enough that it is concerning to her.

“About two years ago, I — among with two colleagues — were dining at a restaurant,” Walters said. “We decided to go across the street and get some ice cream, and while sitting out to get ice cream, someone in a pickup truck — a white male, and the pickup truck was decorated with the confederate flag — made a gesture toward us that was inappropriate and certainly offensive.

“That behavior. That very aggressive behavior — is recent. And I would say that probably since 2016, I’ve noticed a heightened sense of aggression.”

Walters was just one of several speakers, both of color and not of color, who experienced judgement from others while being in Big Rapids.

“Again, another business I frequent, I have felt I was followed through the store,” Walters said. “I remember going to the dressing room to change clothes, and the employee stood there, and as soon as I came out, asked me if I needed help with my items — as if she needed to verify how many items I still had in my hand."

Other individuals shared stories including gun violence and physical assault, while a few white individuals said they have experienced people saying racist remarks to them because they, "thought it would be OK to say because they are white."

Comments from the local police Chief

Partaking as a panelist during the night's conversation was Big Rapids Chief of Police Danielle Haynes, noting her work with the Department of Public Safety since 2002.

“We are very dedicated to community policing, and most of everything we do is surrounding that," Haynes said.

Since being promoted to Chief of Police in March, Haynes said the department has undergone several changes in an effort to continue to be the peacekeepers they strive to be.

“Some of the plans and projects that we’ve already implemented here in regards to trust and transparency within our department are some things you will notice on our website,” she said. “We talk about the body-worn camera program that we started here recently. We discuss some of our policies regarding some of those tough conversations that are being asked towards police across the nation right now, and we explain the complaint process.

“One of the things that we have recently done was establish a crime prevention officer and community relations officer."

According to Haynes, this position was part of their housing liaison previously, but as times change, she said they needed to expand and address bigger and broader situations.

"With this officer, we are planning on having them participate in all the special events and planning that are occurring in the city, different groups and organizations with schools, youth, church, etc. that are really trying to open up that communication and that bridge, again, just trying to better-benefit our relationship,” Haynes said.

“Our role here is to be the peacekeepers, and that’s really what we’ve been doing over the last several years.”

When asked if Haynes kept a diverse department, she responded saying the department currently has two people of Latino background, and very few women. As of right now, she said, they are struggling just trying to find people to join the force. However, she appreciates the mixture of ages she has on her team.

“I have such a wonderful department,” she said. “We’ve got experience, but we also have some younger generation, and everybody is just so excited to be here making our community better.”

Lasting almost two hours for their first event, Thompson said this is the first in a series of efforts the city and people of Big Rapids will be hosting in an effort to spread awareness and open a conversation about race, social equity, and justice.

To listen and view the full conversation, visit the City of Big Rapids Facebook page.

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