GRPS Uncovered

S2:E7 Allison Mckee

In this episode, I share a recent oral history from Allison Mckee, who arrived in Grand Rapids in 2021. As a mother of two, her search for information about Grand Rapids Public Schools led to unexpected discoveries—ones she is still working to understand and navigate today.

S2:E6 Fredericka Brown

In this episode, I speak with Fredericka Brown, a former GRPS student from the 1990s who now navigates the district as a parent. Her story explains how she has become a passionate parent organizer with the Urban Core Collective.

S2:E5 Betsaida Valdivia

In this episode, former GRPS student Betsaida Valdivia shares how their time in the district during the 2010s shaped their understanding of education, opportunity, and student voice — a journey that now guides their work as Youth Education Organizer for the Urban Core Collective.

S2:E4 Dennis Miller

In this episode, I interview Dennis Miller, a retired school security officer who, at the age of 19, began his career in GRPS in 1987.

S2:E3 Quana O'Bryan

In this episode, I interview Quana O’Bryan who graduated from City High Middle School in 2003, a top ranking high school in Michigan. She is a funded futures trader, world traveler, mother, and currently working on a book for her community on living an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.