Students share how COVID-19 has impacted their mental health with community leaders, elected officials
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – More than a dozen students from schools across Grand Rapids spoke Friday about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental during the annual KidSpeak forum. “Mental health deterioration in Grand Rapids and nationwide has been a separate pandemic on its own. The listening panel included Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, state Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Board of Education President Jen Schottke and Matt Gillard, president of Michigan’s Children Matt Gillard. Officials say the shift to remote learning, requiring students learn from home and pausing extracurricular activities, affected the mental health of students across Michigan. The full KidSpeak 2021 virtual event can be seen on the City of Grand Rapids Facebook page.
mlive.comEntire Detroit club volleyball team earns college athletic scholarships
DETROIT All nine members of a club volleyball team in Detroit secured athletic scholarships to college despite the roadblocks created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was a very turbulent year, but the whole traveling team secured athletic scholarships. Coach Twon Davis had an idea years ago to use volleyball as a way to get girls, and now boys, to college. What I found working with kids with Club Xtreme -- they needed more resources -- rides, support, equipment, Smith said. Club Xtreme Volleyball accepts players ages eight to 18.