What I saw: people who love and believe in their city so much they got together to organize this all-out effort to have some fun and promote its charms. I saw so much love and joy. Since I was a kid, I’ve never liked that song, but today I heard it for the first time — in all its pain and loss of faith and defiance to believe again. It’s the perfect foil for a video celebrating a struggling mid-size American city that looks a whole lot like my own beloved Baltimore. I cried the whole way through. Thank you for this.
It is the living color opposite of Minneapolis, and while they most certainly face challenges, they are facing them with optimism, joy, and even fun. What a wonderfully defiant model of what can be.
This is an amazing community accomplishment. Grand Rapids indeed is not dying. What really struck me about all these beautiful people was that the American flags were unfurled from staffs rather than draped around shoulders and flapping from the truck beds of people who need to prove they're Americans. My heart is happy, Switter.
Loved this. My best friend from grade school, who I’ve known for 66 years moved to Grand Rapids at the start of high school for a couple of years. I just sent her the link. I love that song and will be singing it for days.
Just up the road from me in kazoo…love this do much! I see current mayor, Rosalyn Bliss and a few others in here! 😊So well done! Thank you so much for sharing! 😊❤️
What I saw: people who love and believe in their city so much they got together to organize this all-out effort to have some fun and promote its charms. I saw so much love and joy. Since I was a kid, I’ve never liked that song, but today I heard it for the first time — in all its pain and loss of faith and defiance to believe again. It’s the perfect foil for a video celebrating a struggling mid-size American city that looks a whole lot like my own beloved Baltimore. I cried the whole way through. Thank you for this.
My pleasure.
It is the living color opposite of Minneapolis, and while they most certainly face challenges, they are facing them with optimism, joy, and even fun. What a wonderfully defiant model of what can be.
I heard it differently too Julie!😘
This is an amazing community accomplishment. Grand Rapids indeed is not dying. What really struck me about all these beautiful people was that the American flags were unfurled from staffs rather than draped around shoulders and flapping from the truck beds of people who need to prove they're Americans. My heart is happy, Switter.
When I watched it, all the different people, I thought to myself, “This is the best of America.”
Same
Absolutely! Thank you for posting it. I restacked and shared it to Facebook.
Way to go, Grand Rapids! Great find, Switter.
There's the kind of diversity I'm talking about: people of all walks of life coming together to do joyful things.
🥰
Loved this. My best friend from grade school, who I’ve known for 66 years moved to Grand Rapids at the start of high school for a couple of years. I just sent her the link. I love that song and will be singing it for days.
Thanks for sharing.
Little bit of joy! Thanks
Take that, Newsweek!
(Wonder how Grand Rapids funded this thing. Definitely no small feat.)
It was filmed all at one time, on the third try, and cost $40,000 from local folks making donations and volunteering.
Love this. Just shared it - and Switter's World - in my post today.
Hey thanks, Jan.
Just up the road from me in kazoo…love this do much! I see current mayor, Rosalyn Bliss and a few others in here! 😊So well done! Thank you so much for sharing! 😊❤️
😂
The pillow fight! The flames! The nerf darts! It was glorious and now I want to road trip!!!!
The real wedding party! The old green Chevy truck.. . .
That's beautiful. ❤️
Australians are beautiful, too, Caz. Mostly.
Mostly, and most of the time. 😁
Beautiful!!!