About WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)
WYCE's Community Closeup is a weekly public affairs program featuring community leaders and nonprofit organizations.
WYCE is West Michigan's only independent, commercial-free, community radio station serving the greater Grand Rapids metro. WYCE programs an eclectic blend of folk, rhythm & blues, hip-hop, rock, jazz, and world music to the West Michigan community and beyond. Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered.
WYCE is a proud service of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center. We exist because of listener support. Please support us to keep the music playing: http://www.wyce.org
More Than Music: How New City Kids Is Helping Grand Rapids Youth Thrive (11-07-26)
On this episode of WYCE’s Community Closeup, host Phil Tower welcomes Rev. Linda R. Rubingh, co-founder and co-executive director of New City Kids: Grand Rapids (https://newcitykids.org/grandrapids), and Luz Gutierrez, a Union High School senior and Teen Life Intern.
Music, mentoring, and meaningful work are helping young people grow as leaders in Grand Rapids, and it's all happening at New City Kids: Grand Rapids (https://newcitykids.org/grandrapids).
In this episode, we explore the organization’s teen-led music school and how its faith-based after-school programming brings together academic support, music education, paid employment, and leadership development.
Linda discusses the New City Kids approach, its commitment to welcoming families from diverse backgrounds, and its Brighter Day program.
Luz shares her perspective on working with younger children and growing through nearly four years with the organization.
You can learn more about its programs and ways to get involved or offer support at New City Kids: Grand Rapids (https://newcitykids.org/grandrapids).
WYCE's Community Closeup is produced in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center. (https://grcmc.org/)
30 Oct 2026
Beyond the Language Barrier: How Teatro Hispano Is Connecting West Michigan Live Theatre Fans(10-31-26)
On this episode of WYCE’s Community Closeup, host Phil Tower welcomes Erica Soto, artistic director of Compañía de Teatro Hispano de Michigan (https://teatrohispanomi.com/), a Grand Rapids nonprofit bringing Spanish-language and bilingual theater to West Michigan.
Soto shares why the company was created, how it opens doors for Latino artists, and why seeing your language and culture represented onstage matters.
Our conversation also explores the diversity of Latino storytelling and how theater’s humor, emotion, and shared human experiences can connect audiences across languages.
Soto also discusses nurturing young performers through free bilingual theater classes in partnership with Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities (https://gaah.org/), along with opportunities to perform, volunteer, and support the company’s work.
Learn more about performances, auditions, classes, and ways to get involved at teatrohispanomi.com (https://teatrohispanomi.com/). Community Closeup from WYCE Community Radio (https://grcmc.org/wyce) is produced in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center (https://grcmc.org/).
23 Oct 2026
Growing Latino Businesses: West Michigan Hispanic Chamber’s Guillermo Cisneros (10-24-26)
In this episode of WYCE's Community Closeup, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Guillermo Cisneros, President and CEO of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (https://westmihcc.org/), for a conversation about advancing Hispanic-owned businesses and developing Latino talent across the region.
Cisneros discusses the opportunities and challenges facing local entrepreneurs, the Chamber’s hands-on business support, and its work connecting Hispanic college students and young professionals with West Michigan employers.
The conversation also explores the vision for the Chamber’s new Hub for Latino Economic Advancement and Talent Development on Godfrey Avenue in Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Park neighborhood.
Learn more about the Chamber’s business resources, programs, and upcoming events at westmihcc.org (https://westmihcc.org/).
WYCE’s Community Closeup is produced in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center (https://grcmc.org/).
Who has been a guest on WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Wardell Frazier Jr
J-Lin Tamminga
Sasha Wolff
Brendan Kelly
Sharon Caldwell-Newton
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
87
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
Contact WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)
Who hosts WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)?
Phil Tower and Janet Zahn host the show. Published by WYCE Independent Community Radio.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan) take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)?
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