Muskegon Livability Lab Returns to Tackle Community Issues

The annual Muskegon Livability Lab will return on February 3, 2024, for its sixth consecutive year, aiming to address persistent community challenges in Muskegon, Michigan. Organized by Access Health, this event invites residents, students, community leaders, elected officials, business owners, and organizational representatives to collaborate on solutions that impact their neighborhoods.

Participants will gather at Muskegon Community College’s Collegiate Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this all-day event, teams will develop actionable plans aimed at addressing various community issues within a 100-day timeframe. Past initiatives have included addressing racial disparities in birthing outcomes and ongoing efforts to improve transportation.

Hillery Ross-Furse, community program manager for Access Health, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the event. “This is truly community,” she stated. “It’s all the way up from your higher ups, people that work in the political field, people that run our local government, to everyday average citizens.” This inclusive approach allows various stakeholders to pool their resources and knowledge to create effective solutions.

Transportation remains a pressing concern for Muskegon County and has consistently been a focal point of the Livability Lab. In previous years, the group advocated for a regional transportation authority. Now, their strategy has evolved to engage employers directly, raising awareness about existing transportation solutions available to employees. Initiatives include promoting carpooling, pre-tax benefits, and services like Wheels to Work and the Enterprise vanpool system.

Judy Kell, a veteran member of the transportation team, highlighted the significance of addressing barriers to employment. “Jobs and health care are how people get ahead,” she noted. “Any kind of barrier to a job is really a significant issue for the whole life cycle of the community.” By focusing on practical solutions that connect workers to jobs, the Livability Lab aims to create a more sustainable community.

In addition to transportation initiatives, the Livability Lab has facilitated the establishment of a childcare association and has seen the growth of more than 30 doulas within the county. These developments reflect the Lab’s commitment to tackling a diverse range of community issues.

Registration for the event is free and can be completed online. The Muskegon Livability Lab continues to be a vital platform for empowering local residents and fostering collaboration among community stakeholders. As the event approaches, organizers encourage participation to further strengthen community ties and create effective solutions to ongoing challenges.