Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

Big E's Sports Grille

710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 – 7:00 AM

Strong public schools are the backbone of a thriving community. They shape the next generation, strengthen neighborhoods, and create opportunities that ripple far beyond the classroom. But great schools don’t happen by accident; they require engaged citizens who are willing to show up, speak up, and take part in guiding their district’s future. When community members volunteer, attend meetings, ask questions, or even choose to run for the school board, they help ensure that decisions reflect the values, needs, and hopes of the families who live there.

Our next Breakfast Club meeting will feature Kimberley Williams, a lifelong Grand Rapids resident, GRPS graduate, and candidate for the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education. She currently serves as a GRPS Board Trustee and brings nearly two decades of public service and community advocacy experience. This session is an opportunity for members to:

This will be an open, conversational Q&A format, giving attendees a chance to engage directly with Kimberley and better understand her priorities for Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Invocation: Eric Nelson
Introduction: Jeff Kissinger

Public Schools

1. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.

2. “A good education is the foundation for a better future, and strong leadership is what keeps that foundation solid.” ~ Barbara Bush

3. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” ~ John F. Kennedy