What an incredible year for community voices

It seriously was an amazing year on The Rapidian. What started as an experiment in citizen journalism has become a powerful voice in our community, and we owe that all to our community reporters!

We’re here to bring you the top articles of 2015, but first let’s look at some incredible trends:

• Over half of the top ten articles are about food. In fact, our excitement over food destinations and conversations this year seems to have taken over our thrill for beer news. Not one single article in the top 10 is about beer. That’s quite a shift in trends!
• Even more telling in trends, I would say, is that our community reporters got brave this year. They wanted to talk about social issues, and you, our readers and donors, wanted to join the conversation. All but two of the top articles approach social issues: food access, local economy, pandering to our patriotic sentiments, rape culture, disability, breastfeeding rights, cultural appropriation. Many were risky to share: too personal, too controversial, and too many in our community thinking, whispering, but not publicly stating concerns
• Eight of our top 20 articles were written by first-time Rapidian reporters. All of these new voices joining The Rapidian to share their news and thoughts is incredible!

When one community reporter steps up and speaks out, the community resonated with the conversation. In fact, the top two articles of 2015 also have the most social media shares of our entire history, to date.

You cared, you kept the conversation going, and we know that as a community you will continue to make sure that these conversations have a platform where all voices are welcomed, where all voices are heard, where free speech does not bow to corporate interest.

But we can’t do it without your support. Please consider The Rapidian in your End Of Year donation planning.

Without further ado, here are our top articles of the year.

TOP 10 ARTICLES OF 2015

1. Why we need to start talking honestly about the Downtown Market by Levi Gardner
2. Discover six locally owned alternatives to Trader Joe’s by Wendy Hammond
3. “In Season:” searches for the Fulton Street Farmers Market’s articles
4. SiTE:LAB community creates one more surprise at final performance of grand prize winner by Holly Bechiri
5. Martha’s Vineyard answers Midtown’s call for more groceries by Marjorie Steele
6. Just get over it: GVSU graduate shares Title IX experience with no closure by Drew Damron
7. Restaurant opening brings new barbecue style to Grand Rapids (Two Scott’s) by Maddie Forshee
8. Local business seeks inspiration from British colonial empire by Kat Matisse
9. What’s appropriate at a Trump rally anyway? by Eric Tank
10. Breastfeeding rights under scrutiny by Linnea Carlson deRoche

Keep The Rapidian platform going for stories like this in 2016 with a donation now:

• online here (make sure to select The Rapidian in the drop-down that reveals all Community Media Center departments)
• send a check to our main office:

Community Media Center

c/o Carol Shirey, Development Director

711 Bridge Street NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49504

photo of Nourish Organic Market courtesy Jonathan Stoner, previously used to illustratearticle by Wendy Hammond