Grand Rapids is a city of neighborhoods, cultures and people who each bring something of their own to the community. For Steve Carigon, that mix is part of what makes the city worth calling home.
Steve Carigon is a chaplain at a youth treatment facility and a longtime Grand Rapids resident. He lives just a few blocks from the heart of the city and has spent years getting to know the people, places and communities that give Grand Rapids its character.
When asked what he loves about living in Grand Rapids, Carigon doesn’t hesitate.
“I love the diversity. I love the walkability. I don’t know—I dig this city. I’ve been here for a long time.”
Carigon believes there’s also much more to Grand Rapids than people sometimes see. He points to the city’s hip-hop culture, local food and the people building vibrant communities throughout the city.
“People should know about the hip-hop culture,” he says. “People should know about what Monk Duncan does. There’s a whole lot of good food—you just have to look for it a little bit.”
For Carigon, exploring Grand Rapids means getting curious. Every neighborhood has its own personality, its own people and its own story. You just have to be willing to step outside the familiar and discover it.
But being invested in a city also means being willing to talk about what could be better.
If Carigon could change something about Grand Rapids, he would like to see police use more de-escalation and less aggressive approaches. He’d also like to see parking become more affordable and accessible.
His perspective comes from someone who clearly cares about the place he calls home. Carigon sees a Grand Rapids with plenty to celebrate—and plenty of room to grow.
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