On this week's program host, Phil Tower welcomes Dennis Vankampen, President & CEO, of Mel Trotter Ministries. Dennis gives us an update on the latest priorities for serving the homeless, hungry, and at-risk families in West Michigan. Dennis also reminds us that Mel Trotter’s annual Turkey Drop is coming up. The Turkey Drop is a long-running tradition in West Michigan as Mel Trotter Ministries, WOOD Radio, and Celebration Cinema all partner together for an entire day devoted to collecting frozen turkeys for our neighbors in need in the greater Grand Rapids area.
Online: https://www.meltrotter.org/events/turkey-drop

In our second segment, Phil welcomes attorney Luis Avila, Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Varnum Law. Luis discusses Varnum’s achievement of Mansfield Rule Certification 5.0. He explains precisely why the Mansfield Certification is important for law firms and how the certification is designed to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in firm leadership. The program measures whether women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities have been considered for leadership opportunities, promotions, lateral positions, and career-enhancing work opportunities.
Luis also gives us his views on the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending rulings on race-conscious admissions programs at both Harvard and the University of North Carolina. Luis warms that those decisions by the Supreme Court justices could have impacts far beyond college admissions offices.
Online:
https://www.varnumlaw.com/news/varnum-achieves-mansfield-rule-5-0-certification/