Interested in joining the ECA Board?
Elections will be held at the ECA Annual Membership Meeting on February 21st, 2012 at 6:30pm at Wolfgang's. Please send an email with a brief explanation of why you would be a good candidate. email to corey.eastown@gmail.com 

Items to include in email:  Length of residency in Eastown * Any useful personal/professional experience you offer * What you like about Eastown * Any changes you'd like to see in Eastown * Any topics/issues relevant to Eastown that interest you *

2012 ECA Board Nominees

Christopher Price

I have lived in Eastown for the last 14 years with my wife and 4 kids. My wife and I have organized block parties for the last couple of years. We organize cookouts, putt-putt golf outings, dinners, etc. Eastown has been a great community for me and my family. It has a great mix of people of many cultures and beliefs. Being a person that is biracial and having a biracial family, Eastown is the best choice for me and my family. It offers a lot of things that many towns don't offer. We are well connected with our neighbors and have turned out to be great friendships.

 I have a lot of passion and love for Eastown. Last year, I became part of the housing committee.  My hope is that more young people and families come to Eastown to make it their home.  It's a community that has a lot to offer to people and to families.  I have a passion for urban history and planning, and I see a strong cohesive neighborhood here in Eastown.  It would be my honor to be a part of the ECA Board for planning for the future of the Eastown Community.

Chad Sytsma

Chad Sytsma is the current ECA Board President and lives with his family on the south end of Eastown.  Chad has been involved with the Eastown Community since 2005.

As a local Realtor and community advocate, Chad's efforts continue to focus on improving quality of life and property values for all of Eastown's residents, guests and business owners. 
 

Liz Cotter

My husband and I (and our dog) moved to Eastown 2 ½ years ago. Prior to that time, I lived in Chicago for several years and San Francisco before that. It is for the same reasons that I loved living in the heart of those cities, that we chose Eastown for our new home. We love the vibrancy of the community, the diversity of our neighbors, the ability to walk to our favorite places, and the true neighborhood feeling we have every day that we step out our door.

I am an attorney and a public school teacher, as well as the current block captain for our block (a fantastic block!).  In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, camping, and "playing" outside. Since moving to Eastown, we have added our daughter to our family and look forward to raising her in such a dynamic community.  


Matthew Gonzales

I have been a proud resident of Eastown for over two years, in which I have experienced the ECA as an attendee and as a board member.  During my sixteen-month term on the board I have served on Special Events Committee and the Sigsbee Park Committee.  I consistently volunteer at the National Night Out, Bizarre Bazaar, StreetFair, and the Park Clean-up/Picnic.  In the summer, I organized and led a committee dedicated to selecting and hiring our Executive Director/Community Organizer.  I am also the Assistant Principal and IB Coordinator at City High Middle School. 

I would like to continue my service on the board and to dedicate my time and energy to Eastown as volunteering and giving back to my community is important to me.  I believe that strong neighborhoods are built on relationships and a shared understanding of an identity.  I greatly value the unique eclectic nature of Eastown and the wonderful individuals who define our community.  I would be honored to continue to serve the outstanding neighborhood of Eastown.


 Timm Bloem

Calvin College graduate with a BA degree in Business; industry background includes 4 1/2 years as the Director of Sales & Marketing at FreedomNet Solutions, extensive work on Steelcase's Seating Product & Marketing Team, Steelcase's Product Inventory Control Team (PIC), and Calvin College's Development Office.

In my spare time, I serve as Secretary on the Eastown Community Executive Board (ECA), Area Developer for Grand Rapids Southwest Young Life, and volunteer as a Young Life leader at Byron Center High School.

 "We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting, and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out." | Donald Miller - 'Through Painted Deserts'

Shari Grant

Shari Grant has lived in Eastown for over 40 years.  She is a boxing trainer at Martin Luther King Park and volunteers her time with local at-risk youth, mostly young women.  She would like to serve on the Eastown Board to be able to reach out to more residents in need.

Christopher Cork

My wife Anne and I choose Eastown as our home due to our commitment and desire to help with the revitalization of the City of Grand Rapids and for our love of the preservation of historic homes.

I wish to continue serving on the ECA Board because I would like to see the continued growth and rejuvenation of our community and would also like to maintain a safe, healthy environment to raise our children. I currently serve as the treasurer for the ECA Board of Directors.

Some of my interests are architecture, urban planning, sustainable construction, carpentry, photography, fly fishing, and fly tying. My professional industry is Architecture/Construction Management, where I hold AIA, LEED, AP certifications.


Eastown Access Newsletters

December/January 2011
October/November 2011
August/September 2011
June/July 2011
April/May 2011
February/March 2011
December 2010/January 2011

ECA Annual Meeting Minutes
2010
2011

Crime Free Lease Addendum
Attention Eastown Landlords and Property Managers:  Contact the ECA to get a copy of the Crime Free Lease Addendum.  Once signed by the tenant and landlord, this addendum becomes part of a legal contract/lease and will help you to evict any tenant that is involved in criminal and/or drug related activity.

Are You Interested In Organizing A Block Party?
Click here to open the City of Grand Rapids Block Party Permit Application.
Click here to open the City of East Grand Rapids Block Party Permit Application.