Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1524031
sense of a close-knit community. The experience then entrenches museum- goers in the grievous process of enslave- ment, including a holding cell, the Door of No Return display and a replica slave ship. Next, the stories of African-American tri- umphs, including escapes to free- dom, followed by more recent suc- cesses of local African-Americans, fill the exhibit. Be sure to con- tact Sheila Neal, Director Sales at Visit Detroit, for any assis- tance you need in bringing your meeting to the city. • • GRAND RAPIDS • • Because Grand Rapids is a destination crafted for meetings. All the elements come together here to offer meeting planners and attendees a one-of-a-kind experience. That includes an unprece- dented level of cooperation between our public, private and nonprofit sectors to support your event. The entire community is invested in your success! DeVos Place puts visitors right in the middle of everything happening in down- town Grand Rapids. This multi-purpose facility is unequaled in service and sup- port. Its management team of SMG pro- vides the same high caliber of meeting and convention support as dozens of other convention centers across the coun- try. This venue is ideally equipped for meetings, conventions and trade shows as well as performing arts and touring events. The Center touts a 162,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall, a 40,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 26 meeting rooms. There are 3 hotels (1,200+ rooms) con- nected to the convention center by sky- walk supplemented with 11 additional downtown hotels offering 1,300+ rooms. The recorded history of Grand Rapids extends back some 2,000 years to Native Americans that settled the Grand River Valley. Tucked away off Interstate 96, within the boundaries of Millennium Park, stand a series of burial mounds containing artifacts from these Hopewell peoples. The Norton Mound National Historic Landmark is currently closed to the public, but artifacts from these mounds can be seen at Grand Rapids Public Museum. If you're staying in downtown Grand Rapids, you'll find dozens of nightlife options within a 10-minute walk or free DASH bus ride of your hotel. Begin the night with dinner at one of downtown's 140+ restaurants, then move on to your diversion of choice. The compact Bridge Street and Ionia Avenue entertainment districts are lined with multiple nightlife venues, while The B.O.B. (Big Old Building) lets you visit a restaurant, brew- ery, beer garden, live-music hall, nightclub and comedy club under one roof. WHO YOU GONNA CALL Experience Grand Rapids (616) 258-7388 www.experiencegr.com • • LANSING • • When you have a big event to plan, no one understands the challenge that brings but the services staff at Choose LansingTM. From maps to custom web- sites to help with parking to recommen- dations for off-site functions, the team at Choose LansingTM has you covered. There's no place better to host your next event or conference. The right location will set the tone for your event. Lucky for you, Greater Lansing has plenty of different kinds of event space for you to choose from. Situated just two blocks from the Capitol, Lansing Center has anchored the downtown landscape for more than 30 years. Ideally located in the heart of Michigan, the Center offers convenient accessibility - and has helped connect more than 10 million guests with the events, causes and change-makers that matter most. While visiting Lansing be sure to explore some of the landmarks and sites that tell the story of African American his- tory throughout the region. Visit places like The All Around the African World Museum and Resource Center, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Academy and the Lansing Art Gallery. WHO YOU GONNA CALL Greater Lansing Michigan (800) 648-6630 www.lansing.org AREA GUIDES B M & T ••• July/August 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 61 DeVos Place Connvention Center