by on 2025 CCDA National Conference Go & Sees offer a great opportunity to experience amazing CCD ministries all throughout Grand Rapids. Go & Sees provide conference participants an opportunity to visit the neighborhoods and communities in the area.
All Go & Sees will depart from the CCDA Info Booth (100) in the Secchia Lobby. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time to ensure a timely departure.
Options include:
Escape Ministries & Heights of Hope
Escape Ministries peels the labels off “at-risk youth” by seeing youth through God’s eyes, empowering them as young heroes alongside their families. Learn about our alternative suspension program, youth employment program, and after-school programs. During this Go & See, you will see how we strive for a trauma-informed approach to discipline, a culture steeped in joy and affirmation, and let relationships lead the way.
From there, we’ll visit Heights of Hope, a CCDA Neighborhood focused on championing community members’ gifts, youth leadership, and walking with families through Circles. You’ll learn about after-school programs for kindergartners to adults, fostering a dedicated mentoring program, and engaging a community that normally wouldn’t open their doors.
Lunch and transportation are included.
ICCF Community Homes and Madison Church
In 2020, Madison Church realized its vision of 24/7 ‘kingdom impact’ by working with ICCF Community Homes to restore the 415 MLK Building. Today, this historic school building has been adapted to house Madison Church’s South Hill congregation, the office for ICCF Community Homes, 41 affordable housing units, and an early childhood education program run by the YMCA. Hear the story of how this transformative project has opened the door for additional partnership between the church and organizations at other sites, and visit additional projects that show how a church can drive impactful community development.
This Go & See includes transportation.
New City Neighbors
Get ready for an unforgettable experience with New City Neighbors, a dynamic youth empowerment organization on a mission to transform lives! We’re not just growing food; we’re growing future leaders.
Join us for an exciting tour of our farmhouse and discover how we cultivate 60,000 pounds of fresh veggies every year! Then, take a seat at our farm-to-table café, where you’ll savor delicious wood-fired pizza from our outdoor pizza ovens. As you enjoy the flavors, we’ll share our groundbreaking approach to tackling food scarcity with sustainable agriculture—all while empowering a new generation of young leaders.
You will ride the bus with a volunteer from New City Neighbors. Lunch will be provided.
The Other Way Ministries
The Other Way is a Westside Grand Rapids community development organization that has been active for 57 years. We have a wide variety of programs designed to help neighbors at the direct aid and systems levels. Some of our programs include a food pantry, a farm market/food co-op, a community garden, an afterschool kids program, a men’s group, and a licensed preschool.
This Go & See will focus on our Agape Co-op program, which is a group of 45 member families that have indicated to us that they would like to have a deeper and more mutual relationship with The Other Way, and participate in quarterly meetings, volunteer hours, and fun events. We are excited to share this successful program with you.
Be sure to grab food before meeting your guide in the convention center lobby to take public transit for this Go & See.
Treetops Collective
Join us for a meaningful and interactive experience hosted by Treetops Collective—designed especially for CCDA Conference attendees passionate about welcoming New American—refugee and immigrant—women and teen girls. This culturally immersive experience offers a deep dive into the transformative power of radical welcome.
Through storytelling, guided reflection, and value-driven activities, participants will explore what it means to co-create a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Guests will have the opportunity to tour our community center, enjoy a complimentary cup of chai or cultural treat from our Community Café, and browse the Rooted Together marketplace, featuring handcrafted goods by immigrant and refugee women. Attendees will also learn about Treetops’ language-based programs that support New Americans to root in place, rise as leaders, and build lives of connection and purpose in their new communities.
Grounded in Treetops’ core values, this experience equips participants with practical strategies to embody welcome in their own communities. Come ready to listen, learn, and leave inspired to become a co-creator of belonging.
This Go & See includes transportation and lunch.
Mel Trotter Ministries and Next Step of West Michigan
Experience a multisite tour of Mel Trotter Ministries and Next Step of West Michigan! This Go & See will highlight our work in homelessness prevention, emergency shelter for men and families, and housing and workforce development.
You will learn about our emergency shelter services downtown and travel to Hope Village—Grand Rapids’ first tiny home community. On that same campus, we’ll tour our woodworking and construction training programs.
There will also be a short presentation of two church-based ministries that Mel Trotter supports through case management and shared funding. Bridge of Hope is a three-way partnership between a family facing homelessness, a Mel Trotter case manager, and a small group from a local church. House Band Project is a partnership with a children’s ministry at a local church and kids in an emergency shelter in a weekly by-kids-for-kids worship experience.
This Go & See does not include lunch, so make sure to grab something before you go! It does include van transportation.
