Bu Gari Voss
The Wayland Downtown Development Authority (DDA) under the leadership of Director Holli McPherson has stepped out over the past years thanks to the Main Street Organization. Main Street fosters the development of especially small towns and cities by bringing together DDA directors and other leaders for the purpose of sharing ideas and enhancing leadership skills.
Through a combination of family contacts and conversations, McPherson decided it was time to enlist the youth of Wayland to assist in revitalizing the city. Taking a page from Charlevoix’s Jr. DDA, McPherson went to Wayland High School where teacher/leader Karen Iehl hosts the Leaders of the Community Club.
Each year 10-20 students volunteer to work together to develop their leadership skills while improving student life at Wayland Union HS. By utilizing this corps of young leaders, McPherson and Iehl felt they had a strong foundation for the Wayland Jr. DDA.
In 2022, the pair worked with the club members and applied for a TAG grant through the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF). TAG (Teens Aiding Growth) is comprised of youth from high schools across Allegan County who meet about 10 times each year at the Allegan Area Vocational Center. During these meetings, they review hundreds of grant applications then make recommendations on which best meet their criteria to improve the lives of children and youth across the county.
After the Wayland’s Jr. DDA received their first grant in 2022, McPherson and Iehl took the Leaders of the Community Club members on a field trip or walk through Downtown. During the walk, the students brainstormed several possible projects that they could undertake to bring about change. In the end, the focus became the makeover of the City’s mini-park.
The club members were then able to canvass other students at school for ideas. After discussions with McPherson and Iehl and assistance from the city Public Works Department, the students were able to add a fireplace, hammock poles and lights on the tree.
“The kids feel they have control over the downtown of the city they live in,” stated McPherson. “They can make changes without going through the city council. At the same time, they are learning about city government and how the city works.”
The Wayland DDA meets at 8am the third Tuesday of each month so the students are unable to attend those meetings. But McPherson and the DDA chairperson attend the Leadership Club’s after school meetings to share what the city DDA is planning. With this communication, the students can coordinate student activities and participation in city events.
“If the students would come up with a project that required city council approval,” reflected McPherson. “They would need to make a presentation to City Council and follow the proper protocol.”
The 2023 TAG grant from ACCF assisted in the transformation of the alley just off Main Street. Students worked with other volunteers and city employees to clean up the clutter and debris. They then worked with Iehl and McPherson to find artists who would be featured in murals along the alley.
The project flourished throughout the summer of 2023 and came to a marvelous end in the fall of 2023. On December 2nd, the Jr. DDA gathered with members of the Wayland City Council and the community to hold the official Ribbon Cutting for the alley.
“The goal of a Junior DDA is to encourage high school students to become involved in their community,” summarized McPherson. “These projects demonstrate what can be done when students have first-hand involvement in the community projects in Downtown Wayland. This program creates a sense of achievement, place, and ownership of their city.”
In addition, McPherson continued, “The Junior DDA has been the driving focus behind the decisions and creation of all projects. Students can survey the student body for opinions and ideas. They can also recruit volunteers to execute projects. The director of the Main Street Wayland DDA is always present and can be used for reference or guidance, but the young leaders are the driving force.”
McPherson reflected on the importance of Wayland’s DDA. “DDA directors have no school curriculum that focuses on the expectations and duties of a DDA director. It is a complex job with no manual. I am thankful for the Main Street Organization that brings directors together several times each year. Through their guidance, mentorship, and platform for sharing ideas, we get energized and share strategies for bringing ideas to fruition. The Jr. DDA is just one of those endeavors.”