In the Community
Astraea is big on loving the community it is in.
WHY: As an artist, I love being involved in the art community however possible. Besides making homemade pasta for the weekly dinner for Festival artists & supporters, I help volunteer with anything that needs muscle power or my artistic training for when Festival or the Arts rolls around in June each year in Grand Rapids MI. I always submit at least a few art pieces, and am eternally grateful to Fred and Gina Bivins, as well as Eliza Bivins-Fink and Howard Fink for inviting us into the Festival community, and showing Dan & I how to build a wonderful community.
Laura before cooking pasta for people who attend the weekly pasta night for Festival of the Arts friends & volunteers
Laura and daughter Elsie getting their plates ready at the weekly pasta night for Festival of the Arts friends & volunteers
WHAT: PaLatte Coffee and Art
WHY: I have been showing artwork at PaLatte since moving to Grand Rapids in 2018. They are incredibly supportive of my work; they are actively involved in the GR arts community and participate as a venue host for events like Festival of the Arts and Artprize. The owners, Maria and Michi Farris, are wonderful and are so warm and welcoming. They love my daughter’s Elsie’s contributions “to hang art at the coffee shop too” where Elsie has some pieces hanging on the back wall with the other community event information posters. Whenever you need some coffee in downtown Grand Rapids, stop by PaLatte and check out some of my drawings! I usually have 10+ pieces showing when a large festival is not going on.
WHAT: Artprize
Laura's daughter excited about hot chocolate at PaLatte.
WHY: Artprize is part of the reason Laura moved to Grand Rapids MI. Laura often submits her own artwork as well as her brother's to Artprize whenever it’s happening.
WHAT: Blood donation
WHY: As many people close to Laura have had severe medical situations, such as surgeries or cancer, she feels that it’s important to share blood with others who are in need. Laura goes as frequently as she is allowed to.
As a bonus, the BBQ chips at the end are awesome, and Elsie hangs out with Laura sometimes (as pictured).
Laura and Elsie after blood donation
WHY: As a unitarian church in Grand Rapids,the vibe of openness really resonated with Laura's family when they moved to Grand Rapids. Laura is most actively involved in the FSC Chapel Community which is a small group that gets together weekly.
Laura volunteers with the Choice Fund giving feedback in financial matters, as well as creates images/art for fundraisers, and markets events related to reproductive freedom.
Laura has in the past has provided guidance to the Foundation on financial matters.
WHAT: Planned Parenthood
WHY: I am very passionate about access to healthcare for all women. After I was sexually assaulted, Planned Parenthood was a safe place for me to ask the questions I had and get the testing needed, no questions asked. Regardless of political views, everyone should have access to a safe space and testing after an event like assault. Laura donates to Planned Parenthood.
WHAT: YWCA
WHY: Laura is very passionate about women being empowered to have freedom from sexual and domestic violence. As a financial planner, and as a granddaughter of a women who was trapped in a domestic violence relationship, Laura understands how important resources are to this group of survivors. Laura donates financially to the YWCA, and in the future will donate time to the financial literacy programs.
WHAT: Human Rights Campaign
WHY: Who you love is not a choice. The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. Laura supports HRC through financial donations, as well as being welcoming and open to all humans who have financial questions, regardless of how they identify or who they love.
WHAT: YMCA
WHY: Laura loves the YMCA, as it gives opportunities to the community guided by the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, the Y is dedicated to giving people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity. The Y is so much more than a fitness center, it is committed to making the local community a better place and offers a sliding scale for membership fees so everyone has access to its resources. Laura is a member of the YMCA.
WHAT: NAPFA Foundation
WHY: Laura is passionate about fee-only financial planning and supporting the NAPFA foundation to help grow the future fee-only resources for all communities. Monetary contributions to the NAPFA Foundation support ensure that NAPFA’s client-focused, Fee-Only values are strongly represented in the industry’s consumer outreach efforts; support current NAPFA Foundation pro-bono programmatic opportunities; and develop future national pro-bono opportunities for affinities you have served locally including the elderly, terminally ill, veterans, school children, women and those in poverty. Laura supports the NAPFA foundation through financial donations, and is also a member of NAPFA.
