Founded Over Coffee
[HAS HEART] was created to connect the veteran and creative communities.
2010
Michael Hyacinthe, an 8-year U.S. Navy veteran, and Tyler Way, an artist/designer, met over coffee in Grand Rapids, MI, and realized the need to connect their two worlds.
After their first cup of coffee, a meaningful mission was realized.
2011
Michael met a wounded U.S. Marine and his full-time nurse at a local veterans event. Paralyzed from the neck down and unable to speak due to injuries sustained in Iraq, the young Marine shared his story through an alphanumeric communication code translated on a clipboard by his full-time nurse. Michael learned of his passion for graphic t-shirts and asked the Marine if he would like to design his own. Seeing the larger-than-life grin come across his face, Michael called Tyler to see if they could design a shirt together.
After this first collaborative design and its powerful creative process, the HERO[series] was formed to pair a veteran with an artist for the shared mission to tell their story through the medium of art and design.
2012
2013
Selected five veterans from across the country with local designers for a three-day design project hosted at GRid70 and Wolverine Worldwide HQ. Their designs, stories, and products were exhibited at 144 Fulton Street during ArtPrize 2013.
Held a grand opening event showcasing the entire 2012-2013 collection of collaborative HERO[series] designs, stories, and products in New York City at the Forbes Art Gallery.
2014
Brought together five veterans and designers, showcasing their designs, stories, and products at ArtPrize within the building at Veterans Memorial Park.
2015
2016
After witnessing the power of coffee bringing people together, [HAS HEART] pitched the concept to the City of Grand Rapids Parks Department to renovate the Veterans Memorial Park building into a full-time coffee shop. Early planning and fundraising began for the retail and exhibit space.
2017
Back in Michigan
2018
2019
Due to funding, the 50 States: Veterans + Artists United tour was paused, and returned home to Michigan after finishing 41 HERO[series] projects in 39 states.
2020
COVID-19 sucks. Most events were canceled, including ArtPrize. Planning and fundraising for the [HAS HEART] Coffee Shop continued, and coloring pages were introduced while we were all isolated at home in need of a creative outlet.
2021-2022
Fundraising efforts for the [HAS HEART] Coffee Shop reached its goal, and a “groundbreaking” ceremony to initiate the building renovation took place on the front steps on Veterans Day.
2023
Renovations continue on the building throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall, including during the 2023 VOICES project at ArtPrize.
After numerous construction delays, the [HAS HEART] Coffee Shop finally opens its doors on Veterans Day. For the first time, [HAS HEART] has its own permanent location to share its stories, designs, products, and coffee.
