BLOG – NEWS 

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 10

The ribbon-cutting ceremony included words from Richard App, the City’s retail, retention & attraction specialist, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, City Manager Mark Washington, president & CEO of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Tim Kelly, Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation director David Marquardt, and Rep. Carol Glanville who presented HAS HEART’s co-founders, Michael and Tyler a legislative proclamation.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 09

While an unusual Halloween snowstorm was blanketing downtown Grand Rapids, inside the Coffee Shop was cozy and crazy with pictures getting hung, supplies being organized, and merchandised getting displayed. Meanwhile around town, the camo bench cushions have been quilted and upholstered and hand-craft barista aprons are being created to outfit our team for years to come.

The countdown begins towards Veterans Day, the Grand Rapids Veterans Day parade, and our soft opening!

NOW HIRING! Coffee Shop Employees

[HAS HEART] is now hiring(!) 3-5 employees who will create an atmosphere of connection between the military & civilian worlds through coffee & conversations at the first ever [HAS HEART] Coffee Shop located at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 08

All of the coffee equipment has been installed, the soft-serve ice cream machine has run through its first batch of premium vanilla custard, the exterior patio has been finished with the re-purposed granite from the old Veterans Memorial Park fountain, lights have been hung, the bathroom plumbing is working, and we’re starting to begin putting the detailed design touches into the space, including a camo mural, a custom-built sticker display rack to feature all the HERO[series] designs produced into notebook sized artwork by Sticker Mule, and more!

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 07

The countertops are being installed with the bigger coffee equipment items in place, the bench seating and retail display wall are being constructed, custom mosaic tiles are being laid in the front entryway and bathroom, the back patio concrete has been drying in preparation for repurposed granite blocks and pavers from the previously remodeled Veterans Memorial Park fountain, and the front is getting ready to be filled in for additional outdoor seating, and more!

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 06

The coffee bar is being built on the inside while the back area gets dug down deep in preparation for the finished patio opening out into Veterans Memorial Park as we’re getting closer to opening the HAS HEART Coffee Shop in August.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 05

The coffee bar backsplash, tile flooring, and a custom powder coated LaMarzocco espresso machine is all happening as we work on getting closer to opening the HAS HEART Coffee Shop.

WANTED: Donated Uniforms

[HAS HEART] is asking the community to donate their excess battle dress uniforms (BDUs) and other military-issued items to be repurposed into bench cushions and staff aprons in the Coffee Shop.

HAS HEART Speaks to U.S. House of Representatives Committee

HAS HEART’s U.S. Navy veteran Co-Founder, Michael Hyacinthe, was asked to share his story of service and entrepreneurial experience with the U.S. House of Representative Committee on Small Business in Washington D.C.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 04

The drywall, mudding, and bar build-out starts inside while the outdoor patio work begins at the HAS HEART Coffee Shop.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 03

The plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems have all been upgraded and replaced as the drywall starts to be applied inside the HAS HEART Coffee Shop.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 02

Progress is happening in the HAS HEART Coffee Shop, including a renovation preview for local media coverage of the space.

Coffee Shop Renovations Update 01

After more than 5 years of planning, fundraising, and dreaming of opening the HAS HEART Coffee Shop, the walls are coming down, and renovations are underway.

50 STATES PROJECT EXHIBIT @SCA

[HAS HEART] is proud to showcase the first, of hopefully many, art museum exhibits of the 50 States: Veterans + Artists United working tour. The Saugatuck Center for the Arts has invited [HAS HEART] to premier the work-in-progress tour from October 22 – December 22, 2021.

YELLOW RIBBON PROJECT

Military families tie yellow ribbons around trees to support soldiers returning home. Expanding this tradition as an artist, military mom, and veteran’s wife, Pamela Alderman designed The Yellow Ribbon Project to honor our veterans.

At the initial Voices installation at ArtPrize 2021, visitors in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrote 10,000 yellow ribbon notes to encourage deployed soldiers and veterans.

PISTONS X [HAS HEART] – HOOPS FOR TROOPS

In partnership with Detroit Habitat for Humanity, [HAS HEART] paired Vietnam U.S. Navy Veteran Byron Tucker and Detroit Pistons in-house graphic designer Alex Trajkovski at the Pistons practice facility in downtown Detroit.

AIRSTREAM X [HAS HEART]

After living nearly two years on the road in one, [HAS HEART] is proud to partner with Airstream for some exclusive “50 States” tour inspired designs. Proceeds from your purchase will help [HAS HEART] complete our nationwide mission to give a Veteran their creative voice in all fifty states in the U.S.

VETERANS DAY 2019

[HAS HEART] celebrated Veterans Day with a long weekend’s worth of events and local partnerships. We opened a temporary pop-up shop in the building we’ve hosted numerous ArtPrize exhibits in years past at 22 Sheldon Ave NE, which included a special coffee tasting experiment and annoucement.

NEW! STICKER DECALS

[HAS HEART] is excited to launch the “50 States: Veterans + Artists United” project designs from each state in sticker decal format with the help and support of New York-based Sticker Mule. Each of the Veteran and artist designs are now available in custom die-cut vinyl stickers that are durable and protected from scratches, water, and sunlight.

Failure Lab: Saugatuck

This Saturday, September 21, at 7:30PM at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, our co-Founder and Executive Director, Michael Hyacinthe will be sharing a piece of his story as part of the Failure Lab speaker series.

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEECH

Recently, our Co-Founder and Creative Director, Tyler Way had the opportunity to share [HAS HEART] and the 50 States: Veterans + Artists United at the annual National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) Veterans Conference in Washington D.C. in front of over 500 Veterans representing 49 states and the U.S. territories.

We Need a Tow [Vehicle]

With only ELEVEN states (Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan) left to complete our nationwide mission, we need your help to secure a vehicle that will get us and our Airstream to where we need to go in order to partner the next Veteran with a graphic designer to help us share their meaningful story.

Podcast Feature

Tyler Way and Kendra Clapp Olguin who have been taking [HAS HEART] across the country on the “50 States: Veterans + Artists United” tour were recently invited on “a little more human” podcast series hosted by Caton Vance and Eric Johnson from Gorilla. Hear insight from Tyler and Kendra share about quitting their careers in fashion, living and working on the road full-time, and some of their favorite moments traveling the country on behalf of [HAS HEART].

FUNDING NEEDS TO FINISH

With the support of many hands, we’ve been on the road for 545 days, driven 39,095 miles, visited 36 states, completed 38 projects, have worked with 46 Veterans and 117 creatives, and launched 14 projects with 24 more currently preparing to launch. Now, 18 months later, our initial funds have been fully utilized and deployed, causing us to pause the upcoming tour projects in order to raise the finances needed to complete the rest of our nationwide mission.

AUSTIN, TX LECTURE EVENT

As a part of the Texas state project of the “50 States: Artists + Veterans United” tour hosted by USAA in partnership with AIGA Austin, HAS HEART will share how the mediums of art, design, and fashion are uniting the military, creative, and civilian communities.

AIGA DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

Years in the making, a partnership with AIGA and its 70+ chapters made up of over 25,000 creative-minded members is the key for the future of the HERO[series]. As a small nonprofit organization, [HAS HEART] is the connection point for a cross-cultural exchange between a Veteran and a designer. Having the largest organization for design means the doors are opening wide for more Veterans to share their stories.

ERIC LUND UPDATE: DOUBLE ARM TRANSPLANT

In November, Sgt. (Ret.) Eric Lund received a call he’s always been waiting for but never knew when it would come… On the other end of the line was a voice telling him they found a match and he and his family needed to catch the 4pm flight that afternoon from Grand Rapids, MI to Baltimore, MD. He was going-in for a double-arm transplant.

[HAS HEART] GREETING CARDS

For help when it’s difficult to know what to say, [HAS HEART] has partnered with Michigan-based greeting card company, Design-Design to create a line of greeting cards (made in Grand Rapids, MI) to help our fellow Americans share their support for those who served.

ALPHA INDUSTRIES x [HAS HEART]

[HAS HEART] is proud, honored, and excited to officially announce our apparel partnership with American military heritage brand, Alpha Industries.

ARTPRIZE 2017 EXHIBIT: TOP-5 NOMINATED

ArtPrize 2017 is underway at our home base of Grand Rapids, MI — marking our 6th annual HERO[series] exhibit and pop-up shop. Within the first week of it opening, it was selected as a Top-5 entry within the 2-Dimensional category as part of ArtPrize’s Juror-Selected “Short List.”

STARBUCKS x HAS HEART POP-UP SHOP

[HAS HEART] + Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room have collaborated for a special “Handpicked at the Roastery” pop-up shop featuring the design and artwork of U.S. Veterans from across the country from Sept 12-early November.

50 STATES: TOUR SCHEDULE

We’re taking our HERO[series] concept on the road to partner a Veteran with a graphic designer in all 50 states with the shared mission to tell their story through the mediums of art, design, and fashion. Find the state project nearest you… We’ll see you on the road!