GRAND RAPIDS -- Dennis Grantz is a photography instructor at the West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology. Every day, he works with high school freshmen deemed at-risk by the Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Behaviorally and academically challenged students are exposed to enriched art programs like graphic design and photography. Grantz is honest about his current students.

"This group was the most difficult group I have ever worked with in my career."

"I'm, like, thinking, like, this is going to be boring in there," said Ottawa Hills freshmen James McDonald. "And then, like, all these new things, I like photography now."

McDonald and other Ottawa Hills freshmen enrolled in the WMCAT program last September with a cumulative grade-point average of 1.3. Now, as they prepare for their sophomore years, they've improved to a 1.9.

Carl Kelly, Jr., the CEO of the West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology, knows diplomas are the true measure for success.

"When kids can see exactly what they're able to do and people are really praising them for the quality of their work," Kelly said, "it's a way of keeping them engaged."

WMCAT Board president Jim Welch said kids are regaining self-respect through the arts.

"Environment matters," he said. "We can change behavior by providing a world-class environment for kids that otherwise would not have that opportunity."

The idea for WMCAT was hatched years ago at the Abundant Life Ministries on Madison SE. Pastor Arthur Bailey said, "What we wanted to do was really reach the young men outside selling drugs and ladies who were doing, you know, acts of prostitution."

Bailey wanted to rekindle their sense of purpose by creating a youth center at a nearby store-front. A former Steelcase employee, Bailey pitched the idea to Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett.

While visiting the location, Hackett wondered if they'd seen the Manchester Guild in Pittsburgh.

The Manchester Bidwell Corporation became the model for the West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology. For 30 years, Manchester has been a shining example of success in Pittsburgh's inner city. More than 500 at-risk kids have passed through its doors, and 85 percent have gone on to college. Manchester also trains under-employed and unemployed adults.

"These are the people oftentimes standing around in corners, who have really effectively lost direction and lost their opportunity at life," said Bill Strickland, the founder of the Manchester Guild. "I specialize in rebuilding those folks."

Strickland can personally relate to the process. He didn't see himself heading anywhere, "which for an African-American kid can be catastrophic." But a teacher, Frank Ross, turned his life around.

"He had books on architecture, he had books on photography, he had jazz music, and it really created an environment of hope and life and possibility," Strickland said. "And I thought if I could replicate those conditions in my little center I ought to get the same result. Tthat proved to be right."

He enlists the best and brightest to teach and mentor, allowing students to imagine themselves in similar roles.

He finances the Guild by convincing Pittsburgh's corporate leaders they have a stake in improving their community.

"We're doing culinary arts courtesy of the Heinz Company. We train chemical technicians for companies like Bayer and Alcoa and Calgon Carbon. We train pharmaceutical technicians for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center."

In Grand Rapids, WMCAT is partnering with this area's top health care providers in need of highly trained technical workers. Spectrum Health is making a $350,000 investment in WMCAT. St. Mary's and Metro Health are also committed.

In return, WMCAT trains underemployed and unemployed adults, using the hospitals' curriculum.

"We'll have 12 medical coders who will connect with us once they graduate through this program," said Spectrum Health's Matt Van Vrankin. "We're going to take nine. St. Mary's and Metropolitan will take the remaining three."

WMCAT vocational student Deb Shepard said the guaranteed job means she no longer has to give plasma twice a week to make ends meet.

"You just don't know what that can do for you when you feel like you came from nothing and now you have everything," Shepard said, crying. "This is everything."

Board president Welch and Steelcase's Hackett see the benefits for everyone involved.

"They become productive citizens, now they pay taxes, now they're involved in supporting their community," Welch said.

Hackett spoke to the common interest for the nation. "There's an awareness in America that our education system has to rise to a new level of performance. It absolutely has to improve. And if you think it's their problem, not our problem, you don't even want to wish for that state, it's our problem."

The West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology is here to inspire young mind and give adults a second chance.

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