Community Partnerships, Planning, and Research News

The College awarded over $14,000 in Community Mini-Grants to support efforts by local non-profits.

Food has long been a place where culture, memory, and community meet—and in small towns across Iowa, Chinese American restaurants have played a quiet but powerful role in shaping local life.

For Jeff Smith, basketball in Grinnell has never just been about the game—it’s been about family, community, and the places that shape you long before you realize it. Smith’s journey reflects a story Grinnell knows well: roots that run deep, a willingness to explore beyond them, and a return driven by connection, service, and community.

The Grinnell community gathered for a truly special performance of The Nutcracker, made possible through a collaboration between Grinnell College, the Grinnell School of Music, the Grinnell Area Arts Council, and Ballet Des Moines. Photos were provided by Jennifer Weinman Photography.

The College, Grinnell School of Music, and the Grinnell Area Arts Council worked together to bring the Ballet Des Moines’ professional production of The Nutcracker to Grinnell. Notably, this performance also brought together 30 Grinnell area young dancers to collaborate with the professional ballerinas. Leading up to the performance, the Des Moines Ballet collaborated with these students to gracefully integrate them into the production.

These student leaders offer meaningful perspectives on community engagement, showcasing their lived experience, their academic interests, and their identities in the work of strengthening community through service, leadership, and collaboration.

Grinnell’s annual Jingle Bell Holiday celebration once again lit up downtown on Friday, Nov. 21, drawing crowds of students, families, and community members for an evening filled with connection, tradition, and festive cheer.

Student Estella Newton ’26 recently stepped forward to support local families by organizing a community food drive as part of Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls’ Iowa Giving Week of Action — a statewide effort focused on strengthening food access through grassroots service projects.

Over fall break, the College’s Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies Department offered a free three-day theatre camp for fourth-through eighth grade students from the Grinnell-Newburg schools.

The College is joining Grinnell Mutual and the Campbell Fund in responding to an urgent call from the Grinnell Food Coalition (GFC), which is mobilizing support for Poweshiek County families affected by the temporary suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits earlier this fall. Although benefits are expected to return, many households and local food providers continue to face significant strain as demand for food assistance rises.