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On Thursday, October 9, ������Ƶ College is bringing , an abbreviated version of the , to Grand Rapids. The event aims to inspire people to learn and consider how to advance the common good in their city. The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and is hosted at the Ladies Literary Club downtown.

“We’ll learn from each other in the hopes of promoting human flourishing in our city,” said Kristi Potter, director of at ������Ƶ College. “We all have a part in making the city a better place.”

An impressive lineup

The first hour features webcast talks by New York Times bestselling authors Pastor and . And, a panel of national experts—, author of Culture Making, , vice president of World Relief and , co-founder and executive director of the Preemptive Love Coalition, will discuss the tensions and offer insight into how people of faith can help foster a healthy relationship between church and state, faith and public life.

The second hour . of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative will talk about justice and freedom for the poor and marginalized of Grand Rapids. , co-owner of Brewery Vivant will share her unique community-focused, environmentally minded business model. And, ������Ƶ College professor will consider why the biblical vision of shalom (peace, flourishing, wholeness) should encourage people to take up ‘this-worldly’ work right in their own neighborhoods.

Aligned with ������Ƶ's mission

“My wife and I have both been energized by the conversations Q has convened,” said Smith. “It’s a place where academics rub shoulders with entrepreneurs and artists join conversations with people from the tech industry. In a way, it is sort of what Abraham Kuyper dreamed of a hundred years ago when he talked about the church as an ‘organism’ suffusing an entire culture.  These are conversations ������Ƶ College can learn from, and contribute to.”

“For many years Q has challenged Christian leaders to ‘recover a vision for their historic responsibility to renew and restore cultures,” said Tim Ellens, director of communications and marketing at ������Ƶ. “This national conversation is in strong alignment with ������Ƶ's mission. We are excited to bring this conversation to the local level as we explore cultural issues and topics specific to Grand Rapids.”

Q Commons is happening in 60 cities across the United States and is expected to attract more than 10,000 participants. And, ������Ƶ is committed to keeping the conversation going in Grand Rapids. The college has signed on to host the second-ever Q Commons in February, 2015.

For more information about the October 9 event, including ticket information, visit