The Diatribe, a nonprofit organization that purports to use art as a vehicle for social change, takes public money to support progressive causes across Grand Rapids.
Nestled in the Burton Heights neighborhood on South Division, the Diatribe was established in 2016 and promotes causes that go far beyond art.
On their homepage, they claim to “use restorative art to disrupt historical systems of oppression by reimagining education, holistically honoring the community through our approach to our work and creating an unapologetic vision for liberation that is accessible to all.”
The organization works primarily with youth, bringing teaching artists into schools, running summer programs, and building community spaces designed to amplify voices that they claim have historically been pushed to the margins.
For instance, a 2025 report suggests that the group aligns itself with immigrants who may not have legal status, even using public money to offer assistance in evading the law.
According to that report, The Diatribe was awarded $3.5 million in state grants in 2025. On Jan. 31 of that same year, the organization posted to their Instagram a statement where they claim to “stand in unwavering solidarity with our immigrant and queer/trans communities.”
“We believe,” the statement continues, “that everyone-regardless of immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation-deserves to live with dignity, safety, and the freedom to thrive.”
At the bottom of the statement, the organization lists resources for immigration legal assistance and advocacy, promoting training for illegal immigrants on how to deal with ICE on their Facebook and Linktree pages.
A 2023 Diatribe press release also says that events surrounding some of its anti-racist murals, called the 49507 Project, receive city funding.
“Once both murals are complete,” the press release says, “The Diatribe will host community activation events supported through funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation and the City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events.”
The 49507 Project aims to restore “positivity” in media coverage of Garfield Park, “while also celebrating the Black, Brown and LGBTQ people living in the community.”
The Diatribe has hosted several special mural unveiling events over the past three years.
Other art programs promote LGBTQ ideology in local schools. Under the organization’s programs tab, it lists several free and downloadable courses for classroom and afterschool programs tailored for school-aged children, including a program titled “Queer Identities.”
There are also questions surrounding the compensation for the former executive director, Marcel Price. According to the organization’s 990 filings, Price was compensated $13,333 in 2021 and was listed as an executive director. By 2023, his compensation jumped by 775% to $116,667, but by that time he was listed as a former executive director.
The change in his official title is outlined in the press by his departure from the organization following internal conflicts and complaints regarding the treatment of personnel, though the organization has denied any financial mismanagement.
The nonprofit’s highly-publicized “Emory Arts & Culture Hub” is still under construction after it was slated to be completed in August of 2024. When this project was first announced, the construction budget was projected to need to be $6.2 million, but it has since been raised to $9 million.
The opening has also been delayed from August 2024 to April 2026—20 months past schedule.
According to the Diatribe website, the organization has sponsorships from the DTE Foundation, Frey Foundation, Grand Rapids Chamber, MillerKnoll Foundation, Steelcase Foundation, PNC, and several other local and state-wide groups.