Welcome to Grand Rapids IRL, a new project from Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids featuring real conversations with local Gen Z adults. We’re talking about life as it really is: the stress, the struggle, the grind, and the hope that keeps us moving forward. For this story, we took the mic to the Bert Kreischer show in Grand Rapids and asked 18–28-year-olds one simple question:
“What’s stressing you out right now?”
The answers are raw and honest:
• inflation and the cost of living
• working multiple jobs
• feeling behind compared to older generations
• financial cutbacks
• struggling to get ahead without a degree
Grand Rapids IRL is about showing what young people in West Michigan are facing — unfiltered and In Real Life — as we head toward the 2026 midterms.
If you’re 18–28, your voice matters. Join the conversation — comment, subscribe, and share what life feels like for you right now.
