Trillium Living, Calvin University launch strategic partnership to expand lifelong learning and intergenerational engagement
On Wednesday, September 9, Calvin University President Greg Elzinga and Trillium Living President & CEO Troy Vugteveen launched a strategic partnership through the formal signing of a memorandum of understanding.
Trillium Living and Calvin University have launched a strategic partnership to expand lifelong learning, workforce development, experiential education and intergenerational connections in West Michigan. Formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed at Calvin University, the partnership establishes a framework for collaboration between the two longstanding Christian institutions, with an initial focus on lifelong learning, student internships and experiential education, healthcare workforce development, collaborative research, and arts, athletics, and community programming.
The partnership reflects a shared belief that communities thrive when generations learn, serve, and grow together. By connecting students, faculty, residents, caregivers, and community leaders, Calvin and Trillium Living aim to strengthen educational opportunities, enrich the lives of older adults, and deepen intergenerational connections across West Michigan.
“When generations learn from one another and share their experiences, everyone benefits,” said Troy Vugteveen, president and CEO of Trillium Living. “Together with Calvin University, we can create new pathways for learning, service, and innovation that benefit our residents and patients, Calvin students, and the broader West Michigan community.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment by Calvin University and Trillium Living to create more opportunities for generations to learn from and serve one another, while connecting Calvin students with meaningful experiential learning, career development, and community engagement.
While Trillium Living and Calvin University have collaborated over the years, the MOU marks a more intentional and strategic relationship that builds on their aligned missions, complementary resources, and longstanding presence in southeast Grand Rapids.
“Learning is a lifelong endeavor, and at Calvin, we believe education is about more than preparing students for a first job, it’s about preparing them to discover their calling, develop their gifts, and use their careers to serve others,” said Greg Elzinga, president of Calvin University. “This partnership gives our students opportunities to take what they’re learning in the classroom and put it into practice alongside experienced professionals and older adults, gaining the knowledge, skills, and perspective they need to launch meaningful careers. At the same time, our students have much to learn from the wisdom and experiences of those they serve. That kind of education, grounded in faith, vocation and real-world experience, is central to who we are at Calvin.”
The partnership also aims to address critical workforce needs in healthcare and aging services by introducing students to career pathways, expanding hands-on learning opportunities and connecting Calvin’s academic expertise with Trillium Living residents, patients, caregivers, and professionals.
Both organizations see the agreement as a foundation for continued collaboration, with opportunities to connect residents, students, faculty, and staff through shared programs, research, and community experiences.
“Trillium Living and Calvin University have deep roots in West Michigan and missions centered on serving others,” Vugteveen said. “By bringing those strengths together, we can create meaningful opportunities today while building a partnership that can grow and evolve for years to come.”
About Trillium Living
Trillium Living Trillium Living is a nonprofit senior population health organization dedicated to enhancing the lives and well-being of older adults at every stage of the aging journey. The Trillium Living collective includes Holland Home, Faith Hospice, Faith Palliative Care, Reliance Community Care Partners, Dementia Institute, Trillium Institute, and collaborative partners Atrio Home Care, Care Resources, and Tandem365. Together, these organizations provide a continuum of senior living, health and aging-in-place services, hospice and palliative care, care navigation, and caregiver education and advocacy, serving more than 18,000 people across Michigan in 2025.
About Calvin University
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its 3,700 students from 50 U.S. states, 62 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.