Marshall Kilgore

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Grand Rapids, MI
Marshall Kilgore

Human Rights Advocate
3rd Ward City Commissioner | GR, MI
Proud 4th Gen Southsider & Aspiring chef 👨🏾‍🍳
Fighting ! 💜

10/06/2026

What a great evening with our next state senator Abbie Groff-Blaszak and so many folks who believe there’s a better way to do politics.

A big shoutout to LIUNA! and the Progressive Women's Alliance of West Michigan, and every member of our incredible host committee for bringing us together for such a thoughtful and welcoming Sips event. We had some great food, good drinks, and even better conversation.

I also had a little fun behind the bar. My special cocktail was inspired by Abbie and called “Sweet and Strong”, just like her.

Folks asked real questions and got real answers about how Abbie will lead in the State Senate. We talked about taxes and plenty of other issues, but conversation after conversation kept bringing us back to one central theme: there’s another way to do this political thing.

A way centered on people. On humanity. On listening, bringing people together, and remembering that behind every policy question is a person whose life can be affected by the decisions we make.

That’s why I’m so excited to support Abbie as our next State Senator. I believe in the kind of leadership she brings to the table, and I’m proud to stand alongside her.

Join me. and vote Abbie on Election Day, November 3, 2026.

10/05/2026

I had a great time joining Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4) for Neighborwoods 2026 in the Garfield Park neighborhood.

Over two days, volunteers planted 213 trees, and my group was proud to plant five of them. Every tree helps us move toward Grand Rapids’ 40% tree canopy goal, while providing shade, improving air quality, absorbing carbon, managing stormwater, and helping cool neighborhoods facing the effects of extreme heat.

This is what I love about our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. The plan gives us a roadmap, but the work happens right here in our neighborhoods. It happens when residents, volunteers, organizations, and our city come together and put that work into the ground, literally.

It was fun to get my hands dirty and work shoulder to shoulder with neighbors. I’m grateful to everyone who showed up and helped make this possible.

As your commissioner, I’ll keep showing up, not just to talk about climate action, but to be part of the work that makes it real in our neighborhoods.

10/01/2026

I stood with hundreds of neighbors at a vigil for Mario David Coronado Juárez, and I left thinking about something that should never get lost in a political debate: humanity.

Mario was a husband, a father of three, and a hardworking man who spent years working construction in Grand Rapids to provide for his family. His family shared stories of his sacrifices and the dreams he carried for them.

I came to offer what I believe we all need more of right now: humanity, grace, and mercy.

Where is the humanity in calling another person an “illegal alien”? Whatever someone’s immigration status or circumstances, they are still a human being, deserving of dignity.

As your commissioner, I want every person I represent to know that I will stand up for you, regardless of what you look like or where you come from. You belong here. Our diversity is a strength, not a weakness.

We can uphold the law while also upholding due process, constitutional protections, and human dignity. We must reimagine immigration enforcement so that lawfulness and humanity are never treated as opposing values.

I’m grateful to everyone who came together to honor Mario, support his family, and remind one another that every life deserves to be treated with dignity.

09/29/2026

Lately, I’ve been trying to get out for a 5–7 mile walk or interval run as many days a week as I can, and it has been good for my body, good for my mind, and one of my favorite ways to spend time in the 3rd Ward. I get to see neighbors, enjoy our neighborhoods, and get some healthy movement in along the way.

On one of my walks, I came across a sign that said, “Let’s Choose Love,” and it really stuck with me.

There is a page that seems determined to paint me in the worst possible light. They take short clips from our City Commission meetings or moments of me in the community, like a recent meeting with an immigrant rights community group, strip away the context, and create their own narrative around them. They use words they know will spark arguments, and much of it has spilled over into people demeaning me, calling me out of my name, making racist comments, and targeting me simply because I am part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

It is hurtful, it is gross, and honestly, it feels loveless. But I also know that I am not alone, because there are so many people in our community who are choosing kindness, compassion, dignity, and love every single day.

I see it when I’m out walking through our neighborhoods. I see it in the people who check on their neighbors, show up for one another, volunteer, listen, and make room for people who may be different from them.

We are surrounded by enough division, cruelty, and noise, both online and in our politics, and I don’t want to add to it. I want to continue choosing love, even when it is harder, because I believe love is stronger than an online troll, a nasty comment, or all the political noise we are seeing around us.

So I’m asking you to join me in choosing love today and for the future. Whether it is checking on a neighbor, giving someone grace, standing up for someone being targeted, or simply choosing kindness when you could choose anger, how will you choose love?

09/26/2026

SouthPrize is happening today, and I’m really excited to see this come together on the Southside.

If you know ArtPrize, SouthPrize brings some of that same energy right here into our neighborhood. Today, 31 artists are being showcased across more than 20 venues and six Southside business districts, giving folks another reason to explore, support local businesses, and experience the incredible creativity that exists in our community.

As your commissioner, I’ll continue to support the arts and investments that bring people into our neighborhoods and help our business districts thrive. I was proud to champion $50,000 from the 3rd Ward Equity Fund, which was instrumental in helping make SouthPrize possible.

There are a lot of people who deserve credit for bringing this idea to life, especially the artists, organizers, businesses, and community partners who put in the work.

So if you’re looking for something to do today, come spend some time on the Southside, check out the art, enjoy the live entertainment, support a local business, and cast your vote.

SouthPrize runs today from 12–8 PM. Let’s show some love to our Southside artists and businesses.

09/24/2026

Pain at the pump is adding another layer of pressure to an already challenging economic landscape.

Right now, Michigan drivers are feeling it. As of today, AAA has Michigan’s average regular gas price at about $4.81 a gallon, up from about $3.10 this time last year. That means filling a 15-gallon tank costs roughly $72 today, before even getting into everything else a household has to pay for.

And gas is just one piece of the puzzle.

Rent and mortgages, groceries, utilities, childcare, transportation and other everyday necessities are all competing for the same dollars. In Michigan, 40% of households are either living in poverty or are considered ALICE, meaning they earn above the federal poverty level but still don’t make enough to afford basic needs.

We are seeing the consequences of that pressure. A June 2026 Propel survey of more than 11,600 SNAP households found that 28% reported skipping meals in the previous 30 days, while 41% said they were eating less. The same survey found increases in late utility payments, shelter use and people skipping medical care because of cost.

This is why I’m going to keep fighting for affordability for our neighbors here at City Hall.

In 2025, I made sure we did not raise parking tickets and fees. This year, we did the same.

It may seem like a small decision, but when you’re already stretching every dollar, every additional cost matters. Local government should be looking for ways to make life a little more manageable, not add unnecessary pressure.

And we also have to acknowledge that what happens around the world can hit home right here in Grand Rapids. The ongoing war and instability in the Middle East are not only devastating from a human and humanitarian perspective, they can have very real economic consequences for people sitting in their cars at a gas pump. Global oil markets are one reason we are seeing this kind of volatility.

Maybe it’s also time for us to have a bigger conversation about how heavily we rely on fossil fuels and what it would look like to build a more resilient energy future. But that’s a conversation for another time.

For today, I want to hear from you:

Are you feeling the squeeze on your pocketbook? Are you feeling the pain at the pump?

Tell me what you’re seeing and experiencing. And if you think more people need to be talking about affordability, share this post with your neighbors.

09/23/2026

My heart is with the family and loved ones of Mario David Coronado Juárez as they grieve this heartbreaking loss. Our community deserves transparency, accountability, and answers about what happened.

I’ll continue listening to our immigrant community and working to help make Grand Rapids safer for everyone. We must lead with both safety and humanity.

Address

Grand Rapids, MI

Website

http://marshallkilgore.com/

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