C. Imani Williams will always be a Detroiter even though she currently resides in Las Vegas. She returns as a guest  to talk about her latest book "Seven Years in A Vegas" a follow-up to her book "Rootwork: Triumph Over Trauma" and building safe spaces in Las Vegas' arts community. 

This queer Black Womanist is a certified creative artist and holisitc wellness life coach. A survivor of child sexual abuse she addresses trauma in both of her boks and using them as well as her life eperience to help others .

Tracee McDaniel is the Founder and Executive Director of Juxtaposed Center for Transformation Inc - an anchoring organization for Trans housing Atlanta Program.. Her talents extend beyond her advocacy for the Transgender community. She is currently working for safe, affordable housing not just for members of the Transgender community but any one in need. She is a talented artist and author having completed a memoir "Transitions - Memoirs of a Transexual Woman" as well as other projects. She un apologetically puts the "T" first. She was recently announced as one of the 2024 Esteem Award Recipients.

Marques Coley was born in Carlsbad, CA but Michigan has been home most of his life. The oldest of four children, he always knew he was different but just didn't know how. His journey to self-discovery began at a young age and has been journaling since he was fourteen. Inspired by his 8th grade teacher, he learned different styles of writing and incorporated it into in his journal. His writing took off and he began to write his feelings. His secrets poured on to the page and he began to feel safe.

His book "Being That Kid" is a coming out story, his coming out story but so much more. It's where Marques shares his truth and hopes that by doing so it will start conversations for and about folks who have been that kid.. Now he is speaking at pride celebrations and talking with small groups in hopes  of helping others live their authentic lives.

Karen Kendra Holmes has been showing up and making a difference in her community not just as a member of the transgender community but most of her life. Being of service to others is just what she does!

When not speaking publicly, Karen continues working with local police departments helping to bring dignity and respect to police interactions with members of the transgender community

She was recognized twice as "Soldier of the Year" by the State Guard Association of the United States and the Maryland State Guard Association.

This Award-Winning Public Servant and Transgender advocate shared her passion for helping others transition and to foster acceptance and support from those around them in a 2018 Tedx Talk.

She has been doing volunteer work with the Maryland Defense Force; done volunteer work with the American Red Cross for the National Capital Region and has been volunteering with Community Emergency Response Team in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Her latest endeavor "The Butterfly Project" housed in the Prince George's County Memorial library provides resources for Trans and Non-Binary Folks.

The Butterfly Project is a dedicated workforce development project at the Fairmount Heights Branch Library specifically for young Black and brown trans women, who are among the most at-risk people in our community. Inspired by the life and work of Karen Holmes, head of the Prince George’s Trans Coalition, the program seeks to ready young women for the job market and connect them with vital, affirming services. No matter your living, earning, or job skills situation, The Butterfly Project fosters a respectful, non-judgmental space to help young women blossom at their own pace in a safe environment

Jay Kaplan has been the staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan's LGBTQ+ Project since its founding in 2001.

He has worked on cases including challenging undercover sting operations targeting gay men, fighting Michigan's constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in 2004, defending the validity of second parent adoptions in Michigan and recently advocating for a transgender high school student to run for prom court. He's been recognized and received multiple awards for his work. 

Many in the LGBTQ+ and theater community also know Jay as a talented singer, dancer, actor and director. He has appeared in many local productions and recently directed the play "A Raisin In The Sun." He has enjoyed performing since he was a child.

He talks about his impressive career fighting for social justice and his love of performing. What's next for Jay? The skies the limit!!

It's been a tough couple of years. COVID, some health issues and life caused us to take a break, go on hiatus, stop the conversations. But Collections by Michelle Brown - Blog Radio is back and ready to bring you the stories of individuals living between the lines, standing boldly in the crosshairs of their intersectionality and creating change, What better way to kick things off than to go back to how it  all begin. 

This is the episode where we spill the tea on Collections by Michelle Brown-Blog Radio. With the help of two listeners and friends we are going to tell it all, well almost all of the history, back stories about the show and yours truly its host. 

New music, new partnerships, new shows. SO sit back and enjoy the ride!!!!!

Wyatt O'Brian Evans is a Journalist. Author. Radio Personality. Intimate Partner Violence & Abuse (IPV/A) Subject Matter Expert (SME), Advocate and Speaker. Voice-over (V/O) Instructor and Talent is currently celebrating the release of his latest novel “Shattered!” The latest installment in the Nothing Can Tear Us Apart series.

Wyatt is the quintessential Renaissance man. His work has been featured in various print and online media outlets. Wyatt founded and is editor-in-chief of and a writer for Wyattevans.com, a leading online news, features, commentary, and entertainment media outlet for the LGBTQ+ Community and its Allies.As a child, Wyatt wrote poems, short stories—and even a series of comic books!  This journey led Wyatt to author the groundbreaking and popular Nothing Can Tear Us Apart (NCTUA) series of novels (Gay/SGL, Male to Male). 

You can learn more about Wyatt his books, podcast, events and all about this renaissance man at his website wyattevans.com

Pride in the Pews is reimagining what inclusion looks like in Black churches. Launched in 2020 by Pastor Don Abram, Pride in the Pews collects and shares stories of LGBTQ+ people in the Black Church and includes a group of eight historically Black religious denominations and other Christian groups that primarily minister to African Americans. Like any in the LGBTQ community Pastor Abram found that the church that had loved, raised and reared him turned its back on him when he came out. This experience pushed him to found Pride in the Pews.

The organizatio has epanded byond the city of Chicago to communities nationwide.

Our guest Calvin Taylor Director of Partnerships and Program of Pride in the Pews, leads workshops in activities about statistics of LGBTQ+ members in Black churches.

The organization will be recognized at this year’s Esteem Awards in Chicago on July 1, 2023.

May is Lupus Awareness Month!!

Across the planet, people are putting on purple to spread the word about the autoimmune disease. Lupus affects women, especially women of color, most often between the ages of 15 to 44 years old.

Symptoms of lupus include extreme fatigue, hair loss, the mylar rash (also called the butterfly rash across the face), joint pain, swelling in hands and feet, and fevers.

In the metro-Detroit area individuals living with and their families find support, encouragement and inspiration as Lupus Warriors. Through Lupus Detroit, a non-profit organization founded by Sharon Harris Warriors find more than support, they find family. Lupus Detroit hosts regular support meetings, offers financial support and holds an annual walk and gala each year.

Johnetta Smith is not only a member of Lupus Detroit, but she is the surviving parent of not one but two Lupus Warriors - her daughters - who were taken too soon by this disease that still has no cure. This Lupus Warrior Mom continues her daughters’ legacy by spreading awareness about Lupus while supporting the organization .

Deidre McCalla is a singer-songwriter-guitarist. This African American mother, lesbian, feminist has been performing for close to 50 years and been in the forefront of the growing number of Black musicians reconfiguring perceptions of how Black folk do folk.

McCalla came of age in the fiery blaze of NYC’s folk heyday. Her first album was released when she was 19 and a student at Vassar College. She is a much beloved performer in both folk and women’s music circles.

With five independent albums to her credit McCalla has touched audiences from Maine to Maui. Her most recent release “Endless Grace” was one of the top 10 folk albums of 2022 in Rhythms Magazine and her song “Shoulder to the Wheel” was winner of the 19th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards for Best Folk/Americana/Roots Song.