Collections by Michelle Brown

Ravi K. Perry Ph.D. is Chair of the Department of Political Science at Howard University. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Perry holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Brown University, each in political science. He was Assistant Professor of Political Science and Stennis Scholar for Municipal Governance at Mississippi State University and Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University before joining Howard University.

An expert on Black politics, minority representation, urban politics, American public policy, and LGBT candidates of color, Dr. Perry is the editor of 21st Century Urban Race Politics: Representing Minorities as Universal Interests, a book that discusses the efforts of African American, Latino and Asian mayors to represent the interests of minorities in historically White cities in the United States. His second book, entitled Black Mayors, White Majorities: The Balancing Act of Racial Politics, focuses on the challenges Black mayors face in representing Black interests in majority White, medium‐sized cities in the state of Ohio.

His third book, published with his mother, is The Little Rock Crisis: What Desegregation Politics Says About Us. In it, they frame the story of the Little Rock 1957 desegregation crisis through the lens of memory.

Perry’s recent publication, “LGBT Politics and Rights through the Obama Era,” examines President Obama’s evolution on the rights afforded LGBT (Black) Americans.

He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors

London Bell is a community warrior. This lawyer, community organizer, activist and humanitarian can always be found standing for the human rights of all – not just in metro Detroit but anywhere people, especially women and girls, are oppressed. The native Detroiter has focused her career advocating for policy changes on behalf of diverse communities. She is the President and CEO of Bell Global Justice Institute, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Detroit focused on advancing and promoting the international human right to education for girls.

Bell Global Justice Institute, in partnership with the Ruth Ellis Center, will be hosting an NGO Parallel Event during the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

The parallel event “Promising Practices for Beijing+25: Strengthening Visibility for Women of Color will feature besides Bell, Deidre “D.S.Sense” Smith, Founder of On My Detroit Everything Movement; Famika Edmond, Founder of For The Love of HER; Corporal Dani Woods, Chief’s Neighborhood Liaison Unit Detroit Police Department; and Pamela E. Alexander, Deputy Director at the Ruth Ellis Center. Their presentation will showcase gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is planned to take place from 9 to 20 March 2020 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The year 2020 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).

The 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will focus on how do we make the changes needed.

Senyah Haynes is a writer, painter, actress and youth development professional but it is her role as an aunt the has given life to her current project as the author of “Jayla’s Jaunts.” Book series.

As an 18 year-old she traveled to Jamaica and for the first time understood how limited her view had been of the African Diaspora.  This realization put her on the course for learning and sharing this with others, especially youth.

In 2015 she founded Palindrome Global Publishing & Events a small press and events services company in Chicago. Jayla’s Jaunts is published under PGP&E’s imprint for young readers Oak in the Acorn. Jayla’s Jaunts is an exciting adventure series about a fun-loving little girl and her whimsical auntie “Yah-Yah.” Together they travel and explore the culture and history of every place they go. Haynes admits that much of her personality can be found in Jayla’s Auntie Yah-Yah. The series plans to take them to each of the fifty states. In Jayla’s Jaunts: All About Alabama they visit the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the Tuskegee Airmen, Rosa Parks and more. In Jayla’s Jaunts Adventures in Alaska they bathe themselves in the lights of the Aurora Borealis.

She also co-founded Diasporal Discoveries to expose youth to the diversity of the African Diaspora with the goal of connecting them to various cultures both domestic and abroad. Diasporal Discoveries envisions a student population where youth are aware of self and (for those of the Diaspora) connected to those who share a common history globally. In this vision, youth see themselves through a wider lens, as inheriting a legacy of not only endurance,  but of vibrancy and accomplishment. 

Haynes will be reading from them during a Black History month tour organized by Rainbow Room Publishing in Chicago area venues.

Robert Zurenko is a professional artist currently living and working in the Metro-Detroit area.

He has multiple degrees in art and has spent his entire career in the creative field, making art, educating people and trying to make art experiences more accessible for everyone.

In October 2019 he was one of the jurists at Kaleidoscope of Expression which celebrated pride at the Pontiac Creative Arts Center. The exhibit’s goal was to showcase the varied works and talents of LGBTQ artists.

Zurenko's work revolves around the intersection of ideas embedded in gender identity, sexuality, popular culture, and the context in which they are presented His passion for nature and harmony drives his work, and he loves connecting the world back to itself through people and art.

Zurenko has participated in many exhibits locally including the Trans Day of Artivism and Gender X Show at Afffimations, the NSO Detroit Man In the City Event, Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Fest, and the Breaking Borders Fine Art Show and Harmony & The Cosmic Connection show at Tangent Gallery.

His biggest supporter is his mother who not only has saved his art but allowed him to put a temporary tattoo of "The Golden Girls" on her back,  His MFA Thesis Show, at the Broad Art Museum on the campus of MSU "Lesbian Ancient Aliens" housed objects, videos and images associated with famous lesbians throughout history.

When not teaching, judging or making art on Canvas, Robert is making personal art as a tattoo artist. Tattoos are a world tradition that has cropped up in every single part of the world from time. before we could even know it, you know. He believes it is one of those practices that has a deep history and a wide world history, which is one thing that he loves about it.

Elizabeth Crenshaw is a graduate of Michigan State University with a background in Journalism, Kinesiology, and Engineering. She believes everyone deserves compassion, kindness, equal opportunity, and love. She is the founder and owner of Yaktown Yoga,

Crenshaw was a former collegiate track athlete, kickboxer and bodybuilder before becoming a yoga instructor. She graduated from the Beaumont School of Yoga, the first hospital-based yoga therapy program in the nation. She believes in the healing and transformative power of yoga, and that the practice of yoga is meant for everyone.

Yaktown Yoga's mission is to reach out to the community and make yoga accessible to everyone creating a safe and inclusive space for students, especially in underserved communities. Yaktown Yoga is a Community-based practice in Pontiac, Auburn Hills, and surrounding communities in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Yoga is a map to get there - Reducing stress, Building relationships, and Enhancing your health and energy.

Crenshaw is a graduate of Michigan State University with a background in Journalism, Kinesiology and Engineering. She believes everyone deserves compassion, kindness, equal opportunity and love.

LGBTQ communities are disproportionately affected by cancer.  The stress and stigma experienced by sexual and gender minority communities interact with cancer, one of the most devastating of health challenges. The National LGBT Cancer Network works to improve the lives of LGBT cancer survivors.

Scout is the Deputy Director at The National LGBT Cancer Network, After completing his master's in sociology, Scout realized while applying to his Ph.D. program that the work he had really been doing was in public health. This realization led him to Columbia University’s sociomedical sciences program, an interdisciplinary program, with a study divided between Public Health and Sociology.

He is not only the Deputy Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network but also the principal investigator of the CDC-funded LGBTQ tobacco-related cancer disparity network. Scout has a long history in health policy analysis and a particular interest in expanding LGBTQ surveillance and research. His work has won him recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, two state governments, and many city governments.

From Tobacco use to cancer screening including mammograms and cervical cancer awareness – Cancer prevention, care and cure is an LGBTQ issue.

Originally from Youngstown, OH she lives in Atlanta, GA. Three years after Falami earned her master’s in educational leadership from Antioch University Midwest, she suffered two mini-strokes.

She started on a self-care journey as a result of her health issues that continued and expanded.” She had been juggling school, work, and family. and was beginning to understand the importance of balance and prioritizing herself.”

Falami is a Body Liberation and Self Care Coach specializing in the self care of women of color. She operates Holistic Alchemy, her business, from her hometown of Atlanta. Her work with clients involves individual sessions and group conversations – incorporates her years of research in body positivity. It specializes in the healing and self-care of women of color offering personal sound healing therapy sessions, body positive coaching and workshops for women, holistic lifestyle coaching, and sound baths.

This year, she’ll earn her PhD from Antioch’s Graduate School of Leadership and Change with a specialization in African-American women experiences of their bodies. She is also an Antioch affiliate faculty member.

Deb Drennan is the Executive Director of Freedom House Detroit. Freedom House is a temporary home for survivors of persecution from around the world seeking asylum in the United States and Canada. Its mission is to uphold a fundamental American principle, one inscribed on the bas of the Statue of Liberty, providing safety for those “yearning to breathe free.”  

During this holiday season, we often reflect upon the Holy Family at Bethlehem. They were poor and affected by various political realities—just as many around the world are today. Joseph and Mary had to leave their home in Nazareth and journey to Bethlehem to escape persecution and possible death had they stayed in Nazareth. There, in a poor stable, Mary gave birth to her child.

At a time when many are hearing the echo of “no room in the inn.” Freedom House offers compassion and assistance to those suffering and seeking asylum.

Deb Drennan joined the agency in 2006 as program director and has been Executive Director in 2009. She has more than 30 years of nonprofit experience. Prior to joining Freedom House, she worked with Women ARISE and the Coalition on Temporary Shelter in Detroit.

Asylum seekers sometimes spend nine months or more at Freedom House while their case is heard. The organization provides not only housing, clothing and food but also legal assistance, and help finding work and permanent housing when they have been granted asylum.

Robt Seda-Schreiber is Chief Activist of the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice in Princeton, New Jersey.

His passion is in part driven by memories of a beloved uncle who was gay but couldn’t come out because his father wouldn’t have understood and as an adolescent, seeing these issues of identity, especially for youth, is shrouded in secrecy and instilling a sense of shame and wrongness on his peers.

-Named for the civil rights leader who was the primary architect of the 1963 March on Washington, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice is an educational enclave and a brave safe space for all people. The Center was established with the explicit consent of Rustin’s partner, Walter Naegle. Naegle now serves on the board providing community outreach.

A lot has happened since Robt first introduced us to the Center. It has a new home, led the first pride parade in Princeton, NJ, held book signings for LGBTQ authors while hosting a variety of community-building programs. Its library has officially been recognized as a lending library and is filled by books, some first editions, donated from the community.

A former educator, as Chief Activist, Robt has moved forward with his experience, knowledge, & passion, to bring his service to a greater platform—to serve & defend the LGBTQ community. He has started or assisted others to start GSA's at several NewJersey high schools.

Besides serving the LGBTQIA community, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice serves as a catalyst to bring diverse communities together to build a more equitable community.

Ask people about the state of Michigan and certain images are bound to come to mind – Motown, the auto industry, Detroit and probably that giant mitten. It’s a really big state geographically but its also a state rich in history.

For many African Americans, their history follows a path from ancestral homes in the south to Detroit often as part of the northern migration. But what many don’t realize is that many African Americans, some as early as the underground railroad days settled in western Michigan.

Marshall Kilgore was born and raised in on the west side of the state in Comstock Park, a little town on the outskirts of Grand Rapids. He believes that having grown up in Comstock Park gives him a different perspective. He learned how to code-switch very early on and very quickly meaning that he learned how to work within the majority, learning how to navigate while still keeping true to who you are as well.

Kilgore is an activist working for marginalized communities including communities of color, the LGBTQIA community, people with disabilities and others in need. 

Marshall is ready to bring positive change to communities, the state and the nation.

He is studying political science at Western Michigan University. In addition, Kilgore is Western Michigan Director at United Precinct Delegates and Trustee of the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party.