Collections by Michelle Brown

What would it mean to codify Roe vs Wade? Is it time we stop this fight for reproductive rights and pass a law that would affirm a pregnant person’s right to an abortion without undue interference?

In May, one of nation’s strictest abortion measures, banning procedure as early as six weeks into a pregnancy was signed into law in Texas and opened the door for almost any private citizen to sue abortion providers and others.

Women across the country raised their voices in protest over this latest attack on their bodies and prepared for the coming battle in the courts to defend Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to the procedure.

With the current number of conservative-leaning justices sitting on the supreme court the possibility that the decision might be overruled is very, very real.

On Sunday, October 24th there will be a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan to protest the recent passing of Senate Bill 8 in Texas and an abortion case being on the upcoming Supreme Court docket.

The rally is being hosted by the Lunar Doula Support Network’s Lunar Doula Collective. The Collective’s mission is to provide compassionate support, free of charge, to individuals experiencing pregnancy loss or termination.

This student organization Has a mission to normalize social discourse surrounding reproductive health working through community education and training to advocate for appropriate sexual and reproductive healthcare.

The Lunar Doula Collective's Ishi Shukla talks about the issue and the rally which takes place on the University of Michigan Diag in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1-2 PM

How do you go from a casual deck conversation to building an organization that brings support and visibility to the LGBTQIA+ community? How do you plan during a pandemic and host the first-ever PRIDE celebration not in June but in October?

Chris Kipp is a member of Macomb County Pride's board. He takes us on the journey from that conversation on Board chair Pil Gilchrist's deck to building support from local municipalities for recognition of June as PRIDE month. He talks about how buy-in from area businesses meant more than putting up a rainbow sticker but a commitment to being welcoming and inclusive after the celebration ended. With covid, planning the event took many twists and turns but now the community is ready to celebrate beginning October 15-17th with events including a pub crawl, outdoor festival, and closing with a drag brunch.

Macomb County Pride's mission is to create a supportive environment for the LGBTQIA+ community and to be a resource in Macomb County where the dignity of all people is affirmed and respected.

Pamela E. Alexander is no stranger to Collections by Michelle Brown-Blog Radio. Being of service to community is just who she is and something she instills in all everyone she meets.

This Gold Star Mother, honors the life of her son SSGT Vincent J. Bell, supporting other military families and working with her daughter London Bell as part of the Bell Global Justice Institute named in his honor.

She served for many years before retiring as the deputy director of the Ruth Ellis Center serving LGBTQ youth in southeastern Michigan and established the “Kofi House: Center for Lesbian and Queer Women & Girls. Her research on the life and achievements of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray introduced may at the Kofi House to this LGBTQ pioneer in civil rights.

Retirement has not slowed her down one bit. A born and raised in Macomb, MI she is no working to ensure her hometown and county are diverse and inclusive.

Since February 2021 Pamela leads the Northern Macomb County NAACP Branch as president of the chapter. In October 2021 Macomb County will hold its first LGBTQ Pride celebration in downtown Mt. Clemens, MI.

Pamela joins us to talk about all of this and the amazing synchronicity that her commitment to social justice brings to everything she touches.

What happens to a PRIDE celebration deferred?

Deferred by a pandemic that has cancelled or made most of our community interactions virtual?

June was eerily quiet without our celebrations, but our PRIDE didn’t diminish, dry up or go away. We just held on to our rainbow flags, marching shoes and even a little glitter to come roaring back for Ferndale Pride this October.

Julia Music who was first recruited by Craig Covey and Monica Mills to help organize Ferndale Pride, faced the pandemic challenges head on and pivoted to make this fall’s PRIDE celebration memorable as well as safe.

You will still see the vendors, sponsors, great entertainment and be welcomed by many smiling volunteers including the recognition of one long term volunteer.

Most activities will be held outdoors but the doors of Affirmations Community Center will be open with some special events.

Last year was a virtual Pride. This year it’s Pride in October. Next year, plans are underway to return to June which means little rest for the goddess/queen of Ferndale Pride Julia Music.

Her name is Jackie Jones and let her tell you about her experience. Most recently, she was a Junior Account Executive at Van Dyke Horn, a Detroit-based public relations firm. At VDH, she worked on local and state-wide initiatives such as Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency, Marathon Petroleum Company, and the City of Detroit's Strategic Neighborhood Fund.

Previously, she served as a Public Relations Assistant at Bloom Transformation Center, a wellness center focused on mental health awareness, in downtown Detroit. At the center, she worked with its director and CEO, Dr. Rose Moten, on all media strategies, administrative details, and community engagements. Specifically, she developed the center’s annual Sedona retreat, gong meditation events, and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE®) programs.

Additionally, she was a Marketing intern at the Museum of African Art in Culture in Portland, ME, and an editorial intern at DBusiness Magazine, where I copy-edited, reported, and published daily content. At DBusiness, she contributed to On the Move, the Tech and Mobility Newsletter, and DBusiness’ Daily News.

Jackie graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

CritterKin is a children's media property that uses stories and project-based learning programs to teach kids social-emotional and core communication skills. It is the brainchild of multimedia storyteller Jena Ball who has 25 years of professional writing and editing experience, 15 years of designing and teaching online courses, 13 years working on immersive learning environments in 3D worlds. Jena has spent 12 years working as the Creative Director for the CritterKin Coalition.

The CritterKin Coalition is a community composed of creative professionals, educators, parents, and community members, businesses, and organizations that understand education is a lived experience extending far beyond the classroom. The mission is to make emotional intelligence (EQ) a priority and help each child discover, develop, and share their unique interests and abilities. 

Of all the things learned from working on CritterKin these past 10 years, is that it takes a global community to raise our kids. That community needs to be composed of creative professionals, educators, parents, and the community.

Even before the pandemic many parents were questioning the quality of education especially in public schools.  Was the focus on “teaching to the test” failing our children? Were standard lesson plans keeping children from being able to think critically? Were their minds being influenced by media images that limit the ability to be empathetic, compassionate and communicate?

Mary Anne Adams journey began in Mississippi, passed through Michigan but she found her home in Atlanta. She is Federal Housing Commissioner Chair at the East Point housing Authority and President/CEO at The Adams Research Group.

But most importantly she is the Founder and Executive Director of Zami NOBLA – The National Organization of Black Lesbians on Aging.

The organization builds a national base of power centering Black lesbians 40+ through service, advocacy, and community-action research while promoting positive aging through a social justice framework.

Although the organization has stopped many of its in-person programs during the pandemic it continues to affirm, empower, and support members by creating new paradigms for conscious and powerful aging with virtual programs including “Slow Your Roll Yoga” the “Zami NOBLA Book Club” a Ukelele Program, and “Purple Thumb Gardening Group.” They’ve hosted virtual events including arts and comedy shows.

Work continues on the rehab of the Biggers House, a house that will provide affordable housing for a lesbian and provides a community garden in the back yard.

The pandemic didn’t stop the work just took it to a whole different level.

The Legacy Project was inspired the first time the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was shown at the National March on Washington for LGBTQ Civil Rights in 1987 to answer the question “Who would remember those who came before us when we were gone?”

Some 34 years later The Legacy Project under the leadership of Executive Director Victor Salvo continues to illuminate and affirm the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people to honor their experiences and accomplishments; to collect and preserve their contributions to world history and culture; to educate and inspire the public and young people, and to assure an inclusive and equitable future.

Some of the activities like the Legacy Wall, a one-of-a-kind, digitally-interactive, traveling exhibit has had to be shelved, tours of the Legacy Walk have resumed with smaller groups and social distancing in place. The Legacy Project Education Initiative was launched in conjunction with partners at Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, and Equality Illinois. It offers a new search portal to help teachers create a classroom experience which meets the requirements of Illinois's new Inclusive Curriculum Law

Linda Brincat is the co-founder of Get Out and Live and Get Out Bike, which goes on biking trips around the area. She is also the moderator of the group Artistic Women’s Entertainment.

Her passion however is singing.  She has been singing since her youth.  She had a 6th-grade teacher who loved choral music and taught her students to sing in rounds and in harmony. She also sang in both her high school and college choirs. Linda now sings a soprano as in the LGBTQ and Ally choir Sing Out Detroit after singing for many years with the One Voice Chorus. Since its founding, the inclusive chorus, which includes LGBTQ+ singers as well as allies, has become a community mainstay, performing at many Pride events and hosting an annual spring and winter concert.

Sing Out Detroit is a mixed chorus (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) for LGBTQ+ and Allies. They welcome singers with varied musical skills. The chorus fosters community, joy, and fun!

Sing Out Detroit is a member of GALA Choruses, a national organization for LGBTQ+ choruses. It is a 501(c)(3) organization eligible for grants. It  is a diverse, inclusive chorus that provides a supportive environment for LGBTQ people and Allies to share the joy of musical performance.  The Vision is to uplift and inspire others with our musical performances to bring about positive social change.

Get Out and Live, Get Out and Bike, and Sing Out Detroit all really represent the entire LGBTQ community. Members of the LGBTQ community, allies and friends attend the concerts and the 20-mile bike rides.

Robert Zurenko is a professional artist currently living/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. His passion for nature and harmony drives his work, and he loves connecting the world back to itself through people and art. 

He was one of the judges at the 2019 Pontiac Creative Arts Center's Kaleidoscope Exhibit. Zurenko's work revolves around the intersection of ideas embedded in gender identity, sexuality, popular culture, and the context in which they are presented.

In 2020 his mural on a private fence in Hazel Park, MI was featured on the local news for bringing diverse members of the community together. The work on this fence, which glows in the dark, is only one part of a broader perspective he celebrates with every brushstroke and every color blending paint and artistry. He hosts an annual summer camp for trans youth with participants coming from across the country.

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.

When not teaching, judging or making art on Canvas, Robert is making personal art as a tattoo artist. Tattoos are a world tradition that have cropped up in every single part of the world from a time. before we could even know it, you know. Zurenko 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.