Collections by Michelle Brown

No victims here - A bond of love between father and daughter despite Lupus! Toya Oglesby has had a life saturated with love and support. She saw the effect Lupus can have on individuals and their families as a child. Her father had Lupus and passed away when Toya was twelve. Her sharing her life as a Lupus Warrior is not only a testimony to her personal resilience and strength but also a story of the love between father and daughter.

Lupus is a disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Although lupus affects people of all ages, it's most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45. Lupus is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. Ninety percent (90%) of people living with lupus are women. 

Despite the flare-ups that have affected her life Toya has received her BA in communications from Wayne State University, and her MBA from Northwood University. She currently is the Chief Operations Officer for Express Dumpster Services and has numerous volunteer partnerships. She strives to live a waste-free life by campaigning about environmental awareness and advocacy.

Lupus Detroit is a voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating lupus as a major health problem through education, advocacy, and service. Lupus Warriors provide resources, education, and support for one another.

Because of the pandemic, the organization is not having its two annual fundraisers. Instead, it is holding a raffle. The drawing will take place on June 1st.

To enter Text GIVE to 313-214-2917. You can also make a contribution for the general support of Lupus Detroit by texting to this number.

Instead of trying to say it all in one day, leaders from Michigan’s Transgender community and allies decided to host a six-day free online conference. The hosts of TRANSGENDER DAYS OF EMPOWERMENT will focus on understanding the journey Monday through Friday and on Saturday celebrate a Day of Decision, Declaration, & Doing by taking ownership of our existence and boldly taking one more step forward in our journey of self-actualization and embracing our true selves.

Partnering organizations Transgender Michigan, Inclusive Justice, Sage Metro Detroit, and ACLU Michigan joined with the facilitating organizations – Gender Identity Network Alliance and Transcend the Binary to present the conference.

Nyrobi Willow M'Baku is a member of the Transcend the Binary team she serves as Unity, Outreach, and Advocacy Lead. She will not only talk about her experience as an activist/bridge builder but the conference as well.

Transcend the Binary is BY AND FOR TRANS, NONBINARY, GENDER DIVERSE people. The organization believes that every member of our beautifully vibrant community deserves to self-actualize. The trans-led team provides community care and facilitates healing through social connections.

Markita Moore believes in getting to the heart of the matter with music informed by life so it is no surprise that her spiritual path through music led her to a study of and work with Singing Bowls. She is also an accomplished musician. With her band “Elemental Meanings” she provided vocals and played guitar, trumpet, and tuba.

Singing bowls are bowls used in meditation and to promote relaxation. They produce sounds and vibrations when hit or circled with a mallet. It is an ancient practice used in Tibet and neighboring areas for religious and spiritual ceremonies for centuries.

An alumni of Cass Technical High school, whose graduates include icons like Della Reese, Diana Ross, Lily Tomlin, Alice Coltrain, and many more, she continues her role as Band director at the school where she was once a member of the school band (her dream job). She has also begun a new project around this ancient practice with the Singing Bowls- the Detroit Sound Immersion meditation Project.

.She will not only update us on life as band director but give an explanation of and sample of the sounds from demonstrate these amazing Singing Bowls.Listeners are in for a unique experience beyond an incredible conversation as she plays her crystal singing bowls.

She's an internationally renowned concert pianist, an orchestral conductor, a spoken word artist, award-winning filmmaker, and talk show host and now Nina Gamble Kennedy can add author - Lambda Literary Award-winning author to her list of accomplishments with the publication of her memoir "Practicing for Love: a Memoir."

Born in Nashville, TN, Nina was presented in her first complete piano recital at nine years old. She received her first musical instruction from her parents who were both members of the historic Fisk Jubilee Singers.

After her 1987 New York debut at Lincoln Center, she embarked on her second European tour performing and residing in several European countries. She also served as conducting apprentice with the New York Philharmonic.

Kennedy is the subject of a mini-documentary titled Portrait: An American Concert Pianist, produced for broadcast on PBS.

In 2006, she directed and produced an award-winning feature-length documentary film about her father who was also a concert pianist and had been a director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Her mother was also a concert pianist and piano accompanist for the Singers. Both served as members of the piano faculty at Fisk University. 

She is the host of The Noshing with Nina Show, broadcast on MNN, BRIC (Brooklyn Information and Culture Network), and Bronx Network which recently won the 2021 B Free Entertaining Award.

In her memoir “Practicing for Love” Nina tells it all - sharing her life as a child prodigy, and musical genius from growing up in Nashville, TN to performing worldwide as a celebrated concert pianist, orchestral conductor, spoken word artist, filmmaker, TV host and more

Eddie S. Pierce Jr. received his Master's of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree from Chicago State University, home of the world-renowned Gwendolyn Brooks Writing Center. Ten years ago he began Rainbow Room Publishing LLC, not just to provide an outlet for his own books, but to provide a voice for the diverse Black literary community.  In addition to producing more titles and pursuing numerous other literary and artistic ventures, Pierce is currently overseeing the company's numerous publishing services and expanding the company's offerings in an effort to provide more opportunities for new authors and professionals in the creative arts.

He is not only the founder and publisher. of Rainbow Room Publishing LLC but also one of the authors. A biblical meaning for his name is unstoppable.and as the publishing house approaches its 10th anniversary. It's safe to say that nothing is stopping him from reaching even higher heights. Although Rainbow Room Publishing is still based in Chicago and he is currently enjoying Texas hospitality in  Dallas with his sites on the world.

Erica Monique Evans is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio but now calls Dallas Texas home.

Throughout her career, Monique has obtained industry experience in various financial lines of business

She is an Advisor on the Gender Identity and Expression Advisory Committee, which is part of the PRIDE Enterprise Leadership Team at Wells Fargo.

Monique is also a member of the board of directors for Resource Center (Dallas). She is one of the moderators of “An Intimate Conversation with Women of Color” a panel that gives LGBTQ+ Women of Color & Allies a platform to use their voices.

Monique sees being a  Black  Trans Woman as the dominating lens with which she sees the world. She has been journaling and writing poetry that has been influenced by the church, community, observations, and as being an African American person in America.

She believes if you are steadfast in who you are it will either draw people to you or push them away.

April is National Poetry Month. Monique will be sharing two of her poems based on her life experiences

Biodun Abudu was born in Rhode Island but comes from a Nigerian background. This entrepreneur, artist, designer, and author currently calls Manhattan home after spending several years in Chicago.

His paintings feature his love of fashion, world culture, music, and his personal influences. Many of his designs reflect his love of Africa as well as other indigenous peoples including the ancient Mayans.

Biodun has a deep appreciation of women whose strengths, resiliencies, and perseverance often go unnoticed. His painting "Peripheries of Womanhood" was inspired by everything that makes a woman from the body movement to the body type to the different layers that make a phenomenal woman.

His books “Tales of My Skin” ad “Stolen Sanity” are both based on true-life stories. They both touch on forbidden topics that are often swept under the rug and are hidden in the dark with the cruel intentions to silence an individual with fear. He has also written two books of poetry “Open Letter from Within” and “Forbidden Scriptures.” "Open Letters from Within" touches on pain, recovery, and love. "Forbidden Scriptures" openly and creatively discusses sex.

Biodun also has a passion for landscape and architectural photography.

Dr. Remolia Simpson has a passion for the welfare of veterans and travel. Both came as a result of her time in the military.

She channels her concern for the welfare of veterans through her nonprofit organization – My Brothers House.

My Brother's House is dedicated to providing safe, supportive housing and counseling services for veterans of the six US Armed Forces branches and their families. With residences in five states and the District of Columbia and additional houses planned, the organization strives to ensure that when our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines return from serving our country, homelessness is not another battle they must fight.

While in the military and afterward, Dr. Simpson has traveled the world. She sees herself as a global citizen and currently is living and working from the Caribbean island of Grenada. Grenada is an island country located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. It is known for its spice exports and St. George's University a private medical school and international university.

She encourages others to look beyond geographical boundaries for opportunities and shares how thanks to the magic of the internet she is able to have the best of both worlds – managing and building My Brothers House while enjoying the warmth of her Caribbean community.

It’s a world of endless possibilities open to everyone! Dr. Simpson is living her best life building community wherever she hangs her hat determined to make it a better world.

Even before formally joining the staff of Miracle of Love as outreach coordinator, Mulan Montrese Williams was working with Orlando’s Transgender community. She opened her home as a safe-haven to trans sex workers, offering them condoms, bottled water, clothes, and emotional support. She also provided HIV testing after hours for those who could not make regular office hours at Miracle of Love volunteering for the group by providing outreach on the streets and in clubs.

She founded “Divas in Dialogue” a sisterhood for trans women of color empowering, building, and strengthening each other. “Divas in Dialogue” ensures that the transgender community has a seat at the table not just in the Orlando, FL area and nationwide.

She was recently recognized by the McKenzie Project during Women’s History Month as a trailblazer.

She is the outreach coordinator for Miracle of Love an organization founded by Lowell Stafford in 1991 for the distinct purpose of providing accessible HIV/AIDS prevention programming and supportive assistance to service the multicultural needs of communities in Central Florida.

Whether it is through the non-profit "The Gentlemen's Foundation", their restaurant "Virgil's Gullah Kitchen & Bar" or visibility in the community Juan Smalls with his husband Gee are on a mission to give back to their community. Originally from California in 2007 he drove 32 hours straight and moved to Atlanta. He found an apartment after one month and met his husband a year after moving to Atlanta.

After being laid off from his job Juan decided to focus on building the couple’s company. They started an event planning company, and the first event was the Gentlemen’s Ball in 2011. In the planning of that event, deciding the name, the concept, and the program, they always wanted to attach a nonprofit to it so that we could give back to the community. This evolved into The Gentlemen’s Foundation.

The Gentlemen’s Ball, a gala that has been described as a “second chance prom” awarding youth scholarships and honoring community advocates making contributions to Atlanta’s LGBTQ community.

Recently the couple, opened Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar, located in downtown College Park just outside Atlanta. Named after Juan’s late father-in-law, Virgil F. Smalls, the chic eatery provides customers with more than signature cocktails and soul food. It is also helping to build community and combat stigma.