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 dock

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 aff

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 Octo

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 godd

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,

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

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 hou

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 Heal

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 LGB

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 partici

Growing up on Detroit’s northwest side C. Imani Williams loved learning about Black culture. Books, cheerleading, softball, and was involved in other community-based activities. While living in Detroit Imani was the first full-time employee of the Ruth Ellis Center. She was a founder of PFLAG Family Reunion — Detroit Chapter and served on the board of Black Pride Society. Her background includes work in Guidance and Counseling, Communications/Journalism, and Creative-Writing. She has written for several publications including Michigan’s Between the Lines Newspaper and a weekly column Queer Voices from an Urban Bush Sista! Now living in Las Vegas, NV she is determined to live her purpose as a Healing Artist, she has used a combination of Holistic Creative Arts including yoga, meditation, mindfulness, poetry, essays, and jewelry design to empower others   Her “Standing on United Love – Soul Project provides a safe space where community members can explore the issues of the day affecting Black communities inclu

Connecticut is home for Edson where he not only lives but makes a difference in his community as Executive Director of the Triangle Community Center. Edson was born in El Salvador but has lived most of his life in Connecticut. Norwalk,  He started with the Center as a volunteer serving on various committees and in different board positions until he landed at the top – serving as board chairperson bringing his professional experience and passion to the organization. What was supposed to be only an interim term as Executive Director, Edson threw his hat into the ring and made the position became permanent. Triangle Community Center empowers and advocates for LGBTQ people in Connecticut through programming focused on health, community, and learning. Although housed in Norwalk, the Center services all of Fairfield County and beyond. The Center provides programs, clinical services, resources and hotlines for members of the LGBTQ community as well as community education and training. Edson took the reins durin

Jennifer Miracle-Best has a passion for helping people to understand the intricacies of sexual and gender identity. Although some of her knowledge came from her studies at Central Michigan University and her experience as a member of CMU’s Office of Gay & Lesbian Programs speakers bureau and the Director of the LGBT Resource Center at The University of Georgia, most of her wisdom came from her personal journey to find her personal truth. Her time at the University of Georgia, and perhaps even more so, her relationship with her husband, Ethan, has broadened her perspective on gender and caused her to challenge even the most basic, mundane, constructions of gender. It is through these experiences, as well as the experiences of her own gender expression and the assumptions people make about her based on it, that she has arrived at this radical, game-changer idea about how to free the world from gender. These days she spends her time promoting her book "Divinely Queer: My Journey to Spirituality Through Sex

A life-long resident of Wilmington, Delaware, DeShanna Neal is the founder of Intersections of Pride Foundation. ​ They are the co-organizer and creator of New Castle County's first ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Festival, as well as Delaware's first Drag Queen Story Hour.  But first and foremost, she is a is a Black queer, mother. Her work into advocacy and activism started off on a very accidental foot when her 3-year-old announced, “I am a girl.”   Trinity was classified as male at birth based on anatomy but had the internal sense of being female. She didn’t have to think twice when a therapist asked her if she wanted a happy little girl or a dead little boy. She has been fighting for her daughter ever since, taking on school officials who were uncomfortable with Trinity’s feminine clothing, with family members who accused them of feeding the child’s mental illness, with acquaintances who questioned their parenting. She battled state Medicaid, so Trinity’s puberty blockers were covered. If you mess with this ma

Jena Ball​ has traveled the world telling, sharing, and collecting stories along the way. It was clear to her that people are hungry for connection. They need places to meet to comfort, console and encourage one another and tools that allow them to communicate and share ideas effectively. This has driven her endeavors and led to her most recent project, Braided Lives, Braided Lives is designed to find, publish, and "braid" the stories of our lives into a larger narrative. This multimedia storyteller has used her big picture thinking and artistic skills to develop and execute large-scale projects. She looks for ways to work with those who think outside the box, work collaboratively, and are not afraid to fail forward. She started a children's media property called CritterKin. Critter Kin used stories and project-based learning to teach kids social-emotional and core communication skills to help each child discover, develop, and share their unique interests and abilities so they can become kind, compassionate

Its hard to believe that it’s been eight years since Kevin Terrell Heard founded the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In those eight years, he has grown, stumbled but mostly learned. In 2017, Kevin was honored as one of Crain’s Detroit Twenty in their 20’s for his work with the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In 2021 the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers organizations recognized and honored Kevin as a game changer. The Detroit native was inspired to start the city's Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce after returning from Atanta. Since founding the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce eight years ago, Heard has worked tirelessly to advocate for inclusive business practices while educating businesses on LGBTQ+ certification and business growth. While Heard is happy to receive recognition for his efforts, he said there's still an incredible amount of work to be done. Kevin will talk about his work with the LGBT Chamber and why entrepreneurs, businesses, allies and others should s

Ryan O'Donnell is an activist who cares deeply about social and environmental justice. This Chicago native attended Howard University and is an endless well of talent. His wide array of skills makes him tend to enhance anything that he is involved in as he fights for justice including organizing to help refugees and connecting with animal rights and environmental activists. O’Donnell wants to shine a light on the plight of LGBTQI+ refugees, particularly in The Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. The Kakuma Refugee Camp has always been full of problems: dust storms, high temperatures, poisonous spiders, snakes, and scorpions, outbreaks of malaria, cholera, and other hardships especially if you are LGBTQIA. Many of these refugees fled homophobic and transphobic violence in nearby Uganda but continue to face threats and violence from locals and other refugees for the simple reason that they are LGBTQI.  LGBTQI people in Africa are frequently subject to mob and state-sponsored violence and criminalization. Many are

Originally from Detroit, Marlon Brown heard the call to “Go West Young Man” and that’s exactly what he did! Brown and his husband Dani Tirrell left Detroit and settled in Seattle. Marlon began Bessie’s Cakes named in tribute to his grandmother who was known in her family for making delicious signature cakes, pies, and cobblers. After years of continuing to bake cakes and cobblers for family and friends, Marlon was established Bessie’s Cakes to continue the legacy of Bessie Mae Ingram. His passion however was in social justice specifically in building racial equity.  As a certified Equity and Social Justice practitioner, Marlon specializes in leadership coaching, facilitation/training, and organizational development with an emphasis on equity and customer service.  Marlon is also very skilled and experienced in “change agent” mentoring, racial caucusing and policy development/implementation. As a partner at Racial Equity Consultants LLC, he creates and advises equity committees/teams and anti-racist curricul

You may know Debbie David as a visible member of metro-Detroit’s transgender community. You may know her from her days at the aahCapella Theater in the NoHo arts district in North Hollywood California. And if you are a Star Trek fan, you know her for her recurring role as Ensign Russell on both The Next Generation and Voyager series. Her career includes performances as a background or extra on a host of television series and movies. Her path from Shelbyville, Kentucky to New York, Hollywood, and ultimately metro-Detroit, as an actor and trans woman, has been filled with challenges and pain both personally and professionally.  She shares so much -the good, the bad, even the not so pretty - no regrets including some backstories from her days on the movie set and with Star Trek aas Ensign ussell. Activist, singer, and former actor Debbie David is the National Secretary of the United States Transgender Advocacy. She hosts Dragopolist Television’s Debbie in the D. Debbie in the D is broadcasting news about thi

This daughter of Indian immigrants, desi diasporic, queer non-binary femme traces her roots across homelands that stretch from Manhattan skylines to New Jersey suburbs and mango trees that grow in India. Marie comes from a long lineage of storytellers and her creative writing explores the contours of immigrant family life, queer invisibility grief and resilience. Her poem, “Rearranging the Bones” was published in the book “Imanimam: Poets Writing in the Anzalduan Borderlands.” She shares an unpublished work that she wrote about 20 years ago – “Reflections of the Glass Divide.” Although unpublished this powerful piece has been used in various settings to foster conversation helping others to realize what it is like to walk in the shoes of those often seen as “the other” by the majority culture. Marie is the Senior Advisor for the CUNY Start program at Bronx Community College in New York. CUNY Start is an intensive program for incoming college students who have earned a high school diploma or GED but need to