Collections By Michelle Brown

Sherley Accime is one of the co-founding members of Black Women’s Blueprint and is the program director of the Office of Violence Against Women. Ericka Ayodele Dixon. has worked and led activist initiatives, nationally and internationally. Currently, she serves as the Public Policy Programs Director at Black Women’s BluePrint. The Black Women’s Blue Print began in 2008 grappling with the state of Black women in the U.S. across the issues of ethnicity/nationality, class, sexual orientation, identity. Meeting in sister circles in living rooms, backyards and around kitchen tables, they developed a blueprint taking full stock of the particular problems Black women were facing within their communities and in greater society. Black Women’s Blueprint envisions a world where women and girls of African descent are fully empowered and where gender, race and other disparities are erased.

Dr. Eric Darnell Pritchard is an assistant professor of English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He writes and teaches about literacy, rhetoric and their intersections with fashion, beauty, popular culture, identity, and power. He was born and raised in Queens, New York. He is the creator and editor of Glamourtunist.com - a Fashion editorial blog focused on fashion, beauty and pop culture. He is also the editor of "Sartorial Politics, Intersectionality, and Queer Worldmaking" a special issue of QED.: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking. His article “For Colored Kids Who Committed Suicide, Our Outrage Isn’t Enough: Queer Youth of Color, Bullying and the Discursive Limits of Identity and Safety” in Harvard Educational Review won the 2014 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Lavender Rhetoric Award for Excellence in Queer Scholarship. He is the author of the award-winning Fashioning Lives: Black Queers and the Politics of Literacy. This book analyzes the life stories of sixt

Waddie Grant started blogging in 2005 under different aliases about urban pop culture. He was born in Sacramento, raised in Kansas City, bred in Chicago, developed in Atlanta and is currently living in New York City. He started The G-Listed (formerly The G-List Society) in 2012. The G-Listed is an online media networking and entertainment group that caters to the style of life in the social scene of LGBT/Queer/Same-Gender-Loving people of color. The G-Listed is an appreciation of Black pop and queer cultures that publishes its annual The Black LGBTQ Power 100 list to celebrate Black LGBTQ-SGL achievers around the world and the 100 Outstanding Personalities of Color a similar feature. The Power 100 list has an average readership of more than 100,000 audience impressions yearly. He has also hosted and produced dozens of social, professional networking and live music events in Chicago and New York City and been featured, quoted and/or published widely. Waddie & The G-Listed media has been featured, quoted

Her path has taken many twists and turns. She had an amazing career in human services. She's currently Deputy Director at the Ruth Ellis Center. She's also a community activist and the matriarch of a gold star family. She's always moving forward. For the next chapter in her life, Pamela is moving out of the “helping” profession and becoming a Detroit entrepreneur. Her business “Café Ruby” will open in 2019 as “the ultimate urban global coffee house and wine bar!” Why coffee? Drinking coffee is something billions of people do around the world every day! Coffee is more than popular: it's ubiquitous. No other beverage is as revered or respected. It can be seen in offices, during commutes, and on kitchen countertops worldwide. Coffee is worth over $100 billion worldwide. That puts it ahead of natural gas, gold, sugar, and corn. Worldwide, we drink over 500 billion cups of coffee every year. Arabica is the more common type of bean grown (70 percent of coffee is Arabica), and it's considered more flavorful. Joi

Bridie Mae Johnson grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. With a lineage from several cultures, Johnson brings a unique perspective to all she does drawing upon her roots to build spaces where diversity and inclusion can flourish. A licensed social worker, Johnson worked as Director of Programs at the Ruth Ellis Center from 2007 to 2009. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Johnson was employed at Saginaw County Youth Protection Council, as the Division Director of Innerlink Services Division. She recently returned to the metro-Detroit area joining the staff of the American Indian Health & Family Services.She's back in Detroit working with the community and using the knowledge she's learned along the way to educate attendees at the Creating Change Conference in Washington DC. Through her work in Michigan and Georgia, Bridie has become aware of and researched the problem of human trafficking especially of youth and members of the LGBTQ community. Based on her work in this area she submitted a proposal and will be prese

Victoria Proctor is a holistic health counselor, massage therapist, a registered nurse (RN), with a Masters as a prepared Exercise Physiologist.How can you live better and healthier in general and especially if you have type 2 diabetes? Through education, her years in the nursing profession and personal practice, Victoria Proctor has developed strategies and tips to build wellness into your future. She is a holistic health counselor, massage therapist, a registered nurse (RN), with a Masters as a prepared Exercise Physiologist. She says, “We have to just learn to make better choices and certainly better choices for the children.” Changing our diet can be the first step and even an intervention to prevent the onset of or damage caused by type 2 diabetes.  Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems that the African American community faces today. Compared to the general population, African Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes. Proctor knows first-hand the devastating effects of type

It is estimated that over 60 million families are caring for an aging or disabled person at home. More than 39 million people in the U.S. are age 65 years or older including 2.4 million people who identify as LGBTQ.  The Care Plan is the country's first healthcare management company devoted to LGBTQ individuals and communities. It helps clients develop a personal health and aging guide working with individuals and families to restore clarity, comfort, and control. Chicago based, Jackie Boyd founder and owner of "The Care Plan" has spent much of her professional career providing care management services. She will share tips on developing a comprehensive approach to avoid common crisis along the path to aging and ways to support Caregivers as a family and community. Whether it’s your parents, partner or yourself, at some point each of us may be called upon to provide care for a loved one or be in need of extended care personally. Ms. Boyd has spent much of her professional career providing care management ser

What is Kwanzaa, how is it celebrated in the community at large and especially in the African American LGBTQ community? Joining Collections by Michelle Brown is Dr. Kofi Adoma who for many years has organized and led Kwanzaa celebrations in Detroit’s African American LGBTQ community to give us a “Kwanzaa 101” introduction and talk about this year’s celebration. An African American cultural holiday initiated by Dr. Maulana Karenga Kwanzaa celebrates the work and dedication African Americans put forth throughout the year.  It is patterned on the African celebration of harvest during which tribute is paid to the ancestors and to God, while at the same time praying for another benevolent year. The word “Kwanzaa” refers to the first fruits of the harvest. It indicates the firm determination of a community to begin a new year of commitment, hard work, and fulfillment that requires collective effort.  It centers around the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Col

It's December and communities everywhere are celebrating the holidays in a plethora of ways. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa or just great times with friends and family – “Tis the season to be jolly” - Right? Unfortunately for the Transgender community, amidst the holiday festivities, is the glaring reality that for transphobic hate, bigotry and violence it’s just another day. There was an attack on December 12 in Washington DC and two days later 26-year-old Brandi Seals was found dead in front of a house under construction in Houston,TX. For Transgender women and men, especially those of color, peace on earth and good will toward them remains elusive. Filling the gap between political activism/advocacy and the day-to-day realities of living as Trans, especially as a trans woman of color is,.  Bre Anne Campbell is one of the founders and Executive Director of TSOCP which was founded in 2015 by a group of concerned Detroit community activists in direct response to the growi

Detroit Health Link for Equity in Cancer Care is a region-wide coalition to address cancer-related needs in metropolitan Detroit. Funded in 2016 by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Detroit Health Link brings together community members, community-based organizations, and cancer researchers to develop research ideas as well as educational and service-based programs. At the heart of Detroit Health Link are the Cancer Action Councils (CACs): groups of community members and leaders who use their local knowledge to improve the lives of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers in their communities. Cancer affects more people in the city of Detroit and Wayne County than most other parts of Michigan. This not only means that more people are diagnosed with cancer, but more people die from cancer There are currently has 6 active Cancer Action Councils: The most recent being at LGBT Detroit. LGBTQ communities are disproportionately affected by cancer. If community members and researchers work togethe

Earlier this year we introduced you to Jerry Peterson, Executive Director of the Ruth Ellis Center located in Highland Park MI. The Center is named after Ruth Ellis,  an African-American woman who became widely known as the oldest surviving open lesbian, and LGBTQ rights activist at the age of 100 who died in 2005. The Center is a youth social services agency with a mission to provide short-term and long-term residential safe space and support services for LGBTQ youth in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan. Since incorporating in 1999, the Center has offered core services including Its residential housing program, the 2nd Stories Drop-in Center and Family Group Decision Making. Most recently it added integrated behavioral and primary healthcare services, allowing the Center to take a critical step forward to meet the ever-changing needs of the young people they serve. More than a space and programs, The Ruth Ellis Center is people, a community that includes not only staff but the youth it serves. Joining Col

Wellesley College graduate Marseille "ML" Allen  moved to Flint, Michigan at what some might consider the worst possible time, as the Flint water crisis broke. She started delivering water to help residents. She also entered and won $10,000 in a GoFundMe contest for her cause. She continues to serve the people of Flint and is committed to being there for the long haul. She continues to serve th Flint community as Vice President of the Morris Peterson Jr. Foundation. Allen is also president of The Warriors Trust Fund a 501(c) 3 organization established in 2015 to raise awareness and provide funding for the various needs of United States Armed Forces combat veterans, including, but not limited to Veterans associated with the Oakland Combat Veterans Treatment Court (C-VTC). In addition to supporting the C-VTC, the Warriors Trust Fund has expanded to the greater Combat Veteran community and now assists participants in the Veterans Treatment Court at the 45th District Court of Oak Park. The Warriors Trust Fund p

During the month of November services are held for Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR),  memorializing victims of transphobic violence. Unfortunately As of the end of October 2017, 23 trans people have been reported killed by violence in the U.S. Often after being discriminated against and  targeted for violence in life, trans women and men continue to be victimized in death where they are misgendered in police and media reports even by family members and are not identified immediately as transgender. Although nothing can take away the pain of the loss of these trans women and women, this year has been historic for the TLGB community with the election of several openly transgender candidates in Virginia, in California, in Pennsylvania, and in Georgia on November 8th. Perhaps the greatest win of all was in the city of Minneapolis where Andrea Jenkins became the first openly trans woman of color elected to a major city’s city council.  Earlier this year we spent time with Andrea talking about her poetry,

During the month of November we celebrate Transgender Day of Rememberance (TDOR), which memorializes victims of transphobic violence. Unfortunately As of October 2017, 23 trans people have been reported killed by violence in the U.S. Often after being discriminated against and  targeted for violence in life, trans women and men continue to be victimized in death misgendered in initial police reports and the edia even by family members. Although nothing can take away the pain of the loss of these trans women and women, this year has been historic for the TLGB community with the election of several openly transgender candidates across the country on November 8th in Virginia, ]in California, in Pennsylvania and in Georgia. But perhaps the greatest win of all was in the city of Minneapolis where Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham were elected to the City Council. Jenkins became the first openly trans woman of color elected to a major city’s city council.  Earlier this year we spent time with Andrea talking

Sinister Wisdom, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, publishes the journal and provides outreach and educational programs in support of building vibrant lesbian communities. Publishing since 1976, it works to create a multicultural, multi-class lesbian space opening, considering and advancing the exploration of lesbian community issues. Originally from Michigan, Enszer was involved in the LGBTQ community in the metro-Detroit area. After leaving Michigan she continued her work with the community working with the Human Rights Campaign in Washington DC. She has her MFA and PhD from the University of Maryland. Enszer is the author of four poetry collections , Avowed, Lilith’s Demons, Sisterhood and Handmade Love. She is also the editor of The Complete Works of Pat Parker, which won the 2017 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry and Milk & Honey: A Celebration of Jewish Lesbian Poetry, which was a finalist for the 2012 Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Poetry. . She edits and publishes Sinister Wisd

Individuals enlist for military service for a multitude of reasons but all in service to this country. Many, including LGBTQ service members, make the ultimate sacrifice. Each year on November 11th we celebrate Veterans Day honoring and thanking them for their service. In a series of tweets, Pres. Trump announced that transgender people would be banned from serving in the US military “in any capacity” attempting to reverse an Obama-era decision to support those who would live openly and authentically as transgender while in service of their country. A federal judge has partially blocked enforcement of key provisions of Trump's memorandum banning transgender people serving in the military while LGBTQ and human rights organizations challenge its enforcement in the courts. Char Davenport  a Navy Veteran from the Vietnam era conflict. She is alos a member of the trransgender community. She is the Michigan Field Organizer for the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Faith-based Gender Justice and Allyship Project. She ha

Betty Couvertier was the founder, producer and host of “Alternative Perspectives,” an LGBT radio show that continues to air on the community-owned and operated. “Alternative Perspectives” started from a notion that LGBTQ news was important news and that our voices together could get a message out to the public. Since retiring Betty keeps her eye on local and national political shenanigans, the LGBTQ community and has discovered more alternative perspectives as she travels about the country. . She is relentless, outspoken, courageous in providing an authentic voice and alternative perspective.  Join us as we talk about the consequences of the 2016 vote, the impact of the Executive Orders, presidential tweets, the current political climate and how participation in 2017 and the important 2018 elections is not optional, but crucial to change the course of our current politics at the state and federal levels. She's back to talk not only about what happened, what's happening but what needs to happen in today's un

In a departure from our usual format Collections by Michelle Brown will be remembering Stephen Maglott and celebrating his life. Stephen was born in Bangor, Maine on October 26, 1953 but spent his formative years in Harlem and Buffalo, NY. He was drawn to Civil Rights and social justice struggles including creating an outreach program investigating instances where farm workers were held as modern-day slaves, resulting in changes to State laws. He attended Parson’s School of Design while working for the United Nations, as a researcher attached to the UN Commission on Apartheid. He left school early to work as a Graphics Designer and Art Director for several major agencies. He lived in Los Angeles in the early 1980’s and for a few years in Amsterdam before returning to the US. He accepted a position with Men of Color Health Awareness Project, in Rochester, NY. He assisted in the formation of the NY State Black Gay Network. He served as Board President of Ujima Theatre, on the Board of the Buffalo Caribbean I

Kristina Schmidgall  is Director of Care Services at UNIFIED - HIV Health and Beyond. Different governments and organizations have declared different months as AIDS Awareness Month including October. We Can Stop HIV, lift the stigma and educate our communities on the truth about living with HIV and AIDS One Conversation at a Time. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States alone 1.1 million people are living with HIV and 1 in 7 of them don’t know it. For those infected with HIV, treatment works. The outlook for people living with HIV has significantly improved over the past two decades. Many people who are HIV-positive can now live longer, healthier lives when they’re in routine care. In 1996, the total life expectancy for an infected 20-year-old person was 39 years. In 2011, the total life expectancy bumped up to about 70 years. Someone who is HIV-positive, receiving treatment, and in optimal health may live to be in their late 70s. Kristina entered this field as a vol

From Nobel Peace Prize Award Winner Malala Yousafzai’s continued activism for girls’ right to education, to the continued plight of school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants even after their release, to the millions of little girls and young women have been subjected to a painful genital mutilation worldwide, to young girls right here in the United States subject to poverty, under education and danger from violence in their neighborhoods - the “International Day of the Girl Child” focuses attention on fulfillment of their human rights. The world’s 1.1 billion girls are part of a large and vibrant global generation poised to take on the future. London Bell returns to talk about her work as President and CEO of Bell Global Justice Institute and President of the Board of the Greater Detroit Chapter of the United Nations Association to celebrate both the "International Day of the Girl Child" and "United Nations Day" and bring awareness to the UN's important work globally and Locally. London Bell is a lawye