C. Imani Williams will always be a Detroiter even though she currently resides in Las Vegas. She returns as a guest to talk about her latest book "Seven Years in A Vegas" a follow-up to her book "Rootwork: Triumph Over Trauma" and building safe spaces in Las Vegas' arts community. This queer Black Womanist is a certified creative artist and holisit…

Tracee McDaniel is the Founder and Executive Director of Juxtaposed Center for Transformation Inc - an anchoring organization for Trans housing Atlanta Program.. Her talents extend beyond her advocacy for the Transgender community. She is currently working for safe, affordable housing not just for members of the Transgender community but any one in…

Marques Coley was born in Carlsbad, CA but Michigan has been home most of his life. The oldest of four children, he always knew he was different but just didn't know how. His journey to self-discovery began at a young age and has been journaling since he was fourteen. Inspired by his 8th grade teacher, he learned different styles of writing and inc…

Karen Kendra Holmes has been showing up and making a difference in her community not just as a member of the transgender community but most of her life. Being of service to others is just what she does! When not speaking publicly, Karen continues working with local police departments helping to bring dignity and respect to police interactions with …

Jay Kaplan has been the staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan's LGBTQ+ Project since its founding in 2001. He has worked on cases including challenging undercover sting operations targeting gay men, fighting Michigan's constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in 2004, defending the validity of second parent adoptions in Michigan and…

It's been a tough couple of years. COVID, some health issues and life caused us to take a break, go on hiatus, stop the conversations. But Collections by Michelle Brown - Blog Radio is back and ready to bring you the stories of individuals living between the lines, standing boldly in the crosshairs of their intersectionality and creating change, Wh…

Wyatt O'Brian Evans is a Journalist. Author. Radio Personality. Intimate Partner Violence & Abuse (IPV/A) Subject Matter Expert (SME), Advocate and Speaker. Voice-over (V/O) Instructor and Talent is currently celebrating the release of his latest novel “Shattered!” The latest installment in the Nothing Can Tear Us Apart series. Wyatt is the quintes…

Pride in the Pews is reimagining what inclusion looks like in Black churches. Launched in 2020 by Pastor Don Abram, Pride in the Pews collects and shares stories of LGBTQ+ people in the Black Church and includes a group of eight historically Black religious denominations and other Christian groups that primarily minister to African Americans. Like …

May is Lupus Awareness Month!! Across the planet, people are putting on purple to spread the word about the autoimmune disease. Lupus affects women, especially women of color, most often between the ages of 15 to 44 years old. Symptoms of lupus include extreme fatigue, hair loss, the mylar rash (also called the butterfly rash across the face), join…

Deidre McCalla is a singer-songwriter-guitarist. This African American mother, lesbian, feminist has been performing for close to 50 years and been in the forefront of the growing number of Black musicians reconfiguring perceptions of how Black folk do folk. McCalla came of age in the fiery blaze of NYC’s folk heyday. Her first album was released w…

Renae Taylor is an African American, disabled, nonbinary trans organizer. Born in Tupelo MS her current home base is in Memphis, TN where they are Assistant Program Manager at We Care TN. She uses they and she as pronouns. Renae has been advocating since 2000 traveling around the world on behalf of transgender rights, needs and visibility. They are…

Walter Naegle, the surviving partner of the late American Civil Rights leader and the executive director of the Bayard Rustin Fund joins us to talk about the LGBTQ, civil rights and human rights icon. On March 17th we celebrate the birth of LGBTIQ icon, activist Bayard Rustin. Rustin, who died in 1987 at age 75, was an African American leader in so…

On Saturday February 25th Rethink the Narrative The Esteem Awards presented Artists in the Afternoon – Beyond Publishing. One of the panelist from that event was Tom Logan. Tom Logan is the CEO of Ebanman. EBANMAN showcases the professional lifestyle of mature Black gay/queer men within Business, Travel, Arts & Entertainment, and Community Voice It…

On Saturday February 25th Rethink the Narrative and The Esteem Awards present Artists in the Afternoon – Beyond Publishing.On this broadcast are the phenomenal gentlemen behind this event Author and Publisher, Dr. Derrick Tennial, and the producer/founder of the Esteem Awards, Phil Esteem. This afternoon event highlights written and spoken word, mu…

Kylar Broadus is a true warrior for equality, civil rights, the LBTQ community in general but especially Transgender individuals from communities of color. This attorney, long-time activist, public speaker, author and professor is a groundbreaking trailblazer who forged the way for many of today’s leaders. Not content to sit on his laurels, Kylar c…

Professor Mike Whitty is a futurist and researcher on trends in politics, culture & rebuilding community. He has given seminars on the future of Detroit, human unity, unity and diversity, tolerance and civility. He brings his unique lens to the wins, challenges and potential we face moving forward including the need to overcome the extremism of the…

Born in Vidalia Georgia, Ericka Blount began pursuing greatness from the start. Her hard work and dedication earned her two full athletic scholarships to Savannah State University for both basketball and volleyball which allowed her to pursue her degrees in biology and chemistry. Blount chose Houston, Texas to begin expanding her reach. It was in T…

Damon Percy is a self-proclaimed author, activist, cultural critic, mentor, poet, publicist and Proud Sexy Nerd is a Detroit original. He received his nickname “Magic” from membership in Detroit’s ballroom community and the name, which captures his personality perfectly, has followed him through life. Damon attended Cass Technical High School and r…

Organizers of Atlanta’s Black Pride Weekend proudly boasts it is the largest Black pride in the country with day and night parties and over 25 events that are open to all. Taking place over the Labor Day weekend its a great way to close out the summer Two of the unique events include an LGBTQ+ Food and Wine Festival and a panel discussion “Artists …

Jeffrey Glen Cross is a Detroit original. Growing up on Detroit’s east side he attended Finney high school then went on to attend Wayne State University where he studied business management and at the International Academy of Design & Technology .One of seven siblings, his most cherished photos are of family. Jeffrey always had a passion for the ar…

Tarik Daniels is founder and executive director of Austin-based What’s in the Mirror - a social movement committed to bringing suicide and mental health awareness and prevention through art and advocacy in minority communities. As a member of the House of Xclusive Lanvin ballroom family he is Tarik Lanvin, Overall Father Lepore, . Born and raised i…

Scott Ellis began as volunteer just wanting to help organize the great lakes bay area LGBTQIA+ community’s pride events. Today he is the executive director of the Great Lakes Bay Pride. Great Lakes Bay Pride (formerly known as Perceptions) is the LGBTQIA+ education, advocacy, networking, and resource organization in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Regio…

You don't have to go into the old record vault and listen to Margaret Whiting's song to have those "Those far away places with the strange-sounding names " call you. Just tune in here and listen to our latest conversation with The Black & Gay (BAG) Collective​ founder/CEO Mike Henderson​ and you will hear the call. From national parks to places "Fa…

We first met at a past Esteem Award in Chicago. Ken Mejia Beal was a guest that year. This year he is receiving the award for Chicago’s Outstanding Service - Male. Ken is a community organizer and Chair of the DuPage County Democratic Party. As a long-time resident, community activist, and a leader in the financial sector, Ken Mejia-Beal has spent …

May is Lupus Awareness Month and we are honored to celebrate another Lupus Warrior. Diagnosed at age 19, Christina Hayes has more than survived her diagnosis but thrived becoming an advocate not only for other Lupus Warriors but for other social justice issues as well. Now in her 30's this mother advocates for paid sick leave with the Mothering Jus…

It should come as no surprise that young people given life without the possibility of parole sentences have been disproportionately Black and Brown. James Windell, the author of Sentencing Youth to Life in Prison: Justice Denied is an adjunct faculty member in Criminal Justice, a court clinical psychologist, and has more than 25 years of conducting…

Born and raised in New Orleans, LA Dr, Enchante Franklin is a Forensic Social Work Consultant, Community Advocate, and Author. She is dedicated to the art of prose, storytelling, and poetry through the lens of resilience. ´She served five years as a New Orleans Police Officer during and after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She earned a Bache…

At the tender age of ten, Mike Henderson first felt the urge to explore. Charting excursions on a city map each weekend got on the bus and explored another section of Los Angeles. On family vacations, he would hike and camp while dreaming of faraway places. Henderson has traveled to many places nationally and internationally but considers Yosemite …

Attending the annual Creating Change Conference has been a rite of passage for LGBTQ activists for over 30 years, We would come together, share ideas, make new friends, catch up with old friends and even find love. What’s happened to Creating Change in the time of COVID??? Pivoting to a virtual format in 2021, activists, organizers, and newbies wer…

“Alabama Grandson began as a series of letters Rev, Cedrick Bridgeforth wrote to his maternal grandmother. Although she died in 1989, Bridgeforth has fond and profound memories of her presence, the aromas in her kitchen, and the life lessons that rolled effortlessly from her tongue. This story intersperses the lessons taught by his grandmother but …

Emme Zanotti moved from Michigan’s city on the bay, Bay City, to southeast Michigan stepping out and stepping up as a DE&I specialist, community advocate, and political activist. After reaching out to Stand For Trans as a resource and to connect with others in the Transgender community she went on to serve as the board treasurer for many years. She…

Roland Leggett is smart, strategic, politically savvy, and a nationally recognized movement leader He’s worked as an organizer with the Obama for America campaign, with the Detroit Branch of the ACLU, Equality Michigan, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, and former director of mobility initiatives at MoGo Detroit. He was a regional political…

Tracee McDaniel’s personal motto is “Show up and participate for equality.” She was the first trans person to deliver the keynote speech at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration march and rally. Tracee marched in Washington, DC, and lobbied in support of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and increased HIV/AIDS ho…

Originally from New Jersey Peirrce “Peach” McCoy now calls Delaware home. She is the LGBTQ Chair for the Central Delaware NAACP. She not only has a seat at the table, but she wrote the “menu” personally writing and delivering to the organization guidelines for the committee. I Am Me is more than the name of her non-profit organization. For Peirrce …

Bayard Rustin was an African American leader in social justice movements for civil rights, nonviolence, and gay rights. He worked with on the March on Washington in 1941, to press for an end to racial discrimination in employment. He later organized Freedom Rides, and helped to organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Bayard Rustin wa…

Steph Turner identifies as a trans-spirit individual who is grounded in her own Native American heritage. After coming out in 1993 as transgender, she learned firsthand about needs when she was falsely accused and incarcerated for a crime she did not commit. No consideration was given for her gender identity and she was placed in an all-male facili…

Kim Ford is one of those people who always has something to say that is informative, inspirational, and transformative changes. She co-founded Kitchen Table Giving Circle. The non-profit provided philanthropic support to Black/African Descent Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer women-led projects and organizations working to improve the lives…

As we celebrate and thank our veterans for their service this Veterans Day it is so appropriate that we catch up with past guest and US Air Force Veteran Vanessa Sheridan. So much has happened since we last spoke with our guest Vanessa Sheridan. She has relocated back to her home in Minneapolis after leaving Chicago’s Center on Halstead where she s…

Nina Kennedy is one of those people that the more you know about her, the more you want to know. Our interview about her book “Practicing For Love: A Memoir” opened the door and today we delve deeper. Nina is intersectionality – a child of the South raised in the shadow of the legendary Fisk Jubilee choir, an African American prodigy in a white wor…

As the season changes from summer to fall, and we transition into the year-end season of giving here’s a playlist of interviews curated from past guests of organizations worthy of your consideration for support with a donation or even as a volunteer. They can all be found on SoundCloud or Blog Talk Radio on the Collections by Michelle Brown station…

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 th…

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 Bo…

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 Bel…

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…

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 Neighb…

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…

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 Lesbia…

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 conti…

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 an…

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 t…