Hey, everyone! Welcome back to Culture Canvas.
I’m slowly getting back into the work routine after a few days in Chicago attending my first convention for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). I’m sure you heard all about it with the news and aftermath of former president Donald Trump’s appearance during one of the panels.
While the convention did get off to a rather chaotic start, the rest of the five-day event was full of learning from some of the top reporters and editors in the field, reconnecting with old coworkers and friends and making new connections. I also spotted a few members from the Detroit chapter of NABJ, where I am the vice president of print.
One of the highlights included a session on storytelling and the writing process, which featured veteran journalists Gary Estwick, managing editor at nonprofit newsroom Signal Akron, Justice Hill, a columnist for cleveland.com as well as Medium.com Content Director Adrienne Samuels-Gibbs.
All three panelists were dropping gems on thinking outside of the box for story ideas, ways to organize stories and finding time for long-term projects. One thing that stood out to me was when Samuels-Gibbs said she brings doughnuts to interviews as a friendly gesture and as a way for people to see her as more than a journalist.
One standout session centered on HIV in the Black community. Actress and activist Laverne Cox was part of the panel, as well as ViiV Healthcare Senior Medical Director Toyin Nwafor, Education, Training and Research (ETR) Project Director Adrian Neil and HIV/AIDS activist and counselor Shadawn McCants. I always thought about the AIDS epidemic as something that was in the past, like when it first became widely known in the 1980s. But the panelists talked about how the disease is still affecting thousands of people in 2024, especially Black women.
Another thing that was nice to see during the convention — conference rooms, hallways and receptions filled with people who looked like me. In journalism, you get used to being one of the few Black people in the newsroom or sometimes, the only one. So, it was pretty special seeing the thousands of Black reporters, editors, managers and communications directors gathered in one place.
By the way, if you’re planning to go to Chicago soon, I recommend taking the Amtrak train. It was a smooth ride!
As always, hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
Cheers,
Micah
313 Scene
- BridgeDetroit contributor J. Gabriel Ware writes on the historic new leadership at the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. Parrish Underwood was hired in November as the organization’s first Black president and CEO and Eric Huffman was named as the first Black chairman of the YMCA board. The leaders are tasked with reversing a membership decline for the longstanding nonprofit that serves thousands of families across the region.
- BridgeDetroit intern Juniper Favenyesi can fill you in on the new sculpture on display at Eliza Howell Park in the Brightmoor neighborhood. The sculpture was created by artist Halima Cassells in partnership with Sidewalk Detroit and help from local volunteers. It serves as a trailhead in the park for a path leading to the Rouge River.
- After performing at the Michigan Central Station concert, country/rock artist Jelly Roll is coming back to Detroit Nov. 6 for his Beautifully Broken Tour at Little Caesars Arena. Tickets start at $93 on Ticketmaster.
What’s Going on in the D?
- Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s Black Bottom Live Music Series continues at 6 p.m. Wednesday with rock duo We Are Scorpio and R&B artist Supercoolwicked. The free concert will be held at Campbell Terrace on the Dequindre Cut.
- Detroit poet laureate jessica Care moore is hosting the metro Detroit premiere of her first film, “He Looked Like a Postcard” Thursday at Emagine Royal Oak. The film tells the story of moore’s character Serendipity returning home to find peace with her 10-year-old son, Idris. She receives a postcard under her apartment door and later sees a man named Motown who she believes is the “postcard” come to life. The red carpet begins at 6:15 p.m. while the film starts at 7 p.m. There are a few tickets left on Eventbrite for $30.
- Take a trip back to the 1990s with the Queens of R&B concert Friday at Little Caesars Arena. Girl groups SWV and Xscape will perform along with 702, Total and Mya. Tickets begin at $59.50 on Ticketmaster. Speaking of 90s R&B groups, Tony! Toni! Tone! will also be in town Friday, performing at 8 p.m. at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Balcony seats are still available for $59.
- Palmer Park is hosting the Freedom Arts Festival Saturday at its historic log cabin. Held from 2-5 p.m., the free event will feature art, dance and music, focusing specifically on Middle Eastern musicians. Internationally-acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Victor Ghannam is one of the performers, along with Nashwan Pola, Roger Kashou, Eddy Fadel and Fadi Aziz.
- Boston-Edison residents are hosting an annual attic sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
