Black Her Stories

In this episode, Michaela Ayers explores the transformative power of love, creativity, and community care. Reflecting on her journey through the Seeda School for Black feminist worldbuilding, Michaela shares how the recovery of her creative spirit has shaped her latest offering—The Art of Black Love, a collage and memory workshop. Join us inside Wa Na Wari, a historically Black home turned cultural space, where participants gather to reflect on love in all its forms. Listen as workshop attendees, including Rachel Chapman, bring their memories to life through creative writing and collage. Resources: Sign up for Michaela's Creative Moments newsletter to learn more about her offerings. To listen to Act II, join BHS on Substack. Discover the work of Rachel Chapman, Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology. Learn more about Ayana Zaire Cotton and Seeda School, a liberatory space that explores Black feminist worldbuilding and creative actualization. Check out Wa Na Wari's work advancing belonging through Black arts and Culture in Seattle. 

In this reflective episode, Michaela travels through space-time to revisit one of her proudest moments of 2024. This episode also introduces the concept of Black Quantum Futurism, connecting ancestral wisdom to our present lives. Join Michaela as she shares a heartfelt letter to her future self and offers a glimpse into her personal journey as an artist. Links and Resources: Black Quantum Futurism

In this episode of Black Her Stories, Michaela Ayers reconnects with Chef Franchesca Lamarre. Together, they host an intimate backyard dinner party where food rituals and lineage intertwine. From her roots in Haitian traditions to her bold experimentation with Black American flavors, Fran takes us on a journey through food that honors her ancestors and connects her to her community.  Links and Resources: Episode Sponsor: The FBomb Breakfast Club is badass peer support network where women and gender-diverse business leaders come together to laugh, learn, and share recipes for success.  Join the FBomb community (@fbombbreakfastclub) to gain access to monthly meetings, accountability groups and business resources. Blow up the ordinary on f-bomb at a time. Follow that Fran  Keep up with Fran (@franchescalamarre) to stay up to date on her food pop-ups (@ayitispaghetti) book clubs (@thisisthepeoplesbookclub), and so much more! Learn More About Feed'em Freedom Growers: Explore the work of Myrtle Thompson and Feed'em Freedom Growers (@feedemfreedomgrowers), the Detroit-based farming community featured in the dinner.  BHS Newsletter

This episode of Black Her Stories celebrates our maternal connections through food and the sisterhood between chefs Franchescha Lamarre and Mariya Moore Russell. Both women allow us to tag along their journeys through the culinary world and their commitment to preserving Black food traditions. Tune in for a delicious conversation about food, family, and the care of cooking. Links and Resources: Instagram

Dive into the rich heritage of collard greens and explore the connection between food, family, and tradition. Join Michaela Ayers as she hosts a storytelling booth at Detroit's 2nd Annual Collard Green Cook-Off, capturing the culinary memories of the community. From the preparation techniques passed down through generations to the evolving practices of today's chefs, this episode is a flavorful celebration of cultural roots. Key Takeaways: Heritage Preparation: Learn how traditional cooking methods, especially those for collard greens, connect us to our ancestors. Community and Food Sovereignty: Discover the significance of food sovereignty in Detroit and how it empowers residents. Culinary Evolution: Explore how different generations adapt classic recipes to suit modern tastes. Interactive Links and Resources: Photos from the Cook-Off: Feast your eyes on our event photos and share your collard green preferences on  Instagram. Food Sovereignty Resources: Learn more about Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network and their mission. Partners: Learn more about Detroit is Different and support their work. Check out Jena Brookers food blog.  Sign up for our newsletter: Join BHS on substack to get behind the scenes and check out the archive. 

Tune into this bonus episode to meet the team at Sidewalk Detroit and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes listen of in the last chapter of artist Halima Afi Cassells's eco-art residency. Get up close and personal with the visionary leaders who are pioneering a creative approach to city building, climate resilience, and community care.  Together, we dive into how artists play a vital role in creating public art that raises awareness of critical social issues and how Sidewalk Detroit leverages collaborative approaches to foster meaningful change. Resources & Special Mentions:  Organizations Sidewalk Detroit   Halima Afi Cassels Website: https://www.halimacassells.com/ IG: halima_afi   Places of Interest Eliza Howell Park  Rouge River

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Halima Afi Cassells as we dive into the world of eco-art and sustainability. Discover ways to care for Mother Earth, reimagine our relationship with waste, and explore the often unseen impact of microplastics. In this episode, we take you inside an Eco-Art workshop hosted by Sidewalk Detroit, where Halima and community members transformed trash into an upcycled sculpture for Eliza Howell Park. Resources & Special Mentions:  Halima Afi Cassels Website: https://www.halimacassells.com/ IG: halima_afi   Organizations Ecology Center Sidewalk Detroit   Places of Interest Eliza Howell Park  Rouge River

Take a walk with me and Halima Afi Cassells through her garden. Listen as we chat about her artistic journey, sustainability practices, and the Black women in her life that inspire her. An award-winning, interdisciplinary, community-engaged artist, and mother of three, Halima is an avid gardener whose roots are deeply woven into the soil of Detroit, Michigan. Halima's deep connection to nature and how gardening has influenced her art practice resonated with me on a soul level and sparked new pathways in my brain; How can I reduce the harm being done to the planet? What habits do I need to shift to be in right relationship with nature? An activist just as much as she is an artist, Halima demonstrates her commitment to environmental justice by using non-toxic materials, found objects, and advocating for a share economy. This discipline to reuse rather than consume is woven into Free Market of Detroit, a fashion exchange and upcycling swap lead by Halima, and her upcoming project at Eliza Howell Park, in collaboration with Sidewalk Detroit, which showcases her ability to transform trash into meaningful art. Resources & Special Mentions:  Halima Afi Cassels - Website: https://www.halimacassells.com/ IG: halima_afi Referenced Works Swan Song Eco-Art Residency Sidewalk Detroit Sydney James Shanna Merola   Detroit References Belle Isle  ◉ Newsletter: https://blackherstories.substack.com/  ◉ IG: @blackherstories

Tune in to hear an interview with Gwendolyn Wallace. Together we dive into nuances of navigating strong emotions, the insightful moment that motivated her to write the book, and how Wallace's early childhood experience informed the Light that She Feels Inside. 

In this episode, we dip our baby toes into a conversation with Gwendolyn Wallace. Gwendolyn Wallace is a New York City-based researcher, storyteller, and children's literature author. Her work for both children and adults centers Afrodiasporic voices to explore the unfolding relationship between the spatial logics of colonialism and our body-minds.  In this episode, we talk about:  The emotional complexity of Black Childhood Nina Simone  The Light That She Feels Inside    Ways to get in touch with King Sophia:  Website: https://kingsophiamusic.com/ IG: kingsophiamusic Ways to get in touch with Gwendolyn Wallace Website: https://www.gwendolynwallace.com/ IG: g.m.wallace   Ways to get in touch with Black Her Stories https://nourish.community/contact  IG: @blackherstories    

In this episode, we explore the lessons of leadership Jahmad Canley. Jahmad is a husband, father, community member, and the president of Potential Unleashed, business coaching company specializing in providing solutions to companies, teams, and individuals of every description through improved performance and increased human effectiveness. Together, we elevate the impact of his Grandma, Betty Jo Davis, and discuss her unique expressions of leadership.

In this episode, we explore the possibilities of the Black imagination with architect Donna Carter. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Donna D. Carter is the President of Carter Design Associates, an architectural, planning, and restoration firm in Austin, Texas. Her practice is focused on projects that combine revitalization, historic preservation, and new construction within a community context.   A shaper of physical spaces, Donna and her firm have received numerous awards including the Texas Society of Architecture's Design Award and the Preservation Texas Award for the Restoration of the Texas and Pacific Terminal Waiting Room, which is Fort Worth's largest and most extravagant example of Art Deco architecture.    As a civic leader, Donna has held many volunteer and board positions that keep her active in her community. From participating in numerous Austin planning and development task force committees to being a Fellow of the Center for Heritage Conservation at Texas A&M University, Donna has dedicated her life to being of service.    In this episode, we talk about:  Thinking creatively about spaces  How to nourish a creative spirit Resources:  Donna Carter Carter Design Associates AIA Profiles - Donna Carter Places of Interest Austin Public Library Architecture Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project (VIDEO) ◉ Website: https://nourish.community/podcast ◉ Substack: https://blackherstories.substack.com/  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org   

In this episode, we explore the possibilities of the Black imagination with architect Donna Carter. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Donna D. Carter is the President of Carter Design Associates, an architectural, planning, and restoration firm in Austin, Texas. Her practice is focused on projects that combine revitalization, historic preservation, and new construction within a community context. A shaper of physical spaces, Donna and her firm have received numerous awards including the Texas Society of Architecture's Design Award and the Preservation Texas Award for the Restoration of the Texas and Pacific Terminal Waiting Room, which is Fort Worth's largest and most extravagant example of Art Deco architecture.  As a civic leader, Donna has held many volunteer and board positions that keep her active in her community. From participating in numerous Austin planning and development task force committees to being a Fellow of the Center for Heritage Conservation at Texas A&M University, Donna has dedicated her life to being of service.    In this episode, we talk about:  Preservation Architecture in the context of the Black community  Reimagining Black History and reclaiming the Black Imagination Resources:  Donna Carter Carter Design Associates AIA Profiles - Donna Carter   Places of Interest Austin Public Library Texas and Pacific Terminal Waiting Room  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org   

Hello, and Happy Black History Month! In this mini-episode, BHS creator and host, Michaela Ayers, invites you to cozy up on the couch for a friendly catch up. This year Black Her Stories celebrates her 5th birthday so now is the perfect time to reflect on where we've been and share what is coming next in season three.   ◉ Substack: https://blackherstories.substack.com/  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Website: Nourish.community/podcast

In this episode, we stroll into a conversation with the artist formerly known as Michaela Ayers. With a BFA in Art History from the University of Kansas and a studio practice of collage, ceramics, and fiber arts, multi-disciplinary artist Mickey D is ready to be seen. Facilitated by BHS co-producer Jassmine Parks, this interview dives into Mickey's early childhood curiosities and inspirations. We also chat about her creative routine and the distinction between her collage and ceramics practice.  Our special guest in this episode is someone who knows Michaela's creative impulses very well; her mom Virginia Ayers. Tune in to this family affair, y'all.   In this episode, we talk about:  The inner child Mothers, Grandmothers Cultures of Hospitality  Malcolm X   Resources:  People of Interest Malcolm X  ◉ Newsletter: https://blackherstories.substack.com/  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Get in touch: hello@nourishevents.org 

In this episode, we're floating through the conversations that we've had in this season. Tune in to hear a compilation of conversations that stitch together some of our favorite moments and give you a hint at where Black Her Stories is going next. In this episode, you hear from:  Judy Bowman (judybowmanartist) Takeisha Jefferson (takeishaart) Sydney James (sydneygjames) Sabrina Nelson (sabrinanelson67) Yvette Rock (yvetterockdetroit)  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we're following the creative energy of the city and talking to Detroiters about the art and impact of Sydney James. Murals play an important role in Motor City and this year happened to be the next installment of BLKOUT Walls, the biannual mural festival co-founded by Sydney James. So we popped up at the closing Block Party to chat with community members and the artists who participated in the festival.   In this episode, we spoke to:  Demien De Yonte (@deyonte6908) Khristyn Richardson (kris.goesrawr) Luis Bloom (@luis.bloom) Joe Cazino (@cashiesh)   Resources:  Sydney James Websites:  https://www.sydneygjames.com/ https://www.blkoutwalls.com/ FB: Sydney James Art IG: sydneygjames        ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org 

In this episode, we ride into a conversation with Sydney James. Fine arts painter and muralist Sydney G. James is a girl proudly raised in Detroit. With a BFA from the College for Creative Studies and a background in commercial art, James is a figurative artist whose bold brush strokes have humanized Detroit's industrial skyline.  Not limited to one dimension, Sydney's artwork can be found in private collections, galleries, museums, or on a pair of shoes. Her visual narratives project the complex realities of Black women while interrogating the concepts of safe spaces and community care.  A 2017 Kresge Arts Fellow and a dedicated mentor, Sydney is also the co-founder of BLKOUT Walls, a biannual street mural festival that elevates Black artists and stimulates the city's creative economy.     In this episode, we talk about:  Black Love Girl with the D Earring BLKOUT Walls Street Mural Festival Empowerment Resources:  Sydney James https://www.sydneygjames.com/ https://www.blkoutwalls.com/ FB: Sydney James Art IG: sydneygjames   Detroit References Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club Conant Gardens Highland Park   People of Interest Linda Whitaker Jonni Page Halima Afi Cassells Jadakiss   ◉ Newsletter: https://blackherstories.substack.com/  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Get in touch: hello@nourishevents.org 

In this episode, we float weightlessly into a conversation with Sabrina Nelson. Nelson is a painter by degree from Detroit's College for Creative Studies. Influenced by Yoruba Religion, as well as Eastern and African philosophies, Sabrina's work is a combination of spirit, motion, and intimacy. Not limited by two dimensions, the scope of her work also includes sculpture, objects, performance and installations.  With professional appointments at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the College for Creative Studies, Sabrina Nelson has served as an educator, lecturer, and professional artist for 37 years. Coaching her community on the business of being a professional artist through active studio practice and mentoring.   A tenacious creator whose multi-dimensional art is truly out of this world, Sabrina Nelson is also a recipient of the 2022 Women's Caucus for Arts Lifetime Achievement Award and a 2021 Kresge Arts Fellow.    In this episode, we talk about:  Muses James Baldwin Artivism  The way Black women tell stories  Learn more:  Sabrina Nelson Professional Website IG: sabrinanelson67 Ashara Ekundayo  Ashara Ekundayo Gallery IG: asharaekundayogallery      Detroit References James Baldwin Hangout Spots Bakers Keyboard Lounge Cliff Bells  Willis Show Bar Detroit Institute of Arts Rosie's Diner Gallery Camille  Hermon Futrell Kef Parker (IG: kefparker55) Andrew Wilson (IG: drewberzzz)      

In this episode, we're following the joyful rhythm of the city and talking to Detroiters about their style and art of Judy Bowman.  In this episode, we talk to:  Brianna L Jones,  Chanel Antoinette  Chuck Micheaux   Crystal Delahugh Crystal Marie Valencia Davis Resources:  Judy Bowman  Websites:  https://www.judybowman.com/ IG: judybowmanartist   References Sugar Hill Historic District Krispy Addicts Toni Co Brand Avenue of Fashion  Fox Theater   ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Judy Bowman. Bowman is a mixed-media collage artist whose figurative works celebrate the rhythm and beauty woven into the fabric of Black American culture. Born and raised on the Eastside of Detroit, Judy uses vibrant colors and textured paper to illustrate visual narratives of her family, friends, and the everyday elegance of her community.  Considering herself a visual griot, she sees her job to tell stories that are reflective of her coming-of-age in Detroit's Eastside and Black Bottom neighborhoods. Often compared to Romare Bearden, she too is committed to a Black aesthetic and her craft. Judy Bowman is the recipient of the 2023 Mack Alive Ambassador Fine Art Collection Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2022 Alain Locke Recognition Art Awardee, and a 2021 Kresge Artist Fellow.    In this episode, we talk about:  Jazz and the Importance of Practice Detroit Style and Fashion in the Black Community  Pride, Dignity, and Respect Resources:  Judy Bowman  https://www.judybowman.com/ IG: judybowmanartist Websites:    References Detroit Uprising of 1967 AfriCOBRA Romare Bearden Charles White Jacob Lawrence   Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In the spirit of constant experimentation and eternal expansion, we're doing things a little differently this season. As we continue to explore Detroit as a character through creative storytelling, we thought, what better way to uplift diverse narratives than to let Detroiter speak for themselves?  So we're hitting the streets, talking to strangers, and passing the microphone to members of the community to hear what they have to say.  This very first Community Voice episode was a collaboration between Michaela Ayers and Jassmine Parks. We hope you enjoy.    ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org  

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Yvette Rock. Rock was born in Paramaribo, Suriname in 1975. She received a BFA in 1997 from Cooper Union in New York City and an MFA in Painting from the University of Michigan in 1999. Yvette is the co-founder of Detroit Connections at U of M, and founder and Executive Director of Live Coal - a non-profit organization in Detroit. She has been an artist-in-residence in Detroit schools since 1999, and an active member of her community as a professional artist for 24 years.  Yvette exhibits widely throughout southeast Michigan. Her accolades include three Knight Arts Challenge awards and a Documenting Detroit Fellowship. As a visual artist, community development activist, wife, and mother of five children, Yvette brings a wealth of life experience and insight into her art practice.    In this episode, we talk about:  The power of play and experimentation  Paramaribo, Suriname Memory & Motherhood   Resources:  Yvette Rock  www.yvetterock.com www.livecoal.org Websites:    Referenced Works In Cedars Loving Arms Detroit RePatched Awards Three-time Knight Arts Challenge Awardee. Documenting Detroit Fellowship  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community/podcast  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Takeisha Jefferson. Jefferson is a Michigan native and a seasoned portrait photographer passionate about art history. Her subjects frequently include her family, and her oeuvre also touches on Black womanhood and empowerment themes.  Her photographic storytelling has earned her a feature on Google Arts and Culture and a spotlight in Aida Amoaka's book As We See It: Artists Reshaping Black Identity, which showcases 30 black artists from around the world. As a disabled veteran, wife, and mother of four, Takeisha brings a wealth of life experience and insight into her art practice.   In this episode, we talk about:  The power of the image The gaze How to advocate for Black women artists   In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Takeisha Jefferson. Jefferson is a Michigan native and a seasoned portrait photographer who has a passion for art history. Her subjects frequently include her family, and her oeuvre also touches on themes of Black womanhood and empowerment.  Her photographic storytelling has earned her a feature on Google Arts and Culture and a spotlight in Aida Amoaka's book As We See It: Artists Reshaping Black Identity, which showcases 30 black artists from around the world. As a disabled veteran, wife, and mother of four, Takeisha brings a wealth of life experience and insight into her art practice.  In this episode, we talk about:  The power of representation, advocacy, and the image The gaze How to advocate for Black women artists Resources:  Takeisha Jefferson Website: https://takeishas.com/ Referenced Works Google Arts and Culture Affiliations & Awards Nominated - Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2021 - Wetzlar, Germany Committee Member - My Sisters and Me Women of Color Photographers Member - Women of Color Unite Member - Detriot Fine Arts Breakfast Club Member - Women's Caucus for Art Carrie Mae Weems Website: http://carriemaeweems.net/ Referenced Works The Kitchen Table Series   Jassmine Parks Referenced Work blk    ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @blackherstories  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

Hello there! It's been a minute, but Black Her Stories (BHS) is back! Catch up with BHS creator and host, Michaela Ayers, as she reflects on 2022 and looks ahead at what's on the horizon of a new year.  In season two, we continue our quest of unearthing stories of Black women based in Detroit, Michigan with a focus on visual artists. Together, we'll explore the roles of community, creativity, and history as sources of individual and collective power.  Through conversations with the city's eminent and emerging artists, we will find meaning in colors, shapes, symbols, and textures. We really hope you'll join us!  Season two of Black Her Stories will launch in March. Like, follow, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.       

In this episode, we wander into a conversation with Nandi Comer. Comer is the author of American Family: A Syndrome (Finishing Line Press) and Tapping Out (Northwestern University Press). She also serves as a poetry editor for Obsidian Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora and as the Director of the Allied Media Projects Seeds Program.   Together, we celebrate the work of Vievee Francis. Vievee Francis is a poet, award-winning author, and editor, and currently teaches English and creative writing as an Associate Professor at Dartmouth College. Of her own poetry, Francis said, “I'm very much saying that how African-American women are defined is inhuman in its narrowness and that I, for one, am not going to allow it.” We investigate the power of the persona as a tool for deep empathy, and how Francis's practice of telling stories that break the silence connects to the collective memories of the Juneteenth holiday.  In this episode, we talk about:  The practice of persona in poetry and in community  Creativity is a collective practice Anticipating contradictions within our personal and collective narratives Resources:  Nandi Comer  Website: https://www.nandicomer.com/ Referenced Works American Family: A Syndrome Tapping Out Vievee Francis About: Vievee Francis Referenced Works Forest Primeval Detroit References Hart Plaza The Ambassador Bridge Belle Isle  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org 

In this episode, we wade into a conversation with Jean Alicia Elster. Jean Alicia Elster is an author of young adult novels and children's books. A native Detroiter and former attorney, Elster has published a number of books including - Joe Joe in the City, Who is Jim Hines?, The Colored Car, and How it Happens. Together, we celebrate the work of Ida B. Wells-Barnette. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Over the course of a lifetime dedicated to combating prejudice and violence, and the fight for African-American equality, especially that of women, Wells arguably became the most famous Black woman in the United States. As a skilled writer, Wells-Barnett also used her skills as a journalist to shed light on the conditions of African Americans throughout the South. We explore how Wells-Barnette's practice of courageous truth-telling connects to Elster's role as a writer of young adult fiction. Jean also shares how we might better take care of our inner child and take much-needed time to process.  In this episode, we talk about:  How people and community reinforce our sense of self The importance of life lessons and overcoming obstacles How to take care and protect our inner child Resources:  Jean Alicia Elster - Website: http://jeanaliciaelster.com Referenced Works Joe, Joe in the City Series The Colored Car  How It Happens  Ida B. Wells-Barnette About: Black Past: Ida Wells-Barnette Referenced Works On Lynching   ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we dig into a conversation with Marsha Music. Marsha is the daughter of pre-Motown record producer Joe Von Battle. She's also an acclaimed writer of essays, poems, and narratives on life in Detroit. Together, we celebrate the work of Betty DeRamus. Betty DeRamus is a veteran and award-winning journalist, DeRamus was the jury's pick and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1993. She has been awarded a Michigan Press Association Award, as well as a Deems Taylor award for a profile of Roberta Flack published in Essence. A passion for the troubles and triumphs of ordinary people, Betty DeRamus wrote two nonfiction books, Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad and Freedom by Any Means: True Stories of Cunning and Courage on the Underground Railroad. We explore how DeRamus's practice of creative storytelling connects to Music's role as a griot in the Black community. Marsha also discusses how the history of Detroit informs her identity as a writer.  In this episode, we talk about:  The history of Detroit and the Black Bottom Neighborhood The importance and validity of oral history  How to find inspiration in the place where you live  Resources:  Marsha Music - Website: https://marshamusic.wordpress.com/ Referenced Works The Detroitist Betty DeRamus  About: https://mijournalismhalloffame.org/betty-deramus/ Referenced Works Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad Freedom by Any Means: True Stories of Cunning and Courage on the Underground Railroad.    ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we get into conversation with La Shaun Phoenix Moore. Moore is a Detroit-based vocalist, spoken word artist, activist, culture creator, and wife. She is the recipient of the 2020 and 2021 Creators of Culture Award by CultureSource.  Phoenix is currently working on a memoir that examines the complexities of the Mother Wound. The Mother wound is a type of intergenerational trauma that is informed by how we have experienced mothering.  We also discuss the contributions of Natasha T Miller through her book Butcher. Natasha, is a Detroit native, performance poet, LGBTQ activist, film producer, founder of the “Artists Inn Detroit” and so much more.  In this episode, we talk about:  Vulnerability.   Multiplicity Motherhood Resources:  La Shaun Phoenix Moore -  IG: Detroit Phoenix  Youtube: La Shaun Phoenix Moore   The Motherwound  Natasha T Miller  IG : natashatmiller Facebook @tmillerpoetry  Twitter @tmillerpoetry Butcher  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we dig into a conversation with Imani Nichele. Imani is a Detroit-based poet, rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is the 2018 Detroit Youth Poet Laureate. Her writing has been featured by the Heidelberg Project, Fox Sports, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. In this conversation, we celebrate the work of Lucille Clifton (1936-2010). Clifton is known for her unique writing style that underscores ‘clear truth-telling.' Her sharp, small poems employ understated yet imaginative language that invites the reader into the inner world of a Black woman. We trace the interconnection between Clifton's inner world exploration and Imani's unique perspective as a creative who gives herself permission to be who she is, unapologetically. And who is charting her course through the history that's being made in the here and now. In this episode, we talk about:  Art as a tool for empathy  Reparenting The power of questions Resources:  Imani Nichele - IG: imaninichele_ Lucille Clifton  Biography: The Poetry Foundation Referenced Poems: the lost baby poem  won't you celebrate with me  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Brittany Rogers. Brittany is a poet, creator, educator, and proud native Detroiter. She is a fellow of VONA, The Watering Hole, Poetry Incubator, and Pink Door Writing Retreat. Her writing has been anthologized in The BreakBeat Poets: Black Girl Magic and Best of the Net. Brittany is also Editor-in-Chief for Muzzle Magazine, an M.F.A. candidate, and a Blackburn Fellow at Randolph College.  Together, we celebrate the work of Aricka Foreman. Aricka is an American poet and interdisciplinary writer from Detroit MI. Author of the chapbook Dream with a Glass Chamber, and Salt Body Shimmer (YesYes Books), she has earned fellowships from Cave Canem, Callaloo, and the Millay Colony for the Arts. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Offing, and spends her time in Chicago, IL engaging poetry with photography & video. We thread the needle between Foreman's practice of protective truth-telling with Roger's rituals of delight. Brittany also discusses how she exercises creative risk-taking by infusing a sense of wonder and delight.  In this episode, we talk about:  The Great Migration in the context of Detroit  Infusing honesty with a sense of protection & care  Creative Risk-taking  Resources:  Brittany Roger - IG: brittanyerogers Website: https://www.brittanyrogers.org/ Aricka Foreman IG : blkfemmepoetics Website: https://www.arickaforeman.com/  ◉ Get in Touch: Nourish.community  ◉ IG: @nourish____  ◉ Support this podcast at — https://nourish.community/donate/  ◉ Advertising Inquiries: hello@nourishevents.org

Hosted by Michaela Ayers, this series illuminates the lives and legacies of Black women - past and present - who inspire us and shape our stories. In season one, we're talking to Black women writers in Detroit, Michigan to learn how community informs a creative. And what possibilities exist when creativity meets history. The series premieres on March 9th. Subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts.