Congratulations to the
Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy from
I am so very proud of each of you! Like you, I am a young writer who has a passion for storytelling, taking charge, and making a difference in the world. Remember, you are the generation that will chart the course of the future. Your footprints will be followed by others as the millennium continues. Remember the Leadership: It’s Child’s Play.
LEA DER SHIP
Offers youth ages 7-12 an experience in which they learn and master sports skills along with life and leadership skills in a safe, fun, supportive and challenging environment. This experience involves caring relationships, facilitated learning, experiential learning, and vigorous physical activity. Registration for the Spring 2014 (January-April) session is Nov. 1-Dec. 13. Please contact us to receive the 2014 registration forms. Want to learn more? Call: 269-387-2141; Fax 269-387-2789 Email: lwirer-info@wmich.edu; Website: www.wmich.edu/walkerinstitute Sponsored by Lewis Walker Institute.
www.comvoicesonline.com
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Sonya Hollins: Passionate for Youth Founder of the Merze Tate Travel Club
From left, Shakira Sykes poses with Sonya Bernard-Hollins
MULTI-CULTURAL NEWS SOURCE
Volume 01, Issue 11 Founders Your Community, Your Voice Arlene & James Washington (2005-2010) Publisher Season Press LLC (2010-) Editor-In-Chief Sonya Bernard-Hollins Graphic Design Fortitude Graphic Design Contributing Writer Tate-Stone Travel Writers Contributing Photographers/ Videographers Tate-Stone Travel Writers The Steppes Group For more information visit www.comvoicesonline.com write: Community Voices P.O. Box 51042 Kalamazoo, MI 49005 or call: 269-365-4019
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By Shakira Sykes Before I met Sonya Hollins I thought she would be really boring. But, when I met her I was so wrong. She is a really nice young lady who wants to help young girls learn how to write and experience how it feels to live on campus in the dorms for a week. Hollins was an eighth grader at Hillside Junior High School when she began writing. But her passion for writing started way before that. She was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1967. She loved visiting her grandmother’s house where everyone would love getting the Ebony and Jet magazines out of the mailbox. Her cousins would read the stories to her about the African American celebrities and she would admire the beautiful pictures of the successful actors, professionals, and athletes. Hollins soon developed a passion to meet interesting people and share their stories in a newspaper or magazine. She got her chance for her first interview when she was an eighth grader at Hillside Junior High School. She wrote for the school newsletter and interviewed her classmate Duane Young Jr. He told her he wanted to become a professional football player one day. He did. After graduating from Michigan State University he went on to play for the San Diego Chargers. Hollins became editor of the yearbook and school newspaper at Kalamazoo Central. She has worked for daily newspapers like the Akron Beacon Journal, Kalamazoo Gazette, and the Battle Creek Enquirer. She has also worked with many local papers and magazines and has won awards for her writing and community service. She even worked as a freelance writer for Black Enterprise magazine. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and now is publisher of Community Voices magazine. Hollins has inspired me to follow my dreams. One day, I would also like to do something like the Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy for young girls. *Shakira was one of the 12 girls ages 9-16 selected for the pilot of the Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy held July 7-13, 2013 on the campus of Kalamazoo College. For information call 269-365-4019. Community Voices is published quarterly by Season Press LLC, in Kalamazoo, Mich. Free issues are available throughout West Michigan. Subscriptions are available. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced without permission.
www.comvoicesonline.com
Meet Our Girls Can! Travel Writers What happens when you get a dozen young ladies together on the campus of Kalamazoo College to become reporters? The 1st Annual Shamya Banks 5th Grade Battle Creek Public Schools Shamya wants to travel to Florida and to Africa to help the poor.
Girls Can! magazine features stories, photographs and online videos which highlight their six-day journey to career exploration, travel in Michigan, and the world of media. Makaila Morris 10th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Makaila wants to visit New York and travel abroad to Greece. She aspires to become a psychologist.
Shadae Hillsman 5th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Shadae wants to visit New York and venture “down under� to Australia.
Rickelle Portes 10th Grade Battle Creek Public Schools Rickelle would like to visit New York and travel the world as a professional dancer.
Syann Hollins 5th Grade FBR Charter Academy Syann wants to visit Washington D.C., and to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.
Shakira Sykes 7th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Shakira wants to travel to Texas (again) and visit Puerto Rico. She dreams of owning her own crafts store.
Claire Khabeiry 9th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Claire wants to travel as a member of the WNBA and become an engineer.
Asia Taylor 10th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Asia wants to visit New York during Fashion Week, and abroad to Abu Dhabi...it sounds amazing!
Natasha Mahonie 9th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Natasha desires to travel to New York and London, and to become a pediatrician.
Sierra Ward 6th Grade Kalamazoo Public Schools Sierra wants to visit New York and Hawaii, and venture aboard to China. She wants to study law.
Leigha Marzette 8th Grade Portage Public Schools Leigha wants to become a professional soccer player and travel to France.
Jazmyn Webb 6th Grade Battle Creek Academy Jazmyn wants to revisit New Jersey, and to go overseas to Japan where some of her favorite cartoon artists live. www.comvoicesonline.com
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Pretty Special Farm
Our Travel Writers take time out to perform community service while learning about the amazing farm at Pretty Lake Vacation Camp in Mattawan. Natasha Mahonie was our onthe-spot reporter. Rickelle Portes and Shadae Hillsman were our videographers.
By Natasha Mahonie
MATTAWAN (MICH.)- One place the Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy visited was Pretty Lake Vacation Camp. When we got there we met Jenny Doezema, the farm coordinator of Pretty Lake Gardens. She was a teacher for six years and taught at Milwood Magnet School for two years before working full time at Pretty Lake. In 2008 she begin directing the farm efforts after a partnership with Edison Environmental Science Academy to create the farm. When asked what she liked about her job, she said, “Everything!” She said her job allows her to be outside all day where she plans the farming season for Pretty Lake Camp. She also is responsible to care for the soil, and decides which crops are important to grow as well as when to harvest, weed, plant and water them. Doezema’s other duties include teaching students who visit the garden. The garden produces food that is used to feed campers of Pretty Lake during the summer sessions and to provide to area shelters and other needy organizations. Some of the items grown are cabbage, squash, corn, potatoes, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. On the farm there also is a horse, chickens, goats, and a donkey that has a heart shape in his fur. The Travel Writers visited the camp to learn, and perform a community service project. While there we created a Writing Center in the garden. We worked hard by using a wheel barrel to bring over mulch, which we spread on top of flattened cardboard we placed in a circle. We then put logs around the circle for students to sit on and read when they visit the garden. The time we spent at Pretty Lake Camp with Doezema was awesome. Everyone loved it!
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Be Prepared to see him succeed.
It’s in our mission...
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
It’s in the Scout Oath…
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
It will be part of his success...
91% of men who were Scouts complete high school. 35% of men who were Scouts earn a college degree, and 74% of men who were Scouts own their own home.
Looking for more information or a place to get started? Please visit www.beascout.org or contact the Southern Shores Field Service Council at 269-343-4687.
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Story and photos by Makaila Morris AUGUSTA (MICH.)- The Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy’s Meet and Greet at the Barn Theatre was amazing. Some of the previous members of the Merze Tate Travel Club and new members of the academy got to know each other as we gathered with our families. We participated in the Backstage Xperience before seeing the play, Peter Pan. We had a chance to see where and how the props are made, and learn about the costumes. “Seeing the costumes was my favorite part when we were backstage,” said Asia Smith. “Getting to see how the props were made was really cool,” said Shakira Sykes. Other students were fascinated by what they learned from the crew about what goes on to make the play work. “The best part of the day was watching them fly,” said Shamaya Banks. Natasha Mahonie agreed. “Watching Wendy fly was the best part of the Backstage Xperience,” she said. After the behind-the-scenes tour, we were treated to dinner by the theater staff. Then, we were ready to see the production. The show was amazing and the actors were very nice. “I would love to see (the play) again,” said Rickelle Portes. “I liked when Tinkerbell flew around,” said 7-year-old Sasha Hollins. At the end of the show when we were about to leave, a few of us took a group shot with Robert Newman (who starred as the father and Captain Hook) and Emily Fleming who played Peter Pan. Many people may know Newman as Joshua Lewis on the soap opera, Guiding Light. Fleming is an actress for the Barn Theater and in New York. Overall, I would have to say that my 8
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favorite part of the day was being our official photographer. I loved having the responsibility of doing something so important and having fun at the same time. My first thought when I went to the Barn Theatre was that I did not think I would have as much fun as I did. If I had the chance to go back, I would take that chance in a heartbeat. Getting to meet new people and experiencing something new is always nice. I will remember it forever. Inset, cast members show the secret of how the characters fly. Below, from left, Sierra Ward, Leigha Marzette, and Makaila Morris. Page 9 from top: Family members join in for the Meet and Greet and experience the action of how a play works. Below, travel writers and family pose with the Robert Newman and Emily Fleming.
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May i approach the bench? Three attorneys visited with the Travel Writers on the campus of Kalamazoo College. They shared their motivation on becoming a lawyer, the challenges, and how to defend a client. Dorphine Payne explains court lingo to (left) Jazmyn Webb and Leigha Marzette.
By Leigha Marzette KALAMAZOO (MICH.)- You may remember the nursery rhyme about Jack and Jill. And you might remember the story of Little Red Riding Hood. But, you may not have heard that those three characters were subjects in a recent court case. Well, not really. But, they were used as part of a presentation by members of the Pratt Law Association to the Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy. Attorneys Alisa Parker, Linda Rawls, and Dorphine Payne shared their stories on how they chose their career, and then conducted a mock trial to explained how the court system works. We were divided into three groups, each defending a character for everything from assault and battery to resisting arrest. One lawyer, Payne, really inspired me. She was really good at explaining the law to kids so we can understand.
When Payne demonstrated assault to us, she pretended she was going to hit me. Then, she showed us, battery, which means actually hitting someone. Only, she didn’t hit me. Payne has a really good passion for helping her clients receive a fair trial. She practices family and criminal law, and sometimes she represents people for free---called Pro Bono. Because of her passion, I know she cares about people. These women were the first lawyers I ever met. To me, Payne was the sweetest--unless she is going against me in a trial.
MONDAY OCTOBER 7 6:30–8 PM LOCATED AT Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Texas Township Campus
www.kvcc.edu/collegenight
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Kenjji Jumanne-Marshall is amazingly talented. His work is fantastic! He lives in Kalamazoo with his wife and daughter. We had a chance to interview him while he created caricature drawings of us. Jazmyn: You say you started drawing when you were in kindergarten. What type of drawings did you do? Kenjji: The movie Jaws had come out then, and I loved to draw sharks. I drew those pictures all the time, so much, that my teacher and classmates started to think that I had a problem. Eventually, my teacher called a conference with my parents to see what was up…I didn’t get in trouble. Jazymn: What type of drawings did you do when you were in high school?
By Jazmyn Webb Kenjji: I started drawing faces of my classmates and family members. Jazmyn: What tips do you have for me as an artist? Kenjji: I would say, it is better to draw close ups, so it doesn’t take so much time. Jazmyn: Do you have a sketchbook? Kenjji: No, I do not have a sketchbook; I wish I had one again, I miss it. I do all of my drawing on a computer. Jazmyn: Which of your drawings have you liked the best? Kenjji: I drew one of Mr. T that I really loved. Jazmyn: What big projects are you working on? Kenjji: I am working on a comic book for MTV based on one of their show characters, Teen Wolf.
more kids
ready for school
thelearningnetwork.org www.comvoicesonline.com
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Live at WWMT
While visiting WWMT we were able to go on the set and see the news live! Thanks to Executive Director Erin Flynn the Travel Writers not only learned of the various careers represented in a newsroom, we were able to see professionals on their jobs in ACTION!
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“Linking Youth With Community To Enhance Leadership Development” The Kalamazoo Chapter of The Links, Incorporated salutes the young ladies of The Tate‐Stone Travel Writers Academy.
WILD MUSIC, SOUNDS & SONGS OF LIFE October 5, 2013–January 5, 2014
Explore evidence for the biological origins of music through interactive exhibits and sound experiences—and in the process, expand your understanding of what makes music. Wild Music is a production of ASTC, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Music, with major funding from the National Science Foundation and additional support from Harman International and NEC Foundation of America.
CHEMISTRY DAY
October 12 12–4 pm
The theme for the 26th annual Chemistry Day is “Energy.”
kalamazoomuseum.org 269.373.7990 The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees
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Lucinda Hinsdale was born on September 30 in Vermont. She was 15 years old and already teaching summer school.
Shadae Hillsman researched Lucinda Hinsdale Stone and learned about her connections to Kalamazoo College and the Ladies Library Association. She created a time line of Stone’s most significant events. In addition, the Travel Writers received a surprise visit from Stone’s great niece, Elizabeth Harris, who was visiting from Massachusetts.
Lucinda married James Stone when she was 26. She and her husband moved to Kalamazoo from their home in Glouchester, Mass., to head what would become Kalamazoo College. James Stone resigned from the college 20 years later after allegations that he mismanaged the school’s funds. Lucinda started her own school that operated in her home until it burned down. Lucinda began to write a weekly newspaper called, The Club Tasks, and her family owned and operated the Kalamazoo Telegraph. Lucinda began taking college-age girls abroad to study history, culture, and the arts. She also submitted articles to U.S. newspapers as a travel writer. Lucinda helped organize People’s Church of Kalamazoo, Womens Press Association, and Kalamazoo’s Ladies Library Association-the oldest Women’s Club in Michigan and third oldest women’s organization in the country.
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Lucinda died two years after her husband. She is buried in Kalamazoo’s Mountain Home Cemetery on West Main Street.
Hammond Roto-Finish Congratulates the Tate-Stone Travel Writers on their first Girls Can! Magazine
1600 Douglas Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 www.hammondroto.com 269-345-7151
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By Sonya Bernard-Hollins, founder of the Merze Tate Travel Club As I sat back and watched Claire Khabeiry and Natasha Mahonie help students complete their assignments during the first Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy, I had to smile. The two are freshman in high school now, however, when I met them (2009)they were fifth graders who became members of the Merze Tate Travel Club during our second year. More than three dozen gigging girls joined that year along with charter members Tori Zackery and Kyra Hudson. Since then, the vision to recreate a travel club based on the one founded by Merze Tate has taken on a life of its own. Tate was a Blanchard, Mich. native and 1927 graduate of Western Michigan University. When she couldn’t get a teaching secondary education in Michigan (because she was African American) she went to work in Indianapolis, Ind. at the all-Black high school (created by the Ku Klux Klan) Crispus Attucks High School. There she taught history and started a travel club where she took groups of 40 students to such places as Washington D.C., Niagra Falls, and Philidelphia. In 1932 Tate enrolled at Oxford University in England and in 1935 became its first African American graduate. She taught at historically black colleges, retired from Howard University, wrote academic books on world issues, became an expert in disarmament, a Fulbright Scholar in India, an inventor, international reporter, advisor with the U.S. State Department, and traveler of the world, among many other accomplishments. Upon her death in 1996 she left millions to schools who helped her achieve her dreams---Western Michigan University was one of them. Lucinda Hinsdale Stone came to Kalamazoo with her husband to establish Kalamazoo College in 1843. She also helped form the Ladies Library Association and many other women’s organizations. Stone lived in the 19th century however, took girls abroad to study and shared her adventures abroad as a travel writer. Like Tate and Stone, I have a passion to help other students explore the world, find their passion, and use it to help others. While our travel club has yet to venture overseas, we have experienced the gems our state have to offer. We have visited Stryker Instruments in our own backyard to see robots in action. We have rocked to Motown grooves at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit. The girls have met dynamic women in politics, education, business, and aviation---pilot Monique Grayson is a dynamic role model! I want them to realize as did Tate and Stone, that they can go anyplace on earth...or in the skies! I thank God for everyone who has contributed to this effort. The journey continues! Learn more at: www.merzetate.com
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Women of the World 1
In the near future the Travel Club will finally get an opportunity to travel abroad. In the meantime we heard the stories of area women who have traveled the world, and had fun learning about the international students of Kalamazoo College who treated us to an ice cream social. 1. Bette Boulding 2. Christina McGrinson 3. Lin Cote 4. International students of K College.
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By Syann Hollins I became a member of the Merze Tate Travel Club in 2008. I was five years old when my mother started the travel club after she learned about Merze Tate. Tate had a travel club of her students at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, Ind. (1928-1932) so my mom wanted to create one like it–only for girls. What I liked about the Travel Club before is we got to go more places. It was more fun, but the Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy is fun, too. What I like about this academy, is we get to stay in the dorms; there are really cool. We stayed with a roommate. My roommate was Claire Khaibery and she was in the Travel Club for a long time. We also got to eat in the dining hall. Everyday we went to the computer lab in the library and type our stories. We have gone to a lot of places, but I hope we will be able to go to New York and Niagra Falls next year. When we go abroad, I want us to visit Paris. It seems like a really cool place. I would like to see the Eiffel Tower. I think it is pretty cool being in the Travel Club and meeting new friends! Above: Syann Hollins, far right, is joined by Travel Club members and Irene Bedard, voice of the Disney cartoon, Pochahontas, who we met during a Pow Wow in Dowagiac, Mich. 2009. 18
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The Travel Club: What Next? By Claire Khabeiry In 2009, there was an article in the Kalamazoo Gazette advertising the Merze Tate Travel Club. My mom asked me if I wanted to join. And before I knew it, I found myself at the sign-up event in Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Anna Whitten Hall. I was now a member of the travel club. At first, I didn’t know who Merze Tate was but as soon as I joined the club I was very quick to learn about her. When I first joined, I was a little shy because I didn’t know anyone beforehand and I didn’t know what to expect. I soon found someone from my school who was a member of the Travel Club. Natasha Mahonie and I soon became friends and saw each other both at school and at the Travel Club.
One group went to Blanchard, Michigan, Tate’s birth. The other group went to Battle Creek, Michigan, where Tate graduated from high school. And our group went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where Tate taught at Crispus Attucks High School. We also did a Skype inerview with David Smith, historian at Oxford University in England, where Tate was the first African American to graduate.
I became much more outgoing and started to really enjoy going to our meetings every other Saturday at various places around the Kalamazoo area like Best Buy to be Geek Squad members for the day, and the Ecumenical Senior Center to make applesauce with senior citizens. We also played different games to learned about the places Merze Tate visited on her worldly travels.
Once we got everything we needed we put our videos together to create the documentary, “Who in the World is Merze Tate?” We had a ceremony in the Adrian Trimpe Building at Western Michigan University where we watched the video and all got a copy. People were amazed when they saw what a young group of girls put together.
My second year we decided to create a documentary about Merze Tate with girls from Media Arts Academy. We practiced our interview skills with Sharon Carlson, executive director of Western Michigan University’s Archives and Regional History Collection. We then split into three different groups and headed to places that played an important role in Tate’s life.
This year, we participated in the first Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy held at Kalamazoo College. We stayed for a week, went to many places, and took notes on everything we did. We had such a great time. Who knows what will be next? I can’t wait to find out.
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By Claire Khabeiry, Photos by Asia Taylor LANSING (MICH.)- Not far from the State Capitol is Hall of Justice. The security is so advanced that its cameras can zoom in on a coffee mug in a car parked in its lot. That building also is where the State Supreme Court meets to try cases. The Supreme Court moved to the Hall of Justice in 1970 after leaving its original home in the State’s Capitol. Chief Justice Robert P. Young Jr. sits in the center chair, with six other members of the Supreme Court sitting on either side of him. They serve for eight-year terms. In the same building is the Supreme Court Learning Center. It is used to teach kids about the government and the Constitution. It is important to know your rights so you know what you can and can’t do in a society. Many important things happen in the Hall of Justice and everyone needs to know about the knowledge that it holds. The Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy learned so much during our hands-on experience with amazing tour guides. There are many trials that happen in Michigan’s three levels of courts: trial court, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. There are a total of four million cases presented each year, and only 7,000 get a trial. Of those, 2,500 go to the court of appeals and from those, 250 get to the Supreme Court. Only 100 get an actual
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trial. The rest get looked over and dismissed based on what was read over by judges. The Supreme Court cases are heard by judges only; no jury. During our tour, we learned that there are seven positions in each courtroom. Judge: Works to keep a fair trial. Prosecutor: Represents the case that is being brought to court. They represent the people in a criminal case. Defense Attorney: Represents the person who the case is against. Bailiff: A minor officer who serves as a messenger or usher, and removes people from the courtroom if needed. Clerk: The official responsible for correspondence, records, and accounts and vested with specified powers of authority. Court Reporter: Records every word that is said in a trial. Jury: Made up of six people who listen to what is being presented during trial to come up with a consensus answer on the guilt or innocence of those brought to trial. All of these positions are needed to make a fair trial, which according to the Constitution, is everyone’s right.
A Photo Essay by Claire Khabeiry
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Cathy Ash, assistant vice president/branch manager of Chemical Bank in Kalamazoo, visited with the Travel Writers to share the importance of maintaining good financial credit for their future. Thanks Cathy!
Pregnant with your first baby? We can help!
For more information call:
269-373-5067 www.nursefamilypartnership.org Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department. The HCS Programs are open to all without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
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ROAD TO HOME PROGRAM.
Chemical Bank has been helping families get into the home of their dreams for over 90 years, and is committed to making home ownership a reality. Our Road to Home Program will provide you with a solid foundation of financial skills necessary to own your own home. To learn more about the program or the steps to becoming a homeowner, visit us online or stop by one of our 142 locations.
CHEMICALBANKMI.COM/ROADTOHOME
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Stanley Steppes, CEO of the Steppes Group, partnered with the Travel Writers Academy to bring their media skills to life. Through his Money Smart Kids TV Internet channel, Sierra Wards’ interviews came to life.
During our Meet and Greet at the Barn Theatre I interviewed the owner of the Barn Theatre for MoneySmartkids.tv. Penelope Alex operates the theater with her husband, Brendan. In addition to operating the theater, she is an actress in the theater, which was founded more than 60 years ago by her in-laws, Jack and Betty Ebert Ragotzy. I also had the pleasure of interviewing the president of Kalamazoo College, Dr. Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran is the first female and first African American president of the college. I also interviewed Monique Grayson, a commercial pilot and graduated of Kalamazoo Public Schools and Western Michigan University’s School of Aviation.
Look for Sierra’s interviews on
Moneysmartkids.tv! 24
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Sarah Whitney found her own path on the postcard campus that is Kalamazoo College. Coming from Southfield to Kalamazoo was a challenging and transformative experience. She’s been embarking on K-related adventures— both academic and experiential—ever since. Sarah takes part in many of the College’s groups and organizations. She is part of K’s symphonic band, a member of K-Cheer, and is this year’s vice president of the Black Student Organization. She also took part in Peer Assisted Learning Services, a service-learning project at Woodward Elementary School. A human development and social relations major with a concentration in media studies, Sarah plans to do a senior research project based on her three-month study abroad time in Trinidad. “The best part of Kalamazoo College is how personable the professors are,” said Sarah. “That’s really valuable.”
MoreMore ininFour. a Lifetime. www.kzoo.edu www.comvoicesonline.com
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Dear Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, I would like to personally give you a special Thank You, for sponsoring us to go to this awesome writer’s camp. Thank you for sending us here so that we could meet and write about the amazing women who have made a difference for us today. This experience is really great to have. This opportunity and experience is a lot of fun and informative. We learned about Lucinda Hinsdale Stone, born in the 19th Century, and Merze Tate, born in the 20th Century. The women never met, but both had the desire to see the world and wanted to share their desires with young women in high school and college. In addition to learning about these women for which the academy is named for, campus life is really cool and our dorms are nice. The food is good and we meet a lot of great people. I have met some really cool girls who I am now good friends with. We do nails, talk, and make finish our writing assignments to type in the computer lab each day. We have done fun things like, interview an artist, meet African American women lawyers, and visit Channel 3 News station to see what happens behind the scenes. We met the female executive producer, Erin Flynn. I was on the video and camera crew on most days to follow and film interesting moments. We spent a day in Lansing and went to the Capitol, and the Hall of Justice. We were able to go into the courtroom, where they say not many tourists get to see. This program is very inspiring and I’ve learned a lot. You all are an awesome church family.
Thank you!
Love, Rickelle Portes
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Dear Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Thank you for sponsoring me to attend the Travel Writers Academy. I had a lot of fun. The dorms were roomy and cozy. The cafeteria was a buffet. It has a lot of food and an ice cream machine. It was a lot of fun going places I never been before; like Lansing. We went to the Hall of Justice and I the Michigan Supreme Court-the highest court in Michigan. We also went to the Capital and saw the governor’s office, and paintings of governors from long ago, like Jennifer Granholm. She was governor for eight years (2003-2008) and was the first female governor of Michigan. During our time at the academy, I met a really good artist named Kenjii. He’s working on a comic for MTV called, Teen Wolf. He illustrates children’s books and has one daughter who he likes to draw all the time. He drew a character version of me. . It was really funny, kind of. I hung it up and it is fun to look at.
Shamya Banks
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LATEST AWARD FOR
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Bronson Methodist Hospital was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for stroke care.
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DATE 8.15.13
8/15/13 1:03 PM INITIALS
DATE
Thank You ALL for your contribution to the 1st Annual Tate-Stone Travel Writers Academy. We couldn’t have done it without YOU!
Marge Kars and Sonya Bernard-Hollins, Travel Writer Academy coordinators.
Vanita Aloisio, writing tutor, poses with Travel Writers.
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s l o o h c S c i l b u P o o z a m a Kal ! r e h g i h g n i h are reac ent m l l o r n e g n i s i r • 5 years of y r a t n e m e l e g in • 4 years of ris hool test scores and middle sc s l o o h c s d e t c u str • 2 newly con s t n e d u t s f o r mbe u n e h t e l b u o • D t n e m e c a l P d e taking Advanc st 3 years la e h t n i s e s r u o c l a t n e m n o r i v n • LEED Gold E t Prairie Ridge Certification a Elementary ® e s i m o r P o o z • The Kalama
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