Black Her Stories

ACT TWO: Peeling Back the Layers of Poverty, Homelessness, and Motherhood

In this episode, Michaela steps into the courtyard of Peggy's Place — COTS's emergency shelter on Detroit's west side. What unfolds is an intimate portrait of caregivers navigating homelessness and generational poverty, told through art and honest conversations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to challenge what they think they know about homelessness — and who gets to tell that story. Links and Resources: * COTS — Coalition on Temporary Shelter: Learn more about the organization Creating Opportunities to Succeed for families experiencing homelessness in Detroit. cots-detroit.org [https://www.cots-detroit.org] * Follow them on Instagram (@cotsmichigan [https://www.instagram.com/cotsmichigan]) * Detroit Action: Discover the culture and community organizing work of Anthony Baber and the Detroit Action team. detroitaction.org [https://www.detroitaction.org] * Revive Mind Counseling: Learn more about Jeffery Williams and his practice in Southfield, Michigan. revivemindcounseling.com [https://www.revivemindcounseling.com] * Poverty Solutions at U of M: Explore the research behind the child poverty statistics referenced in this episode. poverty.umich.edu [https://poverty.umich.edu] * BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter [https://blackherstories.substack.com/] for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories [https://blackherstories.substack.com/].

ACT THREE: Uprooting Poverty Narratives Through the Power of Family

In this episode, Michaela returns to COTS — this time at the Peterboro Arms Apartments, a dignified affordable housing community in Detroit's Midtown. With collage materials in hand, she facilitates a workshop that invites residents and staff to examine the narratives they've inherited about poverty — and imagine new ones. Through intimate conversations, this episode asks: what becomes possible when a community decides to rewrite its story together? This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to challenge the narratives that keep cycles of poverty in place — and find hope in the power of family, chosen or blood, to change them. Links and Resources: * COTS — Creating Opportunities to Succeed: Learn more about the organization supporting families experiencing homelessness in Detroit, and how you can get involved or donate. cots-detroit.org [https://www.cots-detroit.org] * Follow them on Instagram (@cotsmichigan [https://www.instagram.com/cotsmichigan]) * Detroit Action: Discover the culture and community organizing work of co-facilitator Anthony Baber and the Detroit Action team. detroitaction.org [https://www.detroitaction.org] * Revive Mind Counseling: Learn more about licensed therapist and change agent Jeffery Williams and his practice in Southfield, Michigan. revivemindcounseling.com [https://www.revivemindcounseling.com] * Collages from the Project: To see images from the creative storytelling engagement — including the collages made at Peterboro — visit Black Her Stories on Substack. blackherstories.substack.com [https://blackherstories.substack.com] * BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter [https://blackherstories.substack.com/] for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories [https://blackherstories.substack.com/].

Remembering Dr. Rosa Slade Gragg and the Detroit Association of Women's Clubs

In this episode, Michaela is in conversation with Candace and Cidney Calloway of the Detroit Association of Women's Clubs during a live recording of With Love and Flowers, a collaborative event with Black Bottom Archives. Together, they honor the life and legacy of Dr. Rosa Slade Gragg, a visionary matriarch whose leadership cultivated a space for education, political activism, and collective care in Detroit. From the story of the DAWC clubhouse to the enduring power of archives, this conversation reminds us that our stories are precious—and are best remembered when we tell them ourselves. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to learn more about Black women's leadership, Detroit's living history, and the communities working to preserve both. Links and Resources: * Detroit Association of Women's Clubs [https://www.friendsofdawc.com/] Support the restoration of the historic DAWC clubhouse and learn more about the legacy of Dr. Rosa Slade Gragg and the women who helped shape this enduring institution. * Black Bottom Archives [https://www.blackbottomarchives.com/] Discover the exhibit From the Bottom Up and the ongoing work of Black Bottom Archives to preserve Detroit's history. * Marsha Music on Black Her Stories [https://nourish.community/beholding-oral-histories-with-marsha-music/] Listen back to our conversation with Marsha Music for another doorway into the story of Dr. Rosa Slade Gragg and the DAWC clubhouse. * Black Her Stories Newsletter [http://blackherstories.substack.com/] 💌 Join the newsletter on Substack for updates, reflections, and more stories!

Sound Journal, Vol. I: A Sonic Collection of Memories from 2025

In this episode of Black Her Stories, Michaela welcomes the new year with a playful offering—a sound journal composed of voices, moments, and memories gathered in 2025. This expression is less about arriving somewhere and more about honoring where we've been. To view images that accompany these sounds, visit Michaela on Substack and follow Black Her Stories on Instagram for more reflections from the journey. Links and Resources * BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter [https://blackherstories.substack.com/] for a peek behind-the-scenes and join us on Instagram. [https://instagram.com/blackherstories] * Nourish: Discover upcoming workshops, creative offerings, and narrative projects led by Michaela at https://nourish.community/ [https://nourish.community/]

ACT ONE: A Creative Collaboration and the Month of Imagination

In this episode of Black Her Stories, Michaela shares the story of a creative collaboration with COTS Detroit, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families experiencing homelessness. Through conversations with COTS leaders, we explore their radical practice of the Month of Imagination—a full month devoted to rest, reflection, and dreaming beyond limits. Together, we uncover how imagination fuels transformation, how collaboration builds community, and how rest itself becomes a form of resistance. Tune in for a story about creativity, care, and the courage to reimagine what's possible when we pause to dream. Links and Resources * COTS Detroit: Learn more about COTS' mission to break the cycle of generational poverty through housing, partnerships, and family-centered support. https://www.cotsdetroit.org [https://www.cotsdetroit.org] * BHS Newsletter 💌: Subscribe to our newsletter [https://blackherstories.substack.com/] for updates on future episodes, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories from Black Her Stories [https://blackherstories.substack.com/]. * Nourish: Discover upcoming workshops, creative wellness offerings, and narrative projects led by Michaela and the Nourish team. https://www.nourishevents.org [https://www.nourishevents.org]