Creating Home, Arts, & Service: Meet Katie Trzaska-Miller

"Through my work with Youth Action Council, I began understanding the broader issues affecting my community, such as socioeconomic disparities and housing inequities. Even as a teenager, I was exposed to the challenges others faced and learned about the people and organizations striving to make a difference. Watching Muskegon change and grow over the past 20-25 years has been fascinating. These experiences influenced my understanding of the vital role community foundations play in supporting and enhancing the places we live." -Katie Trzaska-Miller

MLM Show, Commmunity, Arts, CultureMax Loves MidlandSeptember 26, 2024Comment

Enjoy Life Art: Meet Jazz Benitez

“I was hired at the coffee shop and asked to teach art classes. There wasn't one big defining moment, but rather taking the right steps or pivoting towards what felt good. Being around people who genuinely care about me created a foundation to bravely step into things I've always wanted to do but was too nervous to say yes. I found people who really cared about me as an individual and not just a number on their payroll. Finding my voice made this place home.” -Jazz Benitez

MLM Show, Commmunity, Arts, InclusionMax Loves MidlandAugust 1, 2024Comment

Designing Home: Meet Annie Stout

“My hope for Midland is that our 'vision' statement, 'Midland: an inclusive community. Together. Forward. Bold. An exceptional place where everyone thrives,' becomes a 'reality' statement. No place is ever perfect, and there will always be room for improvement, but we have so many people who care deeply and are working hard to improve our town. I want everyone to feel like they belong here, even if they haven't felt that way in the past.” -Annie Stout

Commmunity, Arts, MLM ShowMax Loves MidlandJuly 11, 2024Comment

Art Seen Festival is set to create three new murals across Midland County this June

The Art Seen Festival is returning to Midland for its fourth year, showcasing mural making and performances by local musicians. The festival will take place June 1 and 2, 2024 and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. This year's festival will feature a community mural in Downtown Midland and two commissioned murals: one in Lee Township and one in The Neighborhood.

Arts, Commmunity, Culture, InclusionMax Loves MidlandApril 25, 2024Midland, wellbeingComment

New MakerSpace opens in Coleman

Free your imagination at COLLAB + Create! The Coleman Area Library invites everyone to explore the new Coleman Digitization Lab (COLLAB) and Create MakerSpace. This recently launched area of the library offers equipment and tools to encourage creative endeavors, hands-on learning and preservation of memories and documents.

Commmunity, Arts, EducationMax Loves MidlandMarch 7, 2024connectionComment

Creating Home: Meet Heather Deogracia

It was an absolute pleasure to learn about the story of California transplant and artist Heather Deogracia. Her in depth education and struggles with mental health challenges have undoubtedly molded her unique perspective of the world. Read on to learn about her bright spirit and the persistence she has needed to push through to be where she is today.

Commmunity, Arts, Culture, Mental Health, InclusionMax Loves MidlandFebruary 1, 2024connectionComment

Detroit Youth Choir Set to Shine at Midland Center for the Arts

I keep seeing clips of the Detroit Youth Choir floating around the internet, so when I heard they were coming to Midland I had to know more! Not only is their energy absolutely contagious, but their singing and dancing is nothing short of incredible!

Commmunity, Arts, Culture, InclusionAnnie StoutJanuary 25, 2024connectionComment

Midland Lunar New Year Celebration Returns February 10th!

Learn all about the 2nd Annual Midland Lunar New Year Celebration coming to Dow Diamond on February 10th, directly from the volunteer committee who work so hard to bring this amazing event to Midland!

Commmunity, Arts, Culture, InclusionAnnie StoutJanuary 18, 2024connectionComment

Preserving John Pratt's Mosaic Legacy: Art and Mental Health

In 1991, tucked away on M-20 in Midland, Michigan, a small cinderblock home became the canvas for one of the most captivating outsider art installations in the state. On walls of this unassuming house, Midland native John Pratt poured his heart and soul into creating mosaic murals using an eclectic mix of materials: shattered pottery, bottle caps, bathroom tiles, and clay pots.

Arts, Commmunity, Mental HealthAnnie StoutNovember 2, 2023Midland, ArtsComment

Inclusivity in the Arts: Exploring Relaxed Performances at Midland Center for the Arts

I had the recent pleasure of talking to Katie Miller, Senior Manager of Community & Group Engagement at Midland Center for the Arts, about their upcoming relaxed performances and why they’re important for the community.

Inclusion, Arts, CommmunityAnnie StoutOctober 26, 2023connection, Midland, ArtsComment

All About the Arts

If I asked you to give me examples of sites that make Midland unique – places and spaces that you might take visitors to show them something that is only in Midland – what might you suggest?

Arts, CommmunityAnnie StoutSeptember 28, 2023connection, Midland, Arts Comments

This is a collection of stories by Midland for Midland. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Do you have an uplifting Midland County story to tell? I would love to hear it and help you share it.