(This article first appeared in the Traverse City Record Eagle on June 29, 2020)

Ten years ago, I awoke long before sunrise, in preparation for an early morning meeting. I felt queasy from taking a new medication. It was February, piercingly cold, dark. Several inches of fresh snow covered my long wheelchair ramp and path to the driveway. Lying on my side, I wondered why my prior requests to attend some meetings by phone or computer had been met with such resistance. I knew there were many other people who couldn’t work and volunteer because of their health challenges, lack of transportation or childcare. The clock ticked. I could call-in sick or get out of bed. I went to the meeting.

Now, like many people sheltering at home, I’ve embraced Zoom, Google Chat and Jitsi Meet. These platforms have given me a way to see my health care provider, stay connected to family and friends and meet my work and volunteer responsibilities. These include completing my teaching for the spring semester at Northwestern Michigan College, participating in the five-day Interlochen Writers Retreat and interviewing National Writers Series author, Elaine Weiss.

For these, and other reasons, I’d add tech professionals to our long list of COVID-19 essential workers.

There are numerous advantages to these platforms; audio descriptions for sight impaired folks, closed captioning and the wide use of ASL interpreters for the hearing impaired, recordings of missed meetings/classes and increased opportunities to interact with lots of people in diverse settings. For example, on any given day, I can offer public comment at a variety of public meetings, as well as observe court proceedings. Geography or commuting time are no longer barriers. I can also register for free training webinars on countless topics; from human rights to leadership.

In addition to work and board meetings, I’ve had great fun virtually attending the Cannes Film Festival, touring the Louvre Museum and singing along in concert with performer, Neil Young.

Since May 17, I’ve participated in “Crip Camp: The Official Virtual Experience” — the professionally led virtual camp follows ideas from the 2020 documentary film “Crip Camp” and runs every Sunday until August 30, 2020.

Topics span “Disability Community Culture & Identity” to “Disability, Race, Class, & Gender: Intersectionality,” to “ADA 30 Celebration” and “Let’s Talk About Sex: Our Bodies, Our Lives & Reproductive Justice.”

We, the campers, listen to speakers, process the material through guided exercises and live chat during the gathering. There often is a question and answer section and then the PeoplesHub lead an after-party where attendees assemble to further discuss the content and share thoughts, feelings and connect with others in the national disability community.

The following week on Tuesdays, I’ve continued the week’s theme with the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living Crip Camp Club discussion. From there on Thursdays, I’ve often joined our local Disability Network’s Peer Advocacy meetings. Some weeks, I’ve even been able to add an international related disability group discussion, such as with the International Disability Alliance.

Through each version of Crip Camp I’m learning a great deal about the topics and myself. My community of people with disabilities is now more global and vastly diverse.

By way of these platforms, the world feels both larger and more intimate. And, I never had to leave my house.

Contact Susan Odgers at odgersadapted@yahoo.com.
She is a 33-year resident of Traverse City and has been using a wheelchair for 44 years. She is a faculty member of Northwestern Michigan College and Grand Valley State University.

Hello Friends,
It was a year ago, March 7th, when I got a telephone call from Jerry Younce, RPM Board member and RJJ musical Director. It was just prior to a performance of The Red Jacket Jamboree and his voice was so grave that I feared he had broken an arm, or maybe someone had died.  Fortunately, that was not the case, but he did have bad news. Part of the roof of the former Family Dollar store, had collapsed under the weight of 8-10 feet of snow! The collapse blew out a front window sending shards of glass across the road. Fortunately, no one was hurt. 
​

A cave in was bad enough, but it was even more devastating to me and Real People Media because just a a month before, Family Dollar had sent me an email stating that they would donate the building to Real People Media. After the roof collapsed, Family Dollar Corporation decided they would just tear it down.  It looked like our dream was over!

But we persisted.  I contacted Joe Snow, who was the manager of the the village of Calumet, and explained our situation.  Between myself and Joe, we convinced the company to donate the building AND make a separate financial contribution to pay for the roof repair. 

And that's what happened. We took possession of the building in July of 2019 and Bill Darnell Construction had the new trusses installed and the roof back on in that month.  We saved the 7,600 square foot historic Woolworth's building built in 1948, from demolition!

And even though we have not yet opened, the Keweenaw Storytelling Center is already making a positive impact on the community. We cleaned up the front windows, peeling off orange vinyl left by Family Dollar, and hand painted and installed 9'x12' banners across the entire front.  Ever since, we've been creating window displays to celebrate the work of Real People Media and community events including: 

• Red Jacket Jamboree 
• Copper Dog 150 
• Kraft Hockeyville USA

The empty storefront with orange vinyl, as it looked in January 2017 when it was still owned by Family Dollar.  The seed was being planted for the Keweenaw Storytelling Center

A lot is happening inside the building too! 

• Sprayed the 7,600 square foot basement for mold 
• We're removing 15,000 square foot of flooring/sub floor to reveal the original maple floor
• Removed Vinyl window covering
• Built a 35 foot window platform 
• Removed pegboard from walls converting them into Christmas trees!

AND snow removal!
By the end of January 2020, Calumet had 220 inches of snow and the roof had to be shoveled three times!  This winter alone, we've invested over 150 man hours to keep the roof clean!!  To save costs, Jerry and I volunteered 42 hours of this time, saving RPM over $1,200. Shoveling snow is usually not the work of an Executive Director, but the experience has helped me understand the unique challenges of maintaining our building.  I feel I'm able to make informed decisions about our roof in the future.  But, I'm really ready to put down my yooper scoop for awhile. 

​Real People Media is currently revising our architectural renderings and working to figure out the cost of our renovation which will be funded through grants and donations from people like you who care about our mission. We will be announcing our Capital campaign once renovation costs are determined.  If you'd like to make a donation or pledge your support before this campaign is announced, we welcome you to do so. You may email me at realpeoplemedia@gmail.com for more information.   We look forward to sharing our progress with you!

Sincerely,
Rebecca Glotfelty, Executive Director

The Red Jacket Jamboree brings the old-time radio variety show to the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, December 20th  at 7pm.  The cast of The Red Jacket Jamboree along with musical guests: Jennifer Barnett and Younce Guitar Duo, celebrate the holiday with two hour-long episodes: “A Billie Holiday Holiday” and “Christmas in the Keweenaw.”

Jennifer Barnett is a rising star within the Jazz world.  The Michigan native is currently studying Vocal Jazz Performance at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.  For the past two years, she has been named one of America's top young Jazz vocalists by DownBeat Magazine.  Not yet 20, Jennifer has been performing in Jazz, Pop and Rock ensembles since she was 12.  The Red Jacket Jamboree is excited to introduce you to this rising star!

Younce Guitar Duo takes listeners on a sonic journey woven together by elements of Jazz, Latin, Celtic and other world rhythms.  The collaboration between father and son guitar virtuosos, has led to their distinct sound and exquisite original compositions and arrangements.  Get ready to hear their unique interpretations of your favorite holiday tunes!  

The Red Jacket Jamboree is a NEW old-time radio variety show sharing stories, songs and history from Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.  Hosted by Lena Dorey, the show is performed/recorded in front of a live audience at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan Tech University and also features Martin Achatz, Poet Laureate of the U.P.,the Red Jacket Actors and music by the Copper Cats, with Jerry Younce on guitar, Bill Carrothers on piano, Harry South on bass and Zach Ott on percussion. It's an entertaining show for the entire family.  Adult tickets are $20; Students with I.D. are $5.  The next performance is Friday, December 20th  at 7pm.  The audience is asked to be in their seats 5 minutes before the show. 

The Red Jacket Jamboree is produced by Real People Media, a nonprofit helping people share their stories through the literary, visual, performing and media arts. The 2019/2020 season is sponsored by Copper Country Preservation with financial support from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Humanities Council. Episodes of The Red Jacket Jamboree are distributed by PRX Radio Exchange. For more information about this and other upcoming shows, visit www.redjacketjamboree.org. Reserved seating tickets can be purchased through the box office at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts at (906) 487-3200 or online at: www.mtu.edu/rozsa.