Manistee Area Racial Justice and Diversity Initiative

09/30/2026

07/30/2026

The Twisters (Katrina Stierholz and Kristina Stierholz) are back at the microphone tomorrow morning from 9-11am ET!

We have two excellent sets of guests for you, plus music fitting for the County Fair (Manistee County Fair and all the other upcoming celebrations).

Our first guests are Yvonne Sage and Tracy Howard of MARJDI (learn what that means on the show!) and our guests in the second hour will be representing the Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre to talk about the upcoming productions.

Join us at 100.1 on the radio or streaming at WUWU 100.1 Community Radio.

07/27/2026

The Freshwater Reporter just published this article about our friends at the Bear Lake Motel!

A new mural at Motel Bear Lake brings to life the area's farming heritage. Photo: Marta Turnbull. Edited news release BEAR LAKE, Mich.—The sixth and latest mural installation at Motel Bear Lake takes its inspiration from decades of photography and narrative shared by Nicole Mezeske, of Z&N Farm, a...

07/10/2026

We love seeing projects that celebrate the people and stories that make Bear Lake and Manistee County so special.

Thank you Motel Bear Lake, and artist Dania Grevengoed, for investing in public art that honors our shared history and brings people together. We can’t wait for everyone to see it during Bear Lake Days. Go visit!

07/04/2026

MARJDI was well represented in the Manistee Forest Festival parade today. Thanks to all who came out!

06/17/2026

Join us for a free screening of Natchez The Vogue Theatre on June 23rd at 7pm!

Manistee group to host free screening of 'Natchez'
Click the link in the comments 👇️

06/10/2026

Meet author Nico Lang this Saturday at 2pm! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Meet Nico Lang, author of 'American Teenager'
Click the link in the comments 👇️

06/03/2026

Have you seen the new welcome billboards driving around Manistee County lately? These beautiful signs are a powerful visual reminder of what our community stands for.

Thanks to our amazing sponsors this year, we're able to continue to spread the positive message of inclusion to our community. Whether you’ve lived here for generations or are just passing through, you deserve to feel valued, respected, and like you truly belong.

A huge thank you to those that attended our annual Blessing of the Billboards and The Outsider for giving us all a lovely place to gather afterwards.

Let's keep spreading that welcoming spirit everyday!

Our wonderful sponsors include:
Dwelling Realty- KW Northern Michigan
Port City Emporium
The Outsider
Rice & Shine Asian Kitchen
Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce
The Vogue Theatre
Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts
Manistee County Community Foundation
PFLAG Manistee
Motel Bear Lake

06/01/2026

Free webinar this Wednesday at noon!

Growing up disabled can mean navigating more than one set of expectations, from family and culture to identity and access. Join us next week for a virtual discussion called "Growing Up Disabled: Navigating Between Cultures," which will feature a panel of people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities sharing personal stories and strategies. Panelists represent a range of lived experiences and identities, including New American and mixed status families, as well as diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

Event Details:
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom
ASL and CART captioning provided

Register today: https://LeadNavigatingCultures.eventbrite.com

The LEAD program is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council.

[Image description: Flyer for a Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and LEAD virtual event titled “Growing Up Disabled: Navigating Between Cultures.” The event takes place Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. The flyer describes a panel discussion with people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities sharing experiences navigating disability identity alongside family, cultural, and community expectations. Participants will hear personal stories about advocacy, parenting, communication, and access across cultures, and learn strategies for building cultural pride, self-advocacy, resilience, and culturally responsive communities. Registration link: https://LeadNavigatingCultures.eventbrite.com. ASL and CART captioning will be provided. The bottom includes the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council logo and an illustration of a diverse group of people.]