The Breaking Bread Village

08/28/2026

THANK YOU, BRANDON! One of the purest and most rewarding parts of our time in Bay City was meeting Brandon.

At each of our gatherings, Brandon would show up with his positivity ducks (as he does all over Bay City), passing them out and offering a little piece of joy to the people around him. But what stood out to me most wasn’t just the ducks. It was him.

Brandon was always kind, welcoming and positive. There was a genuine openness and generosity about him that you could feel. People like Brandon remind me why I remain hopeful about people.

In a world that can sometimes make it easy to become discouraged or cynical, there are still people quietly choosing kindness, looking for ways to make someone smile and giving simply because they have something good in their heart to give.

Brandon, you were a light during our time in Bay City, and you inspired me more than you probably realize. Your heart, generosity, and positivity fueled my own optimism and reminded me to keep believing in the goodness of people.

Thank you for every duck, smile, warm welcome, and every bit of light you brought into the room. Keep being exactly who you are, Brandon. The world needs people like you. And I’m grateful our paths crossed.

To our Village! If you come across little positivity ducks, encouraging cards, small notes of kindness, or anything Brandon could pass along to brighten someone’s day, we’d love for you to donate them! We’ll collect everything and make sure it gets to Brandon so he can continue spreading the joy that he so freely gave to all of us. Sometimes changing the world looks like something big. And sometimes, it looks like a tiny duck placed in someone’s hand with a little bit of encouragement attached.

Thank you, Brandon, for reminding us (me) that even the smallest acts of kindness can travel farther than we’ll ever know. Keep spreading the light. You truly touched my heart!❤️💜

08/28/2026

MIDLAND, WE’RE BACK AT THE TABLE! Our next Live Show Experience is MIDLAND AT A CROSSROADS: WHO ARE WE PLANNING FOR?

Midland is growing, changing, and making decisions today that will impact our community for years to come. So we’re making room for a conversation about the future of our schools, funding, facilities, infrastructure, enrollment, and the decisions that come with planning for what’s next.

But underneath all of those conversations is a bigger question: Who are we planning for? The families who are here today? The students coming next? The people we hope will choose Midland as home? All of the above?

This is not a space created to convince everyone to agree. It is a space to ask questions, receive information, better understand the “why,” share concerns, and hear different perspectives around the same table.

And what better time to have this conversation than during Midland Neighboring Week? Being neighbors doesn’t require us to agree on everything. It does require us to make room for one another.

September 30, 2026, 6- 8 PM, Midland High School

Link to register in the comments!❤️💜

08/27/2026

On Tuesday we closed out the PULSE series in Bay City! One of the many things residents shared was their concerns about housing.

We want to thank the knowledgeable and passionate- Jen Acousta- for creating this video for us.

Residents of Bay City- and the GLBR honestly- and listen to what she has to say. It’s a great share! 💜❤️

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/27/2026

I’ve accepted it. I’m living in my polka dot era!🙃

📸: the great Thor 😊

08/26/2026

PULSE HARVEST REPORT!❤️💜 NOTE: I posted this earlier but made the decision to add the report to our website. It would make it easier for everyone to access it. You could use the QR Code or link below! Thank you☺️

As we close the PULSE process, we are reminded that strong communities are not shaped by reports alone. They are strengthened through relationships, communication, trust, shared responsibility, and people willing to keep showing up.

Over the past five months- residents, business owners, leaders, organizations, and stakeholders shared their concerns, hopes, perspectives, and ideas for Bay City. While viewpoints varied, one thing remained clear: people care deeply about this community and want to see it thrive.

PULSE was never intended to provide all the answers (of course not😊.) It served as an amazing story to tell (and what a breathtaking story you have.) This report is a snapshot of what we heard and an opportunity to consider possibilities. We believe progress begins with listening, grows through collaboration, and continues through engagement.

After five months of listening, learning, and sharing space, The Harvest was a beautiful way to close this chapter. Now, we leave this report with you to read and reflect on in your own time.

Many thanks you to everyone who shared their voice, time, and perspective with us. We hope this report encourages continued curiosity, understanding, engagement, and investment in Bay City’s future.

The conversation does not end here. In many ways, it is just beginning. We are grateful to have worked and walked alongside you, Bay City. Thank you for having us.

The Breaking Bread Village Team💜❤️
Link: https://tbbv.org/pulse-bay-city-report

08/25/2026

BAY CITY, YOU SHARED. WE LISTENED. NOW, LET’S GATHER! Tomorrow evening is The Harvest- the final gathering of our PULSE Civic Series And the evening was shaped by what YOU shared with us over the past five months.

You shared concerns about safety and police presence in your communities. We listened. A Lieutenant from the Bay City Department of Public Safety will be joining us to speak directly with the community.

You said you wanted to hear from the people leading and serving your city. We listened. Community leaders and representatives will be there to share what they are doing now, what they see ahead, and their hopes and plans for Bay City.

You shared concerns and questions about housing. We listened. We will share a housing report that takes a closer look at housing in Bay City and the Great Lakes Bay Region.

And most importantly, we will share what YOU told us. Your concerns, ideas, hopes, experiences, and your love for your community. For five months, we’ve been listening. Tomorrow, we bring it to the table.
�Tuesday, August 25, 6:00–8:00 PM, Bay City Hall. See you then. 💜❤️

08/24/2026

The Creation Poem Project reception went extremely well. I loved emceeing and supporting this. The Creation by James Weldon Johnson is approaching its 100th year anniversary! And Steve is working on releasing an animated short film set to be released next year. Can’t wait for the premiere! His energy and passion is contagious- surrounding this project- so it was easy to say YES! 💜❤️

The iconic Ernie Carter and Roland Wallace came with the magic. They recited the poem through spoken word with the drum beating in the background. It was everything. 🙌🏾

Thanks to Jeremy Davis- Associate Professor of Sculpture at CMU- for capturing the beauty of the event and the people. 📸

Steve, Cindra, Lori, Martin, and Tami- great job! 👏🏾

08/24/2026

HAPPY HAPPY DAY, KATHLEEN! 🎉
Today we get to celebrate a really great human!

Kathleen has been doing an incredible job bringing our newsletters to life for years, making sure our stories, updates, and all the things happening in The Breaking Bread Village make their way out into the world.

But beyond what she has done for us, Kathleen is simply a wonderful person. Kind, thoughtful, supportive, and someone we’ve been grateful to have as part of our Village and our journey.

Kathleen, thank you for the years you’ve poured into us, supported us, and helped us grow. We appreciate you and hope today reminds you just how appreciated YOU are!

Happy Birthday, Kathleen! We hope this next trip around the sun is a beautiful one! ❤️💜

08/24/2026

CHECK ON THE STRONG ONES PLEASE. A week ago, I learned that my OBGYN passed away. After her passing, I learned that she had been struggling with her wellbeing. I had no idea. And today, I learned that a young woman whose hair I did for years, someone I loved like a little sister, had a seizure and passed away.

I am deeply saddened by both.

And something keeps sitting heavy with me- they were both helpers. The ones who cared for other people, who made people laugh and showed up. The ones people could count on and who gave and gave and gave.

Sometimes we assume the helper is okay because they’re still helping. We assume the strong person is okay because they’re still standing. We assume the person making everyone else laugh has joy of their own. We assume the person checking on everybody has somebody checking on them. And we simply don’t always know.

Life can be so busy, cruel, and unforgiving at times. We spend so much energy worrying about things that- when life suddenly reminds us how fragile it is- really don’t matter. And sometimes the things that actually matter- we miss. The phone call. The conversation. The hug. Sitting together a little longer. Saying I love you. Asking the second question after someone says, “I’m fine.”

Checking on the person who is usually checking on everybody else. Check on your strong friends, your helpers, the people who always seem to have it together, and make everybody laugh.

Life is happening right now. Not when things slow down. Not when the schedule clears. Not when everything is perfect. Right now. So love people while they are here. Give the flowers. Make the call. Take the picture. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Forgive what can be forgiven. Rest. Be present. Say the thing you keep assuming you’ll have time to say later.

Because so much of what we think matters- doesn’t. People do. I am saddened by the loss of two women who spent so much of their lives giving something to others. May we honor people like them not only by remembering how they loved us, but by becoming more intentional about loving one another while we still have the chance. Rest beautifully, ladies. ❤️💜

08/23/2026

This past Monday we had another wonderful Sister ⭕️ Chat!

Lately, I’ve really wanted the ladies to dive into and embrace creativity. To reawaken play, imagination, and simply creating just because it feels good! So this past session, we made bouquets! 💐

A huge thank you to the amazing Phoenix Community Farm and Alaina’s Flower Shop for providing such beautiful, colorful flowers for everyone to enjoy. There was something so special about watching each woman create something completely her own.

But this Sister Circle Chat wasn’t just another gathering. I also wanted to celebrate our Alexis! She’s getting married soon, and for once, I wanted her to get from behind the camera, sit down, relax, and be celebrated! So I gathered a bunch of her favorite snacks and surprised her with an hour that was all about HER! We love ya, Alexis! And thank you, James, for being so gracious and stepping in so she could truly enjoy the moment!

Thank you to the incredibly gifted Reka for showering us with your gifts, AGAIN! We absolutely love it and appreciate you so much! Thank you to Helium House Midland MI for always getting us right with the balloons! They were perfect, as always! Thank you to Live Oak Coffeehouse for providing a welcoming space!

And of course, a HUGE thank you to all the ladies who came out to laugh, create, chat, and share space. You are what makes Sister Circle Chat what it is. You all make this so rewarding! ⭕️💐❤️