Dear beloved Title Track community,
It’s been a year like no other…a year of grief, recommitment, creative practice, and bold action. A year that ripped our hearts wide open with the devastating loss of our beloved friend and colleague, Holly (ba) T. Bird. A year that saw that grief infused with so much love and inspiration to honor Holly (ba)’s legacy through a recommitment to our work and mission. A year of re-engaging the power of creative practice as Holly (ba) always encouraged us to do – to lift up music, art, and creativity as tools for healing, connection, transformation, dance parties, and joy. A year of courage, boldness, and a commitment to act. Holly (ba) was a mover and a shaker and we feel her encouragement as we do the work of organizing and mobilizing, building community, and creating movements together. A year of love.
As we kick off our end of year fundraising on this Giving Tuesday, which happens to be the day before Holly (ba)’s birthday, we take a moment to reflect on the work that we’ve done this year with a new and powerful ancestor by our side. Honoring her legacy the best we know how – by championing the programs she held dear, by creating fearlessly and passionately, and by doing the work with courage and commitment.
The need for this work feels abundantly clear now more than ever and we invite you to be a part of it. We are grateful for your financial support, your care and encouragement, your shares and engagement through social media, and your participation in our programs. We look forward to turning the page to 2026 and continuing to do our part to support clean water, racial equity, and youth empowerment.
Indigenous Mutual Aid Eagle & Condor
Manape LaMere shares of the meaningful impact that our Indigenous Mutual Aid (IMA) Eagle & Condor has had on Indigenous communities in Episode 56 of State of Water, IMA has provided critical relief to Indigenous families and communities since the early days of the pandemic.
Healing Ourselves
Healing Ourselves in 2025 focused on community-based skill share events while still creating a healing, empowering, and safe space for members of our BIPOC community. Events in Flint and Ypsilanti brought community members together to learn valuable skills, share insights and stories, and enjoy deepening community connections. The Healing Ourselves e-newsletter and Facebook group provided resources, event information, and offered a continuing opportunity to offer and receive support to BIPOC community members across the state of Michigan. Healing Ourselves in 2026 will continue in its focus to provide resources to community members across the state, incorporating the enjoyment of food, shared and diverse stories, histories, and much more.
A year of action
Our State of Water Podcast and Clean Water Campaign for MI have continued the work of advocacy, education, and mobilization. By amplifying efforts of grassroots, community-based campaigns across the state we have energized thousands of concerned citizens across the state and beyond to support the efforts to:
- Shut Down Line 5 and deny permits to the proposed Line 5 tunnel
- Protect the Porkies and fight the proposed Copperwood Mine
- Say yes to Michigan and NO to data centers in Kalkaska, Saline, and across Michigan.
Through our collective efforts, thousands of emails have been sent and petition signatures gathered. Our podcast episodes, video clips, and call to action videos and graphics have reached more ears, eyes, and hearts than any year before – well over 700,000 views and 12,000 social media shares! We know these numbers are having a real impact on the ground as citizens get informed, feel encouraged, and motivated to act in their communities.
Creative practice
A highlight of the year has been some wonderful creations originating from our Collaborative Songwriting for Collective Liberation workshops, hosted and facilitated by Seth Bernard. Seth has travelled from coast to coast and back to Michigan, speaking about oppression, solidarity, justice, and liberation while guiding groups through a collaborative process that culminates with the creation of a brand new song. These songs are absolute gems! Stay tuned for a few more from this year’s archives to be shared on our socials in the weeks to come.
