our team:
Michelle S. Johnson
Michelle S. Johnson Ph.D.
Director, CEO, playgrown
Co-Founder, Executive Director, Fire
Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative
Director
Michelle S. Johnson has executed extensive work on securing and promoting spaces where socially marginalized people express their autonomous and authentic selves. As co-founder and executive director of Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative, a cultural venue in Kalamazoo and founder of playgrown, Johnson has facilitated and participated in numerous performances and play experiences. Johnson is also a public scholar in the fields of African American history, oral testimony, literature and cultural production. Johnson taught in Liberal Studies and African American Studies, American Thought and Culture, History and English. She has collected and overseen the collection of numerous oral histories around issues of place, community, race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and history. Johnson served as the Freedom Trail coordinator for the State of Michigan from 2000-2008 and consults on Underground Railroad projects in the state and the mid-west region. She researches, writes and lectures for academic and public settings on aspects of African American culture including Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Detroit and Idlewild. Her scholarship includes a community project in Loughman, Florida researching, interpreting and performing the work of Zora Neale Hurston. As DJ Disobedience, Johnson hosts the weekly Slip Back Soul show on WIDR since 2007 and Fire Soul Show on Fire Community Radio.
http://www.thisisfire.com/index.html
Director, CEO, playgrown
Co-Founder, Executive Director, Fire
Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative
Director
Michelle S. Johnson has executed extensive work on securing and promoting spaces where socially marginalized people express their autonomous and authentic selves. As co-founder and executive director of Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative, a cultural venue in Kalamazoo and founder of playgrown, Johnson has facilitated and participated in numerous performances and play experiences. Johnson is also a public scholar in the fields of African American history, oral testimony, literature and cultural production. Johnson taught in Liberal Studies and African American Studies, American Thought and Culture, History and English. She has collected and overseen the collection of numerous oral histories around issues of place, community, race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and history. Johnson served as the Freedom Trail coordinator for the State of Michigan from 2000-2008 and consults on Underground Railroad projects in the state and the mid-west region. She researches, writes and lectures for academic and public settings on aspects of African American culture including Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Detroit and Idlewild. Her scholarship includes a community project in Loughman, Florida researching, interpreting and performing the work of Zora Neale Hurston. As DJ Disobedience, Johnson hosts the weekly Slip Back Soul show on WIDR since 2007 and Fire Soul Show on Fire Community Radio.
http://www.thisisfire.com/index.html
Craig Wilkins
Craig Wilkins, Ph.D., AIA
Director, Detroit Community Design Center
Senior Lecturer, Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Michigan
2010 Kresge Artist Fellow
Design and Construction Manager
Dr. Craig L. Wilkins specializes in engaging communities in collaborative and participatory
design processes. Wilkins has worked nationally and internationally as a designer, project architect
and urban designer in such varied locations as Detroit, Washington, DC, New York, Houston,
Minneapolis and Accra. He currently serves as the director of the Detroit Community Design
Center at the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning, where he also
teaching in both the architecture and urban planning departments .
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/clwilks/home
Director, Detroit Community Design Center
Senior Lecturer, Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Michigan
2010 Kresge Artist Fellow
Design and Construction Manager
Dr. Craig L. Wilkins specializes in engaging communities in collaborative and participatory
design processes. Wilkins has worked nationally and internationally as a designer, project architect
and urban designer in such varied locations as Detroit, Washington, DC, New York, Houston,
Minneapolis and Accra. He currently serves as the director of the Detroit Community Design
Center at the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning, where he also
teaching in both the architecture and urban planning departments .
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/clwilks/home
Carlos A. Nielbock
Carlos A. Nielbock,
C.A.N. Art Handworks, Inc.
European Master Craftsman
Artist and Fabricator
Carlos Nielbock is a Master Craftsman in architectural ornamental metalwork and design. He started his craft as an apprentice in a German monastery, then trained further in the ancient Journeyman tradition.Specializing in Old World Architectural & Ornamental Metalwork & Designs. Whether it's a reproduction of an original casting, restoration, forging, or a custom design & fabrication project, C.A.N. Art Handworks, Inc., an east-side Detroit business, has the experience & metal-crafting expertise required.
http://www.canarthandworks.com/
C.A.N. Art Handworks, Inc.
European Master Craftsman
Artist and Fabricator
Carlos Nielbock is a Master Craftsman in architectural ornamental metalwork and design. He started his craft as an apprentice in a German monastery, then trained further in the ancient Journeyman tradition.Specializing in Old World Architectural & Ornamental Metalwork & Designs. Whether it's a reproduction of an original casting, restoration, forging, or a custom design & fabrication project, C.A.N. Art Handworks, Inc., an east-side Detroit business, has the experience & metal-crafting expertise required.
http://www.canarthandworks.com/
Laura Sprague
Laura Sprague
Founder, Body Love Project
Trainer
Laura Sprague, has over 14 years of experience as a personal trainer and in that time
has trained a very wide variety of individuals and groups, including other personal trainers,
sports teams, hard-core athletes, arthritis patients, youth, those recovering from physical and
mental illness, physicians, physical therapists, coaches, moms and dads, children, those
with eating disorders, and couch potatoes, each with individual needs for their unique bodies.
http://www.bodyloveproject.com/what-is-the-body-love-project/
Founder, Body Love Project
Trainer
Laura Sprague, has over 14 years of experience as a personal trainer and in that time
has trained a very wide variety of individuals and groups, including other personal trainers,
sports teams, hard-core athletes, arthritis patients, youth, those recovering from physical and
mental illness, physicians, physical therapists, coaches, moms and dads, children, those
with eating disorders, and couch potatoes, each with individual needs for their unique bodies.
http://www.bodyloveproject.com/what-is-the-body-love-project/
Shawntai Brown
Shawntai Brown
Co-founder, TuesdaySaturday
Game Coordinator
Shawntai is a Detroit native specializing in written and theater arts and game design.
She has led play and discussion sessions for youth and adults focusing on promoting
communication, confidence and diversity. She also creates games for special interest
groups and individuals.
http://tuesdaysaturday.wordpress.com/
Co-founder, TuesdaySaturday
Game Coordinator
Shawntai is a Detroit native specializing in written and theater arts and game design.
She has led play and discussion sessions for youth and adults focusing on promoting
communication, confidence and diversity. She also creates games for special interest
groups and individuals.
http://tuesdaysaturday.wordpress.com/