The Bright Side is a CEDAM program committed to telling the stories of CEDAM members and other organizations helping Michigan’s people and communities. Each episode focuses on a different topic in community economic development. CEDAM members are invited to submit ideas for the show and participate on the show’s advisory committee. Interested? Send a note to Olivia Courant, courant@cedam.info, 517-485-3588.
Gail Ross gives a highly entertaining acceptance speech that makes everyone laugh.
We are happy to say several CEDAM members received awards at the 2012 Building Michigan Communities Conference.
CEDAM CED Advocate of the Year
Gail Ross, Executive Director of the Hancock Housing Commission
Given to the organization or person who has done the most to advance community economic development in Michigan. Through tremendous perseverance and many hours of hard work, Gail and the Hancock Housing Commission opened the doors of Quincy Haven Apartments in August 2011.
Presented to an inventive CEDAM member that has enlightened the field with new programming, best practices, or policy leadership. Vanguard’s programs extend from a community news phone service to a prisoner reentry and reintegration program.
Scott Allen Davis, Executive Director of Vanguard CDC, and Jamie Schriner-Hooper watch the award introduction video on stage.
HFH Affiliate of the Year
Blue Water Habitat for Humanity (CEDAM member!)
Given to an outstanding Habitat for Humanity affiliate. In 2011, Blue Water Habitat for Humanity contributed over 30,000 hours to construction, deconstruction, advocacy and other projects. Blue Water also participated in the 2011 Legislators Building Communities event.
MSHDA Housing Counseling Agency of the Year
Center for Financial Health (CEDAM member!)
In 2011 alone, the Center served more than 700 households by helping homeowners forego foreclosure and assisting new home buyers realize their goal of homeownership.
MSHDA Counselor of the Year
Laura Castone, Amandla Community Development Corporation
Laura Castone has successfully negotiated satisfactory home retention options for more than 200 Detroit based homeowners and has helped improve the financial management skills and credit awareness of hundreds more.
MDRC Corrie Bair Building Inclusive Communities Award Cheryl Trommater
Granted to an individual making communities and housing accessible to all. Cheryl Trommater advanced numerous initiatives to address what people with developmental disabilities need to live independently.
Recognizes tenants who demonstrate leadership in supportive housing. Teri Durian created support groups for her fellow tenants and makes personal donations to buy food for tenants who do not have enough to eat.
FHLBI Michigan Community Spirit Award
Bernie Williams, CEO of Wanagas Credit Union
Awarded to an individual in the banking industry who is dedicated to affordable housing and community economic development. Under Bernie Williams’ leadership, Wanagas Credit Union helped many households and first-time home buyers.
“You can’t look back in your life and find too many people that have that big an impact on you… Terry was certainly one of them.” – Jim Logue
The Duvernay Award is presented annually by MSHDA to the person who best reflects the ideals and personal qualities exhibited by Terry. The video below vividly demonstrates those ideals and qualities through people who knew Terry best, including Doug Shelby, Patricia Lake, Dwight Robinson, Jim Logue, Linda Smith, Jonathan Bradford, Eugene Kuthy and Mark McDaniel.
Evelyn Brown was announced as the winner of the 2012 Duvernay Award.
Lansing, MI – The Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) is pleased to announce a contest for a theme song. The song is for their monthly television show, The Bright Side, highlighting inspiring, interesting stories from across Michigan. The program features everything from a youth theater group in Detroit to a drop-in art center for the homeless in Grand Rapids and a dog sled race in Calumet.
The contest begins October 4, 2011 and is open to all musicians in any genre of music. The top three entries will be selected by committee after December 31, 2011, and the winner will be decided by a vote through social media. The winner will receive, in addition to having their song featured in each episode of the show, studio time in a Lansing recording studio and/or a music video produced by CEDAM.
“The Bright Side puts the focus on all of the great stuff happening in Michigan and tells the stories that don’t get enough attention in the traditional media,” says emmy-winning PBS television producer Cato Weatherspoon. “This show is interesting, timely, well produced and very important for Michigan.”
The show is made possible by a grant from the Lansing Office of Community Media. The Bright Side currently airs online at brightsidetv.com, on channel 12 Lansing CityTV and is expected to launch on Comcast Cable channel 16 soon. To find out more, enter the contest, become a sponsor or watch episodes, please visit brightsidetv.com. Michigan TV stations interested in airing The Bright Side should contact Tiffany at CEDAM (517-485-3588). CEDAM releases a new 30 minute episode each month.
Theme Song Contest Specifics:
-Format: .mp3 or .wav
-Song length: 2:00 minute minimum – 3:30 minute maximum
-Genre of music: Any
The strongest entries will stylistically fit the animated introduction and suit the positive tone of the show overall. Contestants can have lyrics in their song, but must also submit an instrumental version of the song. Entries should be submitted to courant@cedam.info and will be accepted until 5 pm EST, December 31, 2011.
The Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), a nonprofit organization, represents hundreds of organizations and individuals committed to rebuilding our neighborhoods and revitalizing communities throughout Michigan. CEDAM is a membership association of primarily nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs), community action agencies, and other nonprofits that provide affordable and supportive housing to our most vulnerable citizens, encourage downtown and commercial corridor revitalization, provide workforce and entrepreneurship training, and help families develop and maintain assets. For more information about CEDAM, please visit www.cedam.info.
This week CEDAM is busy polishing up the first episode of our new cable access television show On the Bright Side: Untold Stories of our Community. CEDAM was awarded a $25,000 equipment grant from the Lansing Public Media Center to produce this show.
On the Bright Side seeks to tell the stories of the transformative, inspiring work that is happening within our communities. This show will highlight the efforts of the community development industry and will share resources, best practices and information about community members, nonprofits, and other stakeholders across Michigan. On the Bright Side is committed to providing honest, authentic, accessible programming that will inspire, empower and educate our viewership.
We will be delivering an hour of programming per month for the next two years. Look for it on Lansing Comcast Cable Channel 16 (stay tuned for the day/time). Full episodes will also be available online in the future.
Please let us know if you have a show idea or a story that you would like us to share on the show (tiffany@cedam.info).
The first episode “This is Michigan” features footage from around the state and mini video stories shared with us by great organizations and individuals. Here is a preview!
Northern Initiativeswas one of two CEDAM members who won CEDAM’s 2010 Innovator of the Year award. As part of the award, CEDAM produced videos for both Northern Initiatives and Allen Neighborhood Center. Take a moment to watch this video and see the awesome work that Northern Initiatives is doing! View other CEDAM video productions on our YouTube channel.
