Unity Through Diversity

04/16/2025

This podcast club is powered by United We Go the Voice of Youth Program! Thanks Hemmeter Elementary School for the opportunity again to allow us working with your students! We will share more clips from students. If you notice big changes in those students, give them a high five 🙌 let them know, they are doing wonderful in the class! 💗

02/03/2025

Last day to register for this semester’s podcast club! 🙌

8 or 10 weeks training can really change a student's life, podcast is not only podcasting, its related to communication, problem solving, confidence, adaptations and think out of boxes and more.

[https://forms.gle/U26YcTYtk14izyMu6]

You don't need to have any experience and we will walk you through the whole training with lots fun and laughters.

01/15/2025

Podcast Club is back!!
Before you registering your child for this semester, we made some changes for this year's workshop, there will be 2 groups of training, one is for new enrolled students, one is for returning students. details can be found on the registration page.
https://forms.gle/U26YcTYtk14izyMu6

In next few days, we would like to share some feedback from the students from last semester's podcast club, First part is what's their favorite part of this podcast club, following the videos will cover: challenge part and what they learned and what they want say to the new enrolled students.

ThanksHemmeter Elementary School Hemmeter Parent Teacher Council for trusting us to work with your students. We are honored to partner with United We Go to bring you this unique workshop to improve students' communication skills, conversation skills, story telling skills and boost their confidence.

If you would like to support this program for us to serve more students, you can hop to our how to support page for more info.
https://www.unitedwego.org/support-us

11/20/2024

Recording day 2!
We officially wrapped up this semester’s “How to Create a Podcast” workshop. 🙌

At the end of the workshop, I asked students few questions to get their feedback!

What’s the most challenging part of this podcast workshop?
1, how to come up questions fast enough,
2, how to not have long pause during the conversation,
3, ask open ended questions

What’s your favorite part of this workshop?
1, recording, so cool to hear my own voice
2, getting to know new people
3, snacks ( yes, snacks 🙌 of course)

What’s one thing you improved?
1, before I was shy to say hi to people, now I feel more confident
2, confidence
3, learn how to ask many different questions

What’s your advice for those who interested in this workshop?
1, it’s might be hard at the beginning, but don’t give up, when you get to recording, you will love it
2, it’s fun and get to know other people

We will share the recording with parents after we done editing part.

We won’t make this workshop happen if we don’t have the support from the communitUnited We GoThis program is powered by United We Go’s new initiative “Voice of Youth”, and we aHemmeter Elementary Schooltudents from Hemmeter Elementary School to be the pioneer of this initiative

If you have any questions about podcast workshop or “Voice of Youth” program, you may reach out to
[email protected] or [email protected]

11/13/2024

Unity Through Diversity is a podcast i created back in 2020, it took me over a year to lunch it and due to the high amount of commitment with United We Go the nonprofit I founded early 2023, I had to put this podcast on pause. 🙏

However I never felt I love this podcast or this creation less than before, actually it allows me to restructure this platform to serve more ppl.

So, the podcast is coming back/ returning soon…
Stay tuned 🙌🙏

11/13/2024

Time flies, recording day 1, one more week, we are going to wrap up this semester’s “How to create a podcast” workshop series!

This is one of the collaborative project with United We Go 🙌 to support youth in improving storytelling and public speaking and communication skills.

It’s amazing to see how those students grow in last few weeks, thanks Hemmeter Elementary School for continuing to provide this workshop for their students. 🙌💜

We will share the clips from their podcasts in next few weeks. 🙏

10/02/2024

Week 1 of our Podcast workshop 💜
Start with Meditation as always to get students calm and relaxed so they can focus on the class.

We started with intro and shared with them how the podcast equipment works, and let them test some of the sound equipment. 🙏

Their favorite part probably is the snacks part 😆
Looking forward to seeing you all next Tuesday for our week 2 class. 🙌

04/18/2024

We officially finished this semester’s “How to create your podcast” workshop. 🎊🎉

9 bright students, experienced what’s feel like to be a podcaster. We reviewed the episodes we recorded. We shared our feedbacks, we brought cupcakes and flowers to celebrate their effort and engagement. 🙌

Gonna miss their faces 🙏

Way to go 👍 Hornets 🐝 , see you all soon. 🔜

04/03/2024

Honored to be interviewed by Bold Journey Magazine 🙏 thank you so much.

I think this will be a great reintroduction of myself for the journey I embarked on in the last few years.
United We Go Inner Sensory Healing Unity Through Diversity

https://boldjourney.com/news/meet-gina-anayana/

Being the only one in the room has been a theme in my life. That lead me to create a safe container for those who felt the same way. 🙏

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gina Anayana. We

03/13/2024

Ep 66 is coming out today at 11:11am! Ben and Lolo from 🙏 special series collaborated with to highlight small business in the Great Lakes Bay Region. 🤩🙏

Tune into any main podcast platforms to get to know more about the team behind this amazing coffee lounge in the community. 🥰

Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

03/13/2024

Hemmeter Elementary School podcast workshop! Week 5 🙌

Things looks like very easy actually needs to put in lots practice and effort. These hornets 🐝 chose to create their own podcast. Because they have something they would like to create, to share with the world. 🌎

We usually starts with meditation to guide students to relax and calm down after all day stimulation in school so we can focus on the workshop. Today we tried to have one student guide us which is really fun 🤩

Week 7-8 will be the recording session. In the last 5 weeks. We worked on podcast structure, we worked on how to ask questions, we worked on designing the podcast layout, we worked on chosing podcast name and potential episodes, we worked on practicing interviewing others and being interviewed by others.

We are not looking for a perfect outcome at the end of these 8 weeks, but a way of presenting your ideas and conduct conversations around this topic, be creative, fun and enjoyable in the learning process.

Soft skills are so very important in these days, working with kids has been lots of fun in my life. So proud of you all and cannt wait to see you all next week. 🥰🙏

03/05/2024

February was filled with many movement, its full but fast. Last day of Feb, I got invited to attend this event from Delta College, Dr. Gavin meeting with the Latino community. (Right? And I was the only Asian in the meeting) I was questioning why I am at a Latino community meeting for quite a while. 😆

During the Q & A part, Dr. Pam said something that reminded me of why I am there. She said, at certain point, we are not only representing those who look like us, but you represent those who also doesn’t look like us. (Not her exact words, just to be clear).

That moment I tune into the core of this meeting. The awareness and acknowledgement of the diversity in our community, the willingness and commitment to work with each other. It’s that the spirit of United We Go?

This belonging is everyone is itching for, belonging is not a place you find on this earth planet, belonging is your choice, when you choose to be somewhere with what you choose to do and to be, the longer you be you, you increase the energy movement. Be-long each time to claim your spot. However, for someone to claim their place, the big environment matters, the community matters. We are choosing a community that is welcoming, supportive, respectful, open minded, honest, loving, diversified.
So proud of the Latino community, they show up, they share what’s on their heart, they speak up for themselves. 🙏

I love delta college offering this kind of community meeting every semester, hear the people out, have a conversation and discussion about what happened. What’s going on and where is heading to.

One day. One day, we look around, recognize not from color, not from race, not from gender, but the love for all that involved. 🙏

Step out from the building and pass by those two big murals installed last summer, and visited Artisan Urban Bistro to finish my last bit of Feb. I am complete. 🙏🙏 love your neighbor. ❤️

02/07/2024

Behind scenes with Chad and Lesley from Reality Check Bay City, LLC 😍 Feb small business highlight 🙏

Tune into for the full interview with Chad and Lesley to get to know their family and services in our community. 🥰🙏 release at 11:11am Wednesday.

We also have fundraising event on 2/16 from 5pm to 11pm at Reality Check. Support small businesses, support non profit. 🙌 Family Fun Fundraising Event at Reality Check Bay City

Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

Platforms you can stream on:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Hf33jK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kepPiz
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3GMkiaN

Connect with Unity Through Diversity on social media:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ZHNpVg
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Hf3gn2
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Hc1Cmc

If you interested in sharing your own story, please fill out interests form:

https://forms.gle/ZDjUqHxWMipyFXAB6

09/25/2023

Gina: Your three biggest challenges when you started bringing public arts to the community?

Sergio: My first year, I think the biggest challenge was the artists actually showing up and doing what they were set out to do. I think the first year I kind of just took people's words for it. I didn't have anything in writing, so there were a couple of people that didn't show up. But luckily we had enough people who were eager to see the success of the project that they kind of stepped up and said, "You know what, so-and-so didn't show up, I'll go ahead and do it." So no-shows were my biggest issue in the first year.

The second year, it was the equipment. We had a lot of faulty equipment. It was my first time placing such a big order for paint and stuff like that, so I wasn't prepared for it. Day one, when everything was supposed to start being in motion, it was a rough start. But I think after the second or third day, everything was just falling into place.

My third biggest issue, seven years into it, is just keeping myself organized with so much going on. My smallest festival was 16 people in 2020 during the pandemic, but every year after that, it's been like 30. The most I've done was 57, and I did two schools at the same time. So it was just kind of splitting myself up in two places. I found the best thing to do is…

Gina: I thought I was crazy with one wall, and now you're telling me you have 30 walls, and you even did 57 with two schools.

Sergio: Yeah, it's been quite the journey.
Interviewer: Speaking of that, I had one project where the paint showed up like three or four days late.

Gina: What did you do in that situation?

To know more about Sergio’s journey please visit:
Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

Platforms you can stream on:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Hf33jK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kepPiz
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3GMkiaN

09/22/2023

Gina: “Do you want to talk about collaboration a little bit? Because of the 57 walls, you are literally working with 57 artists, with the school, with all the sponsors, you know, with the community. So share with us a little bit of your experience with those big collaborations and what are some key points that we need to nail to have a successful collaboration.”

Sergio: “Yeah, I think the most important thing is for everyone to be on the same page, you know, communication, everyone being on the same page. And if any issues arise, we should resolve them as a community, not as individuals. A lot of the preparation work we did beforehand ensured that all the artists' expectations were met and that they felt appreciated.

Me and Ben got there a little early to set everyone up for success. We prepared the background, provided canvases, paints, and individually sized spaces for each artist. This way, everybody knew what they needed and where everything was located. Once they arrived, we asked if there was anything else they needed from us to successfully complete the project.

Luckily, the people you interviewed and chose were a really good group, making collaboration easy. Many people stepped up when needed. For instance, Congo didn't initially volunteer to compile all the images, but he stepped up at the right time. With his help, we were able to bring all the designs together, making them look cohesive as if it was one big project, rather than several individual artists doing their own thing.”

For more detailed conversation, please visit:
Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

Platforms you can stream on:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Hf33jK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kepPiz
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3GMkiaN

Connect with Unity Through Diversity on social media:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ZHNpVg
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Hf3gn2
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Hc1Cmc

If you interested in sharing your own story, please fill out interests form:

https://bit.ly/Utd-Interests-form

09/21/2023

Gina: “How do you feel about this city's mural festival? “

Sergio: “I thought it was a great opportunity. Obviously, Gina was new at it, so I felt like she needed help. She needed someone to guide her in the right direction to make the project a success.

There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes before we actually start the mural, such as the design process and figuring out where the supplies will come from. Safety is also a significant concern, so we want to ensure that the artists have the right equipment for the job.

However, I feel like it all came together with Gina's help. Being there personally to see all these things come to life, I was the one doing all the footwork behind the scenes, handling emails, writing letters, and coordinating with the artists to make sure everything they needed was available. I then relayed that information back to Gina so she could take care of things in person. “

Gina: “Did you think I was a little crazy at that time?”

Sergio: “ I did. Yes, I was surprised when she told me that she had just started this nonprofit and had only three or four months to pull it off. That's a significant challenge. Of course, I didn't want to scare you before you even started. “

This is part of the interview I had with Sergio on his way back to airport after we finished the mural painting.

Sergio Arce- Founder of AWall Mural Projects.

For more detailed conversation, please visit:
Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

Platforms you can stream on:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Hf33jK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kepPiz
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3GMkiaN

Connect with Unity Through Diversity on social media:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ZHNpVg
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Hf3gn2
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Hc1Cmc

If you interested in sharing your own story, please fill out interests form:

https://bit.ly/Utd-Interests-form

09/07/2023

Episode 63 with Terry Dickinson is live on all the major podcast platforms now! 🙏

Terry Dickinson, the Interim Executive Director of Ausable Artisan Village nestled in the heart of downtown Grayling. But that's not all there is to Terry – he's a true luminary in the realm of mural art.

Picture this: back in 1974 to 1975, Terry adorned the streets of Bay City and Essexville with an astonishing 52 murals. Yes, you heard that right – 52 stunning murals that brought life and vibrancy to those communities. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Brace yourselves, because Terry's artistic journey continued with over 200 more murals gracing the charming town of Frankenmuth, with the count still climbing.

But here's where it gets even more intriguing. Our paths intertwined during the "City of Mural" Project by the non-profit organization United We Go. As we embarked on a quest to explore the world of murals, I had the privilege of getting to know Mr. Dickinson on a deeper level. The universe seemed to conspire in our favor, leading me to Terry, who not only continues to actively craft mesmerizing artwork but also calls Grayling his home.

Ever wondered how Bay City earned its moniker as the Mural City? Well, wonder no more, because Terry holds the key to this captivating history. Our conversation, spanning an hour and a half, uncovered the fascinating origins of this nickname and the artistic magic that Terry weaved into its fabric.

Before we wrap up, I invite you to explore the wonders of Ausable Artisan Village. To immerse yourself in the artistry that Terry champions, be sure to visit their website at www.artisanvillage.org. It's a haven where creativity knows no bounds.

You know can stream the podcast at:

Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

Platforms you can stream on:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Hf33jK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kepPiz
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3GMkiaN

Connect with Unity Through Diversity on social media:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ZHNpVg
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Hf3gn2
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Hc1Cmc

09/05/2023

Ep No.63 Brushstrokes of Legacy: Unveiling the Mural Maestro's Journey with Terry Dickinson 🎨

How did you start painting mural from teaching math and physics?

“It was a transition of necessity. I had taken an interim position working with troubled teens in trouble with the court system and spent a couple of years in that role. And then that program ran out of money, so I had to move on. I picked up a teaching position at All Saints and taught there for two and a half years. They were running into some financial issues, so I needed a new occupation. At that point in time, school systems were not hiring teachers with experience because of the pay scale they had to honor. So you'd come in with seven or eight years of experience, and you'd be near the top of a pay scale. It's much cheaper to hire at the bottom of the pay scale. So the prospects of getting another teaching job were slim.

I had done a couple of commissions for the Historical Society, painting backdrops for some displays. One of the ladies at the Historical Society was talking about the upcoming bicentennial. So, this was the 1974 Bicentennial coming in 1976, and our city, Bay City, was not actively pursuing anything to celebrate that event. She suggested the idea that some of the vacant and blighted buildings could be painted with murals. So I went to the Downtown Development Authority and floated the idea. I could sense a great deal of excitement about the concept, and we were doing okay until the question came up: "How many of these have you done?" The answer was, "I haven't. This is just an idea." This is where we were heading. Well, that was in the spring of 1976. Spring of 1974.

And I didn't hear from them. So in the fall of 1974, I talked to the Pontiac dealership because they had the most visible wall right on the blueprint at the base of the bridge. I showed them a proposal. It was an image of the Liberty Bell with the words that are on the Liberty Bell spelled out beside the image. It was a 100-foot by 25-foot, two-story building. My agreement with them was I would not charge them any labor if they would pay for the material. Yeah, that wall was in such bad shape and required so much concrete patching, plaster, and that kind of stuff. It ended up being one of the most expensive murals that I did, and I didn't charge them labor, only for the materials. We put in about 900 pounds of patching concrete to try to fill in around the bricks.
By the time I finished that, I got five more commissions that I was able to start in the spring of 1975…”
- Terry Dickinson, Interim Executive Director

If you would like to know the story after here, please tune into the new episode releasing Wednesday 9/6 11:11am.

You can stream at:

Unity Through Diversity:
Podcast Page: https://bit.ly/3HdI8gN

Platforms you can stream on:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Hf33jK
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kepPiz
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3GMkiaN

Connect with Unity Through Diversity on social media:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ZHNpVg
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Hf3gn2
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Hc1Cmc

If you interested in sharing your own story, please fill out interests form:

https://bit.ly/Utd-Interests-form