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Photos from the 35th Annual Pow Wow

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe celebrated Anishinaabe culture at its 35th annual Powwow July 27 at the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Campground. The event honored veterans and warriors with a Grand Entry ceremony and a veterans song. There were also competitions for dancers of all ages. U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico participated in the powwow, serving as a dignitary during the Grand Entry and addressing the audience after the ceremony.



Cody Scanlan | Photo Editor

Sara Kellner | Editor-in-Chief 

Home Away From Home

CMU professors showcase their offices including mythical figures, historic posters and more.

A Year in Photos

 

This year saw some of Central Michigan Life's photographers go across the country to capture history in the making. From celebrating Central Michigan University’s 125th anniversary to a presidential inauguration, here are some of the top images of 2017.

Allison Zywicki: Racial reconciliation in Detroit

Mack Avenue Community Church in East Detroit is a staple in the community. MACC, located on the corner of Mack Avenue and Harding Street, works to foster racial reconciliation "block by block, neighbor by neighbor." 

The church is led by Executive Pastor and Pastor of Community Development Leon Stevenson and Lead Pastor Eric Russ. They are also assisted by a group of church elders and a Director of Operations. MACC lists their vision as "seeing communities transformed both spiritually and physically starting with our own." 

MACC also hosts five ministries including outReach Detroit, MACC Groups, MACC Development, MACC Youth and MACC Kids. On the organization's website, outReach Detroit is described as “an expression of Christian — followers of Jesus Christ — servants caring for others with intentionality so that those who live in the city of Detroit may experience true life."

MACC works to build opportunities for children, church members and the community to grow individually, spiritually and physically.

Mary Lewandowski: Life as a transgender man

Since he was four, Ellyot Gryczewski knew he wanted to be a boy. Two years ago, he took the steps to begin his transition and now the Perrysburg, Ohio graduate student is living life as an openly transgender man.

It was only when he got to college, did Gryczewski decide to start his journey. Once a week he takes a testosterone shot and will have to for the majority of his life in order to regulate his hormones and increase testosterone levels in his body. Gryczewski has recently gotten married to wife Karlie Penn, and is now a father to their daughter, Rien. 

In the future, Gryczewski hopes to open a home for people in the LGBTQ community to live, who have been kicked out of their homes by guardians or family members.

Emma Sydor: Refugees in Michigan

In 2016, Michigan resettled 1,300 refugees from Iraq.

Among them was the Al-Dulaimi family. 

Arriving in America eleven months ago, the family of seven settled in Grand Rapids and in their short time in America, the family has developed a strong community with other refugee families.

Ammar Al-Dulaimi refers to their community as his “family in America.” The families help each other adjust to life in America and provide support for each other with everything from helping each other to learn how to read English, paying bills and finding employment. It’s not all hard work though: the Al-Dulamimis and their “family in America” also frequently get together to celebrate holidays and help the younger members of their communities and families with schoolwork. 

Their found family is made up of a number of other refugee families who have been in America for a range from nine months to as long as 12 years.

Veterans

Portraits of student veterans taken on Nov. 10 in the Wightman Hall studio.