Tonya and Antonio join native Detroiter Candice Fortman to talk all things She Has A Name before a live audience at the community space Spot Lite Detroit. We hear from people involved in the story as well as listeners feeling the impact of the podcast. We want to hear what you think about She Has A Name. Please help us out by filling out a short audience survey: https://www.apmstudios.org/survey
On this podcast, we discuss some heavy topics, including murder and other acts of violence.
Listener discretion advised.
Writer Aize Jama Everett once told me that community holds the key to just about everything, the key to progress, connection, and healing.
Which is why we knew from the start of making this podcast that part of the storytelling would be to gather Detroiters together to explore some of the themes we talked about on the show.
So the day after Mother's Day, we gathered on the east side of the city in honor of Anita and held a live conversation at the community space, Spotlight Detroit.
We were hosted by our friends at Outlier Media, a nonprofit newsroom founded by Sarah Alvarez.
Our moderator was Outlier executive director Candace Fortman, a friend, daughter of Detroit, and the perfect person to convene what was one of the most healing conversations I've had about our story and our love for the city of Detroit.
Candace kicked off the conversation with an acknowledgment of Antonio, who has walked this journey of telling his mother's story with bravery and courage.
To share your story is one thing.
To share your mama is another thing.
So I said to you when you walked in, thank you.
And then he said thank you to me.
And I said, no, thank you.
And that's going to be a lot of what we talk today.
Talk about today is Antonio.
I hope that you walk away from this knowing how deeply you have touched people and how much this story has changed the narrative, has changed our ability to think of ourselves and any shame we might hold about our stories.
So I say that with my whole chest.
Thank you.
Can we give Antonio a round of applause?
I want to describe the event to you because the love in the room was palpable.