Ourspace (517)

We are excited to share the views from REO Town in this year's 517 Juneteenth Weekend!? Our team worked all year to produce Mid-Michigan's largest cultural celebration, and we are filled with gratitude as we reflect on the community's response to this program. The 2024 Juneteenth Weekend was our largest event yet and featured 4 days of activities in the REO Town Corridor. Day 1: The "Empowering Black Wellness" Seminar and Mixer featured guest speakers, LeConte Dill, Emilie Smith, Randelle Lenoir, Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, Ashley R. Baker, PhD, and a keynote address by our State Senator, Sarah Anthony. Special thanks to our friends at MSU Federal Credit Union and Jackson National Asset Management, LLC for making this event a huge success! Day 2: Our annual 517 Juneteenth Ice Cream Social hosted hundreds of families for free ice cream by RJs Metro Ice Cream, youth-led vendors, science experiments by Impression 5 Science Center, art activities by Reach Studio Art Ctr, activities by Zap Zone XL - Lansing, health scans by Ingham County Health Department, and the PNC Mobile Learning Adventure, which took over 180 children (0-5 years old) through the immersive learning experience. Day 3: The peak event! The 517 Juneteenth Festival hosted thousands of attendees on South Washington Ave, and featured live performances by award-winning singer/songwriters, Kevin Ross, Tasha Page Lockhart, and many others! We also featured over 70 vendors, a fully stocked Kidz Zone, our Food Court, and more. We danced in the streets all night long! Day 4: We ended the weekend with our 3rd annual Fathers Day Jazz Night, with live performances by Rockelle Whitaker, Michael Reed & The Revelation.? We want to give a huge thanks to all those who attended, partnered, and supported this program.? We'd also like to thank the following sponsors: MSU Federal Credit Union - Exclusive Credit Union Community Foundation - Foundation Sponsor Capital Area Transportation Authority - Community Sponsor Consumers Energy - Community Sponsor Pure Options - Community Sponsor Capitol National Bank - Community Sponsor 517 Sponsors Delta Dental of Michigan Lansing Community College Cinnaire Jackson National Asset Management, LLC AF - Group Ultium Cells LLC Lansing Promise 3 Stacks Sponsors Lansing Board of Water & Light Strange Matter Coffee Co. Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP Milk Means More Neighborhood Sponsors Piper & Gold Public Relations Capital City Market Sarah Anthony Meijer University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Güd Marketing Choose Lansing JEAN JEAN VINTAGE Gillespie Group Recap Video by our Creative Consulting Firm, Ourspace Creative

During part 1 of our Branding Series, we hosted 25 business owners from Ingham County and discussed "Building Community Through Your Story Brand". Brand strategy and positioning are essential when starting and growing a business. Our advice, follow the blueprint of what's been done already and make it 1% better. We've had a great few months offering free services to Ingham County businesses through Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP's Sunrise Program. We'll be hosting part 2 of the Branding Series on March 20th, where we'll be discussing "Community > Transaction: Building a Community Brand". We're close to capacity, so be sure to RSVP using the link below: https://lnkd.in/gpqAGS8h To learn more about workshop opportunities, connect with Ourspace Creative at ourspace517.com. ?? Martin Hernandez III

Our Founder and Executive Director, Mikeyy Austin, leading a group of 25 Ingham County-based business owners in the "Building Community Through Your Storybrand" workshop at Consumers Credit Union. Part 2 of the Branding and Community Building Series is set to take part on March 20th, and will delve into strategies that foster genuine connections and consumer loyalty, transforming your brand into a thriving community hub. If you are a business owner based in Ingham County, sign up below: https://lnkd.in/gQha4nqk

You may be familiar with the work of our nonprofit 501(c)(3), Ourspace Foundation, which hosts the 517 Juneteenth Weekend in REO Town, the 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend in Lansing's Downtown, and many other events and series. But our separately incorporated Creative Consultancy Firm,?Ourspace Creative, has been just as busy! Over at OS Creative, we specialize in strategic marketing, video production, post-production, campaign development and management, digital advertising, and event curation. Let us support your organization in amplifying your story, next campaign,?suite of services, or your brand's products. Be sure to like us over at?Ourspace Creative and connect with us at?https://lnkd.in/g-KAdneF?for more information!

Part 3 of the OURstories Campaign, in collaboration with?Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP?and?Ingham County?highlights the work of Stella Bleu Designs. Stella Bleu is an events planning and design company, owned by our friends, Jenna and Domonique. They create. You celebrate. They have a specific focus on high quality experiences, trendy decor, and ballon artistry. To connect with Stella Bleu for event planning and design, be sure to follow them at @stellableudesigns, and check out their website at https://lnkd.in/gQXcPZTA If your organization is interested in creative services, connect with us at?www.ourspace517.com, or email us at?[email protected]! ?? : OURcreative Director- Martin Hernandez III

Part 2 of the OURstories Campaign, in collaboration with?Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP?and?Ingham County?highlights the impactful work of the?Arts Council of Greater Lansing! The Arts Council of Greater Lansing exists to support, strengthen, and promote arts, culture, and creativity in the Capital Region. The Capital Region's artistic and cultural vibrancy is in large part thanks to the Arts Council, as they work to support arts and culture-based events, festivals, programs, and organizations. To connect with the Arts Council for grant opportunities or to support the work of the Arts Council by becoming a donor, you can visit lansingarts.org. If your organization is interested in creative services, connect with us at www.ourspace517.com, or email us at [email protected]!

Some may know of our community engagement work through the Ourspace Foundation, which includes the 517 Juneteenth Weekend and the 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend. Our separately incorporated Creative Consulting Firm, Ourspace Creative, specializes in video production, campaign development/management, strategic marketing, and event curation. Check out Part 1 of our OURstories Campaign, in partnership with Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP and Ingham County's Sunrise Grant, which offered free video production, consultation, and professional development/TA for over 40 small-owned businesses in our region. First up, our friend Nikki Thompson Frazier of Sweet Encounter Bakery Cafe! Sweet Encounter is a full-service bakery that provides gluten free sweets, vegan options, and cooking classes for all ages. If ever you're in need of a little sweetening in your day, stop by their Downtown Lansing location. And if ever your company is interested in an organizational culture activity, consider signing up for baking classes! Learn more about Nikki's story and Sweet Encounter here. And if your organization is interested in creative services, connect with us at www.ourspace517.com, or email us at [email protected]!

Did you miss the 517 Juneteenth Weekend's "Black History. Black Future's" Seminar?! Well, we will be back in REO Town from June 13th - June 16th in 2024, and hope to see you there! Check out this clip from our "Leveraging Culture for Economic Growth" panel discussion featuring our friends, Dwayne Powell, Jr., Tony Willis, and Rashida L Harrison, Ph.D. Visit us below to see the 2023 Juneteenth Lookbook and the official recap video: https://lnkd.in/gj2SUt-h If you're interested in becoming an early bird sponsor for 2024, email us at [email protected] for the sponsorship guide!