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FridayMusings since 2003
Friday, January 26, 2024 Helping define Livonia's Quality of Life
20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias but not without opinion
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Livonia was home Thursday night for nearly 300 who attended two private screenings of "I Love This Country" at the Phoenix
Film writer/producer Rob Turfe was introduced by Council President Brandon McCullough with a follow up panel discussion moderated by Steve Spreitzer
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Livonia is honored to host Rob Turfe and these two showings as we continue to make an impact with dedication to art and culture commented Brandon McCullough in introducing Rob Turfe. |  | |
As Livonia approaches our 75th Birthday having been founded as a city in 1950 we are proud of all that we have to offer our residents. Pride runs from having over 7,000 young people enrolled in our junior athletic league teams, the lowest tax rate in all of Wayne County, having elected our first Woman Mayor 4 years ago, and having over 20 organizations dedicated to art and culture.
I want to thank Cory Jacobson, owner of the Phoenix Theatre as well as 7 other theatres across the Mid-West, for providing us with this opportunity to invite Rob Turfe an independent filmmaker to showcase his newest film at this private screening.
Robert "Rob" Turfe spent nearly a decade as a managing partner with a global management consulting firm. He handled strategy and operational design for clients across several industries. He also has served as managing partner of think tank Applied Minds.
Rob Turfe holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and engineering management from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Before entering the business world, he served in the first Gulf War and peacekeeping missions with the United Nations in the former Yugoslavia. In recognition of his contributions, he received medals such as the Humanitarian Relief Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
Active in the film industry since 1998, Mr. Turfe co-wrote the six-part limited series The Sacrifice by the Euphrates and the film Caution: Children at Play. He is working on a four-part miniseries about global military interventions.
Livonia is honored to have this partnership with Mr. Turfe and the Phoenix Theatre as a part of the FridayMusings Conversation Series.
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"I Love this Country" was one step in appreciating the importance of living and serving together. The Panel Discussion led by Steve Spreitzer asked the next question "What are you doing to make this happen." | |
Does your work life follow you home? Is it hard to separate the two? Well good for you! In my work at the 83 year-old Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion I have spent the past 27 years helping communities organize to make sure people are welcome and treated justly regardless of their race, religion or other identities.
When asked by former board chair of the Michigan Roundtable, donor and dear friend Tallal Turfe to help screen his son's short film, I immediately thought of bringing the film to my hometown of Livonia where my wife and I returned 27 months ago as I wanted to help address the demographic changes in a town with many good people.
Robert Turfe's film cuts to the importance of living and serving together with people who are different from us, which is a lesson every community and organization can benefit from.
Thanks to panelists Ken Barrett, Delisha Upshaw,Teri Weingarden, and event organizer Bill Joyner who made this a part of his FridayMusings Conversation Series.
My question for you is one I ask everyone I meet, especially in the DEI space: what are you doing to make the community where you live more inclusive and free of social injustice?
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Young, Old, Muslim, Jew, Christian. Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard. The audience was a cross-section demographic representing the melting pot that showcases the best in America. All share the thought that in service to America, in life and death, we have a sense of the bond that can unite us for a common understanding of loving our country. | |
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The film conceived by the son of a Dearborn family, a graduate of West Point, an accomplished businessman, and now filmmaker, showcased that in service to America, in the ultimate sacrifice of giving our life, it matters not what faith or nationality from which we are born and raised service is the great unifier, differences fade away, conflicts cease. Humanity becomes one.
When art, in the form of a theatrical release, brings people together, not just sharing space, but looking at people in that space, shaking hands, giving hugs, learning names, and hearing back stories of their life, starting a dialogue to bring understanding, defining commonality, then art accomplishes yet another goal.
Thinking. Expressing. Understanding. Those were the first steps this short film undertook.
As one military veteran conveyed after the showing of this film, "in combat when I lose a brother he is a part of me. This film shared that with all of us."
At 7:00 nearly 125 shared space and started talking. At 8:30 nearly 150 shared space and started talking. This was a partnership thanks to Steve Spreitzer, who was contacted and asked for help to organize a private screening for family, friends, and the curious, and to Cory Jacobson, who understands films' important role in initiating dialogue.
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Thank you to County Commissioner and former Wayne Mayor Al Haidous, pictured here, who played a significant role in the film, and to School Trustee Madeline Acosta who came out to experience this expansion of the arts in Livonia. To our guest panelists Ken Barrett, Teri Weingarden, and Delisha Upshaw.
Steve Spreitzer always knows how to raise the level of conversation, of finding common ground. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the evening. To Brandon McCullough who understands the role art, culture and conversation play in a progressive hometown.
Most importantly thank you Rob Turfe for bringing this message of the bond that can unite us for a common understanding of loving our country.
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Residents continue to rally to save a Livonia anchor building
On Tuesday, with rain and snow mixing to keep most people inside, the intrepid supporters of the citizen movement to repurpose the original Livonia library continued to show just how committed to the cause they are.
Candles were lit, pictures were taken, the spirit of Alfred Noble continues to focus attention on repurposing the Library that opened in 1969, providing decades of services to the most densely populated square mile in Livonia with 10,000 residents calling this historic neighborhood home.
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Mail Address
19514 Bainbridge 48152
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Cell address
734-674-5871
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The typewriter is not available for phone calls or emails Saturday and Sunday. Mental health and rehabilitation time. Out and about enjoying life.
What motivates FridayMusings:
We can't only define Livonia as taking small steps toward maintaining the way things were. That will give us mediocre outcomes. Our goal needs to be innovative and transformative.
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