The Buzz - a bee line to what we've been up to at the Neutral Zone


We’ve Seen the Signs

You know Neutral Zone is great. We know Neutral Zone is great. And now, the entire community will know (cue evil laugh…) or at least, they’ll be able to find us.

We finally got our front sign, and we’re working on one for the back door venue entrance. Not a lot more to say, except check it out. Oh, and boatloads of NZ love to:

  • Ken Polsinelli & Deb Kern, both of McKinley, who gave us really helpful design advice and shepherded us through the process
  • Planet Neon/Harmon Sign, in Novi, who donated AND installed the sign


Art Show, Berets and Itchy Wool Turtlenecks Optional

Neutral Zone has always been the place where teens come together make music. Now the artists are having their day, too. In December, more than 35 teens displayed their work at NZ’s first Creative Types art show. They came from artistic disciplines as diverse as photography, painting and drawing, ceramics, jewelry, printmaking, music and performance art, but were united in their desire to create community among young… well… creative types.

About 100 lucky spectators visited throughout the evening to meet the artists and view their work. The teens gave artist talks to explain their work and thought processes to the audience and other participants. Afterwards, the artists had the opportunity to talk to each other while the band played and other teens engaged in performance art set to the live music.

Sorry you missed it? Of course you are, so mark your calendars for the next Creative Types: Wednesday, March 28. The event is open to any teen interested in participating and anyone else interested in spectating. All experience levels and medium types welcome. For more information, please email Trevor Stone at trevorwstone@yahoo.com.


Finding Your (Photo) Voice

Are we safe where we live? Where we work? Where we go to school? In December, young women of color at the Neutral Zone explored these questions of safety and safe places through the use of photography.

Initially, six young women put their heads together to brainstorm the idea of safe spaces. They decided to identify objects that made them feel safe, and then place them in unsafe spaces. The participants then met with NZ’s digital arts instructor, Trevor Stone, to learn the basics of photography. After several rounds of taking photos, the young women met to delve into what their pictures had shown them about the concept of safety.

Two teens, Toneisha Jones and Chavonna Bigham, presented their PhotoVoice projects to 19 other community members representing local organizations and Washtenaw County Services. In addition to these two young women,

  • Denise Dalrymple discussed the value of safe spaces as part of the youth development model for the county
  • Janice Amin from the Girl Scouts of Huron Valley spoke about young women and safety
  • Dr. Mark Creekmore of Community Services Systems, Inc. presented thoughts on the ethics of photo voice.

Toneisha and Chavonna hope to present to the Ann Arbor School Board and then possibly a larger segment of community through a public forum. They’re already planning the second photo voice project…

NZ love to

  • our collaborators on this project: Washtenaw Area Teens For Tomorrow (WATT)
  • our funders, the generous James A. and Faith Knight Foundation
  • our project coordinator: NZ Program Advisor, Lauren Whitehead