Standing on Her Shoulders

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  Interview with Valerie Cunningham

  Valerie Cunningham

  This is an interview with the founder and CEO of The Synergy Health Center Valerie Cunningham recorded on January 22, 2025. Ms. Cunningham was interviewed by JB Brown as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Cunningham discusses the following topics:

  • Her childhood in Kalamazoo;

  • Her mother as her main inspiration;

  • Her experience as a Black Woman at a PWI;

  • Pivoting from business to social work;

  • Being a busy mother while pursuing her MSW;

  • Founding the Synergy Health Center;

  • Defining and expanding her vision;

  • How she overcame hurdles in the development of her business;

  • Researching race disparities in mental health;

  • Developing the Black Wellness Network;

  • The importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity in providing services;

  • Her company’s strategies for breaking the stigma around Black mental health;

  • Her thoughts on being a Strong Black Woman;

  • Maintaining her work-life balance;

  • Youth outreach;

  • The future of Black mental health support;

  • Advice to her younger self, and;

  • The importance of archiving Black stories and voices.

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  Interview with Dr. Carla Adkinson-Johnson

  Dr. Carla Adkinson-Johnson

  This is an interview with WMU Professor Dr. Carla Adkinson-Johnson recorded in 2024. Dr. Adkinson-Johnson was interviewed by Dorcas Doku as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Dr. Adkinson-Johnson discusses the following topics:

  • Her childhood and family life;

  • Finding her place in Kalamazoo as a Black Woman academic;

  • Learning from inspirational people in her family;

  • Pursuing her PhD to research Black mental health;

  • Being in academic leadership as a Black Woman;

  • How her faith and family history has led her through her career;

  • Identifying one’s purpose;

  • Her strengths as a professor;

  • The importance of maintaining sisterhood and relationships;

  • Advice to young Black Women in academica;

  • Her definition and measurement of success;

  • Her hope for a racially and ethnically diverse Kalamazoo;

  • The impact of watching her Black students succeed;

  • Winning the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award in 2024;

  • The importance of oral history;

  • Her passion for the preservation of the Black Family;

  • Bible verses that guide her life, and;

  • Balancing her personal and professional lives.

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  Interview with Kim Guess

  Kim Guess

  This is an interview with the owner of The Xperience Kim Guess recorded in 2024. Ms. Guess was interviewed by JB Brown as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Guess discusses the following topics:

  • The significance of opening the first Black-owned multi-use entertainment venue in Kalamazoo;

  • The struggles and pushback she faces as a business owner;

  • Advocating for and diversifying (downtown) Kalamazoo;

  • The importance of collaboration;

  • Reviving the Kalamazoo Island Festival;

  • Her pride in the work that she does;

  • Being a Black Woman entrepreneur;

  • Being an introvert;

  • Being motivated by others in the community;

  • Her advice to entrepreneurs;

  • Her visions for the future, and;

  • Standing on the shoulders of her enslaved ancestors.

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  Interview with TiAnna Harrison

  TiAnna Harrison

  This is an interview with the President of Kalamazoo Public School’s Board of Education TiAnna Harrison recorded on August 22, 2024. Ms. Harrison was interviewed by JB Brown as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Harrison discusses the following topics:

  • Her childhood in Kalamazoo;

  • Founding the Minority Student Awareness Organization at Loy Norrix High School;

  • Being empowered through education;

  • Formative women in her life;

  • Finding her place in Kalamazoo as an adult;

  • Her views on diverse representation;

  • Working for Kalamazoo Community Homeworks;

  • Her desire to help people love learning;

  • How her lived experiences impact her service to the community;

  • Being proud of her children;

  • Being seen, heard, and taking up space;

  • Wanting to be righteous rather than a Strong Black Woman;

  • Advice to her younger self;

  • Fun facts about herself;

  • Supporting Black Women and Girls in leadership positions;

  • Standing on the shoulders of educated and virtuous Black Women, and;

  • Challenging herself and others to do more good.

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  Interview with Melissa Holman

  Melissa Holman

  This is an interview with WMU’s Director of Multicultural Affairs for Students Melissa Holman recorded on August 14, 2024. Ms. Holman was interviewed by JB Brown as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Holman discusses the following topics:

  • Her childhood and family;

  • The challenges of finding her path at Ferris State University;

  • Attending a PWI as a Black Woman;

  • Finding community at university;

  • The importance of her faith;

  • Advice for balancing academics and personal life;

  • Grief and struggling after college graduation;

  • The joy of working with K-12 students at Communities in Schools;

  • Her strategies for supporting college students;

  • Being a CliftonStrenths coach;

  • Being the Director of Multicultural Affairs for Students at WMU;

  • The importance of mentorship;

  • Maintaining her well being in and out of work;

  • Her love of stories and media, and;

  • Inspirational Black People in her life.

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  Interview with Stacy Randolph-Ledbetter

  Stacy Randolph-Ledbetter

  This is an interview with the founder of Black and Blue Networking and Consulting, LLC and retired Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Captain Stacy Randolph-Ledbetter recorded in 2024. Ms. Randolph-Ledbetter was interviewed by Dorcas Doku as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Randolph-Ledbetter discusses the following topics:

  • Her childhood and people that she looked up to;

  • Her journey to working in law enforcement;

  • Raising through the ranks of KDPS as a Black Woman;

  • Founding Black and Blue Networking and Consulting, LLC;

  • Supporting the youth and those coming after her;

  • Being a Black Woman in leadership positions;

  • Frederick Douglass and the Douglass Community Association;

  • Advice to young Black Women;

  • How she measures success;

  • Her legacy;

  • Her hope for Black Women in leadership to be the norm;

  • The importance of archiving Black history;

  • Qualities that she wants to pass onto her children;

  • Her hobbies;

  • The importance of community;

  • Her pride in her ability to help others, and;

  • Bridging the gap between police and the community.