The Society, Incorporated, Supporting the Arts

is a non-profit national organization dedicated to enhancing, exposing, and promoting youth in the Arts for the betterment of our communities. Our membership consists of hundreds of dynamic, dedicated and professional women of color. Founded 37 years ago in Washington, D.C., we now have 30 chapters in 15 states. We are bonded in friendship and service.

Through our chapters, we hope our impact will:

Produce sustainable and substantive Arts programming nationwide that will fill critical gaps in traditional access points to artistic pathways for talented youth.

Greater Detroit Chapter

Local History

The Greater Detroit Chapter was chartered: November 15, 1997, Detroit, Michigan, by Carolyne Lamar Jordan, Ed.D., National President. We were the first chapter in the Midwest region. Chapter Organizers were Helen Thomas Lothery and Phyllis E. Robinson, Ph.D (current National Membership Chair). Other Charter Members are: Edwina Y. Weiss, Valerie F. Proctor, Patricia L. Solomon, Wilhemina Omar, Minnie Morgan, Mary G. Fritz, and Trudy Ulmer.

Current Members are: Patricia Brandenberg; Sandra Brown, M.D.; Kay Buckner-Seal; Ella J. Davis, Ph.D.; Adrienne Douglas; Helen Dove-Jones; Agnes Estorge Dunbar; Juanita Fields Witherspoon, Ed.D.; Mary G. Fritz; Edythe Hayden Friley; Jeane F. Lee; Jane Hale Morgan; Shirley Jackson; Tommie Johnson, Ed.D.; Valerie F. Proctor; Phyllis E. Robinson, Ph.D.; Nancy Ross; Marian C. Stephens; Patricia A. Pickett; Edwina Y. Weiss; and Shirley Woodson Reid.

Chapter Presidents: Helen Thomas Lothery; Mary G. Fritz; Jeane F. Lee; Phyllis E. Robinson, Ph.D.; Patricia L. Solomon; Edythe Hayden Friley; Juanita Fields Witherspoon, Ed.D.; Marian C. Stephens; Adrienne Douglas; Kay Buckner-Seal and Patricia A. Pickett (current).

COLLABORATIVE MUSIC & DANCE PARTNERS

During the first decade, partners included - Wendy’s School of Dance; James Tatum Student Performing Arts Showcase; Your Heritage House; annual “Festival of Trees” Christmas holiday events; Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History; Arts League of Michigan, and the Dance Theater of Harlem and Virgil Carr Cultural Arts Center “Artist-in-Residence” programs. students. The chapter provided field trips for countless students from Detroit Public Schools students to have an opportunity to observe the Sphinx Organization Competition, annually. Early programs targeted the Elmdale Conservatory, Detroit School of Arts, Langston Hughes Academy and Duke Ellington Performing Arts Academy. Scholarships supported classes conducted by the renowned Marcus Belgrave and others in genres of jazz, pop and classical.

EXPANDED ARTISTIC PARTNERSHIPS

Society Signature Program - “Rising Stars Youth Showcase” is the official signature program required for local chapters to implement on a biennial basis. The Greater Detroit Chapter tapped the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs to obtain funding for “Artistic Vibrations,” where students received professional instruction in performance skills. The “High Tea at The Whitney” provides the setting for showcasing the “Lady Achievers” female vocal ensemble, the “Visions” male vocal ensemble, and Renaissance High School’s instrumental ensemble. For InsideOut, the literary arts project founded by Dr. Terry Blackhawk, Society members have served on the Advisory Board, Board of Directors and as special project reviewers. Bulk purchases of students’ “Calendars of Art and Poetry” were distributed to aspiring artists, and travel assistance was provided for a Detroit poet’s attendance at First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Youth in the Arts” Recognition Program. The Annual Detroit NAACP Branch Student Essay and Art Competitions, benefits from Society members who recruit, screen and mentor students for their submissions for annual competitions. The National Conference of Artists (NCA) Michigan Chapter is a major partner that provides meeting space, facilitation and support for students to attend regional and national arts camps and competitions. Member Shirley Woodson Reid serves as Michigan NCA CEO.

In April, 2019, one of Greater Detroit crowning achievements was serving as host chapter for The Society, Incorporated, Supporting the Arts, Biennial National Conference where honorary member, Virginia Johnson, Artistic Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem headlined our Community Awards Luncheon at the Historic Book Cadillac Hotel. The phenomenal award-winning student talent showcased at the conference were:

• Vision Male Vocal Ensemble, Detroit School of Arts, Director, Cheryl W. Valentine
• The Lady Achievers Vocal Ensemble, Detroit School of the Arts, Director, Cheryl W. Valentine
• One of our major partners, National Conference of Artists (NCA) prepared an art exhibition and featured visual artworks from chapter members, Detroit Public School students and the NCA Student Summer Art Program
• The renowned, Detroit Youth Choir, “America’s Got Talent”, September 14, 2019 – 2nd Place Winners

Most recently, the Greater Detroit Chapter transitioned to an inaugural virtual youth talent showcase, -entitled Arts Showcase: Virtual Style on December 13, 2020. The online event featured dance, vocal music, spoken word, and visual arts. This celebration of youth talent performances was the artistic culmination of collaborative programming with our strategic partners. The virtual audience enjoyed the creative expression from: National Conference of Artists (Visual Arts Exhibition and student Kirah Price) Inside Out Literary Arts, Detroit Windsor Dance School of Dance, Detroit Public Schools Community District Performing Arts Department, and Detroit School of Arts.