55: Building Community - Live at Bad Annie's, Featuring Guests Meghan Martin and Summer Schriner by The Speak Easy Podcast

There's no better place to talk about building community than out in the community itself. As our first-ever live show, this episode was recorded live from Arts Night Out at Bad Annie's Sweary Goods in Old Town, Lansing, Michigan. We welcome two special guests: Meghan Martin, interim executive director of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, and Summer Schriner, owner of retail shops Bad Annie's and Grace Boutique, to discuss their experiences building community right here in Lansing.

It's one thing to be a part of your community–but truly building community is another feat entirely. From supporting small businesses to collaborating on large-scale events, what does it take to build, cultivate and maintain a positive neighborhood and community for entrepreneurs, business owners and residents alike?

Our first guest, Meghan, knows a thing or two about supporting local creatives. She shares her insight on all things community: how we can support local art, the process of managing artists, and what creative placemaking really means. Later, we introduce our second guest, Summer. After spending two decades in the Old Town community, Summer has gained a strong foothold on what it takes to cultivate a safe, inviting and prosperous space. From the day-to-day of owning two businesses to how to deal with (literal) shit, Summer shares how she gets the job done.