Strong women have left their marks on Jackson since the city was founded in 1829. Lucy A. Thurman, an African-American, lectured around the nation on behalf of the local Women's Christian Temperance Union in the late 1800s. Ella Sharp supported child labor reform, and in 1912 she bequeathed property that would become the Ella Sharp Park.
Today, women are still shaping the face of the community in several areas, from arts and culture to conflict resolution. The four women featured are among the many to continue that tradition. Although their areas of expertise may differ, their focus is the same -- improvement and progress in Jackson, a vision that every resident can appreciate.
Wanda Beavers
Wanda Beavers was tending to her garden when the mailman strolled up the sidewalk. As soon as he reached her Jackson home, dark heavy clouds released a torrent of rain. Beavers ran in the house and emerged seconds later with a raincoat. "I don't want my mailman getting wet," she told him. "Here, take this."
Beavers' offer, which was graciously declined, gives a glimpse into the heart of this 49-year-old woman, also known as "Mama Tutu."
"I love the Lord and I love to give. That's why I'm not afraid to get involved," Beavers says.
Beavers is the resident president of the Partnership Park Neighborhood Association, an initiative designed to improve the standard of living for the 700 residents within a 23-block area, bordered by Washington Avenue, and Morrell, Blackstone and Francis streets. As such, she has organized baby showers designed to provide mothers with nursery staples, and she has volunteered for day-care services within Partnership Park.
In August, Beavers organized a book-bag drive to help supply neighborhood children with school supplies. The drive is ongoing, and donations are being collected at St. John's United Church of Christ, 801 S. Mechanic St. On top of these unofficial duties, this mother of three grown children, who also is raising a 3-year-old granddaughter, operates a residential cleaning service and is an active member of St. John's.
"Wanda is a tireless worker who dedicates much of her time to her church, her neighbors and to the community," says Richard Poor, the church's secretary. "She gives to the point of overflowing."
Beavers, who shies away from accolades, simply refers to herself as the "go-to" person for anyone who needs help.
"I was in a bad car accident years ago," she says. "Doctors told me I'd never walk or talk, but the good Lord must have a plan for me because here I am, walking, talking, and ready to help."
Alison Loveday
Alison Loveday, a Grass Lake resident, is a living testament to the arts. Loveday not only promotes them through her job as the executive director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Jackson County, but she exhibits them personally.
"The arts are not something I take off and put on. They are a part of who I am," says Loveday, 34, whose sleeveless dress revealed tattoos that proved her point, including one depicting masks of comedy and tragedy, symbolic of the theater.
Deborah Herbert of Jackson, whose specialty is cut-paper art, says Loveday's fresh enthusiasm has raised the bar for the local art community.
"Alison has helped to unify local artists under one promotional umbrella," Herbert says. "She has a plan for the next 12 months about how to help members develop portfolios, market their works and more."
Loveday describes her job as a labor of love. "Communities thrive, both spiritually and economically, when arts and culture are an integral part of life," she says, noting that plays, symphonies and the visual arts draw tourists and have a ripple effect on businesses that sell supplies.
"On a personal level, the arts give residents a creative outlet that lets their spirits soar."
That is, in fact, what drew Loveday to the arts in the first place. She fondly recalls attending a theatrical presentation of "Peter Pan" and being fascinated when he appeared to fly out the window. "I told my mom afterwards that I wanted to do that one day."
Loveday was actively involved in theater during middle school and high school and earned a bachelor's degree in arts administration from Eastern Michigan University. She worked for various art agencies throughout Michigan before accepting the position at the Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting arts and culture in Jackson County.
Loveday's 10-year-old daughter, Madison, may someday walk in her mother's shoes. Madison has already found a permanent exhibit for one of her artistic creations — a tattoo that Loveday proudly displays on her forearm.
Cassandra Kramer
Scott Stoner | For the Jackson Citizen PatriotRosequeen Cassandra Kramer, left, and Tina Wright-Mate look over notes during a meeting at Hudson's Grill for co-founders of QUESTIONS.
Jackson County Rosequeen. Successful bow hunter. Dedicated athlete. Cassandra Kramer, a multi-talented 19-year-old from Concord, wears all these hats, as well as an occasional crown, with enthusiasm and a strong sense of purpose.
"She believes her talents are gifts from God and she's passionate about using them to their fullest," says her father, Mark Kramer.
Judging from Cassandra Kramer's long list of civic and altruistic involvement, she is indeed maximizing her talents. Last fall, she co-founded QUESTIONS, an organization aimed at retaining young professionals in the Jackson area. The group meets twice a month in downtown restaurants to discuss what members can do to improve Jackson, says Kramer, adding that about 300 members are registered on the group's Web site.
"I remember attending a youth task force and wondering where all the youth were," she says, recalling most participants were older adults.
With Spring Arbor University graduate Tina Wright, Kramer created QUESTIONS to provide a forum for youth to socialize, network and ask the kinds of questions that would empower youth to become involved. QUESTIONS is in the process of organizing a political forum Sept. 29 to help educate young professionals about voting options this fall.
Kramer, whose close friend died of leukemia, also is dedicated to raising awareness of the National Bone Marrow Registry and its new, less painful procedure. Mark Kramer says his daughter has organized drives that have gotten about 140 people added to the registry, and Cassandra Kramer says one person on the registry has already been called — an action that could save a life.
Kramer is involved in Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth, and she served as a summer intern for the Jackson Enterprise Group. At Spring Arbor University, Kramer is part of Students in Free Enterprise, serves as a Presidential Ambassador and plays on the women's volleyball team. She and her teammates traveled to Nicaragua this summer to play against the national volleyball team, help out at orphanages and serve food to the homeless.
"My ideal job would be to travel around the world as a motivational speaker and use my talents to make a difference," she says. "I love being involved and having a positive impact on other people's lives."
Cathy Brechtelsbauer
J. Scott Park | Jackson Citizen Patriot
Cathy Brechtelsbauer is dedicated to changing Jackson, one youngster at a time. Brechtelsbauer is the co-founder and a coordinator of the Middle School Challenge Project, which is designed to empower middle school students to positively impact the community and reduce bullying, violence and alienation.
The project challenges students to "be the change they wish to see" by encouraging them to notice what they want to change, choose a way to make that change happen and act on that idea.
"Cathy works hard and cares a lot. Her dedication and organizational skills were instrumental in making the Challenge Project happen," says Donald Tassie, superintendent of the DaVinci Institute.
Students form small groups and talk about themselves, touching on the impact of bullying and teasing and how to stop it. In the Line Game, students step over a line when they hear a statement that applies to them, such as "I feel unloved," and see what they have in common with the other students.
"I want to do more than be on committees that write checks to good causes," says Brechtelsbauer, who worked as director of Personnel and Labor Relations for the City of Jackson for the past 10 years. "Helping to coordinate the Challenge Project is one way to do that."
She is, however, quick to credit others. "I'm a small cog in a big wheel designed to cultivate a community of kindness," says the 54-year-old married mother of two. She now works as human resources director for the Jackson County Intermediate School District.
And while Brechtelsbauer may play a supporting role in a large cast, she stays focused on the children. "I'm dedicated to helping kids be good citizens, employees and philanthropists," she says.
Activities for this year's Challenge Project, to be held at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center, will involve three separate full-day sessions Nov. 10-12 and accommodate about 300 students from private, public and charter schools throughout the county, Brechtelsbauer says.
This is the third year for the Challenge Project, a partnership between the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Human Relations Commission, middle schools in Jackson County and other community groups.
Dave Weatherwax | Jackson Citizen Patriot
Erik Holladay | Jackson Citizen Patriot
