“For the future of Midland County, I want young people to know they can get what they seek right here. I want them to stay or return and find a high quality of life, a thriving professional path, and a social fabric that welcomes them.” -Terri Johnson
Read More“I was born a do-it-yourselfer. I've been that way since I was a kid. I once made a pair of glasses out of a fax machine tray and a Dremel tool because I broke my real ones. They didn't work, but I made something. That spirit has carried through my entire journey.” - Lily Kelsey
Read MoreI was born a do-it-yourselfer. I've been that way since I was a kid. I once made a pair of glasses out of a fax machine tray and a Dremel tool because I broke my real ones. They didn't work, but I made something. That spirit has carried through my entire journey.” - Brandon Morey
Read More“I want to see a future where everyone can experience nature, where kids and adults alike can walk, bike, and paddle their way to something meaningful. And I hope we keep making room for one another in the process because places do not just define this community; its people define it.” -Dennis Pilaske
Read More“We opened Chef Sergey’s in 2025, just a couple of years after fleeing Ukraine and arriving here with our family, no credit history and no financial stability. We brought experience in hospitality, a deep love for quality food, and a vision to serve people something meaningful. The bakery was born from that vision—and from necessity.” – Natalia Iakovleva, Chef Sergey’s Bakery
Read More“Before working here, I had a very different idea of Midland. I thought it was all “Sparkle City”—neat, shiny, maybe a bit exclusive. But I was wrong. Midland is a place of incredible depth, inclusivity, and heart. The arts community here is more vibrant than I ever imagined. The people are generous, supportive, and deeply engaged. There’s a space here for everyone—which means a lot coming from someone who once worried she wouldn’t quite fit.“ - Cailey Brown
Read More“Midland is a remarkable place. It’s a city with the heart of a small town where people show up for one another, where someone with no connection to our students rallies around them because they care, and where we prioritize connection, even across differences.“ -Penny Miller-Nelson
Read More“I’ve moved away before—college in Kentucky, work in Memphis and in Davison—but Midland has always called me back.“ -Jacqueline Leapheart
Read More“I want to continue helping shape a community where the arts aren’t just an add-on but a driving force of our identity. Midland has the heart, the vision, and the people to make that happen, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.” - Alex Woody
Read More“When I came back, instead of a fight, I found just an embrace—Midland was ready for what I had to bring." – Tonia West
Read More“I focus on one conversation at a time, hoping people will grow and see the importance of having conversations and listening to each other. Whether we have funding to do it in big places or outdoors in a park, I’ll always do this work.” -Erin Patrice, The Breaking Bread Village
Read More“With Nord Social on the horizon and my new role at Midland County ESA, I'm excited to be part of this community's next chapter.” -Grant Murschel
Read MoreMidland isn't just where I live; it's where I belong. And as we gear up for another pancake dinner, I'm reminded of the power of community, tradition, and a good plate of pancakes. In the end, it's about more than just pancakes, though. It's about being a citizen.” -Mike Williams
Read More“Young people really do have a voice and a place in our community, and have power to contribute.” -Jessica Chai
Read More“In order to experience success county wide, it comes from everybody helping each other out - sharing resources, people, and ideas.” -Skylyr Zink
Read More“If we want a more welcoming, kinder world, then shouldn't it start by at least knowing who lives next door? How can we expect countries to get along if we can't even say hello and call the person by name who shares our lot line? How do you cross borders if you can't even cross the street?" -Joyce Hagen-Flint
Read More"Through my work with Youth Action Council, I began understanding the broader issues affecting my community, such as socioeconomic disparities and housing inequities. Even as a teenager, I was exposed to the challenges others faced and learned about the people and organizations striving to make a difference. Watching Muskegon change and grow over the past 20-25 years has been fascinating. These experiences influenced my understanding of the vital role community foundations play in supporting and enhancing the places we live." -Katie Trzaska-Miller
Read More"I'm someone who wears my heart on my sleeve. Transparency and human connection are so important to me, and that's not something people traditionally associate with government entities. Midland is full of personality, love, and connection; I want to reflect that in our communications. In the past, the City's messaging had been very straightforward and professional but maybe too formal. I believe that kind of communication doesn't always foster trust. I live in this community—I go to the same stores, my kid goes to the same schools. Why should we pretend we don't know each other when we're all working toward the same goals for ourselves and our community? Relating to people more humanly, especially on social media, drives me." -Katie Guyer
Read More"Coming from Dayton, Ohio, it was a whole different world. Dayton is tough—inner city life—and I was used to that. But up here, there was this togetherness, a community vibe. It was exciting, but I didn't know how to fit in. I remember telling my mom during my first week, "I can't do this. I want to come home." And she laid it out for me: "If you come back, you're getting a full-time job and paying bills. Or, you can stay, play basketball, and get your education paid for.” -Pj Weaver
Read More“What we have in common is that sense of caring and loving - love of neighbor and love is a practice. It’s not just something you feel in your heart. It has to begin in your heart, but it’s something in the way you reach out, the way you extend yourself, the way you express yourself, the way you welcome other people into your life and care for their wellbeing. Neighboring is all about how we’re going to allow each other to thrive.” -Wally Mayton
Read More
