90 years in the Motor City with Miss Annie

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Annie Handy is a good friend of my (Khary Frazier) Aunt Joyce Allen and when we met I was surprised to find a woman that’s 97 years old so social-able. It is humbling to know how much driving, talking, and community work Miss Annie still does today. Her interest in American history and Detroit history is humbling to witness and know she has first-hand accounts for most 20th century Detroit history. This interview begins with her sharing of how her mother was murder when she was a child. Her mother’s murder is a Detroit unsolved mystery that involves the infamous ‘Purple Gang’ and Miss Annie’s Uncle. The interview also explores her career as a nurse, social worker, and education from Hamtramck HS/ Wayne State University. Her career path had her working with Attorneys Ken Cockrel Sr. & Otis Culpepper. She also shares about dealing with a husband struggling with PTSD from WWII while raising her sons. Miss Annie’s life is fascinating and her sharing the stories on Detroit is Different wowed me!

What began as a journey engaging hip-hop audiences, has grown into a career as a marketing consultant. As business people have seen my work, I was propositioned many times to provide graphic design, photography, videography, event planning, website development, and social media campaigning. These initial business contracts inspired me to build Creative Differences Marketing. I’ve balanced my entrepreneurial experience with formal education from Walsh College of Business and Accountancy. My degree in Marketing serves me well in understanding many of the formal, universal, and theoretical marketing approaches used in corporate environments.Formulating this business model has been anchored by the success of my BLOG ‘Detroit is Different.’ I create all content for Detroit is Different. This serves as a prototype of the ways I can design events, websites, graphics, music, podcasts, social media campaigns, and e-mail campaigns. ‘Detroit is Different’ focuses on the people and places of Detroit that add to the culture. Through these people and places, themes are driven. These themes will partner with, sponsor, and advertise for businesses and organizations using this innovative multilevel marketing approach.