Jun 9, 2026 | Announcements & News, Intercom, Student Events
NMC will host a number of events on Friday, June 19 to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday.
EVENT SCHEDULE
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Juneteenth Community Day.
Free.
Dennos Museum
4 p.m.
A Water Trail film screening.
Free.
Dutmers Theater, Dennos Museum.
5–6 p.m.
Youth activities, vendors, food trucks
Free.
Founders Hall courtyard and Cedar Lot
5:30 p.m.
Children’s story time with TADL
Free.
Founders Hall courtyard
6–7 p.m.
Juneteenth program featuring special guest speaker Tyasha Harrison and guest performer Crystal Woodward-Turner
Free.
Founders Hall courtyard
8–9:30 p.m.
Family Freedom Skate
$5 admission; $5 skate rental
Civic Center, 1213 W Civic Center Dr.
Jun 5, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Tuesday, June 16
3–6 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Rm. 104/105
APPOINTMENTS PREFERRED
*Walk-ins welcome, as schedule allows!
Donate and come get this Smokey Bear shirt-because only you can prevent a blood shortage!
Helpful tip: Make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
For eligibility questions please call 866-642-5663.
May 29, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
What if the greatest risk to global security isn’t a foreign power, but our changing climate? The International Affairs Forum closes its 32nd season with an examination of the U.S. military and its addressing of climate change. Once an “environmental laggard”, our military is now a clean energy and climate leader. In a world where warming temperatures exacerbate everything from terrorism to power plays by Russia and China, the Pentagon now recognizes that “climate readiness is mission readiness.”
This program is supported by IAF members and sponsors and is underwritten by Harold and Pam Lassers.
Sherri Goodman, the Pentagon’s first-ever Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security, will take the audience inside the strategy rooms and onto the battlefield to explore the findings of her book, Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership and the Fight for Global Security. As the Secretary General of the International Military Council on Climate & Security and a former Wilson Center fellow, Goodman has been at the vanguard of this shift for 30+ years.
Goodman argues that we must address climate change with the same alarm as the Cold War nuclear threat, noting that “a warming world exacerbates every threat,” from the stability of our own domestic bases to competition for increasingly scarce food and water abroad. Her work offers a tough yet hopeful “inside story” of the military’s fight for global security, answering the critical question: How can we safeguard both our national defense and our planet?
The discussion will offer unique insights into how military leadership and climate strategy are now inseparable, and what it means for the future of global stability.
When: June 11, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m., program in-person and livestream
Where: Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center
Tickets: Admission is free for current students and educators, including NMC and area secondary schools. Get your tickets at tciaf.com. Advance purchase of in-person or online tickets recommended.
Book sales: Bay Books, 220 N St Joseph St, Suttons Bay, 231-944-6809. Call to reserve a copy or purchase at the event.
May 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) announces the launch of the Giles Press Freedom Lecture, a new annual program championing integrity in journalism and the essential role of a free press in democratic society. The lecture is made possible through a generous legacy gift from the late Robert “Bob” Giles and Nancy Giles, whose lives and work reflected a deep commitment to rigorous, ethical journalism and a compassionate worldview steeped in curiosity.
“Our parents always had a wide-angle lens of the world,” shared Megan Giles Cooney, daughter of Bob and Nancy. “Each of us still carries that sense of curiosity and respect for other cultures that our parents embedded in us. When our father led the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, that same expansive worldview found its fullest expression. He invested in expanding opportunities for international fellows, recognizing that a truly global program required a diversity of voices. Our mother embraced that mission with characteristic warmth, helping trailing spouses and children settle into their year in Cambridge. Growing that international dimension of the Nieman Program brought them both tremendous joy — and kept their eyes, and ours, wide open to the world.”
The inaugural IAF event on May 28, 2026, generally timed to commemorate United Nations World Press Freedom Day, will feature acclaimed journalist Deborah Amos and serve as a tribute to the Giles’ enduring impact on journalism and public life.
“Bob and Nancy Giles believed deeply in the power of education to enlighten, connect, and strengthen communities,” said Alexander Tank, Director of the International Affairs Forum at NMC. “This annual lecture honors their legacy through thoughtful, fact-based dialogue at a time when journalism practice and democratic integrity are being challenged.”
Bob Giles, who served on the IAF Advisory Board and the Editorial Board of the Traverse City Record-Eagle, was an impactful figure in American journalism. As curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University for 15 years, he helped shape generations of journalists and championed the highest standards of reporting and press freedom. His earlier leadership as editor and publisher of the Detroit News earned national recognition for journalistic excellence via his 2nd Pulitzer Prize. Giles’ first Pulitzer was awarded for his team coverage of the Kent State University shootings in 1970.
Nancy Giles, a psychologist and advocate for mental health and education, was an equally vital partner in this work, known for her intellectual engagement, compassion, and steadfast support of journalism’s public mission. Together, their legacy reflects a shared belief in truth, accountability, and an informed civic life.
About the event & speaker
Veteran international correspondent Deborah Amos brings decades of reporting from global conflict zones to northern Michigan for this inaugural lecture. A longtime voice on National Public Radio, Amos has covered the Middle East, migration, and the human consequences of war with depth and clarity. Amos’ work exemplifies the courage, rigor, and integrity at the heart of the Giles Press Freedom Lecture. In conversation, Amos will explore the evolving challenges facing journalists today—from disinformation and declining trust to increasing threats against press freedom worldwide.
Amos will be in conversation with Elizabeth Jensen, Knight-Wallace Great Lakes News Fellow 2025-’26. Jensen is the co-chair of Press Forward Northern Michigan, an organization working to support local journalism in the region. A longtime media beat reporter, Jensen is an expert on U.S. public media and served as NPR’s fifth public editor/ombudsman. In that role, she represented the interests of the public in the newsroom, and created a series of live events where NPR journalists discussed their newsgathering processes and ethical decisions.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. reception | 7 p.m. hybrid event
Location: Dennos Museum Center Milliken Auditorium, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City
Format: In person with online livestream available.
Tickets: $15 advance, $20 at the door, $10 livestream. Open to the public. Free for students and educators. Tickets & details at tciaf.com
Sponsors & Support
International Affairs Forum programming at Northwestern Michigan College is supported by gifts from community members and sponsors. The Giles Press Freedom Lecture is made possible through the generosity of the Giles family and supporters who believe in the vital role of journalism in sustaining democracy. IAF thanks the following for their support of its 32nd season:
Central Michigan University | IAF Gold Sponsor
Grand Traverse Pie Company | IAF Gold Sponsor
Thompson Retractor | IAF Gold Sponsor
IAF Members | Across northern Michigan & across the country
Learn more about event sponsorship and opportunities to support here: tciaf.com/support
Release date: May 7. 2026
For more information:
Alexander Tank
Director, International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
atank@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1844
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
May 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Join fellow students, employees and alumni on Friday, June 5 for Alumni Night at the Traverse City Pit Spitters.
Your registration secures TWO tickets (you + a guest) in our exclusive, designated alumni area. The Finale: Stick around after the final out for spectacular Firework Friday!
Wear your NMC swag and be ready to have some FUN! Rumor has it…Swoop might be joining us in the stands! Keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready—you might just snag a selfie with our favorite hawk owl.
Please RSVP by Thursday, May 21 to secure your ticket.
May 14, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Join FishPass and friends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22 for a post-storm cleanup of the lower Boardman/Ottaway River, from FishPass to the mouth at West Grand Traverse Bay. Our community river was deeply affected by the historic flood last month — let’s give it some love.
Meet at 10 a.m. in Rotary Square for coffee, donuts and to pick up supplies. Participants will then head out to clean at their own pace. Post a picture of the event on Facebook, use the hashtag #CleanBoardman, and tag @fishpass to have a chance to win a Downtown Traverse City gift certificate!
This project is being funded by FishPass.
May 12, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
May 15, 2026, from 6–8 p.m.
Founders Hall, Front Street Campus (#8 on the Front Street Campus Map)
Curious about a future in Audio Technology? 🎧 Stop by Founders Hall anytime from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 15 to see where creativity meets cutting-edge sound.
Explore our studios, talk with instructors and get a feel for what you’ll learn in NMC’s Audio Technology program.
May 11, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine will screen at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17 in the Dutmers Theater as part of NMC’s Global Cinema Series.
Admission is FREE and is open to students, staff and the community, although seating is limited. Doors open and 5:30 p.m. and films begin at 6 p.m. in the Dutmers Theater at the Dennos Museum on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
May 11, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Every summer, Traverse City hosts talented college students who intern at local businesses, take seasonal jobs and begin imagining what their future could look like in northern Michigan.
To help students and young professionals connect with the community, the Traverse Area Human Resources Association (TAHRA) and Michigan’s Creative Coast are hosting a free networking event from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at the Hagerty Garage.
The evening will include local stories from people who chose to build their lives and careers in northern Michigan, good music, catering by Las Lagunas and the Hagerty Garage’s incredible lineup of classic cars. Housing connection resources will be provided by Liv in TC. Learn more by emailing hbaugh@livcommunities.com or at Livintc.com.
If you are interning or employing an intern this summer, attending this event event is a great opportunity to plant seeds for future careers and connections in the Traverse City region.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
May 5, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is proud to partner with On The Ground Global for a screening of the documentary Land of Canaan with filmmaker Q&A on May 14 at Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City.
“This project – and interaction with visiting filmmakers – represent a rare opportunity to bring humanity and compassion into public dialogue, around a region that has seen so much inhumanity, today and over many generations,” said Alexander Tank, Director of the International Affairs Forum at NMC. “Our partners at On The Ground Global have developed lasting, impactful relationships with Dr. Nasser Abufarha, the film’s protagonist. We are so honored to collaborate and shine light on this story for our community. This free event is a continuation of IAF’s investment in public discourse on the difficult issues we face as Americans and global citizens.”
On The Ground Global, founded by Chris Treter, has developed a long-standing partnership with Nasser Abufarha through shared work supporting Palestinian olive farmers, including expanding fair-trade markets, replanting olive trees, and strengthening farmer cooperatives through Canaan Fair Trade. This collaboration—also central to The People and the Olive—has connected Midwestern communities directly with growers in the West Bank, bringing depth and lived experience to the film Land of Canaan and the dialogue this event encourages.
About the film & filmmakers
May 14 | Land of Canaan
This documentary feature film presents a rare and intimate view of Palestinian farmers and their ancient olive trees – symbols of resilience, heritage, and home. Faced with ongoing political violence and the loss of their land, a visionary olive farmer in the occupied West Bank brings thousands of small-scale olive farmers together in fair trade cooperatives that connect them to global markets and create a future for their families, one that is life-affirming and nurtures their ancestral relationship to the land and the ancient olive trees they serve.
Nasser Abufarha, Ph.D., Protagonist & Producer, Anthropologist
Dr. Nasser Abufarha was raised among the olive groves of Jenin. Abufarha founded Canaan Palestine, the world’s first fair‑trade and organic olive oil company. Through his work he has connected more than 2,000 small‑scale Palestinian farming families to global markets, brought Palestinian olive oil to international recognition and funded scholarships and women’s cooperatives. His vision of sustainable, community‑based trade has been celebrated worldwide and is even more relevant today as conflict threatens to sever farmers from their land.
Maggie Lemere, Director
Award‑winning filmmaker and oral historian Maggie Lemere is a National Geographic Explorer and co‑founder of the Rhiza Collective. Lemere’s storytelling focuses on the intersections of humanity and the environment; she is currently directing Land of Canaan, “a National Geographic Society‑supported feature film about Palestinians’ relationship with ancient olive trees” . In a recent interview, she said that making the film has become one of the hardest things she has ever done; as violence escalated in the West Bank the project “became a historical document … because of the horrible escalation of violence in the communities where we filmed”. Lemere’s approach uses oral history to foreground love, joy and connection rather than trauma alone, revealing a seldom‑seen side of contemporary Palestine.
Event Details
Date: May 14
Time: 6 p.m. reception w/ olive oil sampling | 6:30 p.m. film screening | 8 p.m. filmmaker Q & A
Location: Milliken Auditorium, The Dennos Museum, 1410 College Dr, Traverse City
Cost: This event is free and open to the public. Register in advance at tciaf.com.
Reception in-kind donors
- Canaan Palestine Olive Oil
- Common Good Bakery
- Higher Grounds Trading Co.
Release date: April 30, 2026
For more information:
Alexander Tank
Director, International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1844
atank@nmc.edu
Chris Treter
Co-founder, On The Ground Global
chris@highergroundstrading.com
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Apr 30, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC will host it’s last mobile food pantry distribution of the semester on Monday, May 4 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. We have 6,251 pounds of goods including mushrooms, potatoes, cottage cheese, milk, oranges, granola, applesauce, peanut butter and pears.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
This program is designed for NMC students and is open to anyone in the community who is in need. Interested in volunteering? Email Cathy Warner at cwarner@nmc.edu.
Apr 27, 2026 | Dennos Events, Intercom, Student Events
The Dennos Museum Center will host the 5th annual Spring Art Market, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. This one-day juried art event is held indoors in the Sculpture Court and falls on Mother’s Day weekend. Special programming is planned into the day to let moms feel the love while offering a fun-filled experience for visitors of all ages.
Walk the museum’s galleries while enjoying a glass of Mawby Sparkling at our cash bubbly bar and listen to the talented pianist, Dorothy Vogel, as you stroll. Engage with 27 Michigan artists selling their work and pop into the Museum Store to find a gift for Mom or maybe for yourself. Have fun making a Mother’s Day card with your kids.
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- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spring Art Market
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mother’s Day card making project
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pianist, Dorothy Vogel, in the gallery
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mawby mimosas & sparkling pours (cash bar)
Admission to the museum and parking are free. View the the full list of participating artists on the Dennos Museum’s website.
Apr 27, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
The Dennos Museum Center will host the 5th Annual TC Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) program on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Dennos Museum Center and Milliken Auditorium, headlined by spoken word artist Masaki Takahashi and a special film screening by filmmaker Liann Kaye.
The evening’s keynote program will feature Masaki Takahashi, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Lansing, Michigan (2022–2024), whose powerful, community-centered work has been featured on platforms including Button Poetry and TEDx. As founder of The Poetry Room, Takahashi is widely recognized for creating spaces that uplift diverse voices and for his commitment to education, mentorship, and the transformative power of storytelling.
The program will also include a screening of Seoul Switch, the award-winning proof-of-concept short film written and directed by Liann Kaye. The story follows a shy Korean American college student and a global K-pop idol who discover they are identical doubles and swap lives, exploring themes of identity, ambition, and authenticity. The feature adaptation is currently in development and has already received significant industry support.
The evening will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by the main program from 6 to 8 p.m., including the keynote spoken word program and film screening.
Event Details:
5th Annual TC AAPI Program to Feature Spoken Word Artist Masaki Takahashi and Film Screening by Liann Kaye
Dennos Museum Center and Milliken Auditorium
1410 College Drive, Traverse City
5–6 p.m.: Reception
6–8 p.m.: Spoken word program and film screening
This event is made possible by Northern Michigan E3, the Dennos Museum Center, the NMC Library, The Good Bowl, Samsara, and Traverse Area District Library and is free and open to the public. Free registration in advance is strongly encouraged at dennosmuseum.org by signing up through Simpletix.
About TC AAPI
Join Traverse City’s AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Community for a free event with the goal to build greater understanding and empathy for people of different cultural backgrounds through positive engagement and welcoming learning events.
For More Information:
Sakura Takano
TC AAPI Planning Committee
(617) 501-8533
stakano@rotarycharities.org
Apr 17, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC will host a mobile food pantry on Monday, April 20 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. We have 3,505 pounds of goods including instant mashed potatoes, dried beans, raisins, apples (bulk), eggs, cutie tangerines, frozen zucchini and celery.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
This program is designed for NMC students and is open to anyone in the community who is in need. Interested in volunteering? Email Cathy Warner at cwarner@nmc.edu.
Apr 13, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
A dancer in a past graduation pow wow
(download a high-resolution version here)TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s Native American Student Organization will hold a traditional pow wow honoring 2026 graduates from 1–4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, on NMC’s Front Street campus. This annual event is open to the public and celebrates vibrant and culturally significant Native American tribes of our region. Four Native American students are graduating this spring.
The pow wow will take place under the pines on the south side of the Osterlin Building, and feature Native American dancers, drummers, storytelling, music and more. Food and vendors will also be available. Grand Entry is set for 2:30 p.m. Attendees can park in the Aspen or Cherry lots. A campus map is available at nmc.edu/maps.
Release Date: April 9, 2026
For More Information:
Julieanna Frost
Native American Student Organization faculty advisor
(734) 368-8569
jfrost@nmc.edu
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Apr 13, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Campus Life will host a dodgeball tournament on Friday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
- Prizes for 1ˢᵗ and 2ⁿᵈ place teams
- No entry fees
- Open to all current NMC students and employees
- Maximum of 5 persons per team
The deadline to sign up is April 24 by 4 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Apr 10, 2026 | Student Events
Join the Student Ambassadors for a Murder Mystery Dinner from 6–9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107.
It’s 1923, and the party seems endless at Jay Glittersby’s New York mansion…until a shot rings out, and an unwelcome guest is found dead. Was the motive revenge, jealousy, or greed? Is the murderer a flapping dancer, a jazzy musician or a slyly deferential server? Dress up in your best 1920s attire ( we have hats and headbands for you!) for an evening of delicious food, laughs, and mystery!
Sign up for the Murder Mystery Dinner
Registration will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10.
Apr 7, 2026 | Student Events
The Marine Technology Society is hosting a party to celebrate the end of the year from 3–4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at Discovery Pier, 13271 South West Bay Shore Drive, Traverse City. We’ll be having hot dogs and burgers with some fun activities between. Family and friends welcome. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
For questions, contact Devin Howell at howell65@mail.nmc.edu.
