“THE pARTy!” 2024 will be held on Monday, September 30, at the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College with Emcee Neda Ulaby, the NPR Arts Desk Reporter. It recognizes creative distinction in the greater Ann Arbor area and serves as Creative Washtenaw’s signature benefit event to celebrate the arts and creative industries in the area.
The 2024 Creative Washtenaw Medals of the Arts, Sciences and Humanities include: Lifetime Achievement for Ron Brooks, Outstanding Service for Mike Farah, Outstanding Service for Deb Polich and Ignitors Jim Fleming and Elena Kelakos.
“I am beyond excited — and honored — at the prospect of receiving an Ignitors medal at what is sure to be an awesome and inspiring pARTy!” Kelakos said.
A significant benefit of the event is also to honor and celebrate the extraordinary achievements of those in Washtenaw County who advance and increase awareness of the arts and creative industries in the greater Ann Arbor area and beyond.
“I’m so incredibly excited and honored to be recognized by Creative Washtenaw,” Farah said. “My hometown community has shaped and inspired my life in countless ways, and I’m so grateful to be able to come home and share this honor alongside my family — I wouldn’t have accomplished anything without their love and support! I’ve always loved working with Deb Polich and respect everything Creative Washtenaw stands for. For them to recognize my work and all the talented people that contributed to it is a career highlight.”
Brooks, the recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Medal, is also known as “the Mayor of Ann Arbor Jazz.” He owned the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club in Ann Arbor for over 20 years, where he also performed. He began his jazz journey in high school in Ann Arbor. Then, he went to Eastern Michigan University for his undergraduate degree, followed by a Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Brooks has played with various groups and served as Director of the Dispute Resolution Center, drawing upon his Educational Psychology degree.
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Farah is the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Service Medal. Farah of “Funny or Die” was also raised in Ann Arbor but moved to Hollywood after college. Farah worked his way up in the industry when he had a break working for Will Farrell’s team at “Funny or Die” in 2008. At the time, it was a small production company making its debut on social media. Farah worked as a producer and then took over as CEO in 2016. Farah has grown the company to a premier studio with the mission to make people laugh, think critically, and make social change. Some credits include two-time Emmy-winner Between Two Ferns, the Peabody Award-winning American Vandal, the iconic television show Billy on the Street, and the pop-culture film phenomenon Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
Polich is also a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Service Medal. Polich has worked for 38 years in the arts industry, including being the president and CEO of Artrain and Creative Washtenaw. She plans to retire at the end of 2024. Polich is known to champion the arts and industry in her professional, volunteer and personal life. She began her career at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor in 1986 with her degree in arts management from Eastern Michigan University. In 1993, she took the helm of Artrain. While at the helm, Artrain earned the National Medal for Museum Service, presented by Mrs. Laura Bush at a White House ceremony in 2006.
In 2013, Polich accepted a dual appointment at Creative Washtenaw, which provides services, support and advocacy for artists, creative workers, organizations, businesses, and educational and government entities. She also serves as host of “creative impact” on 89.1 WEMU, board of Michigan Works! Southeast, and state advocacy captain for American for Arts Michigan.
The 2024 Ignitors medal will go to Jim Fleming and Elana Kelakos, a creative husband-and-wife duo.
Fleming came to the Ann Arbor area in the 1970s and was one of the founding members of the Black Sheep Repertory Theatre in Manchester. In 1979, Fleming started “Fleming Artists,” a tourist artist agency. He is considered a mentor to many and highly respected in his field, having worked with July Collins, Jeff Daniels, Tom Paxton, Holly Near and Joshua Davis.
Kelakos is also known as “The Speaker Whisperer®”. She is a presence and presentation expert and the president of Ellen Group, which began in 2003. She has developed skills as a professional actor and award-winning, national touring singer/songwriter to help speakers and business leaders present in impactful ways. She coaches and facilitates for companies like General Motors, Allstate, Little Caesar’s Pizza and Kubota Tractors.
Tickets are still available online at creativewashtenaw.org/the-party.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
