Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Kellie Swiger, Head of Creative at LAFCU, Lansing, MI.
Hear Kellie and Jeffrey discuss how LAFCU is blending art, music, and community engagement at Phil Denny’s Smooth Jazz Fete, in the SoundCloud podcast shared below.
Jeffrey had several questions for Kellie in this conversation:
- Q1: LAFCU has been a longtime supporter of Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete. Why is it important for LAFCU to be part of this event?A: At LAFCU, we believe strong communities are built by creating opportunities for people to connect. Whether it’s through music, art or shared experiences, bringing people together strengthens relationships and creates a greater sense of belonging.That’s why we’re proud to support Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete. The festival is all about bringing people together, and this year we’re adding a new interactive experience that lets attendees become part of the event in a fun and creative way.
- Q2: I understand LAFCU is bringing its giant letters to the event again. What’s new about that this year?
A: Yes, we have six-foot-tall letters that spell LAFCU – L -A – F- C – and U that are painted with different artwork from local artists. Our giant letters have become a familiar part of community events across mid-Michigan, and this year we’re inviting the public to help paint one of them. People will be able to walk up and add color to the letter “F” through a paint-by-number activity. Local artists will be painting the other letters during the event.
By inviting people to help paint a letter they’re contributing to something that represents the connection between LAFCU and the communities we serve. It’s a simple activity, but it reflects what this event is all about — bringing people together through creativity, music and community. People love to take pictures with the LAFCU letters, too! - Q3: When and where can people participate, and what else can they expect from LAFCU?A: The event is happening Saturday, Aug. 8, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Lansing Armory, 330 Marshall Street. The painting activity will be available throughout the festival, and people can also stop by the LAFCU table for giveaways and a chance to try our popular Money Machine, where participants step inside and try to catch cash swirling through the air. It’s a lot of fun!The festival itself features internationally acclaimed smooth and contemporary jazz musicians, along with soul, funk and R&B, food vendors, local artists, merchandise, and beer and wine. The event is for adults 21 and older. Tickets can be purchased at SmoothJazzFete.com/tickets
- Q4: Is there anything else you’d like listeners to know?A: We hope everyone attending the festival stops by the LAFCU booth to add a little color to the letter and make it their own. Every brushstroke becomes part of a piece that will continue to represent the connection between LAFCU and our community at future events.It promises to be a great time with music, art and community, and we hope to see everyone Saturday, Aug. 8, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Lansing Armory.
LAFCU invites festivalgoers to help paint iconic giant letter at Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete
Interactive paint-by-number activity to engage community members
LANSING, Mich. — Festivalgoers can help paint one of LAFCU’s iconic, six-foot-tall letters during Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete presented by LAFCU Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Lansing Armory.
The oversized letters spell LAFCU and have appeared at festivals, concerts and community events across mid-Michigan since 2015. During the fete, attendees can add color to the letter “F” through an interactive paint-by-number activity, while local artists create original designs on the remaining letters.
“The letters have become a familiar symbol of LAFCU’s community involvement, and this year’s collaborative painting gives festivalgoers a new way to be part of that tradition,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer at LAFCU and CEO of StableCommunities Foundation. “It reflects what this event is all about — bringing people together through creativity, music and community.”
Now in its eighth year, LAFCU has supported Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete as part of its commitment to strengthening the communities it serves. LAFCU will have a table at the festival with giveaways and its Money Machine, a cash-grab-style booth where participants step inside and try to catch bills swirling through the air.
The giant letters debuted in 2015 as part of LAFCU’s “Down to the Letter” campaign, which told the story of how the credit union, its members and the community work together to build something special. The letters have since become popular photo opportunities and a visible part of LAFCU’s community outreach.
The festival runs from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Lansing Armory, 330 Marshall Street. It features internationally acclaimed musicians performing smooth and contemporary jazz, soul, funk and R&B, along with food vendors, beer and wine, local artists and merchandise. The event is for adults 21 and older.
Attendees can visit the LAFCU table to participate in the painting project, watch artists transform the remaining letters and pick up giveaways.
For festival information and tickets, visit smoothjazzfete.com.
About LAFCU
Founded in 1936, LAFCU (pronounced laugh-cue) is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union open to all who live, work, worship or attend school in Michigan, and to Michigan businesses. LAFCU serves nearly 73,000 members and holds over $1 billion in assets. With a particular focus on serving people of modest means, LAFCU is committed to enhancing its members’ financial well-being and creating long-lasting positive change across generations. Awarded the prestigious Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, LAFCU is known for its people-helping-people mission, which has led to award-winning financial literacy programs for all ages. A three-time honoree as a national ‘Best Credit Union to Work For,’ LAFCU has also been recognized as a Best Place to Work for Women and an Inclusive Workplace, and is recognized globally for its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Learn more at www.lafcu.com.
# # #
The following message is from Phil Denny
|
We’re Hangin’ for the Weekend! 
SMOOTH JAZZ BRUNCH @ TOSCANA (11a-2p)
|
