Sidewalk Talks

Riverfront Saginaw / Storyville
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Documentary

Random people, random topics, talking on random sidewalks in the City of Saginaw, Michigan.

  1. 2d ago

    Saginaw Community Food Club and Kitchen: Opening soon!

    In this Sidewalk Talks episode, we reconnects with Tina Swanton—funny hat and butterscotch cookies included—for an update on the Saginaw Community Food Club and Kitchen. Tina explains the nonprofit grocery store’s sliding-scale membership and points-based shopping system (healthier foods cost fewer points, with produce always one point), plus an educational kitchen with six student stations, an instructor station, and a full commercial setup. She shares that the model is proven, based on the Community Food Club in Grand Rapids and other locations like Ludington and Holland, and says Saginaw’s need is especially for the ALICE population. The building is nearing completion: they’re aiming to open in September. 00:00 Episode 666 Banter00:19 Funny Hat and Cookies00:57 Project Update Intro01:35 How the Food Club Works02:28 Where the Model Came From03:48 Why Saginaw Needs It05:42 Who Can Join06:42 Construction Status and Opening07:37 Share the Resource08:29 Shout Outs and Open House09:52 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

  2. Jul 23

    Why Saginaw Works and What the Community Foundation Does with Renee Johnston

    In an impromptu, chilly Sidewalk Talks episode filmed in Morley Plaza, we sit down with Renee Johnston of the Saginaw Community Foundation to talk about what makes Saginaw special, why citizens should cherish and care for their community, and how individual accountabilitybuilds a stronger village. Renee explains what the Saginaw Community Foundation does beyond the name—philanthropic partnership, endowment funds, grants, scholarships, and providing leadership and fiscal support for projects like Shine Bright, Hoyt Park, and Hidden Harvest. Renee also highlights the annual celebration at SVSU on September 14, the Community Improvement Initiative, the Be Well initiative and race series on September 26, and encourages residents across all of Saginaw County to see the Saginaw Community Foundation as a partner in building a stronger community for all people. Timestamps: 00:00 Impromptu Sidewalk Setup00:43 Cold Morning Vibes01:14 Parking Lot Sunbather Story01:57 Riverfront Saginaw Origins03:48 What Makes Saginaw Special05:08 Rediscover Your Hometown07:23 It Takes Each Of Us09:36 Enjoy The Community Too10:20 What The Foundation Does13:55 Fiscal Sponsor Seed Projects15:36 Strategic Nonprofit Collaboration16:22 Collaboration Over Competition17:55 Community Improvement Initiative19:01 How Matching Grants Work20:59 Annual Celebration Reveal21:45 Listening Not Ivory Towers24:19 Data Driven Community Leadership27:01 Restricted vs Unrestricted Funds31:58 Be Well and Rx Kids33:54 Foundation as County Partner34:44 Closing Thanks and Wrap

    Why Saginaw Works and What the Community Foundation Does with Renee Johnston

  3. Jul 19

    Sidewalk Talk with Tony Serra!

    On the latest episode of Sidewalk Talks, I chat with Tony Serra! Tony is the Executive Director of TempleArts, the organization that oversees both The Temple Theatre  and the Saginaw Art Museum & Gardens. We talk about the current Andy Warhol exhibition, the role of TempleArts in the community, and his personal journey from the Temple Theatre to the Fox Theatre in Detroit...and back again! Timestamps:  00:00 Opening Banter 00:42 Warhol Exhibit Overview 01:44 Frame Shop Origin Story 03:17 Making It Happen 04:24 Intimate Gallery Experience 05:21 Museum Team Shoutouts 06:03 From Theater to Director 07:26 What Is TempleArts? 09:39 Tony Serra Background 10:35 Finding Theater Bug 12:57 College to Summer Stock 14:48 Back to Temple Theatre 16:29 Midland Fundraising Skills 17:23 Jump to Fox Theatre 19:22 From Sesame to Bennett 19:51 Corporate Pizza Detour 21:04 Backstreet Boys Full Circle 21:51 Returning to Temple Arts 23:39 Momentum and Key Leaders 25:33 Vision for Growing Access 27:48 Youth Arts Festival Spotlight 30:30 Seats for Students Program 33:15 Arts for All Expansion 35:20 Why Community Beats Big Venues 38:41 Closing Thanks and Impact

    Sidewalk Talk with Tony Serra!

  4. Jul 13

    Show, Don’t Tell: Saginaw’s Green Zone, Land Banks & People-First Revival (Alex Mixter Pt. 2)

    In part two with Alex Mixter (recorded at Potter Street Station), the conversation ricochets from Lee Mansion cleanups and Spot It, Snag It to a core theme: communities earn trust through visible action. They discuss how pride, cross-class connections, and being “with real people in real places” can counter negativity and burnout, and why constraints can spark better solutions. Alex explains Saginaw’s “green zone” and equitable land use, arguing the policy worsened vacancy by demolishing foreclosed homes in a historically redlined, disinvested area, blocking would-be buyers and erasing multigenerational homes. They highlight the potential of land banks, attainable homeownership, incremental neighborhood rebuilding, and learning from Jane Jacobs’ people-first urbanism. 00:00 Part Two Kickoff00:48 Lee Mansion Seed04:53 Potential Over Perfection10:21 Show Dont Tell16:08 Pushing The Car20:49 Grocery Need Reality24:11 Green Zone Explained26:38 Redlining And Disinvestment35:16 People First Planning36:42 Jane Jacobs Lessons37:28 Kids Ownership And Land Bank40:34 Attainable Housing Wins42:26 Costs Change Everything44:10 Land Banks as Opportunity47:13 Jane Jacobs vs Highways54:31 Saginaw Then and Now01:01:17 Connecting People and Capital01:14:05 Constraints Spark Creativity01:16:02 Apollo 13 Problem Solving01:19:11 Closing Thoughts and Next Time

    Show, Don’t Tell: Saginaw’s Green Zone, Land Banks & People-First Revival (Alex Mixter Pt. 2)

  5. Jul 13

    Saving Potter Street Station with Alex Mixter

    In this Sidewalk Talk with Alex Mixter, we talk about why preserving Saginaw's Potter Street Station matters, and how it could become a transportation again. Why Preserving Saginaw’s Potter Street Station Matters—and How It Could Become a Transportation Hub Again. Alex tells us about efforts since 1989 to save the building, all while facing an arson in 1991, a temporary roof in 1995, and a tower collapse in 1997. We also talk about why historic buildings are irreplaceable community infrastructure,  Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services - STARS  plans for the future of the depot, and more! Timestamps: 00:00 Catching Up Off Camera 00:56 Social Media Break 01:28 Limoncello Lesson 04:57 Stop Filming Everything 06:19 Potter Street Station Intro 07:50 Saginaw Connected By Rail 09:56 High Speed Rail Dreams 12:35 Saving The Depot 14:34 Arson And Setbacks 18:59 Greg Branch Legacy 23:42 Why Old Buildings Matter 30:33 STARS Study And Viability 35:14 Vision For The Future 36:03 Train Rolls In 36:33 Exploring the Old Platform 37:03 Why This Matters 38:54 History as a Call Forward 40:55 Old Buildings Power People 43:23 Urban Renewal Lost Uniqueness 50:48 Potter Station Vision 51:19 Momentum and Volunteer Power 54:57 Saginaw Will Figure It Out 56:58 Funding and Grant Strategy 58:16 Authenticity and Story Value 01:06:04 Keep Showing Up 01:09:41 Final Thanks and Wrap

    Saving Potter Street Station with Alex Mixter

  6. Jul 9

    It's Sal, Baby!

    From Lebanon to selling suits in Saginaw...it's Sal, baby! In this episode of Sidewalk Talks, Phil visits Sal, a longtime Saginaw tailor known as “Sal Baby,” for his first podcast, reflecting on how Sal helped save Phil’s wedding suit experience after a bad big-box chain encounter and how Sal’s shop treats customers like family. Sal describes running his store for about 38 years, traveling to trade shows, sourcing hard-to-find items through connections, and prioritizing service over money, including flexible pricing and letting people pay later. Born in Lebanon in 1944, Sal came to the U.S. in 1971 and credits his father-in-law’s example of honesty and generosity for his business values. He shares stories about how a well-fitted suit builds confidence and can impact job interviews, discusses raising his five children, and recalls giving a grieving family a suit for their son’s funeral, and repeatedly expresses love for Saginaw and its people. Timestamps: 00:00 Sal Baby Welcome00:32 Wedding Suit Rescue01:25 Family Style Service02:02 Finding Anything You Need03:01 Hayati Story Moment04:13 Shop Origin Story06:10 Why Suits Matter06:32 Suit As Investment08:20 Saginaw Pride08:58 Lebanon To Michigan11:17 Lessons From Father In Law14:04 Being A Great Dad16:29 Sal Baby Nickname17:48 Giving Back And Honesty19:35 Final Thanks And Goodbye

    It's Sal, Baby!

  7. Jul 6

    Marlana Cork Talks Community

    Marlana Cork kicks off Season Three with a Sidewalk Talk about community-building! Be sure to subscribe to Sidewalk Talks and leave a review! 00:00 Season Premiere Banter01:17 Aging and Dentist Days02:31 Why Community Matters03:53 Grandma’s Candy House07:04 Showing Up When It’s Hard10:24 Community as Relationship17:13 Unsung Heroes and Commitment21:38 Communication Meets Action23:43 Conflict and Accountability25:36 Community Accountability26:15 Beyond Blame Culture27:15 Keyboard Warrior Warning28:28 Claim Citizen Power29:55 Curiosity Over Conflict31:53 Face To Face Talks35:34 Conflict As Catalyst39:15 Committed To Mess42:11 Arrogance And Fear45:40 Curiosity Builds Community47:55 Closing Thanks

    Marlana Cork Talks Community

  8. Jul 3

    Season Three Coming Soon!

    A new season of Sidewalk Talks premieres Monday! Watch the video for a sneak preview of all of this season's amazing guests, and then subscribe to Sidewalk Talks and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts.  Two new episodes will go up every week, so subscribe and don't miss an episode!

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Random people, random topics, talking on random sidewalks in the City of Saginaw, Michigan.

Information

  • Creator
    Riverfront Saginaw / Storyville
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Riverfront Saginaw / Storyville