Dr. Pope is No Longer a Stranger to Buchanan, She’s One of Us

Dr. Greta Pope has made her home on two fronts: Chicago and Buchanan. She has lived in this area, on Clear Lake for a total of 42 years. How does that make her one of us, you might ask? The answer is simple: her commitment to this community. Her love for her family, community, and career is what makes her part of us.

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She has spent her life giving back to those communities she loves. In her words, “Communities are only as strong as the people who make them strong. One must be committed; I am committed.” She continues by saying, “The Arts are so beautiful and beneficial to us physically, emotionally and socially. Creativity is a wonderful thing. it is a gift that must be nurtured and shared. Through art and culture, we can each tap into our own creative abilities to positively change the world. We have a right, almost an obligation, to bring art into the world.”

Greta is no stranger to bringing arts into the world and into our communities. Several years ago, she introduced WRHC Radio Harbor Country radio station to the area through her weekly radio show Jazz and More…with Greta Pope. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Cultural Arts Everywhere, a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to fostering creativity as a means to positively impact world (culturalartseverywhere.org). She continues to dispense her talents as the founder of Dr. Greta Pope’s PrivateMusicStudio.net, providing online education to build sustainable careers in music (www.PrivateMusicStudio.net).

Through the not-for-profit organization Cultural Arts Everywhere, Greta has started two sets of summer programs. One for children and one for our 55+ community in Buchanan called  “Sing, Sing, Sing,” a three-day class that meets for one hour each day, guiding the group to prepare for an evening concert for the public.

Dr. Pope and Cultural Arts Everywhere started this program last year both at the Buchanan Area Senior Center and the Buchanan District Library, Greta doesn’t stop there, she is also the host and Executive Producer of The Business Savvy Singer Podcast, providing education, entertainment, and encouragement to singers everywhere. The Business Savvy Singer Podcast is heard in more than 35 countries and on all major platforms (www.thebusinesssavvysinger.com).

This coming Saturday, Greta will return to The Buchanan Common stage for a performance of her very popular show entitled, Greta Pope’s Motown...Pride of the Motor City. The performance will be on Saturday, July 6th at 7:00 pm at the Buchanan Common, 122 Days Ave. in downtown Buchanan. This performance is part of the Common Summer Concert Series made possible by the City of Buchanan and the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation (MGCF). We had the opportunity to meet with Michael Rowland, President and CEO o f MGCF and committee chair of the concert series to ask him about the significance of Greta’s performance popularity. “The great thing abot Greta and in particular the music that she brings to the community Common, is Greta. We talk at the Common Committee about music being equitable and something that people from all walks of life can come and enjoy at The Common and take back with them, and Greta’s show is the epitome of that. You see the children and people of all ages, all ethnicities and all walks of life come end enjoy music together, so we are very grateful, not only to Greta and her band, but to Cultural Arts Everywhere, which is a great non-profit that Greta has brought to Buchanan that really helps to drive that same mission that we have and share in The Common.

The audience is not the only one that benefits from these concerts. Greta speaks of how the interaction with her audience in Buchanan gives her strength and hope for today’s world. “I have developed so many relationships with the community, and they have embraced me. “It makes me want to do more for this community and return the commitment and support.” She hopes that her music and arts programs help people communicate and listen to one another through the common humanity that we all share.  

For more info about Greta Pope, visit www.gretapope.com.

Written and featured in The Benton-Michian Spirit Community Newspaper