by Jessica Carreras
Tih Penfil has been volunteering for LGBT efforts in Michigan for over two decades. She is a registered art therapist, puppeteer and helps out with Motor City Pride every year.
1) You're a very artistic person. How does that play into the work that you do?
Whether working with children, adults or situations, I find that an artistic eye helps the creativity/thought process. In my hat as head of main stage security at Motor City Pride, I am trying creative ways to meet the demands of my responsibility to MCP, Triangle, the entertainers, the community and have it flow in a fun, enjoyable way. As a teacher, I try to bring the lessons alive and enhance the joy of the learning experience for the children I work with. When presenting a workshop, I try to give more than just the information, but a true hands on learning experience.
The art part enhances all the other facets. When with my family, from the way I present photos to the way I prepare the food for the get togethers, it's never boring.
2) How did you first get involved with Motor City Pride and the Triangle Foundation?
Twenty-two years ago I arrived at Royal Oak at 6 a.m. and asked what I could do to help. I was put on main gate security and I've been showing up ever since. For the past 11 or 12 years I've served as one of the board members for MCP; also the recording secretary as well as head of main stage security. Many people recognize me at the Movie Festival and at Comedy Fest, which is coming up March 13.
3) You wear a lot of volunteer "hats" – but which is your favorite?
My favorite – that's a hard choice. There's nothing like calling a scholarship candidate and getting to tell them that they've been chosen to be one of the three recipients for the Forum Scholarship. The two dances and the cruise we host are grand fun too.
At MCP, when I look out over the main stage and I see 25,000-45,000 of our community in all their splendor, it's breathtaking. I have the photos to prove it. It's how I celebrate my birthday every year, too, and my family knows this as well.
4) In what ways has your passion for LGBT issues played into being an educator?
I always knew that I was different. I learned from doing/experiencing more than from reading or attending class lectures.
I knew that I wanted to be an Art Therapist/Specialist with E.I. children by 16, but at that time I didn't know that Art Therapy was a field, but I found that out when I attended Eastern Michigan University. I also discovered that I was a lesbian and that was not for advertising back in the '70s.
While teaching special education in Flint, I became involved with Very Special Arts-Michigan – another way for me to show that different meant nothing negative. In 1992-94 I served as the first director for Very Special Arts-Genessee County and the Council for Exceptional Children. I helped develop the Michigan Health Model Program and hold all 11 certifications. One component of that includes working on hate and the harm it causes – especially in schools.
I am a registered art therapist, and was the first chairperson for the GLBT group with the American Art Therapy Association. I also work with the Detroit Puppeteers Guild and Puppeteers of America. My photography has been published on a national level, I have one small book of my work published with a second in the works, and do workshop presentations at regional and national conferences. All this incorporates my GLBT side as I am out there being seen as a whole person, not just one fragment. There is no game playing and it's all positive.
5) What are you most looking forward to at this year's Motor City Pride?
I always look forward to the sense of community, the new faces (young and older), you can tell when they're having their "epiphany," they just glow. It's great to see the youth out there having fun and learning. We didn't have that – what a fight we've fought; how far we've come. I look forward to being one of a dozen people who throw one of the best weekends people have every year. It doesn't get much better than that.
For updates on this year's Motor City Pride festival, visit http://www.motorcitypride.org.
