Three Lyons Creative > 3LC Thanksgiving Contest > Past Winners

Past winners

Three Lyons Creative has had the privilege of working with some amazing organizations that are working hard to fight for their communities and create a positive social impact in Detroit. Read a little about the past 3LC Thanksgiving Contest winners below.

Riverwise Magazine - 2021

Riverwise Magazine is a community focused publication that tells people centered stories of social justice in the city of Detroit. We are a multi-generational, intersectional, diverse group of activists, advocates and community organIzers who work to bring about the values of building beloved community and enhancing equity and equality in all of our lives.

"At Riverwise Magazine, we are committed to ensuring that the voices of those who matter the most, we the people, are the loudest. We are dedicated to the idea that another world isn't just possible, it is already happening. As we go about our daily work we see groups across Detroit living out new methods for food security, public safety, collective healing, civic engagement and education, and the  {r}evolutionary principle of building beloved community, and we are devoted to bringing those stories to the greater public. We are humbled by our selection as this year's winner of Three Lyons Creative's video prize and are truly honored for our work to have been recognized by our peers whose work we also cherish as critical to our mutual liberation. In solidarity and love, The Riverwise Team"

Riverwise Magazine received a Video Prize. 

National Lawyers Guild Detroit and Michigan Chapter - 2020

The Detroit and Michigan Chapter of the NLG provides Legal Observers to watch for police misconduct during demonstrations and political actions across the state. We also provide jail support, an arrestee hotline, popular education legal workshops and trainings, and civil and criminal litigation to support those targeted by state repression.

"It is amazing that the NLG Detroit & MI chapter has won the Thanksgiving prize.  This will give us the opportunity to create Know Your Rights materials that are easily accessible during this time of pandemic.  KYR media/materials have been very crucial during this time of uprising.  Thanks 3LC <3"

NLG received a Video-Graphic Package Prize. 

Black Male Educators Alliance of Michigan (BMEA) - 2019

BMEA is committed to increasing and strengthening the community of Black male educators in Michigan classrooms, to improve educational experiences and outcomes for urban children. We are a collective of educators, mentors, community leaders, and other professionals who believe that strong Black male educators are essential to transforming our education system.

"On behalf of all the members of Black Male Educators Alliance of Michigan, we are extremely excited about the opportunity to showcase the meaningful work that we do in the community.  We are grateful for the opportunity and we humbly accept the offer from the 3LC Thanksgiving contest committee.  We look forward to this opportunity!" —Curtis L. Lewis, Founder of BMEA

BMEA received a Video Prize.

Detroit Youth Volume (DYV) - 2018

​DYV teaches youth ages 3-18 to play violin using the world-class Suzuki method to nurture students' ability to persevere, be creative, embrace hope, and to collaborate and empathize with others.

The committee's selection was based upon the great passion behind DYV's work. As they explain, "A professional video featuring Detroit Youth Volume would help us celebrate our majority-Black Suzuki student body and encourage other Black Suzuki students, parents and teachers world-wide! Although it employs an international method of learning, the Suzuki community in the US is made up of mostly White and Asian students, parents and teachers. Due to this fact, the majority of Detroit Youth Volume students, parents and teachers do not see themselves in the media published by Suzuki Association of the Americans." Indeed, representation matters. We believe in supporting DYV and their work in the Suzuki community.

"We are so grateful for the chance to work with independent media-makers Three Lyons Creative! We believe that making media about our work is almost as important as doing the work itself. The most cutting edge things happening in Detroit right now are creative youth-led projects; the world needs to know about Detroit Youth Volume! Thanks to 3LC for understanding the importance of spotlighting our majority-youth of color violin program."

DYV received a Video Prize. View the full playlist here. 

Alternatives for Girls - 2017

​Founded in 1987, Alternatives For Girls is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, located in southwest Detroit. We serve homeless and high-risk girls and young women through shelter, after-school programming, and street outreach. Our goal is to help girls avoid exploitation, stay in school, graduate, go on to college, and build stable and successful futures.

"Thank you so much, Three Lyons Creative, for selecting Alternatives For Girls as the winner of the video prize this year! We are honored to have been selected. Alternatives For Girls is located in southwest Detroit, and serves homeless and high-risk girls and young women. We have a very small marketing budget, and do not have the resources to create videos about our work. This generous gift will help us further our mission by highlighting our impact in a unique way! Thank you!"

AFG received a Video Prize.

Garage Cultural - NOIS - 2017

​In 2016 due to rising costs for retail space, SW lost an important anchor, our local coffee shop. It had come to serve as a “community living room” where we gathered to discuss community concerns, politics, art, collective identity, & economic development opportunities. Garage Cultural's new project, NOIS (Neighborhood Office & Incubator Space), the project which needs a logo/branding, will recreate that dynamic & expand on it by creating a community-driven collaborative workspace/resource center with programming designed to support small social enterprise, home-based food services & commodities, and artist by working to remove barriers that keep them in the informal economy. The project will renovate a 3200 sq ft storefront; adding a public coffee shop, locally-sourced retail and 20 affordable workspaces, and provide these entrepreneurs with the foot traffic & visibility needed to increase their revenue; all accessible to Spanish/English speakers.

"Thank you all so much! Not just for selecting us, but for doing this every year with a different group!"

NOIS received a Branding Prize, which included three options for direction based on discovery. 

Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) - 2016

​Neighborhood Service Organization’s (NSO) compassionate and professional staff provides services that have impacted countless children, youth, adults, seniors, families, and communities since 1955. NSO’s empowering programs and services provide assistance for: older adults with mental illness; children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities; youth leadership and advocacy training; year-round workforce development for youth, young adults and their parents; homeless recovery services; housing development; community outreach for psychiatric emergencies; call hotline for emergency shelter and housing resources in Detroit; training; and volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, and organizations.

"We are thrilled that you have selected NSO!  Thanks so much – we are so honored. I look forward to connecting with you on the project plan."

NSO: Supportive Housing from Three Lyons Creative on Vimeo.

NSO received a Video Prize.