50 States: Michigan

Описание: The American Center in Moscow is delighted to present "50 States," a weekly series of livestreamed presentations exploring each of the 50 U.S. states. Please join us every Wednesday from January 21, 2026, through December 30, 2026, and come prepared with questions for our guest speakers! The full schedule of events is below.

Throughout 2026, please join the American Center in Moscow for “50 States,” a weekly series of livestreamed presentations highlighting unique cultural and historical elements, as well as “fun facts” on each of the 50 US states.

Each week, an American expert will lead a session on their state, highlighting topics such as local culture, food, music, regional accents and dialects, inventions, history, notable figures, famous books, films, or TV shows set in the state, national parks, major landmarks, and sports teams.

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 20:00 MSK: Michigan

Mary Lee Kortes grew up in the small town of Portland, Michigan, where her earliest musical inspiration came from listening to her grandmother play songs from the Great American Songbook on a Hammond A100 organ. Those formative years in Portland, which had a population of less than 3000 people, instilled in her a deep respect for the songwriting craft and a lasting belief in the uplifting power of music and community.