Meet retired educator and freelance writer Sonja Stuckey, this month’s Featured Documenter

The Detroit Documenters program trains and pays Detroiters to attend local public meetings and monitor elected officials, in collaboration with local journalists. Hundreds of residents are active in the program, bringing more transparency to local government through their meeting notes, live tweets and civic participation.

This month, we’re featuring retired school teacher and freelance writer Sonja Stuckey …

Meet native Detroiter Sonja Stuckey.

Sonja is a senior on a mission. After retiring from 25 years as an early childhood educator, she returned to Liberty University and is working toward a masters degree in professional writing. The types of writing she likes to do vary, but her heart lies in community reporting. For Sonja, it’s important to share information and resources to help empower other Detroiters. That’s one reason she loves being a Detroit Documenter.

Since becoming a Documenter in June 2021, Sonja has taken notes in 66 public meetings covering a span of topics from housing and utilities, to politics and policing. She said her favorite agencies to cover are the City Council and the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) “because they’re so colorful,” although she admits the BOPC is dysfunctional.

“I would like to see them get it together, honestly,” she said. “I would like to see the growth and development over time with that. I’d like to see positive change.”

Sonja said it’s fascinating to attend public meetings and see how everything works from the inside. She likes “taking complex information and breaking it down in a way anybody can understand it.” She thinks this civic reporting will help people make better decisions when they’re voting. And that’s exactly what Sonja was thinking when she pitched the idea of a voter’s guide, which Documenters developed and published in 2022 to help Detroiters vote with confidence .

Another reason Sonja enjoys documenting public meetings is because it gives her the chance to amplify community voices. In addition to documenting and taking writing classes, Sonja is part of a ministry where she waits in food drive lines for people who don’t have a car and delivers the groceries to their house. Whether through notes, interacting with people in the food line or delivering in the neighborhood, Sonja finds and shares the resources people need but may not know about.

Sonja says it’s fulfilling to be able to participate in that way .

“I’m excited about being able to share my wisdom that might help somebody else because that’s the work,” she said.

She has an encouraging message to share with other older adults, as someone in her 60s.

“You have so much to give at this age. You’re like a walking piece of history, and we can still use this time to give back.”

Scroll down to learn more about Sonja — this month’s Featured Documenter — and how you can connect with her.

Name: Sonja Stuckey

Location: Detroit

What I do: Full-time student, freelance writer, travel consultant, community activist, poet and retired early childhood teacher.

What I love about it: I love being a voice of the underserved population. I love to empower residents with information and tools that will help them be fully functional in society. I love research and data that helps us to hold public officials accountable.

One thing I want to get from the Documenters community : I want to continue to develop my writing and interviewing skills. I am interested specifically in editorial and opinion pieces as an aspiring professional writer. I want to continue collaborating on special projects that highlight ways to improve the lives of city residents.

One thing I can give to the Documenters community: I am a seasoned family and human development specialist. I am great at researching and developing programs, creating manuals and simplifying complex information. I am a great facilitator and workshop presenter as well.

An album I listen to over and over again: I go back to Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life.” This classic album contains some of the most beautiful love songs, in my opinion. I am a hopeless romantic and songs like “As,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and others still warm my heart.

Stevie Wonder is my favorite artist. His songs are timeless and relevant to all ages. If you have ever been in love, Stevie has a song that is applicable.

How you can reach me: On Facebook and Instagram .

Get trained and paid to share information, resources and wisdom with your community. Learn more at the next Detroit Documenters Orientation on Feb. 17 . Register now.

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