On this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Cecilia Chesney, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan—also known as Bigs Up North—to talk about the power of consistent, one-to-one mentorship. Cecilia shares how the organization supports hundreds of youth across our five-county region, why careful matching and long-term commitment matter, and how having a trusted adult can help young people rediscover confidence, hope, and possibility.

The conversation explores the challenges facing youth today, reflects on the organization's decades-long impact, and looks ahead to plans for expanding mentorship across the region. Cecilia also offers a message for anyone considering becoming a Big—and why simply showing up can change a life.

To learn more or get involved, visit BigsUpNorth.org.

On this week's Currently, we're diving into a full slate of updates on many ongoing local issues.

Support for Currently comes from West Shore Bank, committed to the well-being of our community, along with Old Town Playhouse, where community comes together in downtown Traverse City. Support also comes from The Coin Slot Arcade Bar in Traverse City — a chill spot to unwind with pinball, drinks, and friends.

In this OG "Christal and Beth" show, Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) runs us through a proposed campus for Traverse City Light & Power, what's happening with familiar downtown landmarks like the Carnegie Building, the Bijou, and the CityOpera House, plus Camp Greilick reopening to the public, local park grant news, and quick hits on airport-related projects, including a hotel update and the return of the Blue Angels. ​

"Currently" is a Compass Local podcast produced by Pancake Boy Productions.

In this episode of The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Corey and Marney Winfield, co-founders of 217 Recovery, a Traverse City nonprofit redefining what recovery can look like. With honesty, humor, and lived experience, they share their personal journeys through addiction and the turning points that sparked their mission to build an organization rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope. They also unpack the realities of substance use disorder, the stigma still surrounding it, and why peer-to-peer support remains one of the most powerful tools for change.

Christal, Corey, and Marney dig into the culture of addiction in a tourist town, the growth of Northern Michigan's recovery community, and how 217 has expanded from simple rides to treatment into free recovery coaching, community events, and recovery-friendly workplace training. Whether you're in recovery, love someone who is, or want to better understand addiction, this episode offers insight, encouragement, and a clear message: recovery is possible, and it doesn't have to be lonely.