Michele McKenzie's Journey......
I was working in documentary film production and had earned an Emmy award for archival research when an African American librarian asked if I had ever considered librarianship as a career. The question led me to consider how my skills and background would translate to the library profession, beginning my journey to a rewarding new career. Becoming a member of the first cohort of Spectrum Scholars during library school gave me the validation and confidence I needed to tackle the challenges of graduate school as a returning adult student. The scholarship covered most of my tuition and allowed me to attend the first Spectrum Leadership Institute, where an inspiring array of librarians of color, including our current Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, shared their collective wisdom and varied experiences. Later, my professional network expanded through service in leadership positions within the ALA Film and Media Round Table. I've enjoyed a rewarding professional career working with audiovisual collections in a range of archives and libraries; it all began with the support I received from the ALA Spectrum Initiative.