Interview with Meg Batzer

Authors

Meg Batzer

Files

Biography

Meg Batzer, a lifelong Michigan resident, practices complementary medicine in her self-owned clinic while also serving as a member on the County Board of Commissioners. Having a background of serving her community, Batzer jumped at the opportunity to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. She became a member of the Auntie Sewing Squad, making more than five hundred masks for those in need.

Thematic Summary

(00:00) Batzer begins by describing her family life and her journey towards becoming a healthcare practitioner in complementary medicine. As a young woman who practices acupuncture, Batzer describes some occupational discrimination and gender microaggressions. (06:12) Batzer observes how people in her rural community has reacted to COVID-19, including their varied opinions and approaches to masks and vaccines. (11:47) Batzer explains how and why she joined the Auntie Sewing Squad, how much she has learned about sewing machine maintenance, and the gift of Auntie Care. (18:58) Batzer reflected on how the Auntie Sewing Squad taught her a new model of community building and why she doesn’t consider herself an activist. (22:18) Batzer outlined her role as a county board member and some of the board organizing she has initiated in local healthcare.

Interview Date

5-7-2021

Interviewer

Jade Leavitt; Katarina Cerda

Recommended Citation

Batzer, Meg, "Interview with Meg Batzer" (2021). Auntie Sewing Squad Interviews. 48.
https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/auntiesewing_interviews/48