About the Documentary
The Search for Anna & Levi: A Lost History of Black Homesteaders in Leelanau County brings to light an overlooked chapter of Leelanau County’s history and the broader story of African American settlement in the Midwest. Directed by Joe VanderMeulen, the film explores the lives of Anna and Levi Johnson — early Black homesteaders whose farm once stood in what is now Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Featuring interviews with descendants, local historians, and regional experts, this documentary offers a heartfelt and personal journey into a past that connects directly to our present.

A special thank you to the Leelanau Historical Society for allowing us to show this incredible film.