NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
Warren, Sterling Heights seek defense advisor for Arsenal Alliance
BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
MACOMB COUNTY — Several months after the mayors of the two largest cities in Macomb County signed an agreement aimed at bolstering the defense industry’s ties to the region, they have collaboratively launched a national search to fill a key leadership position.
The two cities are working together to conduct a search for a defense industry economic development advisor to drive the work of the Arsenal Alliance, a regional initiative aimed at growing the defense industry in southeast Michigan.
The advisor will be tasked with leading stakeholder engagement across business, government and military sectors; developing a strategic plan aligned with emerging defense priorities; identifying and pursuing state, federal and private investment opportunities; and amplifying the region’s presence in national policy and procurement conversations.
An Aug. 11 press release states the role is “a
first-of-its-kind regional blueprint designed to secure southeast Michigan’s place at the forefront of national defense readiness and innovation.”
“This isn’t just about hiring a director of defense policy, strategy and advocacy — it’s about choosing the right partner to help us build the future,” Warren Mayor Lori Stone said in a statement.
The Arsenal Alliance is a $500,000 agreement between Warren and Sterling Heights, which was signed in April. It aims to build on the strong defense industry already present in Macomb County by driving development, job creation and retention.
“It’s long past time that we collaborate on more issues like this for the benefit of our people and for the betterment, really, of the nation,” Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said at the April press conference.
The agreement, he said, takes funding from both cities to create a joint venture to support the contractors that are already here while also helping
Backpack Initiative supplies students for new school year
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — When a new school year begins, there are feelings of excitement and nervousness when meeting your teachers, finding your classrooms and catching up with classmates.
Families also have the task of purchasing school supplies for their children. However, because of financial hardships, many families can’t afford them.
But this year, approximately 8,000 local school children will receive the school supplies they need through the United Way of Southeastern Michigan Backpack Initiative. The United Way has partnerships with several schools, school districts and nonprofit organizations that will distribute the backpacks to students in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties for the 2025-2026 school year.
The United Way purchased pencils, notebooks and more through $68,000 they raised in sponsorships from a number of businesses. Several volunteers from those companies gathered Aug. 12 in the Lincoln High School gymnasium for the initiative. They formed an assembly line to stuff the backpacks of various colors with folders, composition notebooks, crayons, pencils, erasers, glue sticks and scissors. There was a morning shift and an afternoon shift. Lincoln students also volunteered. Lincoln is part of the Van Dyke Public Schools district. Some supplies stayed in the district for its students.
“We so appreciate United Way’s support and partnership,” Van Dyke Public Schools Superintendent Piper Bognar said. “The opportu-
Macomb County
The cities of Warren and Sterling Heights have launched a national search to fill a key role for the Arsenal Alliance, a $500,000 agreement between the two cities signed in April aimed at growing the defense industry in southeast Michigan.
File photo by Brian Wells
Lincoln High School students, from left to right, Sadya Hashem, Kyla Jordan, Deja Coachman, Rajae Noble and Ranae Noble help fill backpacks with school supplies. Photo by Erin Sanchez
Detroit Jazz Festival builds on jazz legacy while celebrating genre’s evolution
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
DETROIT — Detroit’s reputation as a place where musical excellence is nurtured and celebrated will be on display over Labor Day weekend when the Detroit Jazz Festival returns for its 46th year.
The free festival — which features artists from international jazz luminaries to stellar students — will take place on stages in downtown Detroit and in midtown, on the Wayne State University campus, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
Jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran is this year’s artist-in-residence. Among his performances will be a collaboration with electronic music artist Jeff Mills at 9 p.m. Aug. 29, his presentation of the music of Duke Ellington featuring the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Jazz Orchestra at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31, and Moran and the Bandwagon with special guests Meshell Ndegeocello and Akili Bradley at 6 p.m. Sept. 1.
Other headliners include Marion Hayden and Legacy with special guest Kamau Kenyatta, Keyon Harrold, John Pizzarelli, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos, Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera Reunion Sextet, and Branford Marsalis Quartet.
“The festival is all about this music,” said Chris Collins, president and artistic director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “This is a (45) year tradition of music that is woven into the DNA of Detroit.”
Musicians on the bill with metro Detroit roots include Hayden, Rodney Whitaker and Allen Dennard, whose quartet will be playing at 5:45 p.m. Aug. 30. Collins said Dennard came through the DJF’s youth program in middle school. Another rising jazz talent from the DJF education program, Wayne State University graduate Louis Jones III — a drummer and composer — will be joined by his band, The Flood, for a set at 3 p.m. Sept. 1.
Zen Zadravec was born in Winnipeg, Canada, but now calls Livonia
See JAZZ on page 10A
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS UNDERWAY FOR MONUMENT TANK AT MUSEUM
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
EASTPOINTE — The Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society, strictly run by volunteers, has been a staple in the community since it opened Nov. 11, 2011.
The museum has hosted presentations, exhibits, reenactments and artifacts that preserve the stories of Michigan residents who served in wartime, from World War I to the present.
The MIMTHS, located at 16600 Stephens Road, is now in the process of raising funds to purchase a tank for its front lawn. Volunteers need to raise $10,000 for the M8 Armored Gun System.
An MIMTHS press release states that the M8 Armored Gun System was an American light tank concept meant to replace the M551 Sheridan.
“Initially developed in the 1980s, the tank has close ties to the prototype Stingray light tank developed by Cadillac Gage here in Warren,” the press release states.
Organizers are halfway to reaching their goal. At press time, almost $5,000 had been raised.
“A tank is more than metal and machinery — it’s a rolling piece of history. Bringing one to the museum means preserving the legacy of those who served and educating future generations with a tangible link to the past,” MIMTHS President Chris Causley said in a prepared statement. “Besides, it looks really cool. When we put the bomb on the front lawn, the museum visitation jumped. Imagine how many more will stop when we have a 20-ton tank out there.”
The tank also will need a 25-by-10-foot concrete pad that will safely support the heavy vehicle. Museum volunteers will be responsible for transporting the tank and the costs associated with demilitarizing the vehicle. The M8 Armored Gun System will need a paint job.
Donations for the vehicle are being accepted on the museum’s website at mimths.org. For more information, call (586) 872-2581. The email address is mimths@mimths.org. Check the website for admission fees and hours. Currently, summer hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and by appointment. Admission costs $3 for seniors, military and students with identification; $5 for ages 16 and older; and $7 for families of two adults and children younger than 16.
Since opening 14 years ago, more than 32,000 guests have visited the museum from 36 Michigan counties, 28 U.S. states and 22 countries.
Photo provided by Zen Zadravec
Among the metro Detroit jazz professionals who’ll be performing at this year’s Detroit Jazz Festival is Zen Zadravec.
Photo provided by the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation
Pianist and composer Jason Moran, the artistin-residence for the 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival, has worked with local student musicians and conducted other programs in advance of his concerts over Labor Day weekend.
Thousands are expected to visit Detroit over Labor Day weekend for the 46th annual Detroit Jazz Festival.
Photo by Jeff Dunn, provided by the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation
Film screenings, talk and fair focus on connection and community
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
GROSSE POINTES/HARPER WOODS — Could joining a book club or a community organization make for happier, healthier Americans and a happier America?
The makers of the award-winning documentary “Join or Die” seem to think so — and so do leaders of multiple nonprofits and community groups in the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods. So much so, in fact, that they’ve arranged for several free community screenings of “Join or Die” and have invited one of the filmmakers to speak.
Based on the ideas in social scientist Robert Putnam’s book, “Bowling Alone,” “Join or Die” explores how a decline in American civic life has given rise to the current loneliness epidemic and how clubs and community groups help democracy. The roughly 90-minute film was directed by siblings Rebecca and Pete Davis.
“We’re hoping it might open some eyes and start some conversations,” said Mark Heppner, president and CEO of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House and president of Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary.
Remaining “Join or Die” community screenings are slated to take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, and at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Central Branch of the Grosse Pointe Public Library in Grosse Pointe Farms. At 6 p.m. Oct. 1, Rebecca Davis will be at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms for a question-and-answer session — moderated by Taylor Mae, of Creative Mornings
Detroit — followed by a Community Joiner Fair at 7 p.m. at The War Memorial where attendees can meet with and learn more about clubs and civic groups in the area, such as running and pickleball clubs. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the Oct. 1 program, and people can attend the talk, the fair or both; both events are free. Registering for the talk guarantees a seat and can be done by visiting The War Memorial’s website.
“The joining fair is just going to be an excellent opportunity for people to find a new passion or new hobby and make a connection with people in their community,” Family Center Executive Director Jennifer Bingaman said.
Entities that have partnered to present the screenings and discussion include the Ford House, The War Memorial, The Family Center, the Neighborhood Club, the city of Harper Woods, The Helm at the Boll Life Center, Grosse Pointe Rotary, Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary, Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce, Wayne County Community College District and the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce.
Bingaman said the screenings, talk and fair started with conversations about “Join or Die” among leaders with The Family Center, the GPPL and The War Memorial.
“This is something that aligns with all three of our missions — building community, bringing people together,” Bingaman said. “The surgeon general is saying isolation is a public health crisis.”
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report on the loneliness and isolation epidemic,
The award-winning documentary “Join or Die” — whose poster is pictured — will be screened locally for free, and there will be an Oct. 1 program featuring one of the directors, Rebecca Davis. Poster provided by The Family Center
Advisor
from page 1A
to find new government contracts through the Department of Defense.
In the Aug. 11 press release, Arsenal Alliance Executive Advisory Committee Member Mark Pasik said the agreement ensures that local defense companies, supplies and workers remain at the forefront of innovation.
“But this partnership is about so much more than economic development,” he said in a statement. “It’s a commitment to protecting American security, growing good-paying
Film
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which found that half of adult Americans experienced loneliness, with the greatest numbers of them among young adults. Even before the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists were finding loneliness on the increase. Dr. Vivek A. Murthy, the 21st U.S. surgeon general, wrote in an introduction to the report that loneliness “is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”
At a time when people have never been as connected around the clock because of technology, humans are also losing out on interpersonal contact. From working remotely from home to spending increasing amounts of time in front of a screen, people aren’t spending as much time with each other as
jobs and building the advanced capabilities our warfighters depend on right here in our own community.”
The executive advisory committee, which is made up of public officials, private industry leaders, academic institutions and veterans advocates, will guide the selection process for the defense industry economic development advisor position.
A request for proposals opened Aug. 11 and will remain open until Sept. 16. In addition to being posted on both city’s websites, the RFP will be distributed through local, state and national networks and will be posted on BidNet Direct.
they did in the past. And it’s taking a toll on people’s emotional and physical health.
“We’re missing all the opportunities for human connection,” Bingaman said. “We need human interaction. Hopefully this brings that to light.”
Heppner said he was raised with the notion of community service ingrained in him, but that’s not always the case with members of younger generations.
“I’ve been involved with a lot of organizations,” Heppner said. “And certainly, all of them struggle with membership. … A lot of the culture (today) is focused on ‘me.’”
But what people who haven’t been involved in civic groups might not realize is that they can get as much out of that involvement as they give. Heppner said Rotary is but one example of that.
“It’s great for your social skills,” Heppner said. “You interact with people of all ages. You might become a leader. You might give a presentation.”
Those who can’t make the screenings can also watch “Join or Die” via Netflix or rent it on the movie platform Gathr Films.
To register or for more information about one of the screenings, visit fordhouse. org or grossepointelibrary.org. To register for the Oct. 1 talk, visit warmemorial.org.
DETROIT METRO FOOTBALL CLUB JOINS DETROIT SPORTS SCENE
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
BRIGHTON — The sports landscape in Southeast Michigan has added a new team to the mix after a successful inaugural season from the Detroit Metro Football Club.
DMFC is in its first calendar year of existence and is already making a name for itself as a desirable destination for players, fans and sponsors.
The club plays out of Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton and has received great feedback on the facility and the product of play.
DMFC plays in the United Premier Soccer League, which is in the fourth tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. The UPSL is the largest and most competitive pro-development league in North America with around 400 teams. The league is just one tier below professional soccer.
“We have a vision of assembling a roster to help players become professionals. … Some will become soccer professionals, and some will use our program to become professionals in all walks of life,” said Alex Lubyansky, general manager and head coach of DMFC. “We had one player go on trial at an MLS club, and another player just got signed professionally in Germany.”
The club’s official team website lists each player’s position on the field, and their occupation or field of study off the field.
“We have built a roster with folks who have 9-to-5 (jobs) and are developing, and that’s been awesome,” Lubyansky said. “I’d say it’s unique to our club. We have this vision.”
The club’s support of players on and off
SPORTS
the field is key. DMFC wants to be integrated in the community and make the game of soccer accessible to all.
“Our vision (is) to provide free soccer. There’s no youth component to this and there’s no pay-to-play component to this,” Lubyansky explained. “It’s to create opportunity. That was kind of our mission statement going into this thing.”
It’s also important to give the players as many opportunities as possible. The UPSL has spring and fall seasons every year, and DMFC participates in the U.S. Open Cup and the Merit Cup. Make no mistake about it: this organization wants to win, and it wants to win badly.
“We want to make the playoffs and make a deep run in the UPSL,” Lubyansky said. “It’s a very high level and it’s very competitive. … We want to compete, and we want to win.”
In DMFC’s first season this spring, the team ended with a 4-1-5 record and a +13 goal differential. That was good enough for a fifth-place finish in the UPSL Midwest East division.
The team also hosted the Merit Cup, an event that allows anyone to try and beat the club for a $10,000 prize. In the first DMFC cup final, the team lost to a challenger.
Aside from a successful inaugural season on the pitch, the club also immediately established itself as a destination for players around the league thanks to its fanbase, facilities, and the way management treats its players.
“No one is doing it quite like we are
in the league that we’re at,” said Jeff Tripoli, president of DMFC. “We’re going to create an atmosphere that attracts different talent. … Other players look around and say, ‘Wow.’”
That’s a crucial area of focus for Tripoli. He has lofty long-term goals for what the experience will be like at the DMFC.
“I envisioned something more around a campus, not necessarily a stadium,” Tripoli said. “A campus with significant training, open free soccer, and then from that, the best rise above, and we’ll give you a pathway to the team.”
Soccer is unique because it allows fans to watch their teams rise through the ranks.
DMFC is in its inaugural year, but the longterm goal is in place, and the people that start supporting the team now can follow along for the ride.
“(The goal) is a moonshot, and that’s OK. It’s being the first non-MLS team in this century to win the U.S. Open Cup,” Lubyansky said. “In the modern era, no one has done it. That is our goal. To demonstrate that this model can actually put something competitively together that will produce the best team in U.S. Soccer.”
DMFC will release its fall schedule in the coming days. To learn more about the DMFC, visit detroitmetrofc.com, and follow detroit.metro.fc on Instagram.
ABOVE: Tattoo artist and DMFC striker Max Rugova Jr. kicks a ball downfield.
RIGHT: A full house of fans cheer at Legacy Center Fieldhouse.
Photos provided by Detroit Metro Football Club
MDOT TO HOST OPEN HOUSE TO DISCUSS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE STUDY FOR TRI-COUNTY AREA
DETROIT/ROSEVILLE — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is holding an open house for the public to provide their input on how they use pedestrian bridges in their community.
The open house will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Recreation Authority of Roseville and Eastpointe (RARE) at 18185 Sycamore St., in Roseville. The presentation will begin at 5:45 p.m.
Attendees will be able to view posters, take a survey, and view a presentation outlining MDOT’s efforts through this study to better understand the usage of state-owned pedestrian bridges in the region. The study team will collect data on current conditions and travel patterns, perform onsite observations, and engage with people across the region to identify priorities and better understand community needs.
For comments or questions regarding the study, email MDOT-Metro-Communications@Michigan.gov. Attendees who require mobility, visual, hearing, written, or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at (517) 241-7462 or CurryO@Michigan.gov, preferably at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting. Forms are located on the Title VI webpage. Requests made after this timeframe will be evaluated and honored to the extent possible.
MDOT will host an open house to discuss pedestrian bridges in the tri-county area.
Photo by Erin Sanchez
‘I
passed through all these charming little towns’
ROSEVILLE MAN’S JOURNEY TAKES HIM THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
ROSEVILLE — Name any township or city in Michigan, and chances are Scott Krasnik has been there.
For the past 10 years, the Roseville resident has traveled around the state on a quest to visit every big city, mid-size community and small town in the Great Lakes State.
Krasnik’s first venture came about when he was living in downtown Detroit. He decided to get in his car and cruise along Van Dyke Avenue to see where it ended.
“I basically hopped on from Gratiot (Avenue) and Van Dyke, and I went all the way out to Port Austin. I passed through all these charming little towns,” the traveler said. “I love old architecture. I fell in love with some of these little towns along the way. It was like, OK, let’s see what the next town has to offer. From there, it just kind of blossomed.”
Krasnik’s journey began in the thumb area, and in the last 10 years he has been through the Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula many times. Roadside attractions, parades and lighthouses are a large part of his experience. Always looking for an adventure, he even bundles up to camp in the wintertime.
Krasnik, 54, has collected all the “map dots” in the official state map from the Michigan Department of Transportation. He sent a letter about his travels and one map to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which she signed over Lake Michigan. He buys a new Michigan map every year to begin another expedition.
The map dots represent “small little towns a lot of people have never even heard of. Some of them were easy to find. Some of them aren’t,” Krasnik said. “Some of them are on GPS. Some of them aren’t, so you have to pull out a paper map and navigate your way through a lot of these towns. Some towns don’t have any buildings left in them. Some do. Some are basically the way they were back in the 1900s, and some have changed drastically.”
In the beginning, Krasnik completed day trips. But after working with a group of guys who liked the outdoors, they suggested he spend the night and camp when possible. So he added a cab to his Ford Ranger. During his first camping trip, Krasnik went to Ocqueoc Falls near Alpena. One of his favorite spots is Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” he said. “You park up at the top, walk a quarter mile and you’re on a platform that overlooks the lake.”
See JOURNEY on page 9A
ABOVE: Although not a skier, Copper Peak in the Upper Peninsula is a favorite site for Krasnik.
Photo provided by Scott Krasnik
RIGHT: Scott Krasnik has collected all the “map dots” in the official state map from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed one of his maps over Lake Michigan.
Photo by Maria Allard
Journey
On one trip he wanted to find Peters, Michigan, near Casco Township. He flagged down a police officer to help him, who reportedly told him, “It’s just a church and a cemetery.” Copper Peak in the Upper Peninsula was another highlight. Although he doesn’t ski, the ski jump there was impressive.
‘I am always looking to see where he is going to go next’
Coopersville, Selkirk, Goodells, Bancroft, Ruth, Walhalla, Adair, Adamsville, Agnew, Moorepark, Temperance and Montrose are among the many spots he’s driven. During these trips, he’s come across forgotten sawmills, dive bars, bridges, ghost towns, historic landmarks, running waterfalls, thick forests and more. Grand Rapids was the last big town on his itinerary. He keeps a log of where he has been.
“I saw a bear once in Elo, Michigan,” he said. “I’ve seen deer, plenty of deer. I haven’t seen any elk, and then you see tons of turkeys. Last year, I saw a bunch of bald eagles. It was the most I’ve ever seen in my life. Those were towards the Cadillac area.”
Although he travels by himself, Krasnik is never alone.
“I talk to people everywhere I go. I like to talk to farmers about the area and the history. They’re really great people once you get talking to them,” Krasnik said. “It’s very cool. Some of these towns, it’s like time has stood still.”
Krasnik photographs the majority of the towns, too. His snapshots include city limit signs, small-town parades, post offices, state parks and DNR campsites. His city limit sign photos can be viewed on YouTube by typing in “Michigan Town Sign Movie.” His traveling memorabilia collection includes labels from apple cider jugs he’s bought at different cider mills, and unique-looking maple syrup bottles he’s picked up along the way.
According to the state of Michigan website at michigan.gov, there are 83 counties, 1,240 townships, 275 cities, 258 villages, 14 planning and development regions, and over 300 special districts and authorities in the state. The website also states there are 552 school districts, and 57 intermediate school districts in Michigan.
Krasnik decided to share his travels with others, so he created a Facebook page called “Scott’s Michigan Adventures.” Dearborn Heights resident Fadia Jacobs heard about the Facebook page from a local news channel and decided to check it out.
“He is an adventurous guy, and I love his page. I love that he covers so much of Michigan. I always want to see where he’s been. He shows me towns that I have never heard of in Michigan, and I have lived here all my life,” she said. “I have a list of places that I learned about from him that I want to visit. One that caught my eye was the Thumb Octagon Barn, planning on seeing that one in the fall along with a few other places from Scott’s adventures. I am always looking to see where he is going to go next. If I didn’t have to work, I would ask him if I could come along.”
Backpacks
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nities they have provided for our students and district are incredibly valuable and we look forward to continuing to partner well into the future.”
Kristen Cibulskis, engagement director at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, said this year’s Backpack Initiative was done at no cost to the nonprofit organization because so many businesses made monetary donations. At press time, a total of 6,875 backpacks were to be donated. Other school supplies without backpacks were to be donated as well to provide for at least 8,000 schoolchildren in grades K-12.
“We’re trying our best to fit the needs,” Cibulskis said.
One reason some children won’t receive backpacks and only supplies is because the schools only allow for clear backpacks. When priced, Cibulskis said the clear backpacks were more expensive than the standard ones. That is something they will keep in mind for future initiatives.
The backpack donation was a three-day process. On Aug. 11, members from United Way were at Lincoln to set up tables, unpack supplies and prepare everything for packing day Aug. 12. Delivery day was Aug. 13. The Penske company donated transportation for the backpack distribution. Volunteers were scheduled to follow Penske trucks to the donation sites.
Big things, small things, life-changing things, we’re here to make your health better.
home. He’s played the DJF before but is excited to be making his main stage debut at 2:45 p.m. Aug. 30, which he said is “a huge honor.” Making it even more special is the fact that his piano teacher, Kenny Barron, will be performing on the same stage that day, at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Zadravec’s latest CD, “The New Paradigm,” will be celebrated with release party concerts in October at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café in Grosse Pointe Farms.
“There’s going to be straight-ahead (jazz with) elements of fusion and funk,” Zadravec said of the new CD and works he and his band will be playing at the festival.
He said the festival is a chance for audiences to connect with something real — a contrast to the carefully curated images fostered on social media.
“My goal as a musician is not just to play good music, but that people will be touched by the compositions and they will walk away feeling better than when they came … and be inspired,” Zadravec said.
High school bands from across Michigan selected for the DJF include Notre Dame Preparatory High School Jazz Band from Pontiac at 1 p.m. Aug. 30, Utica High School Band at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 30, Rochester Adams High Band at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 31 and Cass Tech High School at noon Sept. 1. They’ll perform at Detroit Jazz Hall inside the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University, a performance space specifically designed to best showcase jazz. The venue opened last year and is the festival’s fourth stage this year, Collins said.
“I wanted them to be on a professional stage with a professional crew and lighting,” Collins said of the high school bands.
As an educator and touring musician himself, Collins is always meeting other musicians and encountering new talent. He also continues to have an open submission process for festival artists from February to June, to
find musicians who weren’t on his radar.
Audiences will hear jazz veterans and newer artists on the same stages. Collins said he’s always interested in established artists who continue to evolve and try new things, as well as exemplary artists who aren’t as well known yet.
“We really want to celebrate the idea of legacy and this art form that is living and breathing — it’s not a museum piece,” Collins said. “The Detroit Jazz Festival is about the art form of yesterday, today and tomorrow, and we go to great lengths to (reflect that).”
The festival begins at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 with Dr. Valade’s Brass Band featuring Shannon Powell. The traditional New Orleansstyle brass band’s name pays tribute to the late Gretchen Valade, a philanthropist and businesswoman from Grosse Pointe Farms whose lifelong love of jazz led her to rescue the festival when it was on the verge of collapse circa 2005, leading her to be nicknamed the “Angel of Jazz.” Her private foundation, the Gretchen C. Valade Endowment for the Arts, continues to provide funding for the festival. Valade died Dec. 30, 2022, at the age of 97.
Keeping the DJF free was one of Valade’s goals, but putting on a free festival isn’t cheap. Collins said it costs about $4.5 million to $5 million annually to produce the DJF. That’s why corporate sponsorships and donations of any amount are always needed. VIP festival tickets are a way to support the event while enjoying special seating and hospitality. Collins said an audit this year found that 85 cents of every dollar donated goes directly into festival programming.
The festival — which attracts visitors from around the world — brings roughly $30 million worth of economic development to Detroit over four days, Collins said.
Those who can’t attend in person can watch a free festival livestream via the DJF website, which drew almost 2 million unique viewers in 38 countries last year, Collins said. For a full festival schedule or more about donation opportunities, visit detroit jazzfest. org.
