MI Chronicle Vol. 89 - No. 50

Is Detroit’s $400 Million Investment in Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Accessible for Black Detroiters?

Money. A5

Comerica Celebrates New Generation O of M Black E R Tennis I C A Stars 35 Years of Supporting

Detroit Jazz Festival HOMEFRONT C

the Nation’s Largest City.Life.Style. B1 UNCF Walk for Unveils Full 2026 Lineup and a New Festival Experience Education Scholarship Roots. A3 City.Life.Style. B1 Fundraiser

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Vol. 87 – No. 2 | September 13-19, 2023

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All Black Everything:

Vol. 89 87 – No. 3 20-26, 2023 50| |September August 12-18, 2026

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HereUAW Comes the Islamophobia, ATriple NightStrike of Elegance and Excellence at the 10th Annual Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 Against Detroit Racism, and Automakers Claims of Socialism

By Jeremy Ebony JJAllen Curry By SENIOR REPORTER EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Late campaign Thursday fornight, Sept. U.S. The Michigan’s 14, a historic momenta new unfolded Senate seat is entering phase, and in American relations as with it comes alabor familiar playbook. theItUnited (UAW)all too is oneAuto thatWorkers has become union initiated a strike politics against when common in American Ford, General Motors (GM), substantiveanddebate Stellantis. For the firstinconvenient. time, proves the union took Now simultaneous that we’re down action against all three major Deto two candidates – troit-based automakers. The action one of whom has an involves approximately “ethnic”13,000 name – we UAW members in assembly plants know it’s time for across Michigan, Ohio, and Misthe Republicans to souri, who walked off their jobs fear. troiters. The symbolism of Black beekeepers revitalizing niably commendable. manufacture By Ebony JJ Curry after existing laborWe contracts ex- when their city is a powerful testament to the resilience and know that Amidst the glitz and glamour, the event also showSENIOR REPORTER pired at 11:59 p.m. policy arguments fail ingenuity of our community. cased the diversity of talent within our community. From Shortly before tomidnight on will persuade, they As the night unfolded, we had the privilege of hon- Paris T. Prichard, a forensic scientist pushing the boundn a Allen breathtaking celebration of talent, determinaJeremy Sept. 14, released a statement to redefine tion,GM and thebegin unyielding spiritthe of Black excellence, oring other outstanding individuals, each carving their aries of her field, to math wizards like Donna Laster, who expressing disappointment opponent. And whenChronicle all else with fails, they its 10th Annual own path to success. Clement “Fame” Brown, the crethe Michigan marked the strike action,40 will invite voters todespite judge candidate not 40 Under eventaoffering Thursday evening. This year’s ative mind behind Three Thirteen Detroit’s Brand Name, See 40 UNDER 40 page A2 what termedofanhis by theitquality ideas or his characsoirée, drenched in“unprecedented the theme “All Black Everything with received the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award. economic that included ter, but by package” his identity. Gold Accents,” transcended expectations and essential- Brown’s commitment to empowering the city through historic wage increases. Stellantis El-Sayed be judged on the true essence fashion and entrepreneurship has left an indelible mark. ly Abdul illuminated the should golden gems within his vision excellence. for Michigan, his record, of Black Hosted by theand charismatic duo of “Entrepreneur of the year – that’s a big deal,” said the policies Instead,from thereMichigan Chroni- Brown. “It’s always an honor to be honored and it’s Andre Ash he andadvocates. Lynzee Mychael is every reason to expect that was many of cle’s Finally Friday, the night a triumph for the city always a blessing to be in a room full of so many talentthe loudestand voices opposingcommunity his candidaof Detroit its vibrant of young Black pro- ed, accomplished, and popular people that look like me. cy will devote far more energy to caricafessionals. I’m geeked. I started making and selling clothes as a kid tureThe than conversation. Michigan evening sparkled with avoters golden promise as we and I always knew that I would have a business, but I should recognize that strategy for what celebrated remarkable individuals from various walks never knew it would be Detroit’s brand name business, DPD Chief James White Says Increased it and Among reject it the before it has the chance ofislife. honorees were the brilliant and vi- so I take a lot of pride in the fact that our business repPolice Presence Culled Violence to take hold. sionary co-founders of Detroit Hives, Nicole Lindsey and resents our city’s pride.” One predictable line Their of attack Timothy Paul Jackson. work will has not only changed Taking home the CorporateHertel Excellence Award was mentioned on stage thatBy El-Sayed residents, showing up everywhere we don’t By Sam Robinson Andre Ash be squarely at El-Sayed’s theaimed landscape of beekeeping andpolicy urban farming in De- Dannis Mitchell, Director of Community Engagement and Stevens embraced at aatunity breakfast want it, and nowhere where we actually SENIOR REPORTER DIGITAL ANCHOR nessondistrict that He hadacknowledged been the lifeblood mending the wounds inflicted on agenda. democracies troit expressed butHealthy also disappointment exemplified theinrequire transformative impact By Ebony JJ CurryBarton Malow. Thursday. thereofare towards need it.” also Black Detroiters and restoring a sense of bethe community. vigorous disagreement over healthcare, Black professionals can have on their communities. The Michigan Democratic Party is trying “It is so important to recognize that there are young differences within the party but points to SENIOR REPORTER a statement, saying the company flashed a t-shirt featuring the A stringlonging of Hertel shootings that wasinso callously torn away in taxes, spending, immigration, and for- environmental, It’s a history marred by pain, injusto unite its voters after a contentious pri“Together we have created a social, leaders across the country, many that are born here in opposition to Donald Trump as what brings immediately went into contingennames ofleft each candidate, gubernatorial Greektown infirst mid-April past. eign policy. Those debates are legitimate For many Detroiters, Interstate 375,earned or city tice,nationally andsides economic mary Tuesday where progressives and financial impact through bees,” said Jackson. LindDetroit. I represent our and I devastation. tell people, More than thenominee both together. cy mode to protect its operations. Jocelyn El-Sayed, attorney both visitors and residents of Benson, and necessary.that Butsentiment there is awith, profound I-375, has long been‘Yea just another stretch of from The I-375 Boulevard Project is about moreof major victories. sey followed “It is through our local 130,000 residents, primarily Black, between were I’m a D-girl I’m the“There west-side Detroit,’” was aofrecord difference general candidate Eli Savit Secretary The UAW has branded the inthis bustling downtown des- historicaland difference between honestly engaging highway, a concrete artery connectthan justcandidate correcting injustices; it’s partnerships and collaborative efforts urban that we exist inDetroit Mitchell expressed. “But more importantly, I’ve been able forcibly displaced. Families were uprooted, Former and Wayne County us,” Hertel said of the nearly 60,000 more State Garlin Gilchrist. dustrial action as proposals the “Stand-Up tination inabout awe. One of these with and reducing different parts Abdul oftothe city. To some, it’s redefining the future. It will connect over a28candidate’s plus locations managing the health of 4.5 milhave experiences within anDemocrats industrywealth that many of primary was obliterated, and eleca health director El-Sayed defeated U.S.generational that not voted in the Strike,” focusing on specific plants Supreme Court Justices Noah Hood and shootings tragically claimed ing every position to a slogan designed to mere convenience; to others, it’s an unre-perdowntown Detroit to surrounding neighborlion honeybees – humbly speaking oura movement has us, specifically women of color, have the opportunity to thriving community was torn asunder. The Rep. Haley Stevens by less than single tion than Republicans. “We’re seeing within outrage each automaker. UAW Cavanagh spoke about helping solve the Demolife of hoods, a Megan popular and the be- gap provoke rather than understandmarkable part of their daily in commute. Howbridging that was placed upon inspired others locally, nationally, and even internationengage and I’ve been the youngest person in the room, wounds inflicted by I-375 run deep, trancentage point on Tuesday. crats unite together… One team, Michigan.” President Shawn Fain stated, “This problems through courts, calling Michigan loved security guard following. ever, there’s a deeper, far more troubling the city decades ago. ally to take on similar missions.” the only Black person in the room, and the only Sistah in scending the physical barrier of a freeway to The race represented the Democratic ParDetroit Mayor Mary Sheffield ing pointed to a with strategy will keep the companies national leader in problem solving courts. a dispute a patron. beneath the surface of this seemingly That reductionism is designed to storyty’s the room, and Iofreally had tothat articulate thesoul penetrate the very of Black Detroiters. Today, allegedly the resurgence of Paradise Valley Detroit a pioneering organization founded byover fracture the influence corporadifference inimportance voting numbers to argue guessing. ItHives, will give our nationThe male suspect “Treating each person with dignity and freeway—a story of pain, prevent thoughtful discussion by re- ordinary up,displacegiving for chances when others won’t, and standsbefore as a fleeing testament to the indomitable Lindsey and Jackson, harnesses urban bee- of This painful legacy be traced back tions in politics andshowing the party’s support Democrats have thecan momentum heading al negotiators maximum leveragethe power of shot the guard fairness, that is what leadership on our Suand theCity. lastingbeing impactpersistent.” on Black Detroi-a trailblazing Black woman thrivplacing complexity with emotionally of Black Detroiters and the enduring keeping to revitalize neighborhoods in ment, the Israel. Motor interstate program Some called the race a battleAs for theto the intonation’s November. Benson,highway who received Shef- spirit and flexibility in bargaining. And the scene, while female premehis Court is all about, we’ve worked too ters. charged labels. Once a candidate has ing in a predominantly male-dominated industry, her of Black excellence. This historic disTheir initiative onlyweaddresses criticalsoul issues like of 1956—a program thatafter aimed to companion connect of the party. field’s endorsement former Detroit legacy if we need to go not all out, will. ishard accused conto letofthat progress slip away,” Cavabeen squeezed into a simplisticbut ideologito Mayor fortifying the connections The tale begins inunwavering what is nowcommitment Lafayette the trict, once a vibrant hub Black businessenvironmental also provides valuable DPDfor Chief James White country but often did so at the expense Mike Duggan ended his independent Everything is onconservation the table.” Union cealing the weapon in her bra. Winners of the Tuesday primary joined nagh said. cal box, there is little room left opportunities for voters Park,toonce between businesses and Detroit’s communities is undeknown as Black Bottom—a neighes and culture, is experiencing a renaissance education and employment Black Debid for governor, thanked voters forThese trustof marginalized communities. In the case of incidents leaders have also indicated that former U.S. transportation secretary Pete unfolded during an unseasonably El-Sayedback on stage thedays. crowd his to examine what he has actually said or borhood rooted in African-American culture that harkens to its led glory Theindeing it hermeant after defeating Sheriff Chris additional plants could be targetcarving aGenesee path through the Buttigieg for what the party described asI-375, warm spring, leadingof to slogan, increased pedestrian traffic and signature “Money out have of politics, proposed. and history. Named after its dark, fertile struction Black Bottom may torn Swanson Tuesday. ed in future waves if negotiations of Black Detroit, reinforcing segregaa unity rally on Detroit’s west side Fridayheart tensions in densely downtown money in the your pocket,populated Medicare for all.” He Black Bottom flourished during the mid- tion, and perpetuating inequality. heightenedapart a thriving community, but the resolute The next step in that progression is soil, evening. remain stalled. “Right now, federal-led government, area. received the loudest ovation from of theentrecrowd determination of a new generation equally familiar: the “socialist” label. 1900s, nurturing the dreams and aspirations especially federal level, is showing up evFain clarified the union’s stratFor one to aptly recognize the harm Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel told in Detroit’s Renaissance High School gymThe surge in crime and the influx of visitors to Depreneurs and visionaries is reclaiming that Over the last several election cycles, of prominent Detroiters like Coleman Young, erywhere don’t want it,”toBenson said. egy: “I want to give a major shoutcaused by suchwe projects, it is vital note that the Michigan Chronicle the party is coming nasium. troit’s downtown core garnered the attention of the DeJoe Louis, and numerous other Detroit leglost legacy. Republicans have increasingly treated “Our polling places, mass federal agents out to the thousands of members behind in November Police Department (DPD), catching them somewhat in the primary over But in to thedefeat nameRepublicans of urban renewal in some of the planners and politicianstroit the word not as an all-purpose attack. ends.together In El-Sayed’s the heart victory of Paradise Valley, Blackin the streets of Michigan, and terrorizing who are on the picket lines right those projects built them directly through despite the differences between candidates. off guard. Stevens was powered by thousands of volthe 1950s, this vibrant neighborhood was Whether discussing healthcare, environowned businesses are not just flourishing Housing Resource Helpline in now fightingAsh for all of us. The By Andre the heart of vibrant, populated communidoor knockers passing outPolice yardprodsigns James White, Chief ofoffering Police for the Detroit Demental policy, labor protections, or edu- systematically dismantled, erased from the response butunteer thriving, diverse services, to the challenges Stand-Up Strike is a new approach ties—oftentimes to reinforcethat segregation and said: DIGITAL ANCHOR and“We campaign literature. partment, were caught somewhat flat-footed cation, the label often functions as a sub- map, and replaced by a lifeless stretch of as- residents ucts, and experiences that pay homage to the face in navigating the to replace to striking. Instead of striking all sometimes as part of a direct effort right out the design we way went the spring stitute for engaging the underlying ideas. phalt. “In By order to deliver big wins in Novempastgate. while paving the forinto a prosperous complex system of neighborhoods. housing serplants at once, selectcontinues locals will be or eliminate Black Homelessness to deployment, which is less than the mid-summer deployber, we must organize, organize, organize” While the residential areas bore the brunt Voters should ask themselves a simple future. From jazz clubs to soul food restauvices. The helpline provides a called to stand up and walkwith out plagueonurban communities, But now, after decades of enduring ment,theand rants, saw we say an uptick violence that first said Abbas Alaweih, who won his primary question whenever they hear that rheto- of this demolition, the heart of Black Bottom, single the Black Press, in and art galleries to point of contact for people on strike.and This is our generation’s families individuals grappling scars of I-375, there is a glimmer of hope warm weekend.” election to represent Dearborn in the state its thriving business center, remained largely ric: Is anyone explaining that why built a proposal fashion boutiques, this revival is breathing seeking housing assistance and answer to the movement with the challenges of making on the horizon. Plans have been unveiled to White on very Tuesday. Chief attributes the violence in Greektown to is flawed, or aresit-down they simply repeating a untouched. Restaurants, theaters, clubs, and connects lifeSenate into the essence of what once made them with the resources our –inthe strikes of endsunion meet today’sfear economic clitransform this once-divisive freewaya combination into a this of weatherwill conditions andcultural aU.S. surge in poplabel and expecting to do the rest? bars—the very places that brought Detroit’s they neighborhood aface vibrant epicenEl-Sayed former Rep. Mike 1937. We told the Big 3 that Sept. need. mate. Whether it’s when struggling to vision that seeks to right the wrongsulation. of the ter.Rogers Democracy benefits citizens It’s a in resurgence thatBenson extendsfaces beyond November. U.S. 14 was the deadline and we meant hear Black community together—were concenSupport for the helpline comes meet monthly mortgage payments past while heralding a new era of inclusivity trated around Hastings Street, the epicenter competing arguments. It is diminished brick and mortar; it represents the resurRep. John James. Savit is across the ballot He explained, “ We saw numbers downtown that we it. We gave the soaring companies ourcosts ecofrom the Gilbert Family Foundaor coping with rental and community revitalization. when political branding replaces evi- of African-American culture in the city. gence of aRepublican spirit that refuses to general be subdued. from attorney candihave not seen, ever. People are emerging from COVID nomic demands eight weeks ago tion, which has pledged $10 milin a housing market marked by dence. by more than $100 million Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd. Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Hastings lion Fueled andfrom there’s adate feeling that we’re in a post-COVID era… and it took more than a month to Detroit City Councilman Fred Durhal over three years to fund the shockingly high prices, a variety the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act the Gilchrist takes District onand Macomb County Clerk Street, too, was obliterated a few years later, program. and with venues downtown the reasons to come In some corners of the political ecoget to the table.” III, representing 7, where Eastern Wayne Metro Commuof factors contribute to the growAnthony Forlini. and other partners, this ambitious down project making way for the construction of I-375. with all the activities that are going on, we saw system, even that will not be enough. The Market resides, told the Michigan Chronicle, The union is pushing for a comJulie Schneider nity Action Agency manages the ing issue of people becoming un- Meagan Dunn to eco- of This marked the final blow, sealing the fate aims to create jobs, remove barriershundreds more people and, in particularly, young “It’s still very early in the process, MDOT is You can reach Sam at srobinson@ prehensive list of demands. This helpline, making it accessible to housed. See MICHIGAN VOTERS Page A-2 of Black Bottom and signaling the beginning nomic growth, and reconnect the neighborfolks, teenagers that we hadn’t seen.” michronicle.com. all Detroit residents. This initiative simplifies access to the See INVESTMENT Page A-2 Historically, shelterspage have provided a temporary respite of the end for Paradise Valley, the Black busi- hood with the rest of Detroit. It is a Responding step See UAW STRIKE A2 swiftly to the surge in violence, DPD for those in need, often serving as the first or second option City’s various housing services, ensuring that residents in adjusted its deployment plans. Rather than waiting for after exhausting alternatives like staying with friends or need can easily find assistance. mid-summer, they deployed officers in the spring itself family. Shelters offer a place to rest one’s head and a warm “The city and its partners offer a lot of great services to address the situation. meal, albeit sometimes for extended periods. For others, to help Detroiters with their housing needs, but they don’t The rise in visitors to the Greektown area is evident being unhoused means living in cars or makeshift outdoor mean much if people don’t know how to access them,” said in data from Placer.ai, a location analytics company settings. Mayor Mike Duggan. “Thanks to the efforts of our partners becauseand of discrimination,insights but they specializing in visit trends Mychael issues facingdemographic the city. She described The causes of homelessness By are as diverse and complex and the generous support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, ByLynzee Jeremy Allen were alsomobile comingdevices. because From Black through geolocation-enabled MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST herself as a lifelong Democrat and as the individuals experiencing EXECUTIVE it. In response, EDITORthe City of we now have a simple process to guide residents to the right people was doing some stuff. When May 1-Aug. 27, 2022, there were 1.3 million visits pointed to her history as the and first Detroit has adopted a holistic approach to combat this issue. housing resource and a growing number of programs to did Black people starttodoing things 655,000 visitors to Greektown, according Placer.ai. From the days of the Great MiDetroit City Councilwoman Black woman to serve as Demohelp them.” “Providing services and high-quality housing to personsof Black inyear, the these city?numbers They started doing In the same period this increased to gration when thousands Maryhomelessness Waters sat down for breakcratic Floor Leader in the Michigan The Gilbert Family Foundation’s broader commitment at risk of or who are experiencing is a key things in this area in the 1800’s. 1.4 million visits and 670,000 visitors. families flocked to Detroit in search fast with Republican U.S. Senate Legislature when she was a state pledging $500 million to support projects across priority of the City of Detroit, said Julieand Schneider, Director In the 1800’s the major thingboth that ofnominee jobs a better life,and to his theinvolves pivAs Detroit’s downtown area continues to attract Mike Rogers wife, representative. Detroit over the next ten years, with housing initiatives of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department. they were doing in Detroit is they otal role they played in the city’s residents and visitors, the police department has impleKristi, Monday morning at Clique The breakfast also brought tobeing a significant part of their contribution. were the leaders in the fight against “This means focusing on building theand pipeline of that sup-heritage, cultural musical mented various enforcement measures towho manage the inrestaurant, a meeting came as gether two figures willRailroad occupy slavery. The Underground Notably, Detroit has witnessed a consistent decrease in portive housing and coordinating with the Continuum of Black Detroiters left anquesincreased population. Notably, metal detectors have been Waters continuedhave to publicly different on the political is the rootplaces in the city of deter Detroit recent years, with the number of unhoused residents steadiCare What on the a delivery of critical resources such as the emergency delible mark on city. However, strategically placed throughout Greektown to theto Federal tion the direction and inclusiveness spectrum during a consequential all of this Black innovation that you lyleaddeclining. In 2019, approximately 7,847 people were unshelter, rapid rehousing, and diversion and prevention inofrecent years, Detroitprohas expeillegal carrying of firearms. Detroit’s Democratic Party Senate campaign. Government Shutdown see coming later.” Rogers is now the housed and entered the City’s community response system. grams. It also means preserving and expanding affordable rienced significant gentrification, ership. “We have strategically placed them at key “ Republican nominee for points, the U.S. In 2021, about 5,687 people experienced homelessness. housing options for Detroiters of all incomes and improving Could Mean which raised about like Aretha Chief White explains.Senate It Musical has been alegends deterrent forentering some, Thehas breakfast atconcerns the Rivard and in Michigan, after a Life of Leadership housing stability though comprehensive service offerings the displacement long-standing Marvin Gaye, and the According to the City of Detroit, since the start of the and some have testedFranklin, it. 2026 If youelection are legally a Jefferson locationof followed Waters’ for Detroiters? the cyclecarrying as the Reavailable through the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine Black residents. Similar to a setting Motown sound emerged from Defiscal year 2019 to 2021, Detroit saw a 28% decrease in the Rooted in Service weapon and carrying publican a CPL, have a great day. criticism of the local Democratic candidate for If theyou’re open and Detroit Housing Services Division within HRD.” sun, there’s spirit, Black troit, providing a soundtrack for the Party aftera rising she said sheand was not seat. The general election is schedSee COMBAT HOMELESSNESS page A2 See POLICEcivil PRESENCE Page A-2 Detroiters their place rights movement and inspirIn May 2023, the City of Detroit launched the Detroit invited toareanreclaiming official party unity uled for November 3. inbreakfast the city, earlier despite the ing generations. Motown Records, in challenges the week. Waters herGordy decision to meet posed by gentrification. bysaid Berry Jr., was not Waters discussed the issue public- with Waters, an at-large member leading vote-getter among all city founded with Rogers was based on her reand west sides. Over time, these long after our current phase of gen- just a record label but a symbol of During the Great Migration, ly on Charlie Langton’s Fox 2 pro- of the Detroit City Council who council candidates. sponsibilities toand Detroit and her neighborhoods became centers of trification. Black excellence empowerment. thousands of Black families from gram, “Detroit Talk City,” raising represents voters across the city. to speak with anyone For Waters, the coming meetingtowas Black culture and entrepreneurship. “Black people were De- willingness the South came to why Detroit search However, as Detroit faced ecoquestions about sheinwas left Waters was reelected in November grounded positioned to the city’s in her view of her responAccording to Historian Jamon troit because Black churches were nomic decline influence ofout jobs the booming automobile and population loss of aingathering intended to bring 2025, receiving 70,983 votes, or sibility to Detroit residents and the future. Jordon Black resilience in the city here, black schools were here, and industry. Despite facing discriminain the late 20th century, many Democrats together. 36% of the vote, in the at-large City roots the that QR extend far before the Up its was BlackDigital businesses here,” said Scan Code to Sign for the Daily Newsletter tion Rogers and segregation, they built vi- has Council race. She finished as the used the opening to meet $2.00 See DEMOCRATIC PARTY TENSIONS Pagepage A-2 A2 brant communities on the city’s east Great Migration and will persist Jordon. “They were coming of course See LEGACY $1.00

I

Greektown Had 1.4 Million Visits This Summer and No Shootings

Michigan Democrats Rally for Unity Can Reparative Investment Finally After Contentious Primary Heal the Wounds Left by I-375?

All Hands On Deck to Combat Homelessness A Holistic Approach to Providing Shelter and Support for Detroit’s Unhoused People

WHAT’S INSIDE WHAT’S INSIDE

Mary Waters Meets Republican Senator Candidate Mike Rogers Black Resilience AmidstAmid Gentrification: Detroit’s Legacy for Breakfast DemocraticReclaiming Party Tensions

Detroit Mourns Dr. Iris Taylor, Money. A5 Roots. A3

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To Choose

Elected officials are also working to keep women Roe v. Wade intact thus holding off Michigan’s n pre- 1931 trigger ban. Goveroment nor Gretchen Whitmer of the released a statement final. saying, in part: a law“The words ‘Roe over31 law turned’ are no longer effect, theoretical. I want every ed the Michigander to know— m that nstitu- no matter what happens ontain in D.C., I’m going to fight n. Our like hell to protect access anned to safe, legal abortion in ates of Michigan…” More than legal impliunding alition cations, overturning Roe roduc- v. Wade would impact sevAll, a eral systems across the affirm spectrum. With the poon and tential to drive both foster From page A-1 numbers om in and adoption upward, a ban on aborterm “communist” has become anothution,” er rhetorical weapon untethered from tions could leave many Giroux. its women historical meaning. It is increasingto choose a less s that ly deployed as a catch-all insult against safe opponents route restoring ‘back ing in political rather than a seriandof illegal aborabor- ousalley’ description their beliefs. And practices, including goal is always to create an emohigan, thetion reaction before facts have any self-abortions. Moreover, makes tional opportunity to enter the conversation. we will African American women That women kind of language of color,cheapens who e can and public discourse. It encourages voters already have a long-stoatients to see political opponents not as fellow ried history with access e they Americans with different priorities, inclusion in It medibutand as existential enemies. trans-

Michigan Voters

forms disagreement into demonization. Michigan deserves islature adopts it. better than campaigns built on exaggeration inIncrease stead of persuasion.school funding: Statutory to Perhaps the most changes troubling possi1 bility, however,the is that attacksAid will increase School o have move beyond policy altogether. Abdul Fund revenue by at least is a Muslim American of senta- El-Sayed $3.6 billion and establish descent. Those facts should egisla- Egyptian a permanent weighted be no more politically significant than funding formula based on another candidate’s church affiliation family heritage. recent political andYetcommunity n and or student offers ample examples ofpreidenneeds and universal al jus- history becoming a target for suspicion, school (0-3). recom- tity innuendo, and coded messaging. Presection ident Donald RejectTrump censorship has already in enanaly- tered the chat instruction: with slander about his history Enin several rants across th the name couraging Gov.at rallies Whitmer the country, and also on social media. Attor- to ensure the goal for Explicit appeals to prejudice may chigan Michigan schools should be less in polished campaign Law be common history instruction advertisements than they once were, ndards butthat is presented by propolitics has evolved rather than ciation abandoned those with tactics.the Dogsubwhisfessionals cutors tles, implication, selective emphasis, ject matter expertise, carefully crafted narratives can olders andpedagogical skills, and exclusion without ever ct and communicate judgment necessary to saying the quiet part out loud. When

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cine and healthcare, may what the Supreme Court be adversely impacted by will rule in the upcoming the decision to overturn days. Despite the deciRoe v. Wade. sion, advocates on both “What we are really sides of the argument are concerned about is the willing to continue their impact on our patients. pursuits. Access to abortion is al“Overturning Roe v. ready out of reach for far Wade would be a terrible THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY too many Michiganders, break with nearly 50 years 1452 Randolph • Detroit, MI 48226 • Phone: (313) 963-8100 especially Black people of judicial precedent and USPS• 344-820 1452 Randolph • Publication Detroit, MINo.: 48226 Phone: (313) 963-8100 and people of color who – more importantly – a OFFICE HOURS: Publication No.: USPS 344-820 face additional barriers blow against individual Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Closed Sat. and Sun. OFFICETheHOURS: DEADLINE Michigan Chronicle is publishedADVERTISING every Wednesday. to care as a result of sys- freedom. It is my hope Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Periodical Postage, paid at Detroit, MI. Price $1.00 and other post office. Classified: 3 p.m Friday temic inequalities and in- that the majority of jusCopy, and cancellations, OF AUDIT BUREAU OFcorrections CIRCULATION Closed Sat.MEMBER and Sun. stitutional racism. Losing tices will reject the findpreceding the Wednesday publication. The Michigan Chronicle is access to legal abortion ings of this draft. If that is ADVERTISING DEADLINE Display: 12 p.m. Friday published every Wednesday. will impact those com- not the case, we need to Classified: 3 preceding p.m Friday the Wednesday publication. Periodical Postage, Copy, corrections and cancellations, preceding thenews Wed­n esday publication. For all and calendar items: munities most, forcing stand with Senate Majorpaid at Detroit, MI. Deadline is two weeks prior to event. Display: 12 p.m. Friday people to become parents ity Leader Schumer and Price $1.00 and otherpreceding post office. the Wednesday pub­ lication.that contain Weeks or expand their families Gov. Whitmer in support MEMBER OFnews AUDIT For all andBUREAU calendar items: Deadline is two weeks prior event. holidays, dead line is to Thursday prior OF CIRCULATION against their will. Being of their efforts to preserve to prior publication date. Weeks that contain holidays, dead­line is Thursday to publication date. able to decide and con- the right to reproductrol if, when and how to tive freedom,” said Chair candidates a areparent portrayedisas censomehow rather than inform judgment. become Alisha Bell, on behalf of less American because of their This election should not become a tral to building and livingfaith,the Wayne POSTMASTER — Send address changes to: POSTMASTER County Comethnicity, or background, the damage Send • address changes •to:DETROIT, MI 48226 referendum on fear and covert racist MICHIGAN CHRONICLE 1452 Randolph a healthy, happy life,” mission. is real whether the message is subtle attacks, or another exercise in testing MICHIGAN CHRONICLE | 1452 Randolph • DETROIT, MI 48226 said Vasquez Giroux. or overt. how effectively consultants, super Beyond voters the scope of Michigan should remain PACs, or online agitators can exploit alert to attemptsversus to exploit bias under old prejudices for new political gain. pro-choice proEl-Sayed’s victory on the From page A-1 the guise criticism. There’s Michigan’s future is too important to life, theof political fight for reproDemocratic side followed nothing courageous about inviting be decided by campaigns that rely on “Look, one of these guys a closely watched contest ductive choice is one of people to fear their neighbors and stereotypes instead of substance. (Rogers or the Democratic against U.S. Rep. Haley Stefreedom. Michigan there’s nothingAsprincipled about enNone of this means candidates nominee Abdul El-Sayed) vens. Rogers previously ran officials work to ensure couraging suspicion because someone should be shielded from criticism. is going to be a U.S. Senaworships differently or traces each woman who findstheir Quite the opposite. Every candidate tor. I represent more than for the Senate in 2024. Waters’ own political family’s roots to another part to of the for public office should face rigorous 700,000 Detroiters. More herself in the position standing in Detroit has been world. Those tactics don’t strengthen choose has access to care scrutiny. Their records, proposals, pri- than 88% of Detroit school democracy. They weaken it by encour- orities, and judgment should all be ex- children can’t read at grade strengthened by her reelecwithout thetothreat legal into tion to the City Council aging citizens sort oneofanother amined carefully. That is what democ- level. Michigan is 44th in in the 2025. Her decision action, many wonder categories of belonging and exclusion. education – lower than Mis-

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Democratic Party Tensions

Outside organizations, partisan influencers, and anonymous The health committeesocial media accounts often amplify these recommends reviewing messages with even fewer restraints state licensure policies to will than official campaigns, and this address barriers that who be clearly the visible to everyone uses the psychologists internet over the next Black facethree months. This race between El-Sayed in obtaining licensure in and his Republican opponent Mike Michigan. Rogers is expected to see spending reach into the hundreds of millions Ensure equitable dis- of dollars. We know that rumors spread tribution of state health faster than corrections. Edited video funds: Ensure all Michiclips travel farther than full speeches. gan communities with genera Falsehoods wrapped in outrage significant Blackthanpopuate more engagement careful reporting. And all of these things reflect lation receive adequate a political in which attention funds toculture address mental has become more valuable than truth. health issues. Every voter has a responsibility to Protecting Black voting slow that cycle down. Before sharing a viral post, askstate whether it accuraterights: Urge officials ly reflects reality. Beforein accepting to remain vigilant the a provocative claim, consider to whethfight against schemes er credible evidence accompanies it. disenfranchise MichiganBefore allowing outrage to shape an ders of determine color. whether someone opinion, is attempting to manipulate emotion “BLAC members have

racy demands. But scrutiny and scapegoating are not the same thing, and criticism and prejudice aren’t interchangeable. Honest disagreement is essential to self-government, while calculated attempts to inflame racial or religious resentment are corrosive to it. Michigan voters have an opportunity to send a message that politics doesn’t have to sink to its lowest instincts. We can insist that campaigns compete on ideas instead of identity and on evidence instead of insinuation. When cynical operatives choose to recycle divisive tactics instead, they deserve condemnation instead of applause. Ultimately, the measure of our democracy shouldn’t be measured by how loudly we cheer for those who agree with us. It should be measured in whether we refuse to reward those who seek power by convincing us to fear one another. That standard is worth defending in every election, and we should showcase that with our ballots in November.

sissippi. Detroit poverty is an American shame. Detroit is one of the worst cities in America for veterans. Our seniors are warehoused and deserve much more than they get now. And Detroit is not a DSA (Democratic Socialist of America) city. Damn betcha I met with Rogers; true he has Trump’s baggage, as do the Democrats. In our Detroit, the next Senator will also have three-and-a-half years without Trump,” said Waters. Her comments placed education, poverty, veterans’ services, and the treatment of seniors at the center of her reasoning for the meeting. Waters has repeatedly framed her political work around issues she believes directly affect Detroit residents, and her remarks Monday emphasized that approach.

to meet Rogers therefore places a prominent Detroit elected official in direct conversation with a Republican Senate candidate during a campaign in which Detroit voters will be an important constituency. It also underscored Waters’ stated willingness to engage political figures around the issues she says matter most to the people she represents. She added that political relationships can serve a practical purpose when the stakes involve Detroit residents and the city’s future. “I represent more than 700,000 Detroiters,” she said. That responsibility, Waters indicated, was sufficient reason to accept the invitation to sit down, share a meal, and make her concerns known.

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gically. present complex inforworked hard to identify war- mation to students that House are grounded in prov- the needs of the Black ations able facts and add to the community and we feel son wasrecommendations found dead July 6: By Joseph Williams of mod- theirthese hear- understanding waiting for someone ato solid tell them will provide first d other ern-day America. he died. (This story originally appeared howstep towards breaking ld ban on WordInBlack.com) Increase mental health Private Investigation down barriers in educaof no- supports for the Black Civil rights attorney safety, Ben A month after a Black teenager tion, community knock vanished Crump, who represents the community: Recommendduring a boating trip to health and quietly. business,” family, isn’t waiting His ng the a Mississippi ing Michigan set awith goal said BLAC Co-Chair Dr. barrier island o pass hisofwhite friends, officials have legal team is conducting its own increasing the number investigation andBell. has taken steps Donna L. three people, subpoenas m and arrested of Black mental health that could lay the groundwork have been issued, and his body has BLAC including will hold a virmer to service providers by 20% for litigation, sending two autopsies. he leg- undergone tual town hall meeting each year over five years. evidence-preservation notices to But there is still no answer to people connected to final to discuss itsWells’ policy recthe question that started it all: hours. An attorney working with ommendations on ThursAutopsy Inconclusive What happened to Nolan Wells? Crump also has sought subpoeday, May 12 at 4 p.m. Join The Rev. Al Sharpton, who deAt least three people have been nas for records from Snapchat, BLAC and a virtual audilivered the eulogy at Wells’ funerarrested on federal charges conpeople believe that they Life360 and other companies al, has joined 1 the family’s demand in discussing the nected to the case, but none is thatence could help reconstruct Wells’ need to for themselves for answers. Filmmaker Tyler races. accused of having anything to do movements before he died. to suprecommendations and others live better Perry helped pay the funeral exwith Wells’ death.toInstead, they The questions port unanswered the Black communiansfor- arelives.” accused of making threats have turned Wells’ death from a penses, while former NFL quarterty. p as a against“Chancellor public officials or people is Mississippi tragedy into a national back Colin Kaepernick paid for an Ivery to the investigation, an cause. BLAC is housed in theindependent autopsy. Television h that connected a true transformational crime personality Nancy Grace has turn in a case alchange extraordinary Michigan Department Wells, an incoming college ofdevoted episodes of her program leader an outstandready fueled and by national attention e sys- ing CEO, who is more freshman Laborand and Economic former high schoolOp-to the case. and rampant social-media speculafootball player, traveled stanc- tion. portunity. Members rep- That second autopsy, however, than worthy of the CEO of Island, a remote state parktooffHorn the erating the resent many professionaldidn’t settle anything. Meanwhile, Mississippi hasre- Mississippi Year Award he just coast that’s popular including Ivory completed autopsy, but withbackgrounds, Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., the ceived,its“official said Prof. James young people, on July 4 with findings remain under wraps. economics, law, public former chief medical examiner for mation- theC. friends. He never returned home. Mays, who teaches Washington, D.C., classified both Angel Myers McIlrath, the safety, health and wellt just entrepreneurship After Wells’ mother reported and district attorney, says the himness, missing, theand teenager’s bodyandWells’ cause and manner of death arts culture o cer- local supply chain managecase, including the autopsy find- was recovered two days later as “undetermined pending investimedia. They leverage their s them ings, ment atpresented WCCCD’s will be to a Corpogrand from the northwestern part of the gation.” He found no fractures or experiences and expertisedeep-tissue injuries but noted an iew of jury rate once College. investigators “In finishhis their27 island. Authorities initially said recommendand ex- work. Experts say it’s standard years at WCCCD, Dr. Ivery theytohad make no evidence of foul play, area of discoloration on the back procedure in the county for untions to the e that has elevated WCCCD to but Wells’ parents governor questioned onof Wells’ head that he could not natural deaths, not necessarily an his conclusively explain. criticalaccounts issuesamong affecting ecause become nationally recog- conflicting indication that prosecutors believe friends of why their son apparBecause portions of the airway the Black community. what a crime nized for excellence and ently occurred. remained behind while the and other tissue had been recreate innovation moreto port aboutmoved during the state’s examBut it leaves and Wells’preparing parents rest of To themlearn headed back every- roughly our students BLAC this upcomingination — a routine part of an theirand crippled boat. where they professionwere when aboard entire ally and personally to do event, visit www.michiecause great things in the world.” gan.gov/BLAC.

A Month Later, Nolan Wells’ Death Still Defies Answers

Curtis Ivery

autopsy — Mitchell also could not independently determine whether Wells drowned. Mitchell said he could not rule out non-accidental factors, but also could not conclude whether Wells had been killed. Evidence or Speculation? That distinction has become increasingly important as the case has exploded online. Perhaps no piece of evidence illustrates that better than a recorded July 4 call to Sea Tow, a private marine towing company. Mississippi authorities released audio of the call, made at about 4 p.m. by someone aboard the boat Wells had traveled on after it ran into trouble near Horn Island. Social-media users began dissecting faint voices in the background. An audio engineer produced an enhanced version that went viral, with some listeners saying they hear phrases including “Is he dead?” and references to Wells. But what people think they hear on social media isn’t necessarily evidence. A forensic audio expert interviewed by People cautioned that enhancement can introduce artifacts and that suggestion can affect what listeners believe they hear. A reliable forensic examination, she said, would require the original, uncompressed recording and a documented process. Crump says his team has hired experts to

analyze the call. Death Threats Investigated Meanwhile, the speculation has produced real-world consequences. Federal authorities have charged people from California, Ohio and Illinois with allegedly making threats connected to the case. The targets have included government offices, a Mississippi judge whose son was among Wells’ friends, and witnesses connected to the investigation. One man allegedly sent a witness the person’s home address while threatening to kill the witness and family members. Yet none of those arrests shed light on what happened to Wells. His mother, Christine Wonsley, has said from the beginning that she isn’t asking authorities to confirm a conspiracy or reach a predetermined conclusion. She wants what any parent would want after a child leaves home for a holiday outing and ends up dead. “We just want honesty and transparency,” Wonsley told ABC’s “Good Morning America” shortly after her son’s death. “We want a thorough investigation.” A month later, that investigation has generated federal charges, forensic examinations, subpoenas, celebrity involvement and countless hours of amateur detective work online. What it still hasn’t produced is an answer.

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A3 | August 12-18, 2026

Wayne County Voters Approve Countywide Transit Millage, Ending Decades of Opt-Outs

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By Jasmine West Wayne County voters delivered a decisive mandate for countywide public transportation Tuesday, approving a millage that will bring all 43 communities into a connected transit funding system for the first time. Approximately 67% of voters supported the proposal, while 33% voted against it, according to official election results. More than 230,000 ballots were cast in favor of the millage. The vote marks a major shift for Michigan’s most populous county, where municipal boundaries and decades of communities opting out of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation have left riders navigating a patchwork system. The millage renews public transportation funding in the 26 Wayne County communities already participating in SMART while extending the tax and future service to 17 communities that previously opted out. Those communities include Belleville, Brownstown Township, Canton, Detroit, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township, Huron Township, Livonia, Northville, Northville Township, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Rockwood, Sumpter Township, Van Buren Township and Woodhaven. “Wayne County voters made a clear choice for a more connected region, and this millage will finally bring every community into one connected transit system for students, seniors, and workers,” SMART General Manager and CEO Tiffany J. Gunter said in a statement. “None of this happens without our drivers, mechanics, planners, riders, and the community partners who made the case day after day,” Gunter continued. “Now the work starts, and we get the chance to prove again that this organization delivers, for everyone.” The 0.98-mill levy will run for 10 years, beginning with the 2026 tax year and ending in 2035. It amounts to 98 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property value, or approximately $8 per month for a home with a taxable value of $100,000. Residents in the 26 communities already paying the SMART millage will not see an increase in the millage rate. Property owners in the 17 previously opted-out communities will pay the tax for the first time. The proposal is expected to generate approximately $57 million during its first year. Revenue will be distributed among Wayne County, SMART, the Detroit Department of Transportation and smaller community and regional transit providers. Approximately $8 million generated annually in Detroit is expected to go to DDOT. Detroit has historically been considered an opt-out community because it operates its own bus system, although both DDOT and SMART buses currently travel through the city.

See TRANSIT MILLAGE Page A-4

Detroit Voters Approve Proposal S, Secure Critical Operating Funding for DPSCD

By Jasmine West Detroit voters approved Proposal S, protecting a critical source of operating revenue for Detroit Public Schools Community District and ensuring money used to run the city’s public schools can continue reaching classrooms, educators and students. The measure authorizes DPSCD to collect up to 18 mills on non-homestead property through 2045. District officials estimate the levy will generate approximately $112 million in 2026 for teachers, classroom instruction, student programs, technology, transportation, arts and music, athletics, career and technical education and the daily work of operating Detroit schools. The millage applies primarily to businesses, rental properties, industrial property and second homes. It does not apply to owner-occupied primary residences and does not increase the existing operating tax rate. What changes is who has the authority to collect it. Since Detroit’s school system was restructured by the state in 2016, DPSCD has educated students and operated schools while the former Detroit Public Schools entity remained in place to collect taxes and repay legacy debt. With that operating debt nearing repayment, the old district could no longer remain the long-term collector of the millage. Proposal S gives that authority directly to DPSCD, allowing the district responsible for Detroit’s students to continue receiving the full operating funding available under Michigan’s school funding formula.

Without voter approval, district officials warned DPSCD could face an annual funding loss of approximately $120 million once the legacy district lost its authority to collect the tax. That possibility placed programs, staffing and services throughout the district at risk. Proposal S did not ask Detroiters to create a new pot of money. It asked them to prevent an existing and essential source of school revenue from disappearing because of the legal structure left behind by Detroit’s 2016 school restructuring. In a statement following the measure’s passage, the DPSCD Board of Education thanked residents for supporting the district and investing in Detroit children. “We sincerely thank the voters of Detroit for supporting Proposal S and investing in the future of our students,” the Board said. “We are grateful for your confidence and committed to earning your trust every day.” The Board described the vote as an investment in opportunity and in the belief that Detroit students deserve the same access to strong schools, educators and programs as children in wealthier communities. “Every child deserves to learn in a safe, welcoming school, be inspired by outstanding educators, and have access to strong academics, technology, the arts, athletics, and career pathways that prepare them for success,” the statement continued. “A child’s future should never be determined by their ZIP code.” For Detroit families, that funding directly shapes what students experience inside their schools each day. Operating revenue pays for the people

who greet children in the morning, teach them throughout the day, transport them to school, provide academic and emotional support and keep school buildings functioning. It supports books, classroom technology, utilities and programs that give students opportunities beyond their required courses. The measure’s passage comes as DPSCD prepares to welcome students back for another academic year and families continue demanding strong instruction, safe schools, transparency and visible results from district leadership. Board members acknowledged that Proposal S alone will not solve the deeper inequities built into public school funding. Its passage does, however, prevent Detroit schools from losing revenue that districts across Michigan rely on as part of the state funding system. “While we recognize there is still work to do to achieve greater equity in school funding, the passage of Proposal S is an important step forward,” the Board said. “It provides critical resources that will help our students learn, grow, and reach their full potential.” Board President LaTrice McClendon said the elected Board remains committed to transparency, accountability and placing students at the center of its decisions. Detroit voters have now given DPSCD the authority to collect the operating dollars attached to the work it has carried out since 2016. The vote protects more than a line in the district’s budget. It protects the people, programs and everyday resources Detroit children depend on when they walk through their school doors.

Detroit Mourns Dr. Iris Taylor, a Life of Leadership Rooted in Service By Jasmine West Detroit lost a leader who spent decades caring for the city in nearly every meaning of the word. Dr. Iris A. Taylor, a Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education member, former board president and longtime healthcare executive, died July 30. She was 74. Taylor was serving as the school board’s treasurer and chair of the DPSCD Foundation Board of Directors. Her death leaves Detroit without a woman whose leadership reached across public education, healthcare and city government, but remained rooted in the people those institutions were created to serve. “Detroit, this one hurts,” the DPSCD Foundation wrote in a public tribute. “Today, Detroit lost one of its greatest leaders, and the DPSCD Foundation lost an extraordinary Board Chair, mentor, and friend.” Taylor was a proud graduate of Detroit’s Central High School. She went on to build a healthcare career spanning more than four decades, beginning as a staff nurse at Detroit Receiving Hospital in 1975 and eventually rising into executive leadership. Her career included serving as chief nursing officer for the Detroit Medical Center and holding presidential leadership positions at Detroit Receiving Hospital, Harper University Hospital and Hutzel Women’s Hospital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor returned to direct public service as nursing director for the Detroit Health Department, helping the city respond to one of the most difficult public health emergencies in recent history. But Taylor’s legacy cannot be reduced to the impressive positions she held. She represented a generation of Black

women whose expertise, labor and leadership helped sustain Detroit’s institutions through periods of crisis and change. She understood how to move through executive spaces without becoming disconnected from the neighborhoods, families and children affected by the decisions made inside them. That understanding followed her into public education. Taylor became president of the first elected DPSCD school board seated in 2017 after years of state control. The board entered office carrying the responsibility of restoring local governance while rebuilding

trust in a district that had endured financial instability, declining enrollment and years of decisions made without full authority resting in the hands of Detroit voters. Her leadership helped guide the district through that transition. “Throughout her career, Dr. Taylor was a driving force behind this district’s progress, a former Board President, a respected healthcare executive, and a fierce champion for equitable opportunities in our schools,” Board President LaTrice McClendon and Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said in a joint statement. “Her guidance shaped decisions that will benefit generations of Detroit stu-

dents, and her presence at the board table will be greatly missed.” After losing reelection in 2020, she was elected again to the Board in 2022. As her current term was set to conclude in December 2026, Dr. Taylor had planned to run for reelection and continue her service to DPSCD students, families, and the community. During her time on the DPSCD Board of Education, Dr. Taylor served in several leadership roles, including president, secretary, and most recently, treasurer. She also served as Board Chair of the DPSCD Foundation beginning in 2024. Taylor’s work at the intersection of health and education became one of the clearest expressions of her service. Drawing on her healthcare experience, she helped shape the district and Foundation’s Health Hubs initiative, which connects DPSCD students and families with coordinated health, wellness and basic-needs resources. The DPSCD Foundation credited Taylor with helping develop the strategy, cultivate partnerships and secure investments behind the effort. She understood that what happens in a child’s home, body and community does not disappear when that child enters a classroom. Supporting students meant looking beyond test scores and addressing the conditions that could stand between them and their ability to learn. Taylor also helped lead work surrounding high school redesign and played a pivotal role in securing state funding to return Davis Aerospace Technical High School to Detroit City Airport. That move strengthened a specialized pathway connecting Detroit students to aviation, technical education and future careers. “She didn’t just serve our city; she helped

See DR. IRIS TAYLOR Page A-4

Page A-4 | August 12-18, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

Dr. Iris Taylor From page A-3

shape it,” the DPSCD Foundation wrote. “Some people leave a mark on a city. Dr. Iris A. Taylor helped shape its future.” Public reactions to her death reflected the reach of that work. “So many of us owe so much to Dr. Taylor,” Eric Doeh wrote beneath the Foundation’s LinkedIn tribute. “She was a mentor, a confidant, and a leader who inspired others to be better than they thought possible.” Others remembered her as a passionate advocate, a teacher and a steady presence. “I was blessed to work alongside Dr. Iris Taylor for many years,” Fouad Beydoun wrote. “She was an exceptional leader and an even better person.” Under her leadership, the Foundation expanded partnerships and investments intended to create greater opportunities for Detroit students. She was also an elected voice on a school board that carries enormous responsibility. Its members oversee decisions affecting the education, safety and future of thousands of Detroit children. Taylor brought institutional memory to that table, along with

experience leading large organizations and navigating moments when public confidence had to be earned. Detroit will feel the loss of that experience. There will be an empty seat at the school board table, but Taylor’s absence reaches beyond one meeting room. It will be felt across the networks of educators, nurses, executives, public servants and community leaders she advised, challenged and mentored. It will also be felt by those who may never have known her name but encountered the results of her work: a student connected to care through a Health Hub, a family receiving support through a school, or a young person discovering a future in aviation at Davis Aerospace. Dr. Iris Taylor began her journey in Detroit’s public schools and spent the rest of her life widening the possibilities available to the students who came after her. Her life carried a lesson Detroit knows well. Leadership is not only measured by how high a person rises. It is measured by how deeply they remain connected to the people, places and institutions that helped them rise. Taylor never forgot Detroit. Detroit will not forget her.

All. Better. We’ll never stop pursuing better health for everyone in our communities.

Transit Millage From page A-3

The measure also supports SMART fixed-route buses, SMART Flex on-demand service, paratransit and community transportation programs serving older adults and people with disabilities. For people who do not drive, public transportation can determine whether they can reach work on time, attend a medical appointment, remain enrolled in school or buy groceries without relying on family members and friends. That reality is especially important for older adults and residents with disabilities who depend on paratransit and community transportation programs to maintain their independence. Supporters also framed the proposal as an economic development issue. A transit system that stops at municipal borders can leave workers disconnected from jobs and employers unable to reach potential employees living only a few communities away. Under the proposed expansion, SMART plans to introduce eight routes, extend five existing routes and add on-demand service in areas that previously opted out. The expansion is expected to take place over approximately three years and will depend partly on the agency’s ability to purchase vehicles and hire the workers needed to operate them. The approval puts Wayne County closer in line with Oakland County, where voters approved a countywide transit millage in 2022 and eliminated the county’s remaining opt-out communities. Macomb County also operates under a countywide SMART millage. For decades, Southeast Michigan has struggled to build a transit network capa-

ble of connecting Detroit with jobs, schools, medical facilities and suburban communities throughout the region. Riders have often carried the consequences of that failure through longer commutes, limited schedules and service gaps shaped less by need than by municipal boundaries. Opponents argued that the proposal placed an unnecessary expense on taxpayers and questioned whether expanded transit would deliver enough value to communities where bus service has historically been limited. Several organized efforts emerged in recent months urging residents to reject the tax. Tuesday’s results, however, showed broad support for replacing that fragmented structure with a countywide approach. The communities already participating in SMART are Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Garden City, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Redford Township, River Rouge, Riverview, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Wayne, Westland and Wyandotte. Approval at the ballot box does not mean new buses will immediately appear in every neighborhood. Routes must be finalized, vehicles purchased, workers hired and residents included in decisions about where service is needed most. The vote gives transit agencies the money and authority to begin that work. For Wayne County residents who have spent years living beyond the reach of dependable public transportation, the measure represents the possibility of something Metro Detroit has repeatedly struggled to deliver: a regional system that recognizes a person’s need to reach work, school or a doctor does not end at a city border.

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A5 | August 12-18, 2026

Money.

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Property is Power!

The Next Civil Rights Movement is Ownership By Dr. Anthony O. Kellum CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Every generation of Black Americans has fought for access. Access to schools. Access to neighborhoods. Access to the ballot box. Access to capital. Access to jobs that were once legally and socially out of reach. Those victories mattered. They changed lives, opened doors, and expanded opportunities in ways our grandparents could scarcely imagine. But history has quietly revealed a difficult truth, access alone does not create wealth ownership does. That distinction may define the next chapter of Black America. For much of our history, the struggle was to get into the room. The next struggle is making sure we own part of the building. Ownership changes the conversation because it changes the balance sheet. A paycheck can improve your lifestyle ownership improves your legacy; income pays Anthony O. Kellum bills; assets build freedom. One generation can work hard for thirty years and retire with memories. Another generation can spend those same thirty years accumulating property, businesses, investments, and land that continue producing wealth long after they are gone. This is why Property is Power has never simply been about buying houses. It is about changing how we think about wealth itself. The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances has consistently shown that the median wealth of homeowners is many times greater than that of renters. The reason is not mysterious. A mortgage payment slowly converts into equity. Appreciation compounds over decades. Properties can generate rental income. Equity can finance businesses, educate children, or become the down payment for another investment assets begin producing assets… That is how wealth behaves. Yet Black America still owns less of the nation’s appreciating assets than it should. Homeownership among Black households remains significantly below that of White households, despite decades of progress. The gap is not merely about housing. It is about participation in the single largest source of wealth creation for most American families. Too often, our financial conversations center on earning more instead of owning more. We celebrate promotions while overlooking acquisitions. We applaud higher salaries while ignoring balance sheets, we spend years mastering professions without mastering assets. Imagine if that changed. Imagine if only one-half of one percent of Black Americans made a deliberate decision over the next decade to purchase one additional appreciating asset. That could be a rental property, a small commercial building. A parcel of land positioned near future development, A duplex that generates income while the owner lives in one unit, a apart-

See OWNERSHIP Page A-7

A targeted sales tax for Detroit’s downtown and midtown business districts could replace a portion of the revenue collected from property taxes. Nic Antaya/Getty Images

Detroit Has a Shortage of National Retailers.

What Can Officials Do to Attract More Chains to the City? By Keion Harris, University of Michigan and Stephanie Leiser, University of Michigan Detroit’s borders encompass 139 square miles, a footprint large enough to fit Manhattan, Boston and San Francisco combined. Yet, unlike these other urban centers, Detroit has a relatively low number of national “big-box” retailers. Outside of the city’s downtown and midtown business districts, there exists one Home Depot, two full-sized Meijer locations and a Meijer mini-market within the city. When families look to buy home goods, school apparel or electronics, they often need to travel to nearby suburbs such as Dearborn, Southfield or Oak Park. “I shouldn’t have to drive to the suburbs,” said one Detroit resident in a Wayne State University food access and retail study, which reflects a common perspective among city residents. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield introduced a bold retail attraction strategy during her first State of the City address in March 2026. The initiative aims to capture the estimated US$3 billion that Detroit residents spend in suburban communities due to the lack of retail options closer to where they live. To lead the charge, Detroit announced the hiring of Addofio Addo, a former Bedrock executive, as the city’s first director of retail attraction in July 2026. He’ll lead efforts to bring national and regional chains into the city. I am a Ph.D. candidate studying fiscal and social policy, with a specific interest in local tax reform and urban economic development. As a Detroit native, the topic of retail attraction for the city aligns with my research. My co-author, Stephanie Leiser, is the director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan where I am studying. Although attracting retail brands remains a struggle for Detroit, here’s how city leaders can take on multiple approaches to address this issue.

Why national retailers don’t invest in Detroit After the city’s population peaked at nearly 1.85 million residents in 1950, widespread deindustrialization combined with racial conflict notably affected the automotive industry. These events led to over 600,000 residents relocating outside of the city by 1980. Stores need customers, so when hundreds of thousands of residents abandoned Detroit for the suburbs, retailers soon followed. Detroit’s tax base hollowed out, creating a fiscal crisis and ensuing bankruptcy that is just now starting to turn around. Today, these same factors make it difficult to convince national brands to return or invest in Detroit for the first time. Retailers looking to expand into Detroit face high costs of entry, driven by the highest property taxes in the state. Premium insurance rates for commercial properties and vehicles present an additional financial barrier. For vehicles in particular, rates can spike 25% to 40% higher than the average cost in Michigan, which can increase the cost of moving goods and maintaining retail inventory. These high operating costs are paired with a perceived low return on investment. Because the city’s median household income is $39,938, corporate analyses often project low profit margins, making retailers more reluctant to expand or relocate in Detroit. While this challenge is well documented in low-income urban centers across the country, it is particularly severe in Detroit, given the city’s immense geographic footprint. Sheffield said that poverty is the primary hurdle in attracting national brands such as Costco and TJ Maxx during the Mackinac policy conference in May 2026. She declared that “poverty elimination is a growth strategy,” and raising household income is necessary to attract major retail investments. Sheffield has already managed to make some progress on this promise. As of July 2026, 1,143 full-time city workers now receive a minimum livable wage of $21.45 an hour, or $44,616 annually.

See NATIONAL RETAILERS Page A-6

Financial Wellness is a Practice:

Community Manager Annette Washington in Detroit Shares How to Build a Routine that Lasts Sponsored by JPMorganChase When it comes to personal finance, most of us think about goals—saving for a home, paying off debt, or launching a business. But financial wellness isn’t just about reaching milestones; it’s about the habits and choices we make every day. It’s a practice, and like any practice, it gets stronger with personalized guidance, practical support and trusted resources. Chase Community Manager Annette Washington helps neighbors in Detroit turn financial wellness into a routine that fits your life, providing practical money skills education and support on important money skills like budgeting, saving, building credit, and scam prevention. Making Financial Wellness Part of Everyday Life You can start small when practicing financial wellness. It can look like a 10minute weekly money check-in, setting up automatic savings, asking a question about credit, or joining a workshop to learn how to spot a scam before you get hit. Through local collaborations and free workshops, Community Managers help neighbors build healthy money habits like budgeting, improving credit, planning for homeownership, and protecting against scams—open to everyone in the community, customers and noncustomers alike. We sat down with Chase Community Manager Annette Washington in Detroit to learn more about the impact of their work and the opportunities ahead. What led you to the Community Manag-

er role in Detroit and what What do you recommend actually spent. Adjust as needed, and don’t has been the impact? the Detroit community does be hard on yourself if things change—like to strengthen their financial groceries and transportation, where inflaI’ve always believed wellness? tion often shows up quickly. The key is to that financial knowledge is one of the most powerful As inflation and rising keep going. tools a person can have. I’ve costs stretch household Financial wellness isn’t about being perwitnessed firsthand how budgets, the most effective fect—it’s about building a system that helps small, consistent steps can response is a plan you can you handle what life throws at you. lead to big changes because stick with. By focusing on I’d love for you to join me at one of my they impact the choices you repeatable habits—setting workshops, where everyone is welcome. make, the opportunities you aside money weekly, build- Here are my upcoming workshops: pursue, and how much stress ing an emergency fund, and you carry day to day. Many putting essentials first—you August 14 people were never taught can cover today’s costs while Chase In Branch-12 Mile and Northwestern the basics in a clear, practistill saving. Ways to Avoid Fraud and Scam Workshop cal way—so when a surprise Make a simple budget: A 11:00am-12:30pm Annette Washington expense hits or prices rise, it budget is a spending plan can feel like you’re behind before you even that can help protect both your essentials August 21 start. and your future. A practical budget starts Chase in Branch-8 Mile & Woodward-Hybrid As Community Manager, I support De- with clarity on what’s coming in, what 10:00am-11:00am troit by connecting neighbors, businesses, must go out, and what can be adjusted— Ways to Avoid Fraud & Scams and local leaders to the right financial re- then it turns saving into a weekly habit. sources for their unique priorities. I host Treat savings like a bill: Set aside a August 18 & 25 (In-Person) workshops at branches and out in the com- small amount every week, even if it’s just a Arab Community Center for Economic and munity to help people build money skills few dollars. Automate it if you can. Consis- Social Services (ACCESS) that improve their lives, and the lives of tency is more important than the amount. 16427 W Warren their family—whether it’s buying a home, Build an emergency fund in Detroit, MI 48228 growing a business, or simply feeling more phases: Aim for a starter buffer first— Topic-Understanding Credit and Managing confident about their finances. enough to cover a surprise expense—then Credit It is so rewarding to help Detroit build work toward a bigger goal, like a few towards a stronger financial future. Every months of essentials. Even a small amount Noon-1:00pm day, I get to engage with people who are of money put aside every week can reduce What is Chase doing to make it easier for working towards their dreams, even when stress and create flexibility when prices people to strengthen their financial wellthings feel overwhelming. Seeing someone move. ness? leave a workshop with a new sense of confiCheck in weekly: Spend 10 minutes We’re bringing more financial wellness dence—or hearing that it helped them avoid each week comparing your plan to what you support and personalized guidance into a scam or start saving for the first time— reminds me that we’re building a stronger See FINANCIAL WELLNESS Page A-6 Detroit together.

Page A-6 | August 12-18, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

Financial Wellness From page A-1

more neighborhoods. Through the American Dream Initiative, JPMorganChase is doubling the number of Community Centers, hiring 150+ more Community Managers, and expanding our financial education programs with the goal of reaching 5 million people. JPMorganChase’s American Dream Initiative is a multi-year effort to expand economic opportunity by scaling evidence-based solutions that help the economy work for more people. JPMorganChase will provide financing, facilitate capital, offer advice, training and tools to help people start and grow small businesses. The firm will also significantly expand investments in proven initiatives that help people find affordable places to live, save and plan for their financial futures, get good jobs, access quality health care, and strengthen local institutions. Explore tools for every financial journey at chase. com/financialgoals and for more information on the American Dream Initiative, visit www.jpmorganchase.com/America. For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Ownership From page A-1

ment building purchased collectively through partnerships. One-half of one percent sounds insignificant. It is not. With roughly 48 million Black Americans in the United States, one-half of one percent represents approximately 240,000 people. If each acquired just one income-producing property averaging only a modest value, the cumulative transfer into Black-owned appreciating assets would represent tens of billions of dollars. More importantly, those properties would continue producing value year after year through appreciation, rental income, refinancing opportunities, and inheritance. The economic ripple effects would be profound. Property ownership creates demand for contractors, architects, accountants, surveyors, insurance professionals, property managers, attorneys, lenders, title companies, and local small businesses. It stabilizes neighborhoods by increasing long-term investment, it expands municipal tax bases that support schools and infrastructure, it creates employment while simultaneously building equity. Ownership is one of the few economic activities that strengthens both the individual and the surrounding community. This is why real estate should never be viewed merely as shelter. It is infrastructure for generational wealth. Land deserves renewed attention as well. Throughout history, land has quietly appreciated while governments changed, economies expanded and contracted, and currencies fluctuated. They call it “real property” for a reason. It is tangible it cannot disappear because of a software update or market headline. While every investment carries risk, productive land and strategically located real estate remain among the foundational assets upon which nations and families alike have built lasting wealth.

■ That does not mean every property is a good investment. ■ It means every generation should understand how property works. ■ Financial literacy without ownership is incomplete. ■ Higher education without asset accumulation is incomplete. ■ Professional success without wealth transfer planning is incomplete. Our conversation must evolve beyond becoming consumers in prosperous communities. We must become stakeholders in them. The inheritance economy is already underway. Over the coming decades, America will experience one of the largest intergenerational transfers of wealth in its history. Trillions of dollars in real estate, businesses, retirement accounts, and investments will move from one generation to the next. The defining question is not whether wealth will transfer, it absolutely will. The question is whether Black families will increasingly participate as both creators and recipients of those appreciating assets. Ownership determines who begins each generation with options instead of obligations. That requires a cultural shift. We should celebrate the young physician who purchases an investment property before buying a luxury automobile. We should applaud the entrepreneur who acquires the building housing the business instead of leasing indefinitely. We should encourage parents and grandparents to discuss wills, trusts, deeds, and succession planning as naturally as they discuss college admissions. Political administrations will change economic cycles will rise and fall, interest rates will increase and decrease markets will experience uncertainty. But families who own appreciating assets possess something that survives headlines and election cycles. They own leverage, they own options and they own legacy. That is why Property is Power! is not simply a slogan. It is an economic philosophy. The future of Black wealth will not be determined solely by how much we earn. It will be determined by what we own, what we preserve, and what we intentionally pass forward. That is how economic history is rewritten. Property is Power! is a movement to promote home and community ownership. Studies indicate homeownership leads to higher graduation rates, family wealth, and community involvement.

Money Matters:

Why the Detroit Pistons are Investing in Detroit Entrepreneurs By Mark S. Lee CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Professional sports franchises are often measured by wins and losses. But increasingly, they’re also being measured by their impact on the communities they call home. The Detroit Pistons are making a compelling case that investing in local entrepreneurs is good for business—and good for Detroit. After a recent conversation hosted by the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA), I asked Pistons executive Melanie Harris about the importance of connecting and supporting local entrepreneurs. Detroit-owned businesses aren’t Mark S. Lee simply a community relations initiative. It’s part of the organization’s broader commitment to strengthening the city’s economic foundation. “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any city, and certainly in Detroit,” Harris said. “We have so much opportunity, and there are so many native Detroiters who, for generations, have built businesses here.” That statement captures an important reality. Small businesses account for many businesses in Michigan and collectively employ hundreds of thousands of people. Every new contract, supplier relationship, or partnership with a local entrepreneur creates opportunities that extend well beyond a single transaction. It helps create jobs, circulate dollars locally, and build generational wealth. For the Pistons, that philosophy extends throughout the organization. “We make every effort to support Detroit-owned and operated businesses in all that we do—inside the arena, outside the arena, in our practice facility, in front of the scenes and behind the scenes,” Harris said. That approach matters because professional sports organizations have significant purchasing power. Whether sourcing food vendors, event services, marketing support, technology, construction, merchandise, or professional services, every purchasing decision represents an opportunity to strengthen the local economy. Supplier diversity and local procurement have become competitive advantages for organizations that recognize the

value of investing where they operate. When local entrepreneurs win contracts, they hire employees, purchase additional goods and services, and often reinvest profits back into their neighborhoods. Detroit has a rich entrepreneurial history. From neighborhood retailers to manufacturers, restaurants, technology startups, and professional service firms, locally owned businesses have long fueled the city’s resilience through both prosperous and challenging times. Harris believes the relationship between the Pistons and Detroit entrepreneurs will only continue to grow. “The more opportunities we have to support entrepreneurs, the more impactful it will be,” she said. She pointed to the arrival of Detroit’s future WNBA franchise as another opportunity to expand those partnerships. “Especially when we have the WNBA team come to town, that’s a great opportunity for us to engage more entrepreneurs,” Harris noted. That observation highlights an often-overlooked benefit of professional sports expansion. New teams mean more games, more fans, more events, more vendors, and ultimately more opportunities for local businesses to participate in the economic activity surrounding sports and entertainment. For entrepreneurs, relationships with major organizations like the Pistons can become transformational. Beyond the immediate revenue, these partnerships can provide credibility, visibility, and experience that open doors to additional corporate opportunities. The Pistons’ commitment also sends a broader message: successful cities are built when anchor institutions intentionally invest in the businesses that surround them. As Detroit continues its economic evolution, entrepreneurship will remain one of its greatest competitive strengths. Organizations that leverage their influence to create opportunities for local businesses are doing more than supporting economic development – they’re helping build a stronger, more resilient city. In the end, championships inspire a city. But investing in local entrepreneurs helps sustain it. We invite readers, business owners, and future entrepreneurs to follow along, ask questions, and engage. If you have story ideas or questions, you can email Lee at mark@leegroupinnovation.com or visit leegroupinnovation.com.

National Retailers From page A-1

While this acts as a first step, broader, long-term strategies will be required to bridge the retail gap and sustain the city’s growth. Strategies that could entice retailers To attract national retail chains, Detroit can explore policy reforms to reduce property tax burdens, offset high insurance costs and provide an incentive for higher resident wages. Tax Reform Options Finding other sources of revenue to replace a portion of property taxes has stirred debate among local policymakers. To achieve this, Detroit would need state leadership to pass new legislation because state law restricts the city from raising taxes. The question that remains is which proposals best suit the city. Since 2017, policymakers have introduced four pieces of legislation to authorize Detroit to implement an entertainment tax. A report from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a public policy research organization, indicates that a 3% to 10% tax on tickets sold at the city’s professional sports arenas, concert halls and theaters could generate between $14 million and $47 million annually. For example, Chicago levies a 9% to 10.25% tax on sports and digital entertainment such as Netflix. This could be a starting point to reduce the property tax burden for homeowners and businesses. A more comprehensive measure discussed by the City Council is a local-option sales tax applied to tangible goods such as appliances, clothing and electronics purchased in the city. Projections from Public Sector Consultants, which develops public policies for Michigan, reveal that a 1% sales tax could generate between $71 million and $82 million annually, which is enough to reduce property taxes by 12% to 14%. Critics note that general sales taxes are regressive, meaning they take a larger percentage of earnings from low-income residents. In addition, a constitutional amendment would be needed to implement this type of tax in Detroit. This might be counterproductive for

attracting new retail because it would encourage people to do their shopping outside the city to avoid the tax. Instead of a citywide sales tax, Detroit could consider a targeted tax within its downtown and midtown districts. A food and beverage tax is a common tool used by cities and counties to fund infrastructure and public services. Minneapolis, Minnesota, has a 3% tax on alcoholic beverages and another 3% tax on food at restaurants located within its downtown. In Detroit’s case, this could capture the existing economic activity generated by visitors, commuters and tourists. The pathway to adoption resembles that of a sales tax, with the addition of repealing the 2017 statewide ban on taxing food and beverages. Insurance Rates Insurance rates are dictated by a property’s risk profile, which includes fire vulnerability, structural integrity and security infrastructure. Local governments can provide incentives for physical upgrades that can lower a business’s long-term costs. Detroit already has successful initiatives that could be adapted to help lower insurance rates. The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation could launch a dedicated “risk and safety” track within Motor City Match, a program that provides funding and resources for businesses and entrepreneurs. These grants could be designated for retail and commerce to support upgrades, such as modern fire suppression systems, reinforced security glass and wind-resistant roofing. This framework can also be replicated to support retail delivery fleets and supply chain vehicles through public-private partnerships funding advanced safety technology and fleet-tracking software.

By offering targeted matching grants, the city could subsidize the upfront costs of improvements for incoming retailers. Residential income The median household income in Detroit is arguably the most significant barrier in preventing retail from opening in Detroit. The city could offer tax credit incentives that reward employers who hire local residents. Detroit could model a performance-based policy after Toledo, Ohio’s Municipal Jobs Creation Tax Credit program. Toledo provides a credit against a company’s net profits tax liability if it meets the city’s standard of wages being no less than $20.63 per hour, or 130% of the annually updated federal poverty level. The primary aim of this program is to attract and retain companies in target industries and increase the number of high-paying jobs for local residents. This is combined with the Toledo Expansion Incentive program, which provides grant funding to incoming businesses within the city. Both programs have resulted in millions of dollars in private sector and grant-funded investments, along with expanded employment opportunities for city residents. Detroit could effectively model an incentive-based program to create a virtuous cycle of attracting national and regional retailers while simultaneously increasing wages for residents. Keion Harris, PhD Candidate, University of Michigan and Stephanie Leiser, Director, Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, University of Michigan This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

michiganchronicle.com | August 12-18, 2026 | Page A-7

Highland Park Residents Will Choose Between Glenda McDonald and Shamayim 'Mama Shu' Harris in November

Donavan McKinney Unseats Shri Thanedar, Putting Detroit Closer to Restoring Black Representation in Congress

By Biba Adams STAFF REPORTER

The results are in and they are in line with what voters voiced at the polls yesterday. Current Mayor Glenda Maria McDonald earned 52% of the vote with 718. Shamayim “Mama Shu” Harris came in second 507 votes equating to 37% of the vote, according to Click on Detroit. The two will face off in November to determine the future leadership of Highland Park, Michigan. On her Facebook page, McDonald wrote: “Thank you Highland Parkers. 718 (unofficial votes) of you chose to moved me forward to the General Election. I am so humbled by your acknowledgement of my team’s hard work over the last 4 years. My administration started the work to move Highland Park forward, and we are ready to complete the job.” As previously reported, Highland Park residents expressed that this year’s Mayoral race found them divided between community impact and office experience. That was evidenced by the results.

By Jasmine West

One social media user wrote, “Just thinking what a wonderful thing it would be if after the election, all the candidates worked together with other Highland Parkers of goodwill, to share their resources, information and efforts to make Highland Park the best it can be. Time out for wasting energy on negativity, distrust, blame and shame. There’s a lot of good happening in the city. We must continue to build upon it.” Elene Robinson received 7% of the vote with 93, while Joshua LaMere received 54 votes amounting to 4% of the vote. Totals for write-in candidate, J. Douglas Hollie were not reported by Click on Detroit. With 100 percent of precincts reporting. Highland Park’s voter turnout was quite low with only 1,372 votes in a city of more than 7,000 residents. A Facebook group called Restore, Build, and Empower Highland Park, MI also published other races.

Mayor of Highland Park: Glenda Maria McDonald 718 Shamayim MamaShu Harris 507 Elene Robinson 93 Write-in 75 Joshua LaMere 54 Total Votes = 1,447 Highland Park City Council At-Large: Temeko Manica 699 Melinda C. Jones 410 Doris Harris 396 Robert D Lodge Jr. 348 Darthanian Nichols 244 Write-in 15 Total Votes = 2,112 Highland Park City Council District 1: There was no primary due to the number of candidates. Highland Park City Council District 2: Lucy Frye 162 David Forsythe 121 Scott E. Boswell 94 Stuart Jackson 64 Write-in 3 Total Votes = 444 Highland Park City Council District 3: Koron J Wilkerson 128 Franklin D. Jackson Sr. 119 Khursheed Ash-Shafii 50 Write-in 2 Total Votes = 299

Detroit voters delivered a clear answer in one of Michigan’s most closely watched congressional primaries. State Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated two-term U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, ending the incumbent’s four-year run and placing a Black Detroiter one election away from representing the city in Congress. With all 346 precincts reporting, McKinney received 57,714 votes, or 52%, while Thanedar received 53,494 votes, or 48%. McKinney won by 4,220 votes out of 111,208 cast in the two-person Democratic contest. The Associated Press called the race for McKinney Wednesday morning, confirming the defeat of an incumbent who entered Congress in 2023 after winning a crowded Democratic primary two years earlier. “Detroit, I am honored beyond measure to be your Democratic nominee to represent the Mighty 13th in Congress. I am so proud that our community is sending me to Congress to fight for a better future — because that means our movement has shown them a fighter is what they truly deserve in Washington,” said State Rep. Donavan McKinney in a statement. “Our community united to return real leadership that represents Black, Brown and White Michiganders, union workers, working people, and veterans, clergy and socialists, senators and representatives, city councilmembers and county executives, mayors and school board presidents to show how the poorest district in the state can come together to defeat the corporate interests and multimillionaires. “Today, we showed why being always with the people is more than a slogan — it’s a roadmap for the Democratic Party on how to move forward to defeat the fascism and divisiveness harming our country, and to deliver the leadership the Mighty 13th deserves. Taking back our seat and taking back our power has always been at the core of our movement, and I’m so excited for all that our community will accomplish together.” McKinney will face Republican T.P. Nykoriak in the Nov. 3 general election. Michigan’s 13th District is centered in Detroit and also includes communities such as Allen Park, Hamtramck, Romulus and Wyandotte. The November election will decide whether McKinney becomes the district’s next congressman. But in a heavily Democratic district, his primary victory carries historical weight before the general-election campaign even begins. “We are so proud to send a working-class son of Detroit and Michigan’s second Justice Democrat to Congress,” said Alexandra Rojas, Executive Director of Justice Democrats. “Donavan was the first candidate we recruited this cycle because this campaign embodied the fight for the future of the Democratic Party: working class people taking our power back from multimillionaires and corporate lobbies to deliver for everyday people. When we elect leaders like Donavan who have lived the struggles of poverty wages, evictions, rising childcare costs, toxic air, and poisoned drinking water, we get leaders who fight with the urgency of those crises.” Detroit had continuous Black representation in Congress beginning with Charles Diggs Jr., who took office in 1955. That lineage included some of the most consequential Black political figures in Michigan history, including John Conyers Jr., Barbara-Rose Collins, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Brenda Jones, Brenda Lawrence and Rashida Tlaib. That nearly seven-decade period ended after the 2022 election, when redistricting reshaped Detroit’s congressio-

nal boundaries and Thanedar won the newly configured 13th District. When the new Congress convened in January 2023, Detroit was without a Black member of Congress for the first time since the early 1950s. McKinney’s victory does not mean Black representation has already returned. He must first defeat Nykoriak in November and take office in January 2027. Still, the Democratic primary created the strongest opportunity in four years for a Black Detroiter to again represent a district rooted in a city where Black political leadership has shaped local, state and national government for generations. McKinney represents Michigan’s 11th House District in the state Legislature. He ran as a progressive challenger with support from leaders and organizations including U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the Congressional Black Caucus’ political arm and the Working Families Party. His campaign focused on the cost of living, healthcare, housing, environmental justice, public education and working-class residents who have often felt disconnected from Washington. The race was also a test of whether Thanedar’s financial resources and the advantages of incumbency could overcome dissatisfaction among voters who wanted representation more directly connected to Detroit’s Black communities. Thanedar had survived a Democratic challenge in 2024, but this year’s contest was different. Instead of facing a divided field of candidates, he faced McKinney in a direct, two-person race. That gave voters a clear choice between the sitting congressman and a lifelong Detroiter who argued that lived experience, community relationships and policy priorities should all matter in determining who speaks for the district. More than 111,000 Democratic votes were cast in the race. McKinney captured nearly 52 of every 100 ballots, enough to deny Thanedar a third term and change the direction of Detroit’s congressional representation. “Donavan has spent his career fighting for working families in the labor movement and the Michigan Legislature,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said in a statement. “He will take that fighting spirit to Congress to make the wealthy pay their fair share, expand access to healthcare and housing, and make sure every Michigander has a fair shot at life, no matter their zip code. I look forward to helping send Donavan to Washington this November to fight for the great city of Detroit and its people.” The numbers also show that the district was not unanimous. Nearly 53,500 voters supported Thanedar, leaving McKinney with the immediate task of bringing together a district that extends beyond Detroit and includes communities with different racial, economic and political concerns. His victory, however, creates a moment Detroit has not had since 2022: the opportunity to send a Black representative from the city back to Congress. For generations, Detroit’s congressional delegation gave Black voters a direct voice in national debates over civil rights, voting access, labor, housing, healthcare and economic justice. The loss of that representation carried particular significance in the nation’s largest majority-Black city. McKinney is now positioned to restore it. The final decision belongs to voters on Nov. 3. But after defeating an incumbent by more than 4,200 votes, McKinney enters the general election with a Democratic nomination, a city behind his candidacy and the possibility of reopening a chapter of Black congressional representation that Detroit carried for nearly 70 years.

Justin Onwenu Wins Democratic Primary for Michigan Senate District 1 By Jasmine West Justin Onwenu will carry the Democratic nomination into November after defeating former state Rep. Abraham Aiyash in the closely watched primary for Michigan’s 1st State Senate District. Onwenu received 18,921 votes, or 59%, compared with 13,312 votes, or 41%, for Aiyash, according to unofficial results with all 134 precincts reporting. “It’s a real honor,” he said. “We placed a tremendous amount of faith in voters and residents in Detroit and Downriver. You really get to know what every single resident is thinking about and what’s on people’s minds.” The victory places Onwenu one election away from representing a newly drawn district that includes portions of Detroit and the Downriver communities of Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge and Wyandotte. He will face Republican Patrick O’Connell in the Nov. 3 general election. The district heavily favors Democrats, making Onwenu the clear front-runner heading into November. The Detroit Region-

al Chamber’s analysis of the new boundaries rated the district 84.3% Democratic based on past election results. Onwenu, an attorney, organizer and former City of Detroit director of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity, built his campaign around affordability, voting rights, neighborhood investment and protecting Detroit’s representation in Lansing. His victory also strengthens the possibility that Detroit will retain Black representation in the Michigan Senate. Before the results were known Tuesday night, Onwenu told the Michigan Chronicle that the city was in danger of entering the next legislative term without a Black state senator. “Representation is important, not just because representation matters, but because we have been ill-prepared to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act, to actually tackle this affordability and jobs crisis that we’re facing and to make sure that all of our communities and neighborhoods get investment,” Onwenu said. Onwenu entered Election Day with the support of Detroit

Mayor Mary Sheffield, Downriver mayors, labor unions, environmental organizations and several Detroit elected officials. The Michigan Chronicle also endorsed his candidacy. He credited the result to a campaign operation that reached residents across the district rather than relying solely on endorsements or online attention. “We’ve been present in our

neighborhoods in every single part of our district, Detroit and Downriver,” Onwenu said. “We’ve knocked over 55,000 doors, and that doesn’t happen if you’re not focused on the issues that matter to people.” He said voters consistently raised concerns about rising household expenses, civil and voting rights and whether investment reaches every neighborhood. “At a time when Detroit is in danger of having zero Black state senators, I think folks want to see Black leadership that’s prepared, that’s been rooted in our communities and that has a record of delivering.” His win represents more than a defeat of a former legislative leader. It shows the strength of a Detroit-centered coalition that joined Black political organizations, city officials, Downriver mayors, unions and environmental advocates behind one candidate. Onwenu said affordability was the most urgent concern he heard from residents during the campaign. “I think everything is about af-

fordability,” he said. “Whether it’s groceries, whether it’s gasoline, it’s affordability.” He also identified the protection of civil and voting rights as a central responsibility for Michigan lawmakers during President Donald Trump’s second term. Onwenu told the Michigan Chronicle that passing a Michigan Voting Rights Act would be among his first legislative priorities if elected to the Senate. The proposed protections have taken on greater urgency as voting access, election administration and federal civil rights enforcement face renewed political pressure. Onwenu said Detroit needs a senator prepared to turn representation into policy, rather than treating the presence of Black lawmakers as merely symbolic. As Tuesday’s results became clear, the trust Onwenu spoke about before the polls closed had translated into a decisive victory. Onwenu must now carry that coalition into November and prove that the campaign responsible for knocking on more than 55,000 doors can deliver again in the general election.

Page A-8 | August 12-18, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

City ity.. Life ife.. Style. B1 | August 12-18, 2026

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

michiganchronicle.com

DETROIT FESTIVAL By Biba Adams STAFF REPORTER

T

he Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest and, some would say, the best free jazz festival, is returning for the 47th year. The 2026 Detroit Jazz Festival takes place September 4–7, 2026, over Labor Day weekend in downtown Detroit. The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation announced that for 2026, the Festival’s downtown footprint will be fully centered at Hart Plaza, where all three main stages are consolidated to create a more connected, immersive, and accessible environment. “At its core, jazz is about connection, and bringing the festival fully into Hart Plaza helps us deepen that connection,” said Foundation President and Artistic Director Chris Collins. “Audiences can more easily move between performances, discover new artists, and experience the festival as one unified celebration of music.”

See 2026 DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL Page B-2

Unveils Full 2026 Lineup and a New Festival Experience

CHIC-ation: 5 Reasons Petoskey Should Be Your Next Girls’ Trip By Miss AJ Williams Custom handbags, tiny gardens, waterfront art, and chocolate fresh from the production line make this Northern Michigan spot a surprising place for friendship and grown-woman fun. Some girls’ trips are packed with busy schedules, matching outfits, and so many reservations that everyone comes home needing another vacation. Other trips give you space to relax and unwind. Petoskey is one of those relaxing places. Its charm is how easily a day can shift between beauty, creativity, treats, and real downtime. You can stroll through lavender, design a handbag, build a terrarium, sample chocolate right from the line, and still have time to sit by the water talking about everything the group chat couldn’t cover. I experienced the area solo, but kept mentally assigning each experience to one of my best friends for our future trip. One would be choosing charms before I finished selecting a bag. Another would be rearranging her terrarium until every stone carried meaning. Someone would insist we try one more chocolate sample. That’s what a Petoskey CHIC-ation offers — not just a stylish trip, but a getaway full of creativity, connection, and memories you can bring home. 1. Everyone Can Create Something That Looks Like Her A girls’ trip souvenir should feel special, not like something you grabbed at the airport. At Vilah Bloom’s BagBar in Walloon Lake, you can design a handbag to match your style by picking the bag, strap, charms, and final touches. It’s like shopping mixed with a

See PETOSKEY SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT GIRLS’ TRIP Page B-2

(Photo Credit: Kim Mettler, Lavender Hill Farm, Courtesy PAVB)

Usher’s New Look, BET, and Detroit Boys & Girls Clubs Partner to Expand Career Pathways By Biba Adams STAFF REPORTER

Usher’s New Look, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit and BET Next Gen, BET’s leadership development initiative has announced a collaboration designed to expand access to careers in media, music and entertainment by providing emerging leaders with hands-on industry experience, executive mentorship and real-world learning opportunities. “Providing young professionals with access to programs like BET Next Gen is about creating opportunities that inspire them to see what’s possible. Through this collaboration, we’re giving the next generation the chance to learn from industry leaders while investing in the talent that will shape our industry,” said Usher. Building on the success of the inaugural collaboration, the organizations will expand the initiative into a year-round leadership and workforce development experience anchored within the Spark Lab Studios in Atlanta and Detroit. It will extend beyond career exposure

and exploration to hands-on learning, industry certifications and real-world skill development. “Creating a true entertainment industry talent pipeline takes intentionality and the right partners who believe in providing young professionals with the skills and access they need to be successful,” said Shawn H. Wilson, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit and Co-founder of Usher’s New Look. “We’re excited to partner with BET and continue knocking down barriers for the next generation.” The opportunity officially launched during the 2026 BET Awards, where four interns from Usher’s New Look’s Entertainment Industry Club: Live Touring Edition internship program, two of which are currently participating on The R&B Tour featuring Usher and Chris Brown, joined the BET Next Gen cohort. Throughout BET Awards Week, the interns worked alongside BET professionals across Communications and PR, Social Media and Digital Operations, Marketing, Production, and Brand Creative, contributing to the planning and execution of one of entertain-

ment’s biggest live television events while gaining firsthand experience in cross-functional collaboration, live event production and media operations. “At BET, our responsibility extends beyond telling stories. We have a responsibility to help develop the people who will tell the next generation of stories. Through BET Next Gen, we’re committed to providing emerging leaders with meaningful experiences that accelerate their professional growth and prepare them for lasting careers in media and entertainment,” says Louis Carr, President of BET. “Our partnership with Usher’s New Look and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit reflects a shared c​ommitment to expand access, cultivate leadership and build a more inclusive pipeline of future industry leaders.” Since its founding in1999, Usher’s New Look transforms the lives of youth through a comprehensive program that develops passion-driven global leaders. The unique mentorship and leadership programming provided is designed to help teens see past their circumstances and unlock their potential.

Page B-2 | August 12-18, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

2026 Detroit Jazz Festival From page B-1

Kevin Hart’s Coramino Fund Awards $30K to Detroit Small Businesses

By Biba Adams STAFF REPORTER

The Coramino Fund today awarded $200,000 total in grants to 20 small businesses across the Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles regions, directing funding to entrepreneurs building and growing in under-resourced communities. The fund is managed by the nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and seeded by Gran Coramino Tequila, an ultra-premium tequila founded by entrepreneur Kevin Hart and 11th-generation tequila master Juan Domingo Beckmann. “With each new round of grants, I get to see what these business owners are able to do with ten thousand dollars: invaluable equipment, new hires, more impact,” said Kevin Hart, co-founder of Gran Coramino Tequila. “These next 20 businesses aren’t just serving Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, and LA. They’re holding those neighborhoods down. That’s the kind of hard work this brand was made to support, and I’m proud to welcome the next round of grantees into the Coramino Fund.” In Detroit, the grantees are: Diligent Fitness, Detroit (health/recre■ ation) ■ Pleasant Street Bakery, Detroit (retail) ■ Sunnyside Enrichment Center, Oak Park, Mich. (educational services) Diligent Fitness founder, Carly Renee Britton told Coramino, “Connecting with

the community has been one of the biggest blessings from my business. I believe that when people are physically strong and fit, the whole community is healthier.” On their website, the fund notes that small business owners have big ideas and big dreams, but many face barriers on their journey. This includes small businesses based in and serving low- and moderate-income communities, which are often less likely to have cash reserves and to obtain capital, which limits their ability to grow.   The Coramino Fund’s 2026 support is fueling businesses in manufacturing, the arts, education, health, food service, and more. Owners are using their $10,000 grants to help fund the purchase of new equipment, expand their workforce and extend the reach of their products and services. “Small businesses are an essential part of the economic and social fabric of their communities,” said Michael Pugh, president and CEO of LISC. “As such, it is crucial that they are properly funded and resourced. That’s why I’m proud that LISC is partnering with Gran Coramino Tequila to help fuel small business growth and development in neighborhoods across the country.” Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $38 billion to create more than 552,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 88 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances.

Petoskey Should Be Your Next Girls’ Trip From page B-1 creative workshop, but without any pressure to be extra crafty. I picked a black-and-white checked crossbody clutch and added a gold chain charm. It fit my style perfectly — classic with a bit of edge, soft with some sass, and polished without giving everything away. Owner Jackie Garrett knows how important that personal touch is. She started Vilah Bloom 16 years ago with a diaper bag she created after often forgetting wet wipes as a new mom. The brand grew into practical handbags and the BagBar, which now focuses more on the person making the bag than just the bag itself. Some people come in knowing exactly what they want. Others look at all the options, love everything, and can’t decide. That’s when the staff steps in with helpful questions: Are you into neutrals? Do you like a pop of color? What would you really use? It’s a relaxed, creative experience with a practical result. No one has to paint the same sunset or pretend her pottery bowl was meant to be lopsided. Each friend leaves with something she can wear that tells her own story. 2. Your Keepsake Can Continue Growing After the Trip Right next door at Sweetwater Floral, your souvenir is something living. During the terrarium activity, I picked two plants, including one with a hint of pink, and started building a tiny world around them. I added rose quartz for love, since every girls’ trip needs a little intention-setting, and an owl for wisdom and my OVO loyalty as a Drake fan. No two terrariums have to look the same. One friend might focus on peace, another on romance, someone else on abundance, and another might just pick the figurine that makes everyone laugh the most. That personal touch makes this activity perfect for friends. You create together, but no one has to make the same thing. The finished terrarium is a small, living reminder of your weekend, growing and changing even after you’re back to work, family, and daily routines. It’s also a reminder that friendship needs care too — a little light, a little water, and sometimes trimming back what’s grown wild. 3. Petoskey Understands That Chocolate Is an Activity Buying chocolate is one thing, but watching it roll down a conveyor belt while trying not to picture yourself in that classic I Love Lucy candy-factory scene is something else. At the Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen, I watched the chocolate being made at different stages and tasted white, milk, and dark chocolate along the way. The company started in Petoskey in 1947 and grew from a bakery into the chocolate, candy, and ice cream brand many people know now. Chocolate and chocolate-covered toffee were among my favorites, but the dark chocolate produced the real surprise. My tour guide, Daniel, said that even people who don’t usually like dark chocolate often enjoy theirs. Since I’m one of those people, I took it as a challenge. He was right.

I liked it so much that I brought home a bag of dark-chocolate shavings made just for drinking chocolate. It’s like hot cocoa, but with better branding and a lot more style. For a group of friends, the tour is the perfect mix of nostalgia, behind-the-scenes fun, and plenty of samples. It sparks conversation, comparisons, and the classic claim that calories eaten during a cultural experience don’t count. 4. Beauty Does Not Always Require an Itinerary Not every great girls’ trip moment needs a ticket, a schedule, or a spot on social media. Petoskey’s lavender fields are the kind of place that naturally makes you slow down. At Lavender Hill Farm, colorful rows, a restored barn, and lots of lavender products make the place feel both big and cozy. The farm grows many types of lavender for different colors, scents, recipes, and blooming times. You can shop for candles and lotions, take home bundles of lavender, or just enjoy the view. I especially liked the Lavender Moon candle, lavender-sandalwood lotion, handmade lavender oil, and lavender tonic. The fields aren’t just beautiful—they also create a gentle space for conversation. There’s something about walking through flowers that makes people talk more slowly, listen more closely, and remember that not every moment needs to be packed with activity. 5. The Destination Leaves Space for Both Culture and Cocktails A great girls’ getaway needs choices for every mood and energy level. For a laid-back Saturday, Art in the Park lets you browse at your own pace with no pressure to buy. The art is the main event, and the park and water make even a simple walk feel special. The event has over 120 vendors, according to the itinerary. It’s the kind of outing where everyone can go at their own pace. One friend might chat with every artist, another might relax by the water, and someone will definitely find a piece she didn’t expect and say it ‘spoke to her.’ Later, a cocktail can change the vibe. At the downtown Gypsy Spirits tasting room, the Strawberry Rhubarb Gin and Tonic was tart, botanical, and so good that I bought a bottle of the gin. The bar’s cozy spot is perfect for a relaxed drink before dinner or a nightcap after a busy day. That’s what makes Petoskey special. It offers both sides of a friendship trip: fun activities and quiet moments, laughter and deeper talks, keepsakes and the memories that come with them. I traveled alone, but I kept picturing the friends I’d bring next time—sitting by the water, comparing handmade bags, checking if anyone’s terrarium survived the trip, and sharing another drink while talking about how much life has changed since we last made time for each other. The best girls’ trips aren’t escapes from real life. They remind us who helps us get through it. And sometimes, that reminder comes with lavender, chocolate, and a gold chain charm.

Additional performances will take place at the Detroit Jazz Hall located inside the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University, continuing its role as a key part of Festival programming. As far as the lineup, Collins shared, “This year’s lineup reflects the incredible breadth and vitality of jazz today— from legends like Ron Carter and Bob James to visionary artists like Ravi Coltrane, Artemis, and Kurt Elling with Yellowjackets. We are proud to present a world-class festival that remains free and accessible to everyone, made possible through the unwavering support of our patrons, sponsors, and community partners.” It is important to note that this year, no coolers are allowed inside Hart Plaza and the updated hours are: Friday: 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: 12:30 PM – 11:00 PM Monday: 12:30 PM – 8:00 PM

PHOTO: www.detroitjazzfest.org

Here’s the Lineup for your pleasure. Learn more about the festival at: detroitjazzfest.org

Friday, Sept. 4 Carhartt Amphitheater Stage 6:14 pm Dr. Valade’s Brass Band Featuring Shannon Powell 7:00 pm Miles Electric Band 9:15 pm 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, featuring Julian Lage, Asante Sante Debriano, Will Calhoun Detroit Jazz Hall located inside the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University 10:45 pm Tia Fuller featuring Shamie Fuller-Royston – “Fuller Sound” (Midtown After Hours Special)

Saturday, Sept. 5 Carhartt Amphitheater Stage 3:00 pm Jeffrey Trent 4:45 pm African Rhythms Alumni Quintet “Celebrating the Centennial of Dr. Randy Weston” T.K. Blue – saxophone/flute/musical director; Chief Baba Neil Clarke 7:00 pm Ravi Coltrane Quartet: Centennial Celebration 9:15 pm Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report Pyramid Stage 3:15 pm Borderland Ensemble 5:00 pm Skyler Tang 6:45 pm Jill Opal and The Bill Meyer Group 8:45 pm Bob James Absopure Waterfront Stage 2:30 pm University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble directed by Professor Kris Johnson AND University of Michigan Jazz Trombone Ensemble directed by Professor Dennis Wilson 4:45 pm Vermilion Field (Takatsuki Jazz Street Representative Band) 7:00 pm Cyrille Aimée Quartet 9:00 pm Artemis Detroit Jazz Hall located inside the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University 11:30 am Grosse Isle High School Jazz Band, Midland High School Jazz Band, University of Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Troy Athens High School Jazz Band, Northview High School Jazz Ensemble 10:45 pm Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (Midtown After Hours Special)

Sunday, Sept. 6 Carhartt Amphitheater Stage 1:15 pm Downbeat Blindfold Test 3:00 pm The Search: Echoes of the Fallen, tribute to Karim Gideon 4:45 pm Gabrielle Cassava 7:00 pm 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints Featuring: Lawrence Fields, Yasushi Nakamura and Rudy Royston 9:15 pm Take 6 Pyramid Stage 1:15 pm J.C. Heard JazzWeek All Stars 3:15 pm Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet 4:45 pm Catherine Russell 6:45 pm Sequoia “REDWOOD” Snyder and INNER KNOWING 8:45 pm Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap Absopure Waterfront Stage 1:45 pm Wayne State University “Jazz Warriors” Big Band directed by Professor Vincent Chandler AND Wayne State University Advanced Vocal Jazz Quartet directed by Cayla Stus 3:30 pm Luca Ciarla solOrkestra 5:20 pm 2026 Legacy Artist: Jaribu Shahid Salute to the AACM 7:15 pm Instant Alter featuring Natasha Agrama Clarke and Emilio Modeste 9:10 pm Vijay Iyer Trio with special guest, Adam O’Farrill Detroit Jazz Hall located inside the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University 11:30 am Taylor High School Jazz Band, Utica High School Jazz Band, Jackson Northwest High School Jazz Band, Northville High School Jazz Ensemble, Meridian High School Jazz Ensemble 10:45 pm Nduduzo Makhathini (Midtown After Hours Special)

Monday, Sept. 7 Carhartt Amphitheater Stage 2:00 pm Himiko Kikuchi Tottori Young Lions Trio 4:00 pm Cindy Blackman Santana 6:00 pm Coltrane 100 – 2026 Artist-In-Residence Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makathini, Linda May Han Oh, Jeff “Tain” Watts Both Directions at Once Pyramid Stage 1:45 pm Teiku 3:30 pm Roberta Gambarini and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra 5:15 pm Joey Alexander Trio Absopure Waterfront Stage 1:00 pm Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra| ”The Bebop Spartans” directed by Professor Rodney Whitaker 3:00 pm The Django Festival Allstars with Special Guest Grace Kelly 5:00 pm Ron Carter & Foursight Detroit Jazz Hall located inside the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University 11:30 am Detroit Public Schools Community District Jazz Showcase + Tottori Jazz Mission International Jam

michiganchronicle.com | August 12-18, 2026 | Page B-3

Lions Name Richard Haddad Team President, CEO

 The Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp announced last week that Richard Haddad will be the Lions' next President and CEO. Haddad will join the Lions in early September and assume oversight of all football and business operations of the Lions organization. He will work closely with Hamp and the Lions board of directors to set the vision for the future growth of both the Detroit Lions and Ford Field. “Rich is a proven leader who understands what it means to steward an iconic sports franchise in the city of Detroit, and we are thrilled that he is bringing that experience to the Lions,” said Hamp. “Throughout our process, Rich’s experience, steady leadership style, and grasp on the present and future state of team sports were clear differentiators. My family and I are excited to work Richard Haddad with Rich on driving the Lions forward in our continued pursuit to bring a championship to Detroit.” A Michigan-born sports business executive, Haddad will join the Lions after a successful 14-year tenure with Pistons Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons, where he currently serves as the organization's Chief Operating Officer. At PSE, Haddad has overseen business operations, business affairs and development for the Pistons and all PSE companies and properties and collaborated with and supported all basketball operations; he has played an integral role in all the organization’s key achievements and initiatives. Haddad also leads PSE’s interests in 313 Presents as a board member helping drive strategy and growth at six entertainment venues. Haddad brings extensive experience building strategic partnerships and working with community, business and governmental leaders in the city of Detroit and throughout Michigan. During his tenure with PSE, Haddad helped spearhead the Pistons’ move back from Auburn Hills to Detroit and the development, construction and opening of the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. He also helped lead the organization’s efforts to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit and to develop a WNBA team headquarters and practice facility on the Detroit riverfront. "I am thrilled to join the Detroit Lions organization as its next President and CEO," said Haddad. "I want to thank Sheila Hamp and the Ford family for their trust in me, along with Tom Gores and Arn Tellem for 14 great years with the Pistons. As a lifelong Lions fan, I understand firsthand how much this team means to this city and state, and I'm honored and humbled to lead this franchise. Sheila, Rod [Wood], Brad [Holmes] and Dan [Campbell] have built an incredible foundation, and I can't wait to work with them to build on that and deliver for our fans and our community." Haddad was born and grew up in Adrian, Mich. before earning a bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Michigan and a law degree at Columbia Law School. After law school, Haddad served as a law clerk to Judge Barbara S. Jones of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; and practiced law at Proskauer Rose LLP in New York, where he represented a broad base of corporate and individual clients in sports, finance, media, entertainment, aviation, real estate and other sectors and industries. Haddad was recognized by Sports Business Journal as one of its “40 under 40” sports business executives in 2022. Haddad lives in Detroit with his wife, Adrienne, and is an active member of this community, serving on boards for Midtown Detroit Inc., The Cranbrook Academy of Art and Cranbrook Art Museum and the Children’s Foundation. “We’re incredibly grateful to Rich for his leadership and the impact he’s had on our organization and our city over the past 14 years,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores. “Arn and I have especially appreciated his steady counsel, integrity and commitment. Rich has been an outstanding leader and a trusted partner in so many of our efforts to make a positive difference in the community. I have tremendous respect for Sheila, the Lions organization and everything they represent for Detroit. We’re excited for Rich and know he’ll do a tremendous job in his new role.” Haddad was chosen through an extensive national search process led by a Lions committee comprised of Hamp, Bill Ford (Lions Vice Chairman), Rod Wood (outgoing Lions President and CEO), Chris Spielman (Senior Football Advisor to Ownership) and Lindsay Verstegen (Lions Chief People and Inclusion Officer) and the global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds. Through the process, Russell Reynolds identified a large pool of candidates with experience across sports, entertainment, and business for the Lions to evaluate. “I would like to thank Russell Reynolds, our partners in this search,” added Hamp. “They proved to us why they are considered one of the best executive leadership advisory firms in the world with their diligence, thoughtful advice and category expertise.” As Haddad completes his tenure with the Pistons and transitions over to the Lions, Wood will remain in place to guide the organization. Wood, who announced his retirement from the Lions in February, will be a resource to Haddad through the transition process.

DPSCD Board President is Ready to Tackle the Upcoming School Year By Jasmine West When Detroit Public Schools Community District students return to classrooms this fall, they will enter a district that has fought its way toward stronger academic performance, financial stability and renewed pride. They will also return to a district still facing the weight of chronic absenteeism, student homelessness, special education needs, staffing pressures and questions from families who want to better understand how decisions are being made. DPSCD Board of Education President LaTrice McClendon believes both realities deserve space. The district should be able to celebrate how far it has come without pretending its work is finished. Parents should be able to raise concerns without being accused of tearing down Detroit’s public schools. And district leaders should be prepared to listen, explain their decisions and remain accountable to the families they serve. “We have come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” McClendon told the Michigan Chronicle. “We can’t hide from that truth.” For McClendon, the beginning of a new school year is not simply a moment for the district to speak to families. It is also an opportunity for families to step closer to the decisions shaping their children’s education. That includes attending Detroit Board of Education meetings, reading meeting agendas, asking questions and learning what authority the elected board holds. The board is the governing body of DPSCD, Michigan’s largest public school district, serving nearly 50,000 students. “The school board really is the governance of the district,” McClendon said. “Our job is to hold [the superintendent] accountable, ensure that we are fiscally responsible, that we are writing policies to the benefit of our students and that we’re overseeing how the district is run.” The board’s only direct employee is the superintendent. That means board members do not individually manage teachers, principals, custodians, security officers or central office staff. The superintendent oversees those employees and departments, while the board evaluates the superintendent’s performance and holds him accountable for how the district operates. Board members also approve budgets, major contracts, curriculum and district policies. They receive academic and financial reports and help establish the standards by which the superintendent is evaluated. McClendon said those responsibilities make the school board as consequential to Detroit families as many offices that receive greater attention during election season. “People care about state representatives, senators, the mayor and City Council, but they forget about the least of them, which are our children and our future leaders,” she said. Unlike many state or federal policy decisions that can take years to reach individual households, school board decisions can quickly shape a child’s everyday experience. They can affect whether students have transportation, updated classroom materials, appropriate special education services, safe buildings, strong teachers and programs that allow them to explore life beyond their neighborhoods. Still, McClendon said regular board meetings are often not filled with the parents and community members most directly affected by those decisions. “It is important that our parents and those who are raising the children who attend our schools are educated and understand the decisions that the superintendent and the school board are making.” DPSCD generally holds its regular board meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., rotating locations between the east and west sides of Detroit. The district also holds committee meetings and study sessions throughout the year. Meeting schedules, agendas, locations and additional Board of Education information are available on the district’s website at detroitk12.org/board-of-education. The meetings give Detroiters a direct view into district business. The superintendent typically presents an academic report. The district’s chief financial officer

provides an update on DPSCD’s financial position. Board members review contracts, policies and other matters requiring a public vote. For McClendon, that process should not feel distant from the families the district serves. She first began studying the role of the board during the COVID-19 pandemic after struggling to get an answer about something happening in her daughter’s classroom. “I was calling. I couldn’t get anybody on the phone,” she said. Her research led her to discover that no sitting board member at the time was the parent of a current DPSCD student. McClendon did not believe every board member needed to have children, but she saw value in adding the perspective of someone directly navigating the district as a parent. She also brought professional experience that allowed her to examine the district’s roughly billion-dollar budget and ask questions about where money was being spent. “You have to have school board members who are smart, who have some skill set they can actually bring to the table and create diversity of thought so everybody is not thinking the same,” McClendon said. “You need people who can challenge the superintendent and have critical-thinking skills.” McClendon has three children attending DPSCD. She speaks about the district as a board president responsible for governance, but also as a mother whose children live with the results of the board’s decisions. “If it was a failing district or a terrible district, my kids would be at another school because one thing I’m not going to do is sacrifice their education,” she said. McClendon said her children have been challenged academically, developed a love for reading and received opportunities that extended beyond the classroom. Her son traveled to New York and visited the New York Stock Exchange through a district opportunity. “There are so many great opportunities for our children in this district,” she said. “We want that to be the story for every student.” DPSCD has recorded important gains after decades of instability and disinvestment. Students have demonstrated notable academic recovery following the COVID19 pandemic. Graduation rates have improved. The district has rebuilt its financial foundation and continued investing in student programming, teacher compensation, school facilities and wraparound services. The district has also worked to confront barriers that cannot be solved through classroom instruction alone. McClendon said DPSCD has identified nearly 4,000 students experiencing homelessness. Other students face hunger, transportation challenges, health needs or unstable access to basic necessities such as running water, clean clothes and safe places to sleep. “It’s hard for a kid to come to school and learn and be there when they’re hungry, or they don’t have a bed to sleep on, or they can’t take a shower,” she said. The district has responded through health hubs, transportation programs and attendance initiatives. DPSCD piloted yellow-bus transportation at Henry Ford High School and East English Village Preparatory Academy, two schools heavily affected by chronic absenteeism. The district has also offered incentives to high school students for consistent attendance and established health hubs where students can access medical services, glasses, food and other support. McClendon said those efforts reflect DPSCD’s commitment to educating the whole child, but she cautioned that the district cannot solve Detroit’s deepest economic challenges by itself. “Chronic absenteeism can’t just be fixed by a school district,” she said. “There are a lot of things going on. It really takes the whole village.” That does not mean the district is free from responsibility. Students with disabilities remain among those requiring focused attention and accountability. McClendon said the board’s goal is for every exceptional student education student to receive the ser-

vices and support required. “That’s not negotiable,” she said. She acknowledged that DPSCD still has work to do in completing individualized education plans and ensuring that appropriate staff and services are available. The board, she said, must continue requiring clear reports from the superintendent and measuring whether the district is closing those gaps. McClendon also wants parents to communicate directly with district leaders when they see problems. “Sometimes, on a board level, we may not know something is happening unless people communicate that to us,” she said. “We welcome parent participation. We welcome criticism.” She said questions from parents can introduce ideas that board members and administrators may not have previously considered. Public criticism, when heard with humility, can push the district toward better solutions. “We can’t, as a board, figure out what to do by ourselves,” she said. “It’s going to take all of us coming together and that diversity of thought to say what’s best for our children.” That message carries added weight amid recent public debate surrounding DPSCD. McClendon said the board understands that some community members have felt unheard or unseen. She said the appropriate response is not to retreat from difficult conversations, but to provide accurate information, answer questions and meet the public with greater transparency. “These are public tax dollars. This is a public school,” she said. “It is our job to figure out how we meet our community where they are.” McClendon is preparing to leave the board when her term concludes in December. She is not seeking reelection in November. Five of the seven board seats will be on the ballot, meaning the next group of elected members will inherit responsibility for continuing the district’s progress while confronting the work that remains. McClendon said the board must maintain stability, continue evaluating the superintendent’s effectiveness and keep students at the center of decisions about the district’s future. She also warned potential candidates against seeking the position simply for recognition. “This is not a job for show,” she said. “This is real work. It takes real time and real commitment and real sacrifice.” Board members must study education law, governance, contracts, policies, budgets and the district’s academic performance. They must be willing to ask hard questions, withstand criticism and sometimes make decisions that are not popular. “You have to be willing to tell the truth,” McClendon said. “You have to be willing to be transparent.” The November election will help determine who carries that responsibility next, but McClendon’s call to Detroiters is not limited to Election Day. Families can participate now. They can attend meetings, review public documents, question spending decisions, share what students are experiencing and recognize improvements when the district gets something right. Supporting DPSCD does not require silence. Accountability does not require dismissing its progress. Detroit children need adults who can celebrate their achievements while remaining honest about the systems that have yet to serve every student equally. “Our kids are brilliant and they are resilient,” McClendon said. “They don’t need us telling them they’re not good enough. They need us telling them that they can do whatever they want to do.” As the district begins another school year, the work of protecting that belief belongs to the superintendent, the board, educators, parents and the broader Detroit community. DPSCD has moved the needle. The next responsibility is ensuring that every child can feel that progress in the classroom, in the services they receive and in the opportunities placed within their reach.

Page B-4 | August 12-18, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

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michiganchronicle.com | August 12-18, 2026 | Page B-5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

TEMPORARY PROBATION SERVICES TECHNICIAN

ADAS AUTOSAR Platform Software Engineer Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the anticipated worksite. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from the anticipated worksite. Integrate AUTOSAR modules, including MCAL, BSW, COM, LDCOM, RTE, and SWCs, using ETAS tools or Vector DaVinci Configurator and DaVinci Developer. Domestic and International Travel Required up to 10%. EOE. Apply online: careers.ford.com

U.S District Court, Eastern District of Michigan – Temporary Probation Services Technician vacancy at https://www.mied.uscourts.gov/index. cfm?pageFunction=employment#tabs1-MIED. Be a part of a great team located in Detroit MI. Law enforcement position that assists in the administration of justice and community safety. Professional and friendly work environment, great benefits, and flexible schedule. EOE. Detroit Transportation Corporation is seeking qualified vendors for RFP 08.12.26 for Kiosk Hosting and Support services. The RFP can be downloaded from Bidnet Direct, www.bidnetdirect.com//detroit-transportation-corporation. Responses need to be uploaded to Bidnet Direct by 5:00pm, September 10, 2026. Detroit Transportation Corporation is seeking qualified vendors for RFP 08.11.26 for Rail Grinding Serivces. The RFP can be downloaded from Bidnet Direct, www.bidnetdirect.com//detroit-transportation-corporation. For Walk-Thru information, email cthomas@thepeoplemover.com. Responses need to be uploaded to Bidnet Direct by 5:00pm, September 11, 2026.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF UPCOMING ACCREDITATION REVIEW VISIT BY THE ACEN Wayne County Community College District-Ted Scott Campus wishes to announce that it will host a site visit for initial accreditation of its Practical Nursing Education and LPN to RN Bridge nursing programs by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). You are invited to meet with the site visit team and share your comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in the Ted Scott Room at the Ted Scott Campus located at 9555 Haggerty Road, Belleville, MI 48111. Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted to the ACEN via email at public-comments@acenursing.org or to the ACEN office: Attn: Accreditation Services Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta GA, 30326 All written comments should be received by the ACEN by September 22, 2026.

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CX Service & Analytics Designer Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned worksite. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from the worksite. Enhance the user experience by advancing IT and enterprise technology features. Integrate innovative, strategic, humancentered thought within the overall employee technology experience portfolio. EOE. Apply online: careers.ford.com FASTENING TECHNOLOGIST New Boston, MI, Brose North America. Plan, review, set up, &improve threaded fasteners, joints &plant PLC-based threaded fastening screwdrivers &eqpt technologies on specialized threaded fastening eqpt to join mechatronic cmpts using threaded fasteners (screws, nuts &bolts made of high strength steel, aluminum &plastic, cold forged acc. drawing, ready-to-install, galvanized &coated) &ensure production of mechatronic psgr vehicle seat structures incl. seat adjuster syss &motors; window regulators; &door modules (incl. window regulators &door latches). Ensure plant fastening eqpt is in optimal condition to assemble from mechanical & prgrmg standpoints. Plan&assure optimal setup, calibration, & prgrmg of threaded fastening controllers to Siemens PLCs for the opr., sequencing, &control of prod. fastening eqpt incl. Apex &Desoutter transducerized nutsetters. 24 mos exp as Engr, Technologist, or related, setting up &improving threaded fasteners, joints &plant PLC-based threaded fastening screwdrivers &eqpt technologies on threaded fastening eqpt to join cmpts using threaded fasteners &ensure prod. of psgr vehicle seat structures, window regulators, or door modules, or related. E-mail resume to Jobs@brose.com (Ref#21124).

Weston Preparatory Academy

In-Vehicle Software Architect - Networking

Attention: Parking Lot Replacement 2026

Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Allen Park, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned worksite. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from the worksite. Lead end-to-end design and delivery of optimized distributed system network architectures and inter-system communication across multiple platforms, using a structured systems engineering approach to meet tight timelines. EOE. Apply online: careers.ford.com

The School district is soliciting sealed proposals for removal of 4-inches (+/-) of asphalt pavement, prep and place new HMA at the School (38,000 SF(+/-). Contractors/Vendors shall submit all proposals to:

CS Partners 869 S Old Us 23 Brighton, MI 48114

Requests for Proposals and Quote are being accepted for: Student Transportation and Concierge Services 2026 Response Due: August 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Issued: August 7, 2026

The Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB) is directly responsible and accountable to the State of Michigan, Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce Development (LEO-WD) for the planning and oversight of talent development programs in the City of Detroit. Designated by the MWDB, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) serves as the fiscal and administrative entity that provides workforce services to job seekers and employers. DESC’s primary funding streams include Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) that funds Michigan’s PATH (Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope.) employment program, Food Assistance Employment and Training (FAE&T), Wagner-Peyser Employment Services (ES), and other public and private funding. DESC anticipates receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support contracts as a result of this competitive bid process and other public and private funding. The Corporation enters into contracts with qualified entities to provide workforce development programs and services to job seekers and employers. DESC is seeking proposals from qualified individuals, organizations and/or firms.

Bid package for this RFP is available for download at this DESC website:

https://www.descmiworks.com/opportunities/rfps-and-rfqs/. Mayor’s Workforce Development Board Joshua Sirefman, Co-Chairperson Dr. Darienne Hudson-Driver, Co-Chairperson

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board Alice Thompson, Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Terri Weems, Interim President

An equal opportunity employer/program. Supported by the State of Michigan, Labor and Economic Development, Workforce Development (LEO/WD). Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. 1-800-285-WORK. TTY: 711.

Classifieds ANNOUNCEMENTS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) CONSULTANT – CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SECRET SHOPPER SURVEY DEVELOPMENT, DISTRIBUTION AND ANALYSIS October 2022 Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is seeking proposals for a qualified consultant to work with Detroit LISC to create, distribute and analyze customer service surveys to gather information about the services of the Detroit at Work One Stop System. The findings from the surveys will be analyzed and put into interim and final reports to be submitted to LISC. Specifically, Detroit LISC is seeking those with proven experience in the following areas: ✓ Evaluation ✓ Analysis ✓ Report Development ✓ Survey Creation, Distribution and Collection ✓ Program Design Visit https://www.lisc.org/detroit/about-us/careers/ to download full RFP. Responses to this RFP are due Friday, October 21 and should be emailed to kgallick@lisc.org. LISC is committed to working with Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs). LISC encourages submissions from SBEs, MBEs, and WBEs.

REQUEST FOR QUOTES

The Academy School Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals or to accept the proposal that it finds, in its sole discretion, to be in the best interest of the School District. A copy of the RFP will be available via email at dblackmar@charterschoolpartners.com by July 31, 2026. A voluntary walk-thru inspection is scheduled for 1:00 pm August 6, 2026 at 730 W Maple St Lansing, MI 48906. All proposals must be submitted no later than 12:00 pm, August 14, 2026. All proposals should be delivered to the above stated address in a sealed envelope and clearly marked to:

Weston Preparatory Academy “Parking Lot Replacement 2026” 22930 Chippewa St, Detroit, MI 48219 Attn: Farrah Adams 08.04.26

Published Every Wednesday

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

313 963-8100

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Senior Safety Investigations Engineer – Software and Electronics Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned worksite. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from the worksite. Lead internal and external safety defect investigations for vehicle software and electronic hardware defects, including compliance investigations. EOE. Apply online: careers.ford.com Technical Systems Integration Engineer Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned worksite. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from the worksite. Develop vehicle electrical schematics that deliver compatible form and function providing logical connectivity, electrical power distribution and grounding for all electric components (electronic modules, sensors, actuators, motors, etc.), while meeting all regulatory and company specific requirements, and executing corporate standards for Failure Mode Avoidance. Domestic Travel Required up to 30%. EOE. Apply online: careers.ford.com

A virtual Pre-Proposal Conference will occur at 10:00 a.m. October 21, 2022.

Please visit our website for more classified ads.

Please visit our website for more The due date for Proposals is November 10, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.ads. classified

Call-In#: 1 313-462-2305 Conference ID: 944 369 237# https://tinyurl.com/yfm35pw5

If you have questions, please contact the www.michiganchronicle.com www.michiganchronicle.com Procurement Department at (313) 873-6531.

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The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFQs for Pre-Employment, Drug, and Alcohol Screenings Control No. 23-3659. RFQ forms may be obtained beginning October 19, 2022, from http://www.mitn.info. RFQs are due by 3:00 PM ET, November 11, 2022

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking proposals for Architecture and Engineering Services for Facility Master Plan Series 1 under RFP 23-0111.

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How Hiring Veterans Can Strengthen the Workforce BSW Engineering Manager

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FEATURE IMPACT

very year, about 200,000 service members transition from military service into civilian careers, offering employers access to a highly skilled and mission-driven talent pool. As organizations across industries seek dependable employees who can adapt and lead, veterans bring experience that translates directly to business success. Veterans enter the workforce with a wide range of technical and professional skills. Military occupations span fields such as logistics, engineering, cybersecurity, aviation and health care, many of which align closely with civilian roles. This experience allows veterans to apply their training to roles across industries, from manufacturing to information technology, using their practical knowledge developed during their service. Beyond technical expertise, veterans are widely recognized for their reliability, adaptability and strong work ethic. Military culture emphasizes responsibility, teamwork and accountability – qualities that can strengthen workplace culture and improve team performance. Additionally, employers that hire veterans with disabilities often qualify for federal tax credits, and many workplace accommodations are available to employers at no cost. Despite these advantages, veterans transitioning from military service to civilian employment still face challenges. One of the most common obstacles is translating military experience into language civilian employers understand. Although more than 80% of military roles have civilian equivalents, differences in job titles and terminology related to responsibilities and accomplishments gained during service may not align neatly with traditional job descriptions, making it difficult for veterans to clearly communicate their qualifications. To address these challenges, resources aimed at improving the understanding of military experience have grown in recent years. For example, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), a nonprofit organ­ization that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations, their families and survivors, recently released an updated edition of “The Veteran Advantage: DAV’s Hiring Guide for Employers of the Military Community,” a resource designed to help companies better recruit, hire and retain veteran and military spouse employees. The guide is available for free download at davhiringguide.org. The no-cost guide offers practical information for employers seeking to build veteran-friendly workplaces. It includes guidance on translating military skills into civilian job qualifications, developing hiring initiatives focused on the military community and establishing employee resource groups for veterans and military spouses. It also highlights inclusive hiring practices designed to reduce barriers and better support those who have served.

Meritor Electric Vehicles LLC seeks a BSW Engineering Manager in Troy, Michigan. Note, this position does not require travel. Duties include: Lead a team of SW engineers to develop base software; MCAL, service layers, AUTOSAR interfaces, and complex device drivers in new ECU’s for electrified drivetrain systems; Develop software requirements specification (SRS) and design verification plans; among other duties. Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Embedded Systems, or Computer Engineering and seven years of experience in the job offered or related. Apply to job reference number 220000KW at: meritor.jobs.net/search

Senior Digital Sculptor

Staff Design Release Eng

Warren, MI, General Motors. Engi develop, &release conventional IC vehicles electrical wire routing &pa &multi-branch wiring harnesses, in connectors, coverings &attachmen Vismockup, ECM, ECR, &Auros to &release electrical wire routing &p ensure proper functioning of elect as OnStar, LRR, cybersecurity sys vehicle electrical syss for AV. Ens harness routings meet U.S. FMVS CAE, DFM/A, DFMEA, DRBTR, R processes to design &validate wir points for multi-branch harnesses, size, &thermal resistance specs & Electrical or Automotive Engineeri mos exp as Engineer, engineering production, &continuously improvi psngr vehicle &BEV electrical wire &packaging syss, &multi-branch w using Tc VisMockup tool, or relate Ref#3882, GM Global Mobility, 30 Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit

Warren, MI, General Motors. Plan &perform advanced surfacing concepts &development of Class A surface of full vehicle exterior syss. Interpret &define design intent of designer while collaborating w/ engineering, Senior Design Release packaging, human factors, &tooling teams. Design Fuel Systems (FS) & Ev &develop 3D Class A surfaces of ICE, diesel, BEV Emission Control (EEC &AV full vehicle psgr car, truck &SUV exterior cmpnts incl. front &rear fascias, grills, head/taillamps, doors, Warren, MI, General Motors. Engi fenders, ABCD pillars, skid plates, liftgates, truck &develop FS &EEC syss, incl. fue beds &detailed exterior cmpnts incl. door handles, transfer lines, emission control can mirrors, lamp internals &exhaust tips, using Autodesk for psgr vehicles incl. Premium Lu Alias AutoStudio, Autodesk Maya, NX &VRED tools, &Large psgr &Cargo Vans, &Incom for U.S., global &emerging markets. Interpret, define, prgrms, according to vehicle progr conceptualize &execute unique solutions to technical from concept to production, &align challenges &provide creative proposals to capture performance, safety (U.S. FMVSS design intent from initial concept thru mass production &regional rqrmnts &standards, usi achieved in various stages according to GVDP, while Vismockup, ETAS INCA, &ECM to collaborating with engrg, packaging, human factors, design, validate &release engine F &tooling teams to assure minimum radii/draft, tooling cmpnts to meet SSTS of propulsio Benchmark critical emission contro &safety reqrmnts in compliance w/ U.S., European &recommend fuel injection HW to &China standards. Bachelor, Transportation or &UNECE regs. Master, Mechanica Industrial Design. 60 mos exp as Digital Sculptor, Engrg. 36 mos exp as Engineer, d Digital Modeler, or related, designing or developing &releasing evaporative emission c 3D Class A surfaces of full vehicle psgr vehicle prgrms, from concept to productio exterior cmpnts incl. fascias, grills, head/taillamps, performance, safety (incl. U.S. FM doors, fenders, ABCD pillars, &liftgates, using Alias technical &regional rqrmnts &stan AutoStudio, NX &VRED tools, for U.S., global Tc, &Tc Vismockup tools, or relate &emerging markets, or related. Mail resume to Ref#201, GM Global Mobility, 300 Ref#1827-201, GM Global Mobility, 300 Photo courtesy of DVIDS. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoW) visual information does notRenaissance imply or constitute DoW endorsement. Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

“Veterans and military spouses consistently These efforts are especially important as many demonstrate strong work values, but many still veterans continue to face barriers to employment. Vehicle Validation Engineer face hurdles when transitioning into civilian According to the U.S. Department of Labor,michiganchronicle. the veteran Warren, MI, General Motors. Perform &execute careers,” DAV CEO Barry Jesinoski said. “Hiring unemployment rate in March 2026 was 3.8%, with the validation of BEVs in GVDP for Vehicle veterans doesn’t just fill open roles – it strengthens electrical rateEmbedded climbing to 5.4% among Motion Controls (VMEC), Body veterans with disabilities, organizations. But employers who don’t understand Electronics, Active Safety telematics, underscoring the(AS), persistent challenges many encounter Review, analyze &coordinate the how to align military experience with business needs &infotainment. when transitioning to the civilian workforce. testing &modification of BEV system &cmpnt level SW might overlook that talent.” For validation many employers, hiring for electrical of VMEC &AS syss incl. veterans is not simply The nonprofit organization also connects employers Long/Short Radars, Vision/360/Driver aboutRange filling openRear positions. It’s an opportunity to monitoring cameras, antennas, Body & Vehicle with veteran job seekers through employment bring experienced leaders and skilled professionals Integration Control Modules, &features incl. Adaptive initiatives and outreach efforts. These programs help Cruise into the workforce – individuals whose service has Control, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous organizations better understand the value veterans Driving Features, them Emergency Braking, Collision prepared to contribute in meaningful ways long Mitigation, Alerts, &related module &feature validation bring to the workforce while supporting successful after military have status planstheir for vehicle prgrms,careers using PQMS, NX,ended. transitions into civilian careers. vSpy, Teamcenter (Tc), &ECM tools. Perform on time SW &HW validation of embedded module ECUs, thru design/production/SW iteration validations. Bachelor, Electrical, Computer, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Engrg. 12 mos exp as Engineer, testing or verifying embedded telematics &infotainment embedded

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