MI Chronicle Vol. 89 - No. 20

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

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

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the Nation’s Largest City.Life.Style. B1 UNCF Walk for Education Scholarship Roots. A3 Fundraiser KEEPING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S LEGACY ALIVE

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

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All Black Everything:

Vol. January 14-20, 2026 Vol. 89 87 –– No. No. 20 3 | | September 20-26, 2023

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Gilchrist UAW Exits Governor’s Race and ATriple NightStrike of Elegance and Excellence at the 10th Annual Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 LeavesDetroit a Void that Against Michigan Democrats Automakers By Ebony JJ CurryAnswer Must

SENIOR REPORTER By Jeremy Allen EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Late Thursday night, Sept. 14, a historic moment unfolded When Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced in American labor relations as Monday, Jan. 12, that he was suspending his the United Auto Workers (UAW) campaign for governor and instead running for union initiated a strike against Michigan secretary of state, it was framed as a Ford, General Motors (GM), and strategic redeployment in defense of democracy. Stellantis. For the first time, beneathtook the mechanics of campaign math theButunion simultaneous and party strategy is a more sobering action against all three major De- reality: for the first time in this election cycle, there is no troit-based automakers. The action Black Democratic caninvolves approximately 13,000 didateplants for governor of UAW members in assembly Michigan. across Michigan, Ohio, and MisAnd jobs with Gilchrist’s souri, who walked off their troiters. The symbolism of Black beekeepers revitalizing niably commendable. By Ebony JJ Curry departure, after existing labor contracts ex-the only Black their city is a powerful testament to the resilience and Amidst the glitz and glamour, the event also showSENIOR REPORTER pired at 11:59 p.m. candidate remaining in ingenuity of our community. cased the diversity of talent within our community. From the gubernatorial race is Shortly before midnight on of talent, As the night unfolded, we had the privilege of hon- Paris T. Prichard, a forensic scientist pushing the boundn a breathtaking celebration Republican John James. determina- oring other outstanding individuals, each carving their aries of her field, to math wizards like Donna Laster, who Sept. 14, GM released a statement tion, and the unyielding spirit of Black excellence, Thatwith fact alone should expressing disappointment the Michigan Chronicle marked its 10th Annual own path to success. Clement “Fame” Brown, the cregiveoffering Democratsevening. – partic-This year’s ative mind behind Three Thirteen Detroit’s Brand Name, the strike action,40despite 40 Under event Thursday See 40 UNDER 40 page A2 ularly voters, orwhat termed anin“unprecedented soirée,it drenched the themeBlack “All Black Everything with received the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award. ganizers, and power broeconomic package” that included Gold Accents,” expectations and essential- Brown’s commitment to empowering the city through Garlin Gilchrist IItranscended kers – pause. historic wage increases. Stellantis ly illuminated the golden gems within the true essence fashion and entrepreneurship has left an indelible mark. gubernatorial run weight of Gilchrist’s Black excellence. Hosted bycarried the charismatic duo of “Entrepreneur of the year – that’s a big deal,” said that extended beyond policy from proposals or Andre Ash andfarLynzee Mychael Michigan Chroni- Brown. “It’s always an honor to be honored and it’s electoral viability. As the the night highest-ranking Blackfor the city always a blessing to be in a room full of so many talentcle’s Finally Friday, was a triumph elected official in vibrant Michigan history, his candi- Black pro- ed, accomplished, and popular people that look like me. of Detroit and its community of young dacy represented the possibility of something fessionals. I’m geeked. I started making and selling clothes as a kid longThe deferred: just Black in eveningnot sparkled withparticipation a golden promise as we and I always knew that I would have a business, but I statewide butindividuals Black ownership of celebratedleadership, remarkable from various walks never knew it would be Detroit’s brand name business, DPD Chief James White Says Increased the Democratic future atwere the top the of life. AmongParty’s the honorees the of brilliant and vi- so I take a lot of pride in the fact that our business repticket. Police Culledwho Violence resents our city’s pride.” part of the city gets to feel seen in this Presence and grandmothers keep going even sionary co-founders of Detroit Hives, Nicole Lindsey By andEbony JJ Curry For many Black voters,Their particularly in Detroit room. when the city feels heavy. Timothy Paul Jackson. work has not only changed Taking home the Corporate Excellence Award was SENIOR REPORTER Andre Ash and other urban Gilchrist’s campaign the landscape of centers, beekeeping and urban farming in De- Dannis Mitchell, Director of Community Engagement atJudgeBy Senior U.S. District Denise Page Sheffield’s entrance earlier in the DIGITAL ANCHOR was about whether the Democratic Party would ness district that had been the lifeblood towards mending theitswounds inflicted on troit expressed but also disappointment exemplified thein transformative impact Barton Malow. Hood administered the oath forof ShefBy Ebony JJ Curry morning carried own message, too. Black women have been keeping also meaningfully invest can in Black leadership when Black Detroiters and restoring a sense of bethe community. Black professionals have on their communities. residents “It is for so aimportant that Detroit there are young clock symbolism REPORTER ­Detroit upright long time.to recognizefield. The room watched her move with a statement,most. saying the would company beenSENIOR A string of shootings ita mattered win longing that wasinso callously torn away in It’s a quickly, history marred byin pain, injusthehere picture was clear as day, “Togetherwent we Ahave createdhave a social, wonenvironmental, leaders across the country, and many that areand born calm that didn’t immediately into contingenFolks say it like a compliment, Greektown in past. mid-April left ask permission. Madam derful, but evenimpact seeing through the potential investment the For manyLindDetroiters, Interstate 375, our or city Black one swearing in, one tice,nationally and two economic devastation. More than and financial bees,” said Jackson. Detroit. I represent and I women, tell people, Mayor Sheffield entered the Detroit cy mode to protect its operations. sometimes it is. Most days, it’s a burden. both visitors and residents of into a Black candidate at the state level would I-375, has long been‘Yea just another stretch of from I-375House Boulevard Project is yet about more being sworn in, placingBlack, a marker in a city The sey followed that sentiment with, “It is through our local 130,000 residents, primarily were I’m a D-girl I’m the west-side of Detroit,’” Opera in the angelic powerful Black women hold the family calendar, The the inthis bustling downtown des- historical have feltUAW like ahas win.branded highway, a concrete artery connectthan just correcting injustices; where men have held the mayor’s seat partnerships and collaborative efforts urban that we exist in Mitchell expressed. “But more importantly, I’ve been able forcibly displaced. Families were uprooted, that only a Black woman can. it’s Her the caregiving, the school calls, the rent dustrial action as “Stand-Up tination inabout awe.way One of these That hasthe now passed – the at least ingfor different parts oftothe city. To some, it’s redefining the future. It will for generations. over 28moment plus locations managing health of 4.5 deadlines, milhave experiences within an industry that not many of generational wealth was obliterated, and a all-cream ensemble and her goldconnect striking the grocery math, the church Strike,” focusing on specific plants shootings tragically claimed this mere convenience; to others, it’s an unre- of thriving downtown surrounding neighborlioncycle. honeybees – humbly speaking oura movement has us, specifically women color, have theprompt opportunity community was tornto The A asking aasunder. piercing question pumpsDetroit gavebe-atovisual punctuation to the responsibilities, the grief, the second within each automaker. UAW the life of hoods, a popular and markable part of their daily in commute. Howbridging the gap that was placed In an interview with nationally, the Michigan inspired others locally, andChronieven internationengage and I’ve been the youngest person in the room, wounds inflicted by I-375 run deep, transtarting with, “Do you solemnly swear day, and the Nina Simone line fitupon what jobs, the “figure it out” that government President Shawn Fain stated, “This loved security guard followever, a deeper, far more troubling the city decades ago.felt in their bones: “its a cle, wassimilar clear that his decision was notthere’s too allyGilchrist to take on missions.” the assumes only Black person in the andfollowed the onlyby Sistah ina freeway scending the physical barrier of to a simple yeting powerful rethe audience often will happen on room, its …” strategy will keep the companies a dispute with a patron. story founded beneath the of this seemingly driven by party pressure or internal dissent. the room, and I really had to articulate the importance penetrate the very of Black Detroiters. Today, the resurgence Paradise sponse, “Isoul will.” new allegedly dawn, its a newofday,” and Valley Detroit Detroit a pioneering organization by surface own. guessing. ItHives, will give our nationThe male suspect ordinary freeway—a story of pain, displaceof showing up, giving chances when others won’t, and stands as a testament to the indomitable wants to feel good for reasons that hold “This was about conversations I’ve had with Lindsey and Jackson, harnesses the power of urban beeThis painful legacy can be traced back People clapped, stood, shouted. Still, al negotiators maximum leverage shot the guard before fleeing Friday morning, January realand theCity. lasting impact on Black Detroibeing persistent.” As9,athat trailblazing Black woman thrivspirit of Black Detroiters and the enduring up beyond the music. people in to Michigan,” Gilchrist said. “Alongside keeping revitalize neighborhoods in ment, the Motor to the nation’s interstate highway program the moment didn’t feel like a finish line. and flexibility in bargaining. And the scene, while his female ity walked into Detroit Opera male-dominated House ters. in athe predominantly industry, her to connect legacy ofNewly Black excellence.Detroit This historic disthe consistency about expensive childcare, hous- issues dressed Their initiative not onlyweaddresses critical like ing It felt like a door of 1956—a program that opening. aimed appointed City Council if we need to go all out, will. companion is accused of conup, hair laid,commitment shoulders squared, unwavering to country fortifying the connections The tale begins in what is now Lafayette the trict, once a vibrant hub for Black businessing, and healthcare, deep about environmental butconcern also provides valuable DPD Chief James White President James Tate welcomed Sheffield but often did so at the expense Everything is onconservation theI heard table.”aUnion the weapon in her bra. eyes open. More than 1,800 people filled communities Sheffield stepped to thecealing microphone businesses and Detroit’s is undePark,toonce known as between Black Bottom—a neighes andwith culture, is experiencing a renaissance the dangerous of thethat Trump adminiseducation andextremism employment opportunities Black De- room the kind of sincerity Detroit can tell of marginalized communities. theframed case of what leaders have also indicated the for Mayor Mary Sheffield’s after the swearing-inInand These unfolded during an days. unseasonably in African-American culture I-375, it meant carving a path through the incidents that harkens back to its glory Thesalute detration and plants attackscould on ourbevoting apart from politics-as-usual. His additional target-process.”borhood rooted investiture ceremony. Detroit’s first she believes this moment belongs to. warm spring, leading to increased pedestrian traffic and and history. Named after its dark, fertile heart of Black Detroit, reinforcing segrega- struction offormer Black council Bottom colleague may have torn to his sounded Gilchrist, theif threat to democracy and ed For in future waves negotiations woman mayor stood at the center of a heightened tensions in the densely populated downtown “Today, we begin a new chapter,” soil, Black Bottom flourished during the mid- tion, and perpetuating apart a thriving community, but the resolute a like a proud brother acknowledging voting outweighed personal political amremainrights stalled. inequality. moment the city has talked about for Sheffield said. area. “I gratefully accept the 1900s, nurturing the dreams and aspirations determination of a new generation of entresister who earned her way into the room bition. He framed his move to the secretary of years. The celebration carried the weight Fain clarified the union’s stratFor one aptly the harm trusttothat you recognize all have placed in me, and The surge in and crime and the influx visitors in tothat Deof prominent Detroiters like Coleman Young, preneurs and visionaries isofreclaiming stayed there; the warmth that state race as atoreturn first principles, recalling of history, and the pressure of a simple egy: “I want give atomajor shoutprojects, is vital to note embrace the it responsibility ofthat this histroit’s downtown core garnered the attention of the DeJoe Louis, and numerous other Detroit leg- caused byIsuch lost legacy. welcome mattered. his early run for Detroit city clerk and his belief question Black women ask when politics out to the thousands of members some of the planners and politicians behind toric moment. But this moment does not troit Police Department (DPD), catching them somewhat ends. But in the name of urban renewal in that are picket “sacred.” heart Poet of Paradise Valley, Blackgets loud: what changes for us? those projects Laureate Jessica Care whoelections are on the lines right them directly through belongbuilt to one person. It belongs to every In theDetroit off guard. the 1950s, this vibrant neighborhood was Housing owned businesses just flourishing Resource Helpline in city. Moore’s wordsare cutnot through with a truth grandma up us. from Jim Crow,” he now fighting forcame all of The By“My Andre Ash The spirit of Erma Henderson, Maryneighborhood in this Yeah. From the heart of vibrant, populated communisystematically dismantled, erased from the response to the challenges that James White, Chief ofhave Police for the Detroit Police Debut thriving, offering diverse services, prodwomen lived in offices, boardrooms, said. “And this isisa ayear the Voting Rights Stand-Up Strike newwhen approach anne by McHaffey, sat in the EasttoSide, to thesegregation West Side, to Southties—oftentimes reinforce and DIGITAL ANCHOR map, and replaced a lifelessJoAnne stretch Watson of as- residents partment, said: “We were caught somewhat flat-footed ucts, and experiences that pay to the face inDetroit. navigating the first unions, nonprofits, andhomage government: Act could be Instead gutted. Michigan ground zero.” to striking. of strikingis all the room the way elders do—present, west For every responder sometimes as part of a direct effort toright replace phalt. out the Bypaving design we wentforinto the race spring pastgate. while the way a prosperous complex system of housing ser“When you are a woman of any the plants at once, select locals will be unignorable, reminding everybody that in every situation, to parents working That framing matters. But so does what his or eliminate Black neighborhoods. Homelessness continues to deployment, which is less than the mid-summer deployWhile the residential areas bore the brunt vices. The helpline provides a future. From clubs topassed soul food restaubaton is jazz not always to you with called onurban tobehind. stand up and walkwith out Detroit has always had women who hard every single day. To our brothers exit leaves plague communities, But now, after decades of enduring ment,theand rants, saw we an uptick in violence that first of this demolition, the heart of Black Bottom, single thesay Black Press, and galleries to pointand of sisters contactinforlabor, people The line landed asart a warning label on strike.and This is ourvoters generation’s didn’t wait to be invited into power. to ourof seniors, and grace.” families individuals grappling Historically, Black have been theits backscars of I-375, there is a glimmer hope warm weekend.” thriving business center, remained largely fashion boutiques, this revival is breathing and a memory. Women in Detroit have seeking housing assistance and answer toDemocratic the movement built Those women pushed, challenged,on orgaour retirees. And to theunveiled childrentoof Dewith of the challenges ofthat making bone victories in Michigan — the horizon. Plans have been untouched. Restaurants, theaters, clubs, and connects Chief White attributes the violence instill Greektown to life into the very essence what once made watched doors open of and had to fight with the resources our sit-down strikescliof nized, and took heat for it. Their transform legacy them troit, watching this moment unfold endsunion meet –margins inthe today’s delivering ineconomic Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, this once-divisive freeway into a from bars—the very places that brought Detroit’s a combination of weather conditions and a surge in popthis neighborhood a vibrant cultural epicen1937. told the 3and thatbeyond. Sept. need. classrooms and their homes. Seeing what to walk through them. wasn’t applause. Their legacy wasthey expecmate. We Whether it’sBigstruggling to Yet when Benton Harbor, Pontiac, of the ter. It’s a resurgence that extends beyond Blackit community together—were concen- vision that seeks to right the wrongsulation. 14 was deadline andpower, we meant tation. isfor possible, when aera city believes in itself The dignitaries in the room made it Support the helpline comes meet monthly mortgage payments comes tothe gubernatorial Black leadership past while heralding a new of inclusivity trated around Hastings Street, the epicenter brick clear and mortar; it represents thethat resurHe explained, “ Wethe saw numbers downtown we it. gave the soaring companies ourcosts ecoand in its future.” city’s leadership change is being from the Gilbert Family FoundaLeaders in multiple traditions blessed or We coping with rental has consistently been relegated to the margins: and community revitalization. of African-American culture in the city. genceever. of a spirit that refuses to be subdued. have not seen, People are emerging from COVID nomic demands eight weeks ago tion, which has pledged $10 mil-Detroit’s daily life, watched at every level: Elisa Slotkin, the day—Rev. Spencer Ellis, Rev. Faith in a housing market marked by Those groups carry lieutenant governor, mayor, legislator, organizer by more than $100 million from Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Hastings lion Fueled there’s feeling a post-COVID era… and it rarely took more than month to City we’re Councilman Fred Gilchrist, Durhal Mike that Duggan, Lt.inGov. Garlin over three years women to fundshow the upand Fowler, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, Imam and Black in every onea Detroit shockingly high prices, a ticket. variety — but the top of athe the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act the Street, too, was obliterated a few years later, and with venues downtown and the reasons to come get to the table.” III, representing District 7, where Eastern Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Abdul Elprogram. Wayne Metro CommuRadwan Mardini, and others—marking of them—working parents, labor, careof factors contribute to the growproject Market making way for the Julie construction of I-375. and other partners, this ambitious down all the resides, activities that going on, we saw told theare Michigan Chronicle, See EXITS union is GILCHRIST pushing for a comof Schneider Sheffield’s administration nity Actiongiving, Agencyseniors, manages theresponders’with first famiingThe issue of people becoming un- Meagan Dunn the start to eco- of marked the final blow, sealing the fate aims to create jobs, remove barriershundreds people and,inin young “It’smore still very early theparticularly, process,Page MDOT is prehensive list of demands. GOVERNOR’S RACEThis Page A-2This with a signal Detroit understood: every making lies, theitchildren being helpline, accessible to raised by mothers housed. See MAYOR SHEFFIELD A-4 of Black Bottom and signaling the beginning nomic growth, and reconnect the neighborfolks, teenagers that we hadn’t seen.” 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 By Ebony JJ Curry 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 SENIOR REPORTER in data from Placer.ai, a location analytics company settings. Mayor Mike Duggan. “Thanks to the efforts of our partners becauseand of discrimination, but they specializing in visit trends demographic insights By Lynzee Mychael and the generous support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, The causes of homelessness areDetroit as diverse and 2025 complex closed with 165 were also coming because Black through geolocation-enabled mobile devices. From JOURNALIST now have a simple process to guide residents to the right as the individuals experiencingMULTIMEDIA it. In response, the City of weto criminal homicides, according people was doing some stuff. When May 1-Aug. 27, 2022, there were 1.3 million visits and housing resource and a growing number of programs to Detroit has adopted a holistic approach to combat thisfigures issue. shared preliminary did Black people starttodoing things 655,000 visitors to Greektown, according Placer.ai. From the year-end days of the Great Mihelp them.” during awhen city public safetyofbriefing “Providing services and high-quality housing to persons inyear, the these city?numbers They started doing In the same period this increased to gration thousands Black The Gilbert Family Foundation’s broader commitment led by Mayor and at risk of or who are experiencing homelessness is Sheffield a key this area in the 1800’s. 1.4 million visits and things 670,000invisitors. families flockedMary to Detroit in search pledging $500 million to support projects across Police Chief A.Director Bettison. priority of the City of Detroit, said Julie Schneider, In the 1800’s the major thingboth that of jobs and aTodd better life, to theinvolves pivAs Detroit’s downtown area continues to attract Detroit over the next ten years, with housing initiatives of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department. were doing in Detroit is they The city said the total is down otal role they played in the city’s residents and visitors,they the police department has implebeing were the leaders in fightthe against 19 percent frommusical 203 2024 and a significant part of their contribution. “This means focusing on building theand pipeline of insupcultural heritage, mented various enforcement measures to the manage inslavery. metal The Underground Railroad down 35 percent from 252 in 2023, Notably, Detroit has witnessed a consistent decrease in portive housing and coordinating with the Continuum of an inBlack Detroiters have left creased population. Notably, detectors have been is the rootGreektown in the city to of deter Detroit continuing a multi-year that years, with the number of unhoused residents steadirecent Care What on the a delivery of critical resources such as the emergency delible mark on city.decline However, strategically placed throughout theto Federal all of this Black innovation that you officials described as pushing ly declining. In 2019, approximately 7,847 people were unshelter, rapid rehousing, and diversion prevention proin recentand years, Detroit has homiexpeillegal carrying of firearms. Government Shutdown see coming later.” cides 200 “for the first housed time and entered the City’s community response system. grams. It also means preserving and below expanding affordable rienced significant gentrification, “We have strategically placed them at key points, “ inall decades.” In 2021, about 5,687 people experienced homelessness. housing options for Detroiters of incomes and improving Could Mean which has raised concerns about Aretha Chief White explains. It Musical has been alegends deterrentlike for some, housing stability though comprehensive service offerings the displacement of long-standing Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and the Detroit is also a majority-Black According to the City of Detroit, since the start of the and some have tested it. If you are legally carrying a for Detroiters? available through the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine Black residents. Similar to a Bureau setting sound emerged Decity, with the U.S. Census fiscal year 2019 to 2021, Detroit saw a 28% decrease in the weapon and carrying Motown a CPL, have a great day. Iffrom you’re and Detroit Housing Services Division within HRD.” sun, there’s a76.8 rising spirit, of andDetroit Black troit, providing a soundtrack for the estimating percent See POLICEcivil PRESENCE Page A-2 Detroiters are reclaiming their placeSee COMBAT HOMELESSNESS page A2 rights movement and inspirresidents identify as Detroit Black alone. In May 2023, the City of Detroit launched the City.Life.Style. B1 in the city, despite the challenges ing generations. Motown Records, That context matters because to fund these efforts. All of those crime category it listed Michposed gentrification. founded by Berry Gordyunder Jr., was not when by violence drops in Detroit, it hoods together. and west sides. Over time, these long after our current phase of genthings exist in Detroit and will conigan State Police and FBI reporting just a record label but a symbol of Duringconditions the Great “Nothing we do as a city is more changes for a Migration, city where of tinue trification. to in the Sheffield Adminis- standards. Black excellence and empowerment. thousands of Black families from important thanbecame keepingcenters our resiBlack families make up the bulk of neighborhoods and entrepreneurship. “Black people were coming to DeThe preliminary totals faced show 447 the to Detroit in search dents culture safe,” Sheffield said. “Safer tration.” However, as Detroit ecothe South peoplecame walking to work, send- Black According to Historian Jamon because Black churches Beyond homicides, the citywere re- non-fatal shootings in 2025, a loss 26 of jobs in the booming automobile communities and historic reduc- troit nomic decline and population ing kids to school, catching the bus, in the city ported here, black schools were here, and percent declines across every major from century, 2024. Carjackindustry. Despitebusinesses, facing discriminations in Black crime resilience like this don’t happen in the drop late 20th many running small holding Jordon roots effective that QR extend far before the Up its was BlackDigital businesses here,” said Scan the Code to great Sign for the Daily Newsletter tion segregation, theydoing built the vi- has without strategies, downand block clubs, and $2.00 See RECORD-LOW HOMICIDE Pagepage A-4 A2 Migration will persist were coming of course brant communities on the city’s east Great partnerships and and the political will Jordon. “They $1.00 everyday labor of keeping neighborSeeRATES LEGACY

I

Greektown Had 1.4 Million Visits This Summer and Mary Sheffield Prioritizes Families, No Shootings

CanChildhood Reparative Investment Finally Poverty During Inauguration 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

Record-Low Homicide Rates Show Community Policing, CVI Works in Detroit

Black Resilience Amidst Gentrification: Reclaiming Detroit’s Legacy

A Detroit Finance Pro Follows Curiosity into Black Art Stewardship Money. A5

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Right To Choose

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. Elected officials are From page A-1 sion, advocates on both also working to keep “What we are really sides of the argument are the rights of all women Roe v. Wade intact thus concerned about is the willing to continue their are continued. holding off Michigan’s impact on our patients. pursuits. “PPMI has been pre- 1931 trigger ban. Gover- Access to abortion is al“Overturning Roe v. paring for this moment nor Gretchen Whitmer ready out of reach for far since the results of the released a statement too many Michiganders, Wade would be a terrible break with nearly 50 years 2016 election were final. saying, in part: especially Black people of judicial precedent and 1452 Randolph • Detroit, MI 48226 • Phone: (313) 963-8100 We recently filed a lawand people of color who “The words ‘Roe over– more importantly – a Publication No.: USPS 344-820 suit to stop the 1931 law face additional barriers OFFICE HOURS: from going into effect, turned’ are no longer to care as a result of sys- blow against individual ADVERTISING DEADLINE Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and we’ve also asked the theoretical. I want every temic inequalities and in- freedom. It is my hope Classified: 3 p.m Friday Copy, corrections and cancellations, Closed Sat. and Sun. state courts to affirm that Michigander to know— stitutional racism. Losing that the majority of juspreceding the Wednesday publication. the Michigan constitu- no matter what happens access to legal abortion tices will reject the findThe Michigan Chronicle is in D.C., I’m going to fight Display: 12 p.m. Friday ings of this draft. If that is tion does already contain published every Wednesday. will impact those compreceding the Wednesday publication. Periodical Postage, a right to abortion. Our like hell to protect access munities most, forcing not the case, we need to For all news and calendar items: paid at Detroit, MI. Deadline is two weeks prior to event. advocacy arm, Planned to safe, legal abortion in people to become parents stand with Senate MajorMichigan…” Price $1.00 and other post office. ity Leader Schumer and Weeks that contain Parenthood Advocates of or expand their families Gov. Whitmer in support MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU holidays, deadline is Thursday prior More than legal impliMichigan, is a founding OF CIRCULATION against their will. Being to publication date. member of the coalition cations, overturning Roe able to decide and con- of their efforts to preserve the right to reproducv. Wade would impact sevthat launched Reproductrol if, when and how to tive Freedom for All, a eral systems across the become a parent is cen- tive freedom,” said Chair Alisha Bell, on behalf of spectrum. With the poballot initiative to affirm tral to building and living the Wayne County ComPOSTMASTER the right to abortion and tential to drive both foster a been forced to manage privately for too long, without public Send address changes to: healthy, happy life,” mission. and adoption numbers MICHIGAN CHRONICLE | 1452 Randolph • DETROIT, MI 48226 reproductive freedom in relief.Vasquez Giroux. said the state constitution,” upward, a ban on aborHousing sits the top of of that list. Beyond theatscope tions could leave many said Vasquez Giroux. From page A-1 Safe and affordable housing is plainly a survival issue. pro-choice versus pro“The bottom line is that women to choose a less Black women live at the intersection of rent, wages, caregivrouteand restoring ‘back life, the fight for reproSayed, of State Jocelyn Benson, more. Duggan we willSecretary do everything in safe turnout, particularly in From page A-1 ing, and family choiceresponsibility. is one of When housing gets unstable, alley’ and illegal abor- ductive sat row Sheffield, confident in the baton our front power to cheering keep aborBlack communities long unit’s usually a Black woman doing the scrambling: finding Gilchrist’s candidacy distiontoo—Detroit’s practices, including he noticed that outgoing freedom. As Michigan tionpassed. legalThe in room Michigan, derserved by the electoral a place, calling family, moving children, losing time from officials work to ensure self-abortions. Moreover, rupted that pattern. His deand ifsitting SCOTUS makes backing power close, publicly the incoming power. process. And he’s absolutely work, trying to keep a roof while keeping dignity. Detroit each woman who finds African American women parture restores it. that impossible, we deeper will than politics and rooted her Then Sheffield went right. does not need another era where development rises while herself in the position to and women of color, who do everything can story The irony is hard to sense of leadership we in a family Detroit understands as choose displacement quietly spreads. has access to care And that is where this already have a long-stoto ensure our care, patients real work: health education, civil rights. thewoman threat mayor of legalenters the office with the moral miss. As Democrats rightly moment becomes a test, not A Black can access the care they ried history with access without argue that democracy itself “As a proud, proud daughter of the city, frominthemedivery action, many wonder responsibility to protect Black women’s right to stand up- is on the ballot, Black voters just of Gilchrist, but of the and inclusion need.” beginning, I was taught that public service is a responsi- right. are once again being asked Democratic Party itself. bility, one that calls us to leadislature with integrity, health jobs committee adopts to it. act with TheGood-paying sit right next to housing. If Democrats are serious to mobilize, turn out, and humility, and remain rooted in purpose,” Sheffield said. recommends reviewing Detroit’s economy runs on labor Black women do every defend the system without about protecting democraIncrease school fund“That belief was appealing to me at a very young age by my state licensure policies to ing:and Statutory changes to day. The problem is too much of that labor doesn’t pay seeing themselves reflected cy, they must also be seriparents. A nurse a civil rights minisFrom pageand A-1an educator, barriers thatof life. A job that doesn’t cover in its highest stakes contest. ous about who democracy is enough tothe match the cost increase the School Aid address ter. They taught metothat service means believing in some- Black psychologists face corporate boards have Fund revenue by at least rent isn’t stability. A paycheck that can’t keep up with groMeanwhile, Republicans seen to work for. thing yourself. But those weren’t just ideas, in obtaining licensure in more greater diversethan representa$3.6 billion and establish ceries and childcare is a trap. Gilchrist’s pivot to secrenow have a monopoly on they valuesthe thatlegislaI saw lived out every single day. I saw Michigan. tion were and pass a permanent weighted Then there’s violence, especially the kind that turns Black representation in the tary of state may well prove them the front line of civil rights tion. as a little girl, standing onfunding formula based on Ensure equitable disgovernor’s race through consequential. In an era protest… Detroit, over the past 12 years, I’ve seen that same motherhood into mourning. Better collection and student and community tribution of state Sheffield’s plan tohealth establish a gun violence prevention James, a candidate whose of voter suppression, data spirit alive and well in our city. And it is that same spirit analysis of criminal jus- needs and universal pre- funds: Ensure Michioffice speaks to a all Detroit reality that doesn’t stay contained policy positions, party align- surveillance, and election that carry us forward in this next chapter.” school (0-3). tice will data: BLAC recomgan communities with a to headlines. Gun violence leaves mothers childless. It leaves ment, and voting coalitions sabotage, that office is no The point of faith and purpose followed. mends data collection Black popu- It leaves trauma that doesn’t Reject censorship in significant women raising grandchildren. stand in sharp contrast to small thing. It’s one of the and“Before professional analyI was formed in myhistory mother’sinstruction: womb, He knew En- lation clock outreceive when theadequate news cycle moves on. Prevention reads the priorities of most Black state’s top office seats. And sis He be had initiated with me. a calling overthe my life. I trusted the calling and I funds to address mental couraging Gov. Whitmer as an attempt to stop harm before another family has to Michiganders. Gilchrist’s background as assistance our Attorkept moving of forward,” Sheffield issues. tosaid. ensure the goal for health organize a repast. an engineer, election adminIt would be easy to say neyBlack General, Michigan Michigan schools should women resonate. Black women don’t romanticize Protecting Black voting Sheffield thanked Detroit repeatedly during the ceremoistrator, and technologist that this is just a symbolic Commission Lawhave betrusted history instruction struggle. They liveon it. Many their calling while rights: Urge state ny—three times in aofficials row—giving the room the sense she un- problem, but it’s not. It’s a positions him uniquely for Enforcement Standards that is presented pro- to remain vigilant in the raising children in unstable housing, while patchingby togeththe fight ahead. (MCOLES), Association fessionals with the sub- derstands she didn’t get here alone. Detroit’s Black women strategic one. er childcare, while carrying grief from violence, while wait- fight against schemes to of Michigan Prosecutors ject matter expertise, heard it as acknowledgment. They’ve been told “thank you” But there is a broader Representation shapes ing on systems to work the way they are supposed to. disenfranchise Michiganand other stakeholders pedagogical skills, and by the city plenty of times, usually right before being asked enthusiasm. It shapes turn- question that remains unof color. So what does collect this administration say it will do for them? ders to collaborate, and judgment necessary to to carry more. This time, they are watching for something out. It shapes whether answered. Why does Black “BLAC members have else: relief that shows up in policy, budget, and day-to-day young Black voters believe leadership so often stop Sheffield has been explicit about centering women, analyze data strategically. present complex inforworked hard to identify outcomes. babies, and poverty reduction. She told the Michigan ChronBan no-knock war- mation to students that the system is responsive to just short of the governor’s needs of the Black icle thatUrging her firstthe announcement on family in that room, you could feel Patti LaBelle in the them or merely extractive. grounded in investprov- theBeing rants: House arefocused office, even in a party that ment. air — not as aand song,we as afeel stance. Detroit wasn’t asking perGovernment Operations able facts and add to the community Gilchrist acknowledged depends on Black voters to mission recommendations to feel hopeful. Detroit was claiming it. Detroit has understanding mod- these Committee to that holdmy hear“Very proud first announcement wasof investing the disappointment direct- win it? a newprovide attitude.a solid first ern-day and America. ings on HB 5013 and other in families,” Sheffield said. “Women babies, we an- will That question will not ly. step towards breaking legislation A Black woman becoming mayor is history. Detroit nounced Rxthat kidswould comingban to Detroit, which is a direct cash Increase mental health be resolved at the ballot box down barriers in educa“I appreciate that exciteor limit theprogram use ofthat no- gives prescription pregnantformothers, cash knows that. Still, Detroit has never been short on historic supports the Black alone. It requires intentiontion, community safety, knock or quick prescriptions. So thatknock was the first way that Recommendwe could sup- moments. The city is short on stability for the people who ment,” he said, referring to al cultivation, early investcommunity: health and business,” the energy around a potenwarrants, and port families andurging womenthe in Detroit, but you willset see atons of have carried it the longest. ing Michigan goal said BLAC Co-Chair Dr. tial Black Democratic nomi- ment, and a willingness to state legislature to pass initiatives and programs that will be forthcoming, that are of increasing the number BlackL.women don’t need a perfect mayor. They need a back Black candidates in Donna Bell. meaningful reform and centered around poverty, trying reducemental childhood pov- mayor who governs like Black women’s lives are a priority, nee for governor. “That time word and in action – in both of toBlack health and opportunity may come BLAC will hold a viradvise Gov. Whitmer to service as providers by 20% not an afterthought. Mary Sheffield walked into the Opera erty in Detroit, but more importantly, well just addressfor me again — just not in praise and in power. signthe the bill after the leghallcitymeeting five years. ing everyday quality of life each issuesyear that over we heard on the tual Housetown with the watching her like family—proud, pro2026.” Gilchrist says his time to discuss its policy recground here in Detroit.” tective, and serious. ommendations on Thursmay come again. Michigan Still, he urged engageBlack women are the ones most often left holding povThe dawn is here. day, May 12 at 4 p.m. Join ment rather than retreat, Democrats would be wise erty’s consequences—keeping food in the house, keeping Detroit’s Black women will decide if this new day finally arguing that a strong sec- to ensure that when it does, BLAC and a virtual audipeople believewhen thatmoney they loves them back. From A-1cut, keeping utilities frompage getting kids steady ence in discussing the retary of state can expand that it’s the exception inneed toBlack for women themselves isn’t. “Quality ofembraces. life” is the category have the chancellor Ebony can be reached at ecurry@michronicle.com. access, convenience, and stead of the expectation. and others to live better recommendations to support the Black communi“I think of transfor- lives.” ty. mational leadership as a “Chancellor Ivery is thoughtful approach that a true transformational BLAC is housed in the in a community where gun violence does strategies to build on the great work already causes people to change leader and an outstand- Michigan Department of not dictate daily life,” said ATF Detroit Spe- being done,” she said. but also causes the sys- ing CEO, who is more Labor and Economic Op- cial Agent in Charge James Deir, describing Detroit also emphasized its partnership tems and circumstanc- than worthy ofsaid portunity. these ofgroups producedMembers reductionsrepin ATF’s focus on targeting “prolific shooters” with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health the CEO From page A-1 es they are operating the Year Awardhomicides resent many professional he just reand non-fatal shootings that out- and “crime-gun traffickers” through Crime Network, describing a training program ings to 77, a too,” 46 percent from the backgrounds, including in tofellchange Ivorydecline ceived, “ said Prof. pacedJames the reductions in areas without CVI Gun Intelligence and NIBIN-supported in- and a Crisis Intervention Team co-response year The city also reported sexual who law, Live public said. before. “Transformationprotocol. The city said the CIT responded to C. Mays, teaches coverage. It alsoeconomics, said the city added in vestigations. assaults decreased from 613 entrepreneurship to 529 (-14 Peace andand safety, health and wellal change doesn’t just “FBI Detroit values its strong partner- 2,859 runs in 2025, aimed at de-escalation Team Pursuit in June 2025 on the percent), auto theft dropped 8,331 chain to northeast ness, arts culture and ask people to do cer- from supply manageside, bringing theand total number of ship with DPD to Crush Violent Crime,” and preventing harm. 6,391 (-23 percent), robbery declined media. They leverage their said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in tain things; it asks and them ment at WCCCD’s CorpoCVI zones to seven. The question that follows, especially in from 1,209 to 953 view (-21 percent). experiences and expertise Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, citing a city where Black residents are the majorto change their of rateOfficials College. “In“Force his 27 Detroit along with our partners said overall violentand crime 10 percent to make recommenda- intelligence sharing and joint task force op- ity, is how those strategies are experienced what’s possible ex-fellyears at WCCCD, Ivery grateful are Dr. extremely to all individuals tions to thethe governor on and crime fell 10 percent. citesproperty them to drive that has elevated and WCCCD to on the ground: whether prevention funding communitycritical members who have been erations. issues affecting change because become nationally recogChief together Bettison framed the results as the On the county side, Evans pointed to the keeps expanding, whether mental health impacted by the cycle of violence,” said the Black community. they believe that whatacross nized for excellence and “Those product of collaboration enforceZoe Kennedy. who have decided not human stakes behind the percentage drops. co-response keeps growing, and whether they’reprosecution, doing willcourts, createandinnovation preparing ment, community andperpetuated To learn about violence, who’vemore decided not “We’re proud to be making even more “safety” continues to mean fewer funerals positive change for every- our students profession- BLAC and this upcoming prevention. to open fire around children, who’ve decid- progress than last year, because behind without creating new burdens for the same one. That’s how entire ally and personally do event, visit www.michi“These stats represent the commitment I ed not to to open fire around our elders, who every reduction is a family spared heart- neighborhoods that have carried Detroit great things the world.” gan.gov/BLAC. systems you change because promised all when I was first sworn in inhave decided not open fire on homes! Who break and a neighborhood that feels a little through its hardest years. as police chief, for continued dedication and have decided to resolve conflicts before they safer,” Evans said. “This doesn’t happen by Ebony can be reached at ecurry@michronconstant improvement by the Detroit Police escalated, who’ve decided to change the nar- accident. It’s the result of strong partner- icle.com. Department,” Bettison said. “As we embark rative.” ships and a shared commitment to never on this new year, with our new Mayor, I am The city also said Ceasefire Detroit will give up on our neighborhoods.” confident that the work done in the previ- implement a targeted approach focused on The city also highlighted the Fugitive ous year to decrease crime will continue and a specific “CVI zone,” described as a 4.5-mile Apprehension Service Team (FAST), a joint be even more effective with her support and area bounded by Puritan, Telegraph, School- unit with the Wayne County Sheriff, saying guidance. There is a saying that there is no craft and the Southfield Freeway. The city FAST apprehended 1,102 individuals with I in team; and this collaboration is the true said Ceasefire Detroit has provided violence outstanding felony warrants in 2025, priorrepresentation of teamwork.” prevention services since 2013. itizing those wanted for gun crime. The city’s version of “team” included Enforcement and prosecution were the Court processing was another theme. Wayne County officials such as Executive other major pillar highlighted. The city said the Wayne County 3rd CirWarren Evans, Prosecutor Kym Worthy, The city said U.S. Attorney Gorgon cuit Court reduced a backlog of felony gun and Sheriff Raphael Washington; federal cases by 3,000 and the 36th District Court partners including U.S. Attorney Jerome F. stepped up federal gun crime prosecutions reduced a felony gun case backlog by 1,900, in 2025 and embedded federal prosecutors Gorgon Jr. and agencies named as the DEA, restoring operations to pre-COVID levels. FBI, ATF, and Department of Homeland Se- in seven of the city’s precincts, while Prosecutor Worthy embedded eight county pros“Courts typically address crime but it curity; state partners including the Michiecutors across seven precincts. was my greatest honor in 2025 to join with gan State Police and Michigan Department “We know that ‘iron sharpens iron.’ And these dedicated partners not just to address of Corrections; court leadership including Get 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Edward Ewell our work with the Detroit Police proves it,” crime but to prevent it,” said Judge Patricia Jr., Judge Pat Fresard, and 36th District Gorgon said. “We have our folks in their Fresard, describing work on alternatives to Court Chief Judge William McConico; and precincts, and they have theirs in our office. violence and support for safety. The city tied its next steps to funding and the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Net- We are shoulder-to-shoulder. When one calls, the others answer.” structure. It said the state’s Public Safety work. The city listed enforcement totals con- Trust Fund will provide Detroit $10.6 milFor Black Detroiters, one of the most consequential parts of the city’s briefing nected to its gun-violence work with fed- lion for law enforcement and community Delivered Daily To Your Inbox! was not a list of agencies. It was the city eral partners: 6,235 guns recovered, 5,079 violence prevention, and the city said it placing community violence intervention in casings entered into the National Integrated plans to commit 25 percent of those funds Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN), ($2.6 million) to expand areas covered by the center of its public safety story. CVI groups. Sheffield said she will create a The city named seven ShotStoppers com- 2,932 investigative leads generated by new Office of Neighborhood & Community NIBIN, 593 search warrants served, 2,253 munity violence intervention groups: DeSafety within her first 100 days. troit Friends & Family, Force Detroit, New felony arrests, and 141 individuals charged “Prevention is the key, and my office Scan the QR Code to Sign Up Era Detroit, Detroit 300, People’s Communi- federally. for the Digital Daily Newsletter “Every family in Detroit deserves to live will be deeply involved in developing new ty, Live in Peace, and Team Pursuit. The city

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Michigan Chronicle

A3 | January 14-20, 2026

Lorenzo Sewell’s ‘Bloody Sunday’ Rhetoric is a Disgrace to Dr. King’s Legacy

Roots.

michiganchronicle.com

By Jeremy Allen EXECUTIVE EDITOR

As we approach another Martin Luther King Jr. Day – a time reserved for reflection on courage, sacrifice, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice – Detroit and the nation are confronted will be reflecting on some nonsensical statements made by a local pastor, too. Lorenzo Sewell made a national name for himself in 2024 when he invited then-presidential candidate Donald Trump to his Detroit church. He built on that infamous name recently during a visit to the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. when he equated the violent insurrection of January 6, 2021, with the Bloody Sunday march for voting rights in Selma. This comparison represents so much more than a political misstep. It’s truly a deeply troubling Lorenzo Sewell distortion of history and of the moral standards that Dr. King epitomized. In March 1965, a group of peaceful civil rights marchers, inclusive of Black Americans and their white allies, set out from Selma, Ala., to demand the most basic of democratic rights: the right to vote. On what became known as Bloody Sunday, state troopers and deputized vigilantes assaulted the unarmed marchers with billy clubs and tear gas as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, inflicting injuries on men, women, and children alike. The images that followed stirred the conscience of the nation and helped propel the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year. This was nonviolent protest in its most principled form, aimed at expanding freedom, not overturning the will of the people. Fast forward to January 6, 2021: a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in a brazen attempt to subvert the results of a free and fair election. They carried weapons, threatened elected officials, smashed windows, and claimed a form of righteous grievance for a coup attempt. There was nothing peaceful about it, nothing aimed at expanding rights, and nothing in the spirit of democratic inclusion. It was, simply put, an assault on democracy itself. And yet, in recent commentary and appearances, Pastor Sewell — senior pastor of Detroit’s 180 Church and a high-profile supporter of former president Donald Trump — has offered rhetoric that blurs this distinction. While Sewell’s political engagement is his right as a citizen and faith leader, his attempt to frame or justify the January 6 insurrection by invoking the moral weight of Selma’s Bloody Sunday is historically sloppy and morally offensive to the memory of those who bled for justice. The Bloody Sunday march was a beacon of selfless courage. People of conscience marched unarmed into danger because they believed in a higher law

See SEWELL Page A-4

James Tate Selected as Detroit Council President

By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER

Detroit City Council has a new leader after a vote in a special session Monday that illustrated the expected factions based on differences in political philosophies between members on the body. Former Detroit City Council president pro-tem James Tate of District 1 is now the president of the body after a 5-4 vote. District 3 council member Scott Benson was the runner-up. Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey presided over Detroit City Council’s special session today as it began the new year without a city council president. The president and president pro-tempore are selected to four-year terms by vote among members of the body. City council began selecting presidents by majority vote of the members in 2014. Council member at-large Mary Waters expressed disappointment Monday inside the City Council’s Erma Henderson Auditorium after she says she didn’t hear back from colleagues other than Benson on her aspirations to run again for council president. She did in 2021, receiving a vote from District 2 council member Angela Whitfield Calloway. “And I wanted to express my appreciation to you for reaching out and wanting me to assume this position, but also want you to know, they only have one vote, just mine, I couldn’t get another single vote for my run for president,” Waters said. Waters says she didn’t hear from James Tate, who is also running for president: “I’m not sure what that says, for partnerships and our ability to work in the future… we’re off to a bad start.” James Tate and Scott Benson were the two candidates who received votes. Benson says he’s not going to be a rubber stamp, acknowledges differences: “Today’s vote isn’t just about political leadership, It’s also about a blueprint for how I intend to lead this entire body by synthesizing our diverse views into a resilient,

strong, effective Council.” Tate said in a statement ahead of the vote that he’s always tried to be fair with his colleagues. “I’m asking for your support, not because I see this role as a prize, but because I see it as a responsibility to protect the unity and dignity of the body at a time when uncertainty still surrounds our city…” The votes went as follows: Renata Miller(D5): Benson; Gabriela Santiago-Romero(D6): Tate; Waters(at-large): Benson; Whitfield Calloway(D2): Benson; Benson (D3): Benson; Latisha Johnson(D4): Tate; Tate(D1): Tate; Young (at-large): Tate; Denzell McCampbell(D7): Tate. Shortly after the vote Monday, Coleman A. Young II was elected as Detroit City Council president pro-tem. Tate nominated Young to the position he held for the last four years. The breakdown in votes for president reflect the political difference between a more pro-business wing and the leftist, DSA/Working Families Party wing of the body. How these factions work together or not on certain proposals could affect the council’s ability to work with the newly elected mayor. New Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield won support from local business leaders after they initially backed her former city council colleague and former state Rep. Fred Durhal III. However, she has promised supporters the most inclusive and people centered leadership in the city’s history. Tate was one of several city council members who did not vocally back a candidate for mayor, but he did donate to Sheffield’s opponents’ campaign. The two worked together as president and president pro-tem from 2021-2025. Tate has served the body since 2013 when the city was working through emergency management amid the nation’s largest ever municipal bankruptcy. Before he joined council, he was a deputy chief at the Detroit Police Department. You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle.com.

Jane Fonda Joins Local Advocates Backing Wage Increase for Michigan Workers Labor advocates with a national group are bringing Jane Fonda to Detroit on Friday to oppose the law now in effect that advocates say hurts restaurant and service workers. Fonda spoke to Michigan workers and members of One Fair Wage Michigan for a “speakout” event Friday, Jan. 9 at Yum Village, an Afro-Caribbean restaurant in New Center. The press conference aims to draw attention to a ballot proposal seeking to restore the voter-approved minimum wage law that would set a $15 wage for workers, including tipped workers. Organizers say workers in attendance will share personal stories about how they’re being affected by rising costs. “If we want people to believe in democracy, we have to fight for policies that actually improve their lives,” Fonda said. “That starts with wages people can live on, and in Michigan it starts with saying no to Public Act 1 and passing a living wage for all workers, with no exceptions. More than 400,000 workers were promised a raise, only to have it taken away because politicians chose to side with big corporations and CEOs instead of working families.” A statewide petition effort called Voters to Stop Pay Cuts is gathering signatures to place repeal of Public Act 1 on the Novem-

ber 2026 ballot. The group needs approximately 230,000 signatures to appear on the ballot for voters either choose to approve or reject the legislation during the election in November 2026. Public Act 1 of 2025 made changes to the minimum and tipped wages ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2024 and preserved the tipped wage for

restaurant servers. One Fair Wage has long argued the Michigan Legislature should have laws go into effect without effectively gutting them pointing to the Michigan Supreme Court upholding 2018 voter-initiated laws to change the state’s minimum wage law. The passage of the legislation in 2025 saw Democratic governor Gretchen Whit-

mer and a number of Senate Democrats side with Republicans on the bipartisan effort to save tipped wages for restaurant servers and to slow future increases in the minimum wage. Progressive Democrats criticized some members of their own party for siding with Republicans at the time. Opponents of the wage increase argue small businesses and servers would be decimated by the removal of the tipped wage law. Pro-business advocates also opposed a proposed increase to the state’s paid leave laws. Community members expected to attend the event include restaurant workers and operators, director of One Fair Wage Michigan Tameka Ramsey, members of UNITE HERE Local 24, Fems for Dems, state Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit, and the president of One Fair Wage, Saru Jayaraman. “Public Act 1 is simple: CEOs win, Michigan residents lose billions,” Jayraman said in a statement. “At a time when families can’t afford to lose another dollar, this law forces workers and taxpayers to subsidize corporate profits. Michigan voters have been clear before, the courts have been clear, and now voters will have the chance again to say NO to a $6 billion CEO giveaway and demand a living wage for all — with tips on top.”

Page A-4 | January 14-20, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

Sewell From page A-3

“Generational Change Happening”:

Michigan Lawmakers Cross Paths at Sheffield Inauguration

Former and current elected leaders filled concourse at the Detroit Opera House Friday to celebrate the symbolic inauguration event for new Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield. “It’s a historic day for Detroit, historic day for Michigan,” U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin told Michigan Chronicle in an interview Friday at the Detroit Opera House. “People feel proud of what mayor Duggan accomplished, and they’re really excited about what Mayor Sheffield is going to do to take it to the next level.” Lawmakers in attendance expressed optimism when asked about their expectations for Sheffield’s tenure. Some pointed to the 77 percentage point victory over Triumph Church pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr., saying Sheffield has inspired excitement across the city. While Sheffield, city council members, Detroit police commissioners and the city clerk were already sworn in last month, the investiture event offered the public a chance to see the new administration take their oaths of office in person. Slotkin was one of many Michigan lawmakers that came to celebrate the city’s first woman mayor. “It’s about time,” state Sen. Mallory McMorrow told Michigan Chronicle. McMorrow’s Democratic primary challenger former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed also stopped for an interview with Michigan Chronicle. “She has an incredible knowledge of the city,” El-Sayed said. “She’s already gotten right to work; I loved the rollout of RXKids for Detroiters. It’s a program I helped bring to Wayne County.

F

That’s a change in leadership — that’s not a program we were able to rollout under previous leadership, previous leadership didn’t want to do it. To see this change and a focus on moms and babies... We understood that infant mortality was the key issue, and right within their first couple weeks, already rolling out programs that will help.” Read more: Rx Kids’ $4,500 Cash Benefit Could Be Life Altering for Expectant Detroit Moms Former Mayor Mike Duggan chose against running for reelection to a fourth term to run for governor, leaving the Democratic Party behind last year becoming an independent. Some at the investiture who came to support Sheffield said they don’t care Duggan left the Democratic Party. Brian Nelson, a resident and the executive director of Legacy Detroit Sunrise, a nonprofit that aims to shine light on Black Detroiters, told Michigan Chronicle he will be supporting Duggan in November. “I love Duggan, I’m supporting him,” Nelson said. “I’m supporting everybody in the city of Detroit. Duggan

was great but I’m excited to have a woman mayor. Let me tell you something; the first time I ever voted was for Obama. This is another monumental vote.” Sheffield credited Duggan on stage, thanking him for his 12 years as mayor. “To Mayor Mike Duggan remarkable leadership, service and progress, building confidence in Detroit’s future,” Sheffield said. Sitting in the front row during Sheffield’s remarks were Duggan, Secretary of State Jocleyn Benson and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who are all running for Michigan governor. Former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow also credited Sheffield for bringing the RxKids program to Detroit to support mothers and families. Once the program goes online in Detroit, eligible moms can receive $1,500 during pregnancy and receive $500 a month for babies until 6 months after birth. “I’ve been very involved with supporting the program that moms and babies that Dr. Mona set up,” Stabenow said. “To see the mayor embrace that as her first major initiative, to me, just says she is spot on in terms of what the community needs, and between her smarts and her heart, I think she’s going to do a great job.” Rx Kids, which launched in Flint in 2024, has already delivered $17 million in direct cash support to more than 3,900 families. Wayne County’s expansion, announced earlier this month, is backed by a $7.5 million investment from Wayne County and tied to a larger $250 million state commitment.

that said every American, regardless of race, deserved equal access to the ballot box. They did not gather to overturn an election or disenfranchise their neighbors; they were fighting for inclusion and equality, with the full understanding that nonviolence was itself a moral weapon against oppression. In stark contrast, the January 6 rioters sought to deny the expressed will of the electorate Their violence was purposive and aimed at intimidation. To equate these two events is to misunderstand, or even insult, the very nature of Dr. King’s philosophy and the ethical foundation of the civil rights movement. Dr. King taught that justice must be pursued through love, discipline, and truth. He believed that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” — not because justice is spontaneous, but because people of conscience work tirelessly for it. His commitment to nonviolence was not passive, yet it was strategically and spiritually grounded. To place morally ambiguous or outright harmful political actions on the same moral plane as the Selma march is to strip King’s legacy of its substance. Some defenders of Sewell may argue that pastors should not be censored for offering political perspectives. Of course not. Faith leaders have played vital roles in shaping civic dialogue throughout American history. But with this freedom comes responsibility. One cannot lightly appropriate sacred history to sanitize or legitimize political grievances that, in reality, undermine the democratic process. And the consequences of such comparisons ripple outward, diluting the lessons of history and cheap-

Knowing the urgent maternal warning signs can save lives

or expecting moms and new mothers, becoming a parent is supposed to be a joyful time. But it can also be a dangerous time if warning signs go unnoticed. In Michigan, eight out of 10 maternal deaths are preventable. If you’re feeling off, trust your instincts and follow up with a health care provider right away. There are 15 warning signs for pregnant and postpartum moms that could mean your body may be trying to tell you something. Acting fast on these symptoms could save your life—and your baby’s.

KNOW THE 15 URGENT MATERNAL WARNING SIGNS. ■ Overwhelming tiredness. ■ Persistent, severe or worsening headache. ■ Dizziness, fainting or vision changes. ■ Fever over 100.4°F. ■ Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. ■ Trouble breathing. ■ Chest pain. ■ High blood pressure. ■ Fast heart rate, feeling like your heart rate is irregular or racing. ■ Severe nausea – different than ‘morning sickness’. ■ Belly pain that is severe or won’t go away. ■ Baby’s movement slowing or stopping during pregnancy. ■ Vaginal bleeding or leaking fluid during pregnancy, or heavy vaginal bleeding after pregnancy. ■ Extreme swelling of your hands, face, arms or legs. ■ Swelling, redness or pain in legs.

ening the sacrifices of those who came before us. When we blur the distinction between a peaceful civil rights march and an attempted coup, we encourage a moral equivalence that diminishes both the lessons of the past and the integrity of our civic life. Detroit, in particular, knows the power of principled struggle. From the labor movement to civil rights activism, our city’s Black churches and pastors have often been at the forefront of justice movements. Yet there is a difference between speaking truth to power and using the pulpit to justify power’s excesses. A true spiritual leader does not cloak partisan ambition in the mantle of moral righteousness. Instead, they should hold all leaders accountable to the deeper principles of justice, compassion, and truth. As the Michigan Chronicle commemorates Dr. King’s life and legacy in this Jan. 14 edition, it is worth remembering that King’s fight was not for some abstract notion of progress, but for real transformation. That kind of transformation requires humility, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice for all. There is ample space in our public square for robust debate and even disagreement about contemporary political issues. But we dishonor Dr. King, and the martyrs of the civil rights movement, when we equate events like January 6 with the righteous struggle that galvanized a nation to confront its own injustice. To do is a betrayal of the very ideals that King lived, suffered, and died to uphold. In a time of increasing polarization, we need more honesty about history. Not less. We need leaders who can differentiate between moral courage and political convenience. And most of all, we need to ensure that the stories we invoke in service of our arguments are used with respect and not as rhetorical props to defend the indefensible.

If you notice any of these warning signs during pregnancy or in the year after delivery, don’t dismiss them. Reach out to your health care provider immediately. If they are not available, go to the nearest emergency room and make sure they know you’re pregnant or you have recently been pregnant. If you are having a medical emergency, dial 911. If you need help explaining to your health care provider why you are calling, seeking follow up or why you are concerned, here is some language that can guide the conversation.

EXAMPLES OF ADVOCACY LANGUAGE ■ I am very concerned and do not feel like I am being heard. What are my next steps or alternative options? ■ This is really different for me. I have never felt this way in my life. For my benefit and my family’s benefit I should be seen. ■ I understand that some of these symptoms may be normal for pregnancy or postpartum, but I am very concerned and need to be evaluated. ■ My doctor told me to call if I am experiencing X, Y, or Z. I am having X, Y, or Z. I would like to be seen. ■ I want to speak to someone else to make sure that I do not have a serious condition. Can you please refer me to someone who will help me? I am really worried.

FEELING OFF, FOLLOW UP. Your concerns and feelings are valid, be persistent in getting the answers or care you need. Remember, eight out of 10 maternal deaths are preventable in Michigan. Listen to your body. Trust your intuition. If you’re feeling off, follow up with a health care provider. Learn more at Michigan.gov/MIH.

A5 | January 14-20, 2026

Money.

michiganchronicle.com

Property is Power!

What Renting Is Quietly Stealing from Black Communities By Anthony O. Kellum CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For generations, renting has been framed to Black America as safe, flexible, and responsible. It is often presented as a neutral housing choice, sometimes even a smart one. But neutrality is a myth in an economy engineered around ownership. In a system that rewards assets, renting is not simply a lifestyle preference; it is an economic position with long-term consequences. What renting quietly steals from Black communities is not visible in any single month’s Anthony O. Kellum payment. The loss is cumulative, structural, and generational. It unfolds silently over time, compounding year after year. This is the invisible tax of non-ownership one of the most under-examined barriers to Black wealth in America. The First Theft: Opportunity Cost Every rent payment answers one fundamental question: who benefits from this transaction? When you rent, your monthly payment builds someone else’s equity. Reliability does not matter. Longevity does not matter. Education does not matter. Rent does not convert into ownership, leverage, or appreciation. The true cost is not merely the money spent it is the wealth never accumulated. There is no principal reduction. No appreciation. No tax advantage. No collateral. For many Black professionals, renting is rationalized as “waiting for the right time.” But waiting in an appreciating market is not neutral, it is expensive. Housing markets reward time in the asset, not perfect timing. The real loss is not what renters pay, but what they are never positioned to earn. The Second Theft: Lost Appreciation Real estate appreciation remains one of the most consistent wealth-building mechanisms in American history. It is imperfect, cyclical, and uneven but it is persistent. When communities do not own, they do not participate in rising values. Instead, appreciation flows outward to investors whose only relationship to the neighborhood is return on capital. As neighborhoods improve, renters experience displacement while owners experience equity growth. This dynamic fuels the illusion that gentrification itself is the root problem, when the deeper vulnerability lies in the absence of ownership. Gentrification rewards those who already own, displacement punishes those who do not. The Third Theft: Lost Leverage Ownership provides leverage that income alone cannot. It unlocks access to capital, business formation, educational opportunity, emergency liquidity, and longterm stability. Without assets, households remain dependent on income an unstable resource that is taxed, temporary, and vulnerable to disruption. Renters cannot borrow against rent history. They cannot refinance stability. They cannot leverage consistency. This lack of leverage leaves many Black households perpetually exposed one job loss, one illness, one economic issue away from instability, regardless of degrees earned or salaries achieved. The Final Theft: Lost Legacy Homeownership remains one of the primary vehicles through which families transfer wealth across generations. Not massive fortunes but momentum. When property is absent, children inherit responsibility instead of advantage. They inherit the obligation to restart, repeatedly. This is how inequality reproduces itself quietly not

See RENTING Page A-6

AG Nessel: GOP-led $645M Work Project Funding Cuts are Unconstitutional By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER

Massive cuts to state work projects championed by Republican House Speaker Matt Hall and appropriations chair Rep. Ann Bolin were unconstitutional, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in an opinion Wednesday. The request for a formal opinion over whether Republicans could legally halt $645 in state spending for work projects came from state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. The debate over the move from the Republican appropriations chair has enraged Democrats, who say the cut in funding is cruel and promised to introduce new legislation or sue Republicans. Nessel wrote that the law, or “disapproval mechanism” Bolin used to reject the funds from moving past the committee violates the separation of powers as stated in the state constitution. Nessel said the disapproval mechanism allowed a legislative committee to unilaterally terminate funding that was already appropriated by the Legislature and governor. “It is in my opinion, therefore, that the disapproval mechanism in MCL 18.1451a(3) amounts to a legislative committee veto that violates (sic) the Michigan Constitution, which requires the separation of powers among the three branches of government,” Nessel wrote. House Democrats held a press conference last month blasting Republicans for cuts they said were the result of Republicans putting party allegiance over an oath of office and the well being of residents. Minority floor leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, told reporters House Republicans were fine telling residents, “screw you,” due to their desire to appease Republicans in DC hellbent on cutting funding to social services.

Republican leaders in the House approved cuts to state agency work projects including $69.2 million from the state Department of Health and Human Services; $137.2 million cut from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; $192.2 million from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget; and $104.1 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund. Much of the money for work projects go toward schools and community organizations. “We’re talking about bipartisan passed, already agreed upon resources to uplift new moms and their babies at the most vulnerable stage of life, funds to provide services to kids with cancer, resources to improve school infrastructure, food pantry expansions, affordable housing projects, and much more,” Anthony said in a statement. “Time and time again, I’ve said: budgets are moral documents. Not only does this political maneuver by Matt Hall and his Republican colleagues lack any ounce of humanity; it’s also completely reckless, devoid of transparency, and a slap in the face to the people of Michigan, who deserve better than this.” Of the approximately $18 million in cut funds going to temporary assistance for families, $1.6 million was cut from for emergency declaration water funding, which was used in Flint, which is still feeling the effects of the its infamous lead water crisis. Hall told reporters the Flint Water Crisis was over. “It is just unfair, for everyone across the state, that he would do such a heinous thing,” Neeley said, the Michigan Advance reported. “Especially to children, and especially ones that have been suffering for the last 10 years.” Hall told reporters Wednesday he plans to sue to halt the funds from being spent. You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle.com.

What Detroit’s Business Community Wants from the New Administration By Mark S. Lee CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

The public had the opportunity to celebrate Mayor Sheffield last week as part of her public inauguration, followed by the Mayor’s Ball attended by city, community leaders, and residents. And as Detroit enters 2026 with a fresh chapter of leadership and possibility. With Mary Sheffield sworn in as the city’s 76th mayor — and the first woman to ever hold that office — Detroit’s business community is optimistic, eager, and thoughtful about what it wants to see from this new administration. Sheffield’s historic election wasn’t just symbolic; it reflected a strong mandate from Detroiters who want inclusive growth, more equitable opportunity, and a city government that works with business to move Detroit forward. Detroit’s business landscape has come a long way, built on the resilience of entrepreneurs, legacy employers, and neighborhood innovators. Yet business leaders know that momentum doesn’t happen by accident. What they want now is predictability, partnership,

and strategic policy that unlocks the city’s full economic potential across 139 square miles, ranging from downtown to the far reaches of every corner of this legendary city. What are key priorities for the business community? A Business Climate That Works for Everyone Generally, at the top of every CEO’s and small business owner’s list is a more efficient, modern, and welcoming business climate. For years, Detroit’s entrepreneurs have voiced concerns about permitting backlogs, regulatory friction, and difficulty navigating bureaucratic processes that can slow investment and expansion. That’s why business leaders believe streamlining regulations and clearing obstacles to growth — not as a one-off reform but as a cultural shift toward streamlined government-- is critical. This means digital permitting, clearer timelines, and a consistent regulatory approach so businesses can plan with confidence. Expanding Access-to-Capital Opportunities For many Detroit entrepreneurs — particularly small business owners, minority-owned

Mark S. Lee firms, and neighborhood startups — the biggest barrier isn’t vision or work ethic. It’s capital. Access to loans, lines of credit, and investment capital remains uneven, and too many promising businesses are stalled because they can’t secure the financing needed to stabilize or scale. The entrepreneurial business community is looking for a coordinated approach that brings banks, community development financial institutions, foundations, and private investors to the table.

The goal is simple: make capital more accessible, affordable, and transparent. That means expanding micro-loan programs, strengthening partnerships with local lenders, improving technical assistance so owners are “loanready,” and ensuring city procurement opens doors for small firms to build capacity. When capital flows into neighborhoods — not just downtown — entrepreneurs can hire, innovate, and create wealth that stays in Detroit. Workforce Development Linked to Opportunity Detroit’s growth story will rise or fall on the strength of its workforce. Investments into advanced manufacturing, mobility technology, health care, and the creative economy are only as good as the talent available to fill those jobs. The business community is seeking a focus on workforce development initiatives that align residents’ skills with real, good-paying jobs. This includes stronger partnerships between schools, community colleges, workforce training programs, and employers, ensuring that Detroiters can access the ladders of op-

portunity being built in their own city. Consistency and Predictability in Economic Policy Detroit business leaders are unified in one clear message: predictability matters. In a competitive global economy, companies make location decisions based on long-term certainty — in tax policy, incentive structures, and economic development frameworks. Businesses don’t like uncertainty, but stability and predictability. Predictability builds investor confidence and encourages both local entrepreneurs and global corporations to put down roots here. Strategic Infrastructure Investment Strong infrastructure is the foundation of a thriving economy. Business owners understand that progress isn’t just about gleaming towers downtown; it’s about transportation, digital access, reliable utilities, and vibrant neighborhoods citywide. Investments that improve transit options, bridge digital divides, and enhance neighborhood connectivity aren’t amenities — they

See NEW ADMINISTRATION Page A-6

Page A-6 | January 14-20, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

AI Revolution:

Disruption Today, Growth Tomorrow for Detroit’s Workforce Sponsored by JPMorganChase AI is not just a buzzword. It is a force already reshaping the city’s economic landscape. Much of the national conversation has centered on job disruption, and it is a valid concern. Earlier this year, several leading technology companies announced significant job cuts as they increased investment in AI capabilities. These dynamics raise the question: If AI can perform more tasks at lower cost, what does that mean for employment, consumer demand and the broader economy? Recent analysis from Jacob Manoukian, J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s U.S. Erik Merchant Head of Investment Strategy, provides important context. In his piece “Jobs in the AI Revolution: Disruption Today, Growth Tomorrow,” Manoukian argues that while AI will displace certain tasks, the broader pattern will likely mirror past technological shifts. Throughout history, from the steam engine to electricity to the mainframe computer, innovation has initially displaced workers, but ultimately expanded industries, created new roles and delivered powerful waves of productivity growth. His piece highlights that early adoption tends to create the impression of destruction, while the full economic cycle typically produces reinvention, new demand and broader opportunity. Our 2026 Global Investment Outlook echoes this theme. The AI investment boom already accounts for roughly 1% of U.S. GDP, and historical comparisons suggest that could double. AI is driving down the marginal cost of cognition, much as past technologies lowered the costs of transportation, power and information processing. When those costs fell, demand surged, new industries emerged and productivity growth accelerated. What Detroit Can Expect In cities across the U.S., the impact of AI is already visible across key sectors such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, energy and education. Hospitals and research centers are pioneering new diagnostic tools and supporting better clinical decisions. On the factory floor, smart automation is being adopted to improve

New Administration From page A-5 are economic catalysts that help talent and customers reach jobs, offices, and shops. The private sector and entrepreneurial communities are curious to see how the administration prioritizes this type of inclusive infrastructure development. Leveraging Neighborhood Innovation The mayor comes to office with a well-documented history of community engagement and neighborhood investment initiatives. Her decades of public service in Detroit show a deep commitment to equity and community voice. The business community wants to see the same localized, boots-on-the-ground approach leveraged to support neighborhood businesses and innovation hubs across Detroit’s many districts. They want policies that don’t just spotlight downtown, but that amplify economic activity and equity throughout the city. Collaboration Perhaps the most important thing­–

Renting From page A-5

through lack of effort or intelligence, but through the absence of assets. Legacy is not built on hard work alone. It is built on ownership sustained over time. Renting is often framed as “safe” because it limits responsibility. But it also limits upside. The greatest risk has never been buying property. The greatest risk has been remaining permanently outside the ownership class in a system designed to reward those who own. A Call to Conscious Awareness Who owns the neighborhoods we live in?

efficiency, enhance precision and streamline production processes in industries like pharmaceuticals, chemicals and food manufacturing. Financial institutions across the country are also exploring AI-driven ways to simplify operations and manage risk more effectively, while energy companies are leveraging data and machine-learning models to help optimize output and improve reliability. At the same time, leading universities are driving much of this innovation, helping to connect research, industry and talent. Early research suggests that many of these AI applications focus on augmentation rather than full automation, supporting workers in their roles instead of replacing them entirely. Humans still retain an advantage in areas such as common sense, emotional intelligence, dexterity and adaptive learning, which remain difficult for AI to replicate. The Road Ahead Historically, technological breakthroughs have reduced costs, expanded demand and driven long periods of productivity growth. AI is beginning to replicate this pattern by lowering the cost of expertise and enabling companies to accomplish more with fewer resources. As organizations reinvest AI-driven efficiencies into new capabilities, Detroit could see growth in new types of roles, businesses and services that do not yet exist today. For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described on 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. Detroit’s business community wants is a partnership built on listening and mutual respect. Business leaders are deeply committed to Detroit’s success. Businesses, irrespective of size, have invested capital, time, and talent in the city and having a seat at the table — real dialogue that brings business perspectives into strategy discussions shaping the future workforce, fiscal plans, and infrastructure investments-- is crucial to fostering trust and engagement and ultimately, more business investment. The mayor’s early actions — from community engagement events to broad leadership appointments — signal that she’s ready to govern with collaboration and ambition. The business community is ready, too. Together, there’s an opportunity not just to grow Detroit’s economy, but to ensure that prosperity touches every block, every family, and every entrepreneur in this great city. If you have story ideas, or questions, you can email Lee at mark@leegroupinnovation. com or visit leegroupinnovation.com.

Who benefits when property values rise? Who controls land, zoning, and development? Who passes wealth and who is forced to restart? This is not an argument against renting as strategic choice. Rather, it challenges the normalization of non-ownership as a permanent condition especially for a people whose exclusion from ownership was deliberate, systemic, and enforced. 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

HONORING THE MAN.

elebrating THE DREAM.

AAA is proud to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his involvement in the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom to bring peace, equality and inclusion for all.

23-DEI-0002

michiganchronicle.com | January 14-20, 2026 | Page A-7

Families multiply. Your internet price won’t.

You can’t predict how much your burrow will grow in 5 years, but you can count on your internet price staying locked in with the 5-Year Price Guarantee from Xfinity.

1-800-xfinity

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Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Select plans only. After 5 years, regular rates apply. Actual internet speeds vary and not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed, visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement. For complete details, visit xfinity.com/deals. All devices must be returned when service ends. © 2025 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA401362-0031

Page A-8 | January 14-20, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

A TRIBUTE TO REV. DR. KING AND THE WOMEN OF THE MOVEMENT.

Wayne State is proud to join the Detroit community as we honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the women of the movement — Betty Shabazz, Coretta Scott King and Myrlie Evers-Williams. Together, we’ll pay tribute to his life and legacy and recognize women who continue to fight for civil rights for all.

“Women of the Movement: Then and Now” A TRIBUTE TO REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Presented by

Dawn N. Ison, Esq. Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan

Dr. Keisha N. Blain — Keynote speaker Professor of Africana Studies and History Brown University

jessica Care moore City of Detroit Poet Laureate

Streaming at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at wayne.edu/live

City ity.. Life ife.. Style. Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

B1 | January 14-20, 2026

michiganchronicle.com

From Jail to Judge, From Screen to Stage: Judge Greg Mathis Brings His Life Story Home to Detroit

By Jeremy Allen EXECUTIVE EDITOR

When famed and critically acclaimed judge Greg Mathis steps onto the stage at Detroit’s historic Music Hall on January 16 and 17, it will represent the culmination of a life journey that many once believed would end behind prison walls. For more than 26 years, Mathis has been a familiar face to millions through his groundbreaking television courtroom show, becoming the longest-running African American host in television history. Yet the man Detroit knows as “Judge Mathis” says the upcoming stage production, Don’t Judge Me, reveals layers of his story that audiences have never fully seen – and, until now, he was not prepared to tell. “This is the first of its kind,” Mathis said. “It’s an interactive stage play that includes dancers, singing, and even screens that talk back and forth with the cast. It’s something folks have never seen before.” At its core, Don’t Judge Me is biographical play, tracing Mathis’ transformation from a troubled Detroit youth to the youngest judge in Michigan history. The production captures the pivotal 15-year stretch between Mathis’ time in jail and his ascent to the bench, revealing the obstacles, failures, and moments of divine intervention that reshaped his destiny.

Kendale L. Jones at Carr Center, Bridges Because of Them exhibit.

A Detroit Finance Pro Follows Curiosity into Black Art Stewardship

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

One of the most profound moments depicted in the play centers on a promise Mathis made to his mother on her deathbed – a vow that ultimately became the turning point in his life. “That deathbed promise changed my life,” he said. “Everything that came afterward — coming out of jail, having my law license withheld for two years, going before the Michigan Supreme Court — those were all pivotal moments.” Despite passing the bar exam, Mathis’ past nearly derailed his legal career. His teenage criminal record forced him to plead his case before the state’s highest court just to practice law. Winning his license was not just a legal victory, but a spiritual and emotional one — proof that redemption was possible, even in a system that often gives up on young Black men. The play also explores Mathis’ family life, including his 40-year marriage and the challenges of raising a family while building a career rooted in public service. But more than anything, Don’t Judge Me is designed as a roadmap, particularly for troubled youth and the parents trying to save them. “My mother worked two jobs, sometimes midnights, sometimes cleaning homes during the day,” Mathis recalled. “She left four boys alone in tough housing projects, but she force-fed us education and spirituality. Church twice a week. Homework every day. Dinner together. Prayer.”

See JUDGE GREG MATHIS Page B-2

Kendale Jones built a life around decisions you can measure. Finance. Strategy. Work built on composure, clean logic, and a steady voice. Then he put something on Woodward that refuses to be quantified—Black memory and Black power held in plain sight, impossible to shrink into a number no matter how hard you try. “Bridges Because of Them,” the exhibition Jones co-curated with Andre Reed Jr. at the Carr Center, brings together about 25 artists, work connected to about 26 collectors, and 62 pieces across three galleries. The show moves with intention— women and history first, then modern and contemporary voices toward the end— built to hold Detroit’s Black art lineage without shrinking it into a single era, a single style, or a single story. “This exhibition allows you to come in and find yourself,” Jones said. “As we walk through the exhibition, you will see things that resemble… your childhood… certain things in history that we learned about it in school and maybe help you understand some new ideas as well.” “Walking through this exhibition is really like an orchestra,” he said. “You have all these different pieces playing in concert with each other.” The show hits fast because it doesn’t demand fluency. A turn inside the gallery brings you face-to-face with a Judy Bowman piece that catches you like a familiar face—an older Black man rendered larger than life, looking outward with that steady Detroit kind of calm. People walk past, then come back. The pause gets longer. Somebody leans in like the paint

is talking. Stand there long enough and it stops being “a work on the wall” and becomes what it’s holding: Black memory in plain sight. Jones didn’t grow up inside this world and frankly, he doesn’t pretend he did. “Like I wasn’t exposed to art at all,” he said. Detroit still raised him in culture. This city hands you rhythm before it hands you rules. It teaches you how to see before it teaches you what to call what you’re seeing. Culture has never been scarce here—sound, style, story, survival. What’s been uneven is access to the formal “art world” and the playbook that sits behind it: who learns how to buy, how to price, how to keep, how to insure, how to pass down. People learn how to spend. Fewer learn how to turn spending into inheritance. Jones built his eye through the places Black Detroit has always built taste—film, music, and the visuals of Black life that don’t require permission to be real. “I watch a lot of movies from the 90s,” he said. “Spike Lee is my favorite director.” “Almost like how you like to pair your wine with food, right?” he said. “Music is my pairing to what I’m actually really into in terms of art.” He named Love Jones when he talked about poetry and Black interior life. He named Boomerang when he talked about aesthetics—Black professional imagery rendered with intention and self-possession. Those references didn’t hand him a museum map. They trained him to recognize care and story on sight, then trust what moved him before he had the vocabulary to explain it. “The moment I knew I fell in love with art is when I

See BLACK ART EXHIBITION Page B-2

Mary Sheffield’s White Suit By Aaron Foley EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Color has returned to the Detroit mayor’s office. And not just in the context you’re assuming. During Friday’s Investiture Ceremony, in which a full audience of spectators gathered at The Opera House to watch Detroit’s most recently elected officials publicly take oaths to serve, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield made a different statement in an all-ivory pantsuit that was difficult to not take notice of. Perhaps it was strategic, perhaps it was symbolic. With stage lighting against black curtains, most of those sitting before the crowd – city council members, police commissioners, and other speakers – almost blended right in, opting for neutral blacks, greys and navy blues, be it by choice or by required uniform. Sheffield in white tones stood out effortlessly, reflecting all the lights trained toward the stage and pulling the audience’s focus on her at all times, whether seated or standing. The brilliant crisp blazer and pleated slacks was a stark difference from nearly 20 years of men behind the mayoral seal shrouded in suits colored in the aforementioned blacks and greys, or sometimes tans and the occasional plaid or pinstripe. Twelve of those years belonged to now-former Mayor Mike Duggan, a former prosecu-

tor and University of Michigan alum who opted for a lot of interchangeable navy blue blazers – sometimes matching slacks, a lot of times not – that would be equally appropriate for a suite at The Big House, a courtroom trial, the porch of the Grand Hotel or a fellow politician’s fundraiser. For years, most of those in the higher ranks of Detroit office have made easy and safe sartorial choices, sacrificing bold personal expression for unassuming public appearance. Long-gone are the days when the late councilwoman Kay Everett would make motions in sailor hats, or calls to order would come from Kwame Kenyatta and JoAnn Watson decked out in traditional daishikis and boubous on an average Tuesday. But when it comes to mayors, excess flash and flair has come to be associated with a darker side of local politics. Before, during and after the scandals, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s wardrobe – tailored suits, diamond stud earrings, gold watches, hats galore, hats galore – brought nearly the same scrutiny as his actual dealings on and outside the eleventh floor of City Hall. The early moniker of “Detroit’s hip-hop mayor” was as much about his swag as it was his taste in music; the taxpayer money that funded that lifestyle forever tarnished that image. Future mayors would undoubtedly have to play it safe in the public eye to not raise too many questions, with the only ac-

ceptable splurge being a Shinola Runwell. But a lot has changed since Kilpatrick left office in 2008, particularly the conversation around women in politics and their own style selections. We’ve heard at length of First Lady Michelle Obama’s refusal to be pigeonholed as a meek, dowdy wife in the presidential shadows and how her personal wardrobe was instrumental in getting the public to take her seriously. We knew that during her time as Vice President, every look Kamala Harris presented was going to be rated as if she were the actual president.

Even here in the state of Michigan, we’ve observed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s almost overnight makeover after being tagged “that woman from Michigan” by the White House’s current occupant, trading in Meridian Mall’s finest off-the-rack selections for glowing, electric hues, an uptick in tougher materials like leather, and anything that would readily compliment a pair of buffs. Sheffield’s clothing choice for her public

See SHEFFIELD’S WHITE SUIT Page B-2

Page B-2 | January 14-20, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

Black Art exhibition

Judge Greg Mathis From page B-1

From page B-1

walked in front of a piece a few years back, a Judy Bowman piece specifically,” Jones said. “And I looked at it for maybe 10 or 15 minutes… I couldn’t articulate why I liked the piece, but it moved me in a way.” “Sometimes you may not have the sophistication to talk about the medium or the technique, but it actually stopped me,” he said. “One thing I love about art is it actually slows you down because I can sit there and consume something that doesn’t move,” he said. That slowing down matters for someone whose day job rewards speed and certainty. Strategy asks for answers. Finance asks for decisions. Art asked him to sit with feeling, to sit with history, to sit with the truth that Black life has always been documented—and too often controlled by somebody else. That’s where collecting stopped being about taste and started becoming about responsibility. “Maybe I should consider being a cultural steward and not just an art collector,” Jones said. “Because being an art collector, it is just collecting things. I think my mission is to make sure we own our culture.” The name of the exhibition came the same way the show did—through conversation, through trying to put language on something bigger than a single gallery run. Jones said he and Reed kept circling ideas, trying to find a title that honored the people who built the path without turning their legacy into a slogan. “We couldn’t figure out the name,” Jones said. He remembered the moment it clicked, it came from the elder who had been helping him understand the art world from the inside out. “Mr. Harper said, well, I’m trying to say bridges because of them,” Jones recalled. The phrase held what Jones and Reed were trying to make visible— artists whose hands kept working even when institutions didn’t look their way, collectors who protected the work in private when public validation lagged, and a Detroit lineage that made a show like this possible in the first place. It also held Jones’ own path: a man raised in culture who had to learn the architecture behind it. Jones is quick to give credit for how he learned the art world’s rules and language, and he points to Henry C. Harper. Harper is a fine art advisor and certified appraiser with 55 years in the art and antique business, a man who has advised families and built collections in Detroit long enough to see patterns repeat. “Building personal wealth is something I’ve done for 50 years and work for some of the most prominent families in all of Detroit,” Harper said. “I’ve been particularly happy working for African-American families, building African-American wealth because that’s something we don’t know anything about,” he said.

Henry C. Harper at Carr Center, Bridges Because of Them exhibit “We have to become culture keepers,” Harper said. “Keeping our own culture by buying our own art support and our own artists.” “We’re into Gucci, Louis Vuitton and all that stuff,” he said. “That stuff is not investment worthy.” In Detroit, that critique lands with complexity. Style here has never been shallow—style has been language and armor, artistry and defiance. Harper is naming a system that trains Black people to consume status while leaving the pathways to legacy behind a gate, then challenging Black Detroit to move differently with what we earn. “You don’t have to be into art to enjoy this exhibition,” Jones said. “If you’re into culture, if you’re into history even just aesthetics, you can find a place and a piece that resembles you.” The range is deliberate, built to carry multiple time periods at once without flattening Detroit’s Black art history into a single mood. “We wanted to go big and powerful and important,” Jones said. “We wanted to have a mixture of artists who represented certain time periods as well, all the way down to artists who are in their first year and you have some self-taught artists.” “It starts off with women, and it starts off with history,” he said. “And then as you go to the end of the exhibition, because there’s three galleries, you would see more of the modern and contemporary artists.” Detroit has needed that kind of bridge because the city’s Black artists have been producing, innovating, and shaping visual language for generations while fighting for consistent visibility and infrastructure. The record is not new. A key reference point sits in 1969, when Detroit Artists Market director Gloria Whelan asked Charles McGee to curate an all-Black exhibition because Black artists weren’t getting visibility in the city’s broader arts ecosystem. The show, “Seven Black Artists,” became a hinge point that helped lead to McGee opening Gallery 7—another Detroit bridge built by Black hands when the main road wasn’t built for us. Collecting has a Detroit lineage too.

The Detroit Institute of Arts’ exhibition “Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections” described a long regional history of private collectors collecting African American art, making collectors part of the story rather than treating them like a footnote. That context matters because it pushes back against the lazy myth that Black people don’t invest in art or don’t preserve. Black Detroit has been doing that work. The question has been how widely the knowledge and access get shared. Harper has been building one of those entry points through the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club, which meets on Mondays at the Marygrove Conservancy. The business of art becomes less mysterious when the language is shared out loud in community, when the questions get asked without shame, when people who are still learning sit next to people who have been doing this for decades. “What’s going on right now in the political systems, it’s important for us to be able to tell stories as they are silencing voices,” Jones said. “Art has always been political and they can’t take a painting off your wall, right? They can’t stop you from displaying the work that has a message.” Detroit knows how quickly narratives get rewritten when power shifts. It knows how often Black history gets reduced, distorted, packaged, or erased. A piece on your wall becomes something else under that pressure— proof, testimony, a record you control. That’s what makes Jones’ arc feel less like a personal reinvention story and more like a lesson about what curiosity can become when it meets an elder with a blueprint. He built stability in the safest lanes available, then let himself be pulled by something that demanded more of him. The “Bridges Because of Them” exhibit is the visible outcome: a public room where Black Detroit can stand in front of its own record, recognize itself across generations, and leave with a clearer sense of what it means to keep what we create. Ebony can be reached at ecurry@ michronicle.com.

Despite her tireless efforts, the destructive environment surrounding the family eventually overwhelmed her influence. Mathis and his brothers became entangled in street life and the play confronts these realities head-on. Audiences will witness scenes Mathis has rarely discussed publicly, including armed robberies and shootings he was involved in as a young man. It is a level of honesty he once avoided out of fear that the truth might alienate viewers. “I’ve been hesitant to get that explicit because it’s rough,” he admitted. “But I’m approaching retirement. If people stop watching now, it won’t matter. They need to see how real it was — how close I was to life in prison.” That brutal honesty, Mathis believes, is necessary to show young people that transformation is not theoretical and that it’s earned through struggle, discipline, and faith. “We’re showing mothers how to overcome the circumstances they live in,” he said. “You don’t have to be defeated by poverty, substandard education, drugs, and crime. You can overcome it.” Though Mathis never intended to make his past a public narrative, it became impossible to avoid when he ran for judge. Media outlets unearthed his background expecting scandal. Instead, the story resonated nationwide. “A former gang member in Detroit becomes the youngest judge in Michigan history,” Mathis said. “Hollywood came calling.” Producers initially proposed movies, but Mathis saw greater potential in television. Ultimately, his decision to go to TV over movies led to a 26-year run and a cultural legacy that reshaped how America viewed courtroom justice. Now, he is bringing that legacy back home in a new medium. Originally inspired by Mike Tyson’s one-man stage show, Mathis considered telling his story solo. But he quickly realized that his audience, particularly Detroit audiences, expect more. “My audience likes to be entertained, not just informed,” he said. “So we went to work on a full stage production.” Detroit, he added, naturally lends itself to that kind of storytelling. “It’s a colorful life, and we’re colorful people,” Mathis said with a laugh. Beyond the stage, Mathis remains deeply engaged in Detroit’s civic and political life. His visible support of Mayor Mary Sheffield’s campaign is rooted not in ambition, but in trust and history. Mathis has known Sheffield since childhood and worked for her grandfather, the late Coleman A. Young ally Horace Sheffield Jr. “I’ve held her as a baby,” he said. “She’s been a partner in the revitalization of this city. She knows every crook and cranny of city government.” Though he is often urged to run for office himself – in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles alike – Mathis says his purpose lies elsewhere. “God has given me this national platform to spread hope and inspiration,” he said. “Local politics is something I engage in to help others, not to benefit myself.” As he looks toward retirement, Mathis’ vision remains focused on community transformation. Through the Mathis Community Center in Detroit and future projects across the country, he plans to expand affordable housing paired with wraparound services, which echo the redevelopment of Herman Gardens, the housing project where he grew up. “Providing housing and community centers together, that’s the next objective,” he said. At its heart, Don’t Judge Me is about legacy. The live performances will be recorded for streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, and other outlets, ensuring future generations can learn from Mathis’ journey long after the curtain falls. “This is something we want to leave behind,” he said. “So people can follow the roadmap.” For Detroit – a city that shaped him, tested him, and ultimately celebrated him – Judge Mathis’ stage debut is a homecoming, a testimony, and a challenge to never count anyone out too soon. Judge Greg Mathis’ stage play “Don’t Judge Me” runs January 16–17 at the Music Hall in Detroit. For tickets, visit MusicHall.org.

History in a Box: The Shoebox Legacy

Until 1965, Jim Crow laws made travel extremely difficult and dangerous for Black Americans in the south. convey. The mood and skies of refused service Blacks were Sheffield’s White Suit couldn’t the city were at its darkest when former Mayor Dave Bing declared us bankrupt; so, From page B-1 insuitrestaurants, rest areas and too, was every on his hanger in those coronation could set the tone of what the days. White, in Sheffield’s case, could mean next four years will, pun intended, look better days – Friday History Box: The Shoebox Legacy was a balmy 56 degrees public transportation suchin aas like. It’s tricky to explore the intersection of in January, after all – could finally be here fashion and politics without it coming off to stay. Until 1965, Jim Crow laws on buses and trains. as trivial or reductive, but that’s only if one History in a Box: The Shoebox Legacy History in a Box: The Shoebox Legacy And then you think of where else you’ve lets their words allow it to happen. So no, History in a Box: The Shoebox Legacy made travel extremely seen visions of Black women in hues of this won’t be about whether Sheffield looks white, and what are toldUntil with such In stories order to nourish themselves ones while tra 1965, Jim1965, Crow laws History in a Box: The Shoeboxloved Legacy Until Jim Crow difficult and dangerous forand “mayoral” or whatever, nor will it delve into imagery. Cotillion balls – another form of1965, Jim Crow laws Until crude commentary on how women should coronation. Divine Nine sororitymade boules and travel extremely laws made travel Black Americans in the Until 1965, Jim Crow laws Until 1965, Jim Crow lawssouth. and shouldn’t clothe the bodies that belong in south, other formals. Juliethe Dash’s film “Daughters women prepared meals packed in old to them. But this ivory suit, accented with a extremely difficult travel extremely difficult dangerous for made travel extremely of the Dust,” and the frequent made homages paid and Blacks were refused service simple white gold necklace and earrings, is made travel extremely since its 1991 debut. Remember Solange shoeboxes. and dangerous for difficult and dangerous for and worthy of conversation. Black Americans in the south. inand restaurants, rest areas Knowles’ wedding photos thatdifficult went viral a dangerous for of commemorating th Black Americans in The color white symbolizes many things, few years back? Or how about Olivia Pope’s As a way Black Americans in thesuch south. Blacks were refused service public transportation as difficult and dangerous for some or all of which Sheffield could be take-no-prisoners power suits and trench the south. Blacks were Blacks were refused service trying to telegraph. In the Christian church, coats? Black Americans in the south. in restaurants, restand areas and on buses trains. white symbolizes purity, holiness and a derefused service inresolve in restaurants, rest areas and and resourcefulness o At the ceremony, there were more unBlack Americans in the south. votion to God, and Sheffield did remind the public such as In ordertransportation to nourish themselves and loved ones while usual colors in unexpected places. Attend-transportation Blacks were refused service restaurants, rest areas andas public transportation such as travelin public such crowd at the Opera House that she is indeed ees were offered free 18x22-in. posters from travelers during segregated tim on buses trains. inand the south, mealsthemselves packed inand old a preacher’s daughter. It’s the same color were refused service on buses and trains. Inprepared order to nourish on buses andwomen trains. Rise Higher Detroit,Blacks the transition arm of that brides wear at the altar, something in restaurants, resttraveling areas and Sheffield’s administration, with right to Inherorder nourish and ones while traveling shoeboxes. In order tothemselves nourish themselves and loved ones while traveling loved ones while in loved the south, women prepared that also came to mind as Detroit’s newlycreated a modern-day lunch palm photographed in facingrestaurants, outward overlayrest areas and As a way of commemorating the sh wed-in-chief also thanked her husband for in the south, women prepared meals packed in old meals packed in old shoeboxes. in the south, women prepared meals packed in old ing the oath of office in whitepublic cursive text transportation such as and resourcefulness of blac his support. White can also symbolize peace across gradient shades of fuchsia and indigo resolve shoeboxes. and harmony, and a much-touted stat last adorned with inspirational stor AsAs aas way of of commemorating the transportation such – think something public of a fancyshoeboxes. Instagram a way commemorating the year was that during Sheffield’s time as city on buses and trains. As a resolve waytravelers ofand commemorating the message exchange in your inbox. A few during segregated times, w resourcefulness ofof black council president, rarely did Detroit’s legresolve and resourcefulness black years back, the City of Detroit unilaterally trailblazing Americans. islative branch squabble with its executive buses trains. resolve and resourcefulness oftimes, black travelers during segregated created a modern-day lunch shoebo decided to print all on materials from order govern- and In to nourish themselves and loved ones w travelers during segregated times, we one – the kind of balance most on both sides ment offices in shades of “Spirit Green,” the we created a modern-day lunch can agree should continue with this new adtravelers during segregated times, we adorned withloved inspirational stories of If you’re planning an event forcreated youraand company, commun color of the Spirit of Detroit statue; Shefmodern-day lunchones shoebox In order to nourish themselves whil ministration. in meals packed in o field injecting this pop of color wasthe a small south, women prepared shoebox adorned with inspirational createdadorned atrailblazing modern-day lunch shoebox Americans. with inspirational stories of More importantly, white signifies clean but welcome refresh. stories of trailblazing Americans. or in classroom, our shoeboxes make thecompany, perfect lunch a slates, fresh starts and new beginnings, south, women prepared meals packed Immediately after thethe festivities and a shoeboxes. trailblazing Americans. adorned with stories ofin old If you’re planning an event forinspirational your community which was certainly the theme of the day brief scrum with local media, the lady in If you’re an event event for for your company, community as it was rightfully noted over and over you’re planning planning an your community As a company, way commemora white and her entourage toured the city, may orIf classroom, our shoeboxes make the of perfect and trailblazing Americans. learn. Boxes also be purchased without alunch meal. shoeboxes. and over that Sheffield is the first woman or classroom, our shoeboxes make the perfect lunch stopping at Pershing High School, a local or classroom, our shoeboxes make the perfect lunch and mayor of Detroit, and that promises made If you’re an event forAs your company, community apurchased waywithout of commemorati learn. Boxes may also bebe without meal. soup kitchen, and elsewhere, radiating and planning resolve and resourcefuln and learn. Boxes purchased without aameal. during her campaign were going to start learn. Boxes maymay alsoalso be to purchased a meal. Please 248.208.1680 order your History in a reflecting light at every stop. contact But listen, coming down the pike immediately. (A text our shoeboxes make the perfect lunch and Please contact 248.208.1680 to order your History in a nobody walks around a city or that classroom, prides Please contact 248.208.1680 to order your History in a Please contact 248.208.1680 to order your History in a to this editor from John Roach, Sheffield’s resolve and resourcefulne itself on pizza and coneys in an outfit like travelers during segrega press secretary, indicates that neighborhood Box today! learn. Boxes may also be purchased without a meal. Box today! this withoutBox knowing today! the risks. Maybe Box today! development and the leadership behind it, is that’s one more thing Sheffield wants us 29852 Northwestern Hwy. at the top of the mayor’s to-do list.) 29852 Northwestern Hwy. Please contact 248.208.1680 to order your during History in segregate a travelers created a modern-day lu to know: She’s not afraid of the soot, soil Northwestern 29852 Hwy. Southfield, MIMI 48034 Southfield, 48034 No one could ever declare Detroit is fully and stains. The perpetual job of cleaning up 29852 Northwestern Hwy. today! 248.208.1680 revitalized, and Sheffield’s approval would this city means it’ll always be at Box 248.208.1680 leastSouthfield, a little MI beanscornbread.com 48034 created a modern-day lunc adorned with inspiration Southfield, MI 48034 immediately tank if she even so much as dirty, and Sheffield isn’t scared to wear her beanscornbread.com 29852 Northwestern Hwy. 248.208.1680 thinks about saying such a thing out loud. Sunday best to get it done. Southfield, 248.208.1680 MI 48034 But the energy reverberating from this reAaron Foley is editor-at-large beanscornbread.com of the trailblazing Americans. adorned with inspirational 248.208.1680 newed color palette reflects where the city beanscornbread.com Michigan Chronicle. Reach him at afoley@ is in a way that previous mayors simply michronicle.com. If you’rebeanscornbread.com planning an event for your company, co trailblazing Americans. or classroom, shoeboxes make the perfect lu cols xfor8 your inches If you’re planning our an3event company, comm

michiganchronicle.com | January 14-20, 2026 | Page B-3

A Q&A with Dr. Keisha N. Blain, Keynote for WSU’s Annual MLK Tribute

distortions and to show how Black women’s As the nation prepares to shine a spotlight political engagement, though unconventional, on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther was central to both national and global strugKing, Jr. as part of the annual celebrations of gles for justice. the civil rights leader’s birthday, Brown University historian and Africana Studies profesDetroit has a deep history of Black women sor Dr. Keisha N. Blain is ready to peer into leading struggles for labor rights, housing and the shadows. education. How does that legacy intersect with the national Civil Rights Movement? While many celebrations will rightly center on King’s life and work, Blain — who Blain: Detroit was a critical site of Black will give the keynote address at Wayne State political organizing in the early twentieth University’s Martin Luther King Day Tribute century. During the Great Depression, Black on Jan. 16 — will turn her attention to the women in the city developed survival strategies that emphasized economic self-sufficiency countless women who toiled largely in obscuand community empowerment. One example rity and behind the scenes to make the Civil is the Housewives’ League of Detroit, founded Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s a suc- Dr. Keisha N. Blain in 1930, which mobilized thousands of women cess. Blain’s keynote will be in keeping with this year’s theme for the annual MLK celebration, “Women of to support Black-owned businesses and employers who hired Black workers. the Movement: Then and Now.” I’ve also researched lesser-known organizers like Pearl Ahead of her appearance on campus, Blain took time to reflect on the importance of broadening our collective memory Sherrod, whose activism helped shape political movements of the Civil Rights Movement, the legacy of Black women ac- in the city. These women laid the intellectual and organizativists in Detroit and what today’s movements can learn from tional groundwork for the civil rights and Black Power movements that emerged nationally decades later. Detroit’s legacy figures like Fannie Lou Hamer. When people think of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King reminds us that local activism often fuels national transforis often centered. Why is it essential, especially today, to fore- mation. How can universities like Wayne State honor the contribuground the women who organized, strategized and sustained tions of women in social justice movements beyond commemthe movement? orative events like MLK Day? Dr. Keisha N. Blain: We need to expand the scope of how Blain: Higher education is at a precarious moment. Efforts we envision the Civil Rights Movement because highlighting to advance social justice are increasingly targeted for erasure only one leader distorts our understanding of history. Mainand backlash. Honoring the legacy of women activists requires stream accounts tend to elevate Dr. King and other men, and more than symbolic recognition — it requires protecting the while their contributions were important, no movement sucpeople and principles those women fought for. ceeds because of one individual — no matter how influential. Universities must recognize their collective power to push Social movements are successful when a diverse group of back against rollbacks of civil rights protections, whether people contribute in different ways. The Civil rights Movethrough attacks on faculty, funding cuts or the dismantling of ment would not have achieved what it did without countless affirmative action. Honoring past sacrifices means defending activists working at every level. Fannie Lou Hamer is a pow- inclusive spaces for learning today. erful example. She was a Black woman sharecropper with In what ways do you see the influence of women from the limited formal education and resources, yet her passion for 1950s and 1960s in today’s movements for racial, gender and justice led her to join the Student Nonviolent Coordinating economic justice? Committee, which embraced group-centered leadership inBlain: The women of the Civil Rights Movement underspired by Ella Baker. stood that democracy in the United States was — and reHamer’s work — from grassroots organizing to her unformains — incomplete. While there have been significant gains, gettable 1964 speech at the Democratic National Convention racism and white supremacy persist. We can see a direct line — helped pave the way for the Voting Rights Act. Expanding from the Civil Rights Movement to today’s struggles, especialour understanding to include people like her offers a far more ly around voting rights. accurate picture of how movements are built and sustained. At the grassroots level, leaders such as Stacey Abrams, Many women of the movement worked behind the scenes LaTosha Brown and Aimee Allison are continuing the fight rather than at podiums. How did that invisibility shape both against voter suppression and building on the foundations the success of the movement and the way history has remem- laid by earlier generations. Their work reflects the enduring bered it? influence of women who never accepted partial freedom as Blain: Black women have long occupied a uniquely mar- enough. ginalized space, experiencing racism, sexism and classism As we commemorate Dr. King’s legacy through the lens of simultaneously. For much of the nineteenth and twentieth “Women of the Movement,” is there a figure you wish more centuries, they were excluded from formal halls of power people truly understood? dominated by white men. Yet, even without institutional Blain: Fannie Lou Hamer remains deeply instructive for our backing, Black women found ways to advance their political current moment. Her life demonstrates the power of moral agendas through creative, pragmatic collaborations. conviction and truth-telling. There were few indicators that They relied on alternative spaces — churches, sororities, she would rise to national prominence, yet she transformed Black women’s clubs — to organize and assert influence. Be- American politics by organizing at the grassroots level. cause this work often took place outside traditional political Her declaration “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free” caparenas, it has frequently been sidelined or erased in main- tures a vision of justice rooted in empathy and collective liberstream historical narratives. ation. Those five words still offer a roadmap for the ongoing My scholarship is part of a broader effort to correct these struggle for civil and human rights.

Wright Museum, Detroit Historical Society honor MLK Day with events By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER

Museums in Detroit will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with themed celebrations taking place throughout the day, Monday, Jan. 19. The Detroit Historical Society is hosting its annual celebration. This year, the event, A Dream Rooted in Faith: The Legacy of the Black Church in Detroit During the Civil Rights Movement will highlight just that. Throughout the day at the museum, families can enjoy hands-on arts and crafts activities inspired by community, justice and faith. The program also features an engaging presentation on Dr. King’s name change and his influential spiritual leadership at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The program will offer insight into the foundations of King’s work. The celebration ends with the Detroit Historical Society’s annual tradition of singing Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” in honor of King and sharing mini cupcakes with attendees. Doors open at 10am. The Charles H. Wright Museum has programming from 8am to 6pm taking place on its campus. The theme of this year’s MLK Day at The Wright, “We Who Believe in Freedom” explores and honors King’s commitment to justice, equality, and peace. The day features a series of ticketed and free events that provide activities for every age. “As we commemorate Dr. King’s contributions, we’ll embrace our shared responsibility to promote justice and equality and reaffirm our collective commitment to carrying forward his legacy,” the museum said. There will be conversations activists and community leaders before film screenings, prayer breakfasts and more. A conversation moderated by Outlier Media executive editor Orlando Bailey will take place at 9:50am between Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz and Ambassador Attallah Shabazz, Daughters of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. Neil A. Barclay, the president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum, is hosting the event. A musical performance is scheduled for the morning by Carla-Rivers-Johnson. Doors open at 7:00 a.m.

Ask about

LEAD TESTING for your child.

All children can be exposed to lead. All children should be tested for lead at ages 1 and 2, and by age 6. Children should also be tested at other ages if they are at high risk of lead exposure. Lead exposure can happen when children: • Crawl or play in dust or soil that contains lead particles. • Put their hands, toys, or other objects in their mouths after touching lead dust. • Drink water from lead pipes or plumbing fixtures. • Eat lead-contaminated food or spices.

• Breathe in or swallow lead dust in homes built before 1978. • Chew windowsills or other items with lead-based paint or coatings. • Come into contact with lead from a parent’s job or hobby that involves lead.

Talk to your doctor about blood lead testing for your child.

Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe

Page B-4 | January 14-20, 2026 | michiganchronicle.com

Why I Came Back to the Michigan Chronicle By Aaron Foley EDITOR-AT-LARGE

There are some phone numbers you just don’t forget, and 963–5522 is one of them. For a significant part of my pre-smartphone, pre-multiple-area-codes childhood, I knew that if I were ever away from my mother, there were two numbers where she could be reached: Our home landline, and the aforementioned one, which was the front desk line for this newspaper when it was located at 479 Ledyard St. There are addresses you don’t forget either, because I spent a good chunk of time over there on Ledyard Street as well. You see, my mother was a reporter and editor at the Michigan Chronicle for many years, and as a single parent, she often brought me into the newsroom after school while she wrapped up her weekly duties of making sure the paper got out to readers each Thursday. I’d sit and watch as the late editor and publisher Sam Logan called the shots from his tufted leather chair and massive, darkAaron Foley brown desk. Entertainment editor Steve Holsey made sure the celebrities who’d stop by the office would autograph 8x10 photographs for me. I met young reporters like Ken Coleman and Greg Dunmore who’d later become local legends in their own right decades later. And I watched my mother do it all: Call sources looking for confirmation on this, that or the other, prioritize which stories go on the front page and which ones would go elsewhere, and reinforce the Chronicle’s stature as the leading news source catering directly to Black readers. I didn’t understand the gravitas of the Black press when I was younger. And it almost seemed redundant that in a city that, at the time, had roughly a million Black people in it (and that’s before you get to the suburbs, and the many Black populations across the state of Michigan), that there would be a publication solely for us. It wasn’t until I pursued my own journalism career that I recognized why journalism printed from a Black point-of-view carried the weight that it does. I’ve been a journalist for more than 20 years, mostly in Detroit, but for the last five years in New York City. I admittedly faced a crossroads during my fifth year in New York: A part of me wanted to stay in Brooklyn, where I’d made a home, for a little longer. A part of me wanted to move overseas and expatriate. And there was always a nagging part of me that said I was going to return to Detroit someday. I went behind door No. 3 when I got the call to come back home from the Chronicle – an offer I never expected, but could not have come at a more opportune time. We’re at a time where Detroit’s local media needs as much Black representation in it as it can hold, and then some. No publication is as robust as it was when my mother and her generation populated Detroit newsrooms back when I was a child. But that doesn’t mean that we stop trying to tell vital stories about our communities. And there’s no more publication vital to Black Detroiters than this newspaper. A lot of things have changed since I’ve been gone. Detroit voters have recently returned the mayor’s office to Black leadership, there are suburbs with more Black residents than ever before, and new generations of Black business owners are thriving. At the same time, we can’t ignore persistent issues like unemployment, health risks and poverty among Blacks anywhere, and new issues – like, for example, ICE raids that just as much impact folks from African and Caribbean countries as it does any other – affecting our communities are revealing themselves at a far more frequent pace. I see an opportunity for the Chronicle to dive into these issues, and continue providing the necessary information to its readers as it has always done. It’s not going to be all grand openings and closings, though. On my first day here in the newsroom, I pored through the Chronicle’s archives and found so much of my family’s story told throughout the decades. One example: My great-aunt Joyce Lewis was a society woman and renowned fashion designer, holding both court and couture at her home in Conant Gardens and styling the “Joyce Lewis Models” which were regularly featured in the Chronicle on a near-weekly basis for a time. You might see me bragging on one of my relatives getting their name in the paper, but I see the Chronicle having covered Detroit’s earliest Black fashion industries. What other firsts have the Chronicle highlighted in a way our mainstream peers could not have, and how can we continue this tradition today? And what do we make of the mass spread of misinformation perpetuated by forms of artificial intelligence, or just outright bad actors, that disproportionately affect Black communities? I think there is space for the Chronicle to be an important source of truth in an era where facts are increasingly harder come by, and how we deliver that truth – be it through this paper, but also our digital platforms – is something else I’m excited to explore. I said at the beginning of this column that there are numbers that are hard to forget. Here’s one I’d like you to remember: Ninety. That’s the number of years that the Chronicle has been in publication as of this year. That’s 90 years of this publication standing by your side and making sure your voice is heard. Ninety years of consecutive Black ownership in Detroit. That’s 90 years of history that informs our present and future, and 90 years of a standard set by the many, many journalists that came before me. (Yes, you too, Mom.) I’m so happy to be back home and to get reacquainted with Detroiters in this capacity, but I’m also counting on you to let me know what kinds of things we should be covering at the Chronicle that continue to meet that 90-year-standard – or, what kinds of things have we missed in the last nine decades (hey, you never know!) that we should be talking more about. Please feel free to drop me a line at afoley@ michronicle.com to let me know either way.

Detroit City Council Members Take on New Committee Assignments By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER

The chairs of Detroit City Council’s standing committee assignments have been appointed by new council president James Tate. Detroit City Council standing committee meet regularly to serve as a vehicle through which the council passes new laws and ordinances. The council president appoints the chair of each committee and its members to four year terms. Here’s a look at who will lead each committee: Budget, finance and audit committee Denzel McCampbell on Election Day outside Cody High School. Photos: Samuel Robinson Denzel McCampbell is the new chair of perhaps the most impactful committee, which is tasked with moving policy related to taxes and city revenues. McCampbell’s first resolution Tuesday requested a report on how long ARPA funding can support various programs and services and whether general fund dollars can be used to sustain them once the pandemic relief money runs out. Joining him on the committee is council member Latisha Johnson (D4), who will serve as vice chair, and at-large member Mary Waters. Public health and safety committee Gabriela Santiago-Romero (D6) is the chair of the public health and safety standing committee. The body is responsible for everything from the airports, responding to public infrastructure issues, environmental quality, water shut offs, traffic and parking issues, plus police and homeland security. McCampbell is the vice chair and Waters is the third member of the committee. Santiago-Romero is known for responding to ramped up immigration enforcement in her district that covers Southwest Detroit, where the highest number of undocumented residents live. She has also focused on quality-of-life issues, such as what’s happening with longtime senior tenants at the Leland House. Santiago-Romero on Tuesday gave the public on update saying Leland House residents currently living in

hotels paid for by the city will have an extension. There’s a hearing over the issues at the historic downtown building Jan. 12, an attorney for the city said. Internal operations committee Council member Angela Whitfield Calloway is the chair of the internal operations standing committee. The committee is expected to review lawsuit settlements and request representation to city employees facing litigation. body also deals with matters related to the city clerk, the mayor’s office, the 36th District Court, human resources, the board of ethics, the pension and retirement system, the Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority and more. Council member Scott Benson (D3) is the vice chair and member Renata Miller (D5) is the committee’s third member. Neighborhood and community services committee Council president pro-tem Coleman Young II is the chair of the neighborhood and community services committee. This body is referred all matters related to parks and recreation, youth and senior citizens, historic issues, municipal parking, museums, zoological society, homelessness issues, Eastern Market and more. Rules committee Waters is assigned to serve as chair

COMMUNITY VOICES

Do You Know Lady Bird? By Jehan Crump-Gibson Series: Matters of Life and Death While everyone needs an estate plan, that does not mean everyone’s plan will look the same. Your estate plan is very personal. What makes it different from your neighbor’s or a good friend’s is your unique financial situation, wishes, and family. Every plan does not require a thick binder filled with hundreds of pages of documents. In some cases, the main asset to protect is the home someone is living in. Let’s say we have Betty. Betty is eighty years old with one daughter, who is in her fifties. She owns her modest home, which has been paid off for decades. She does not own expensive jewelry, clothing, art or anything high in monetary Jehan Crump-Gibson value. She has a checking account where her social security and small pension are deposited every month. Most of that income is spent on groceries, copays, utilities, property taxes and insurance on the home. Lastly, Betty has a burial policy. She paid for a burial plot years ago at one of the cemeteries. Her intention is for her house and whatever is left in her bank account to go to her only daughter. For Betty, it does not make much sense to draw up complicated estate planning documents. Instead, Betty should make sure that her daughter is named as a beneficiary or the transfer-on-death (TOD) designation on her bank account and the beneficiary on her burial policy. She can do a simple will for

of the rules committee. The rules committee reviews the following matters: proposed ballot measures, proposed charter amendments, and the rules of order of the Detroit City Council. Whitfield-Calloway is vice chair, and Benson is the other member. Board appointments Council members were also appointed to local boards. While some board appointments are mostly symbolic, others are expected to provide a vision and oversight. Tate: The Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit Zoological Society Board of Directors Waters: Board of Trustees General Retirement System Young II: Board of Trustees Police and Fire Retirement System Whitfield Calloway: Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority Benson: Retiree Protection Investment Advisory Committee, Detroit Zoological Society Board of Directors, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Johnson: Continuum of Care Miller: Eastern Market Corporation, Historical Museum Board McCampbell: Eastern Market Corporation You can reach Sam at srobinson@ michronicle.com.

her personal effects. For her most sizable asset, Betty has an option that will allow her daughter to avoid probate court if something happens to her: the Ladybird deed. A Ladybird deed is a specific type of deed that transfers property to a person or entity. As of now, it is only allowed in Michigan, Florida, Texas, West Virgina, and Vermont. The deed allows you to maintain control over your property while you are still living. You can sell it, refinance it, rent it out, or even give it away if you want. If it is still in your name when you pass away, it will automatically pass to the person (or people), or entity you named on the deed, without the need for probate court. This is different than a Quit Claim deed, which people will often use, not realizing that it adds someone to your deed at that moment, giving them the same rights to your property as you have. This means that if you want to lease, sell or mortgage your property, the person that you add on the Quit Claim deed must sign off on it. What’s more, if the person you add on the Quit Claim deed files for bankruptcy, gets sued or files for divorce, your house is a countable asset. You certainly want to avoid that. With the Ladybird deed, you can. The beauty of estate planning is that it is not one-size-fitsall and that there are tools to help everyone, no matter what your assets or your family look like. Invest in yourself and your family. Get in touch with a qualified, experienced estate planning attorney to set your plan up today! Attorney Jehan Crump-Gibson is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Great Lakes Legal Group PLLC, where she concentrates her practice in probate and estate planning, business and real estate matters. Great Lakes Legal Group is a growing blackowned law firm serving clients throughout the state of Michigan and in federal courts across the country. Jehan has served as Faculty for the National Business Institute and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education concerning business, probate and estate planning matters. She is a legal analyst with Fox2 Detroit’s The Noon and the author of the book A Matter of Life and Death.

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michiganchronicle.com | January 14-20, 2026 | Page B-5 ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JALEN ROSE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY OPEN ENROLLMENT Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, 15000 Trojan Detroit, Michigan 48235, 313-397-3333. Applications for the 2026-2027 school year for grades 9-12th are being accepted from January 15th, 2026 – June 1st, 2026. Should applications exceed available space, a random selection drawing will be held at the school on June 8th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Applications are available in the main office or at our website using the following url: https://www.jrladetroit.com/enroll

PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED STATE AND FEDERAL APPLICATION FOR OPERATING AND/OR CAPITAL ASSISTANCE All citizens are advised that the Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC) has prepared an application for State of Michigan financial assistance for the fiscal year 2027 as required under Act 51 of the Public Acts of 1951, as amended, and for federal assistance as required under the federal transit laws, as amended. The DTC is requesting a total of $8,078,698 through the following funding program(s): Section 5307 ($673,712) for infrastructure and equipment upgrades; Section 5337 ($1,814,059) for maintaining the DTC system, equipment, and facilities in a state of good repair; and Act 51 ($5,590,927) for operating assistance. The DTC ensures that the level and quality of transportation service is provided without regard to race, color, or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information regarding our Title VI obligations or to file a complaint, please contact the DTC at the address listed below.

Announcement of Draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) and EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant Application The Detroit Public Schools Community District is applying for a FY26 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant to conduct environmental cleanup activities at the Priest Elementary School property, located at 7840 Wagner St. Detroit, MI 48210. A draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) and draft Cleanup Grant application are available for public review and comment beginning immediately and continuing through January 22, 2026. Copies of the draft ABCA and draft application may be requested by emailing: george.vary@ detroitk12.org A public meeting to discuss the draft ABCA and grant application, and to receive public comments, will be held at a PTA meeting at the school located at 7840 Wagner on January 21, 2026 at 9:00 am.

What Young People Need to Know About Workplace Retirement Savings

(StatePoint) Workplace retirement savings plans are an excellent way to invest in your future, and the earlier you start, the more opportunity your savings have to grow. Typically automated through payroll deductions, contributions to a plan like a 401(k) or 403(b) are tax-advantaged and easy michiganchronicle.com | October 19-25, 2022 | P to make. Recent research by Edward Jones and Morning Consult shows that ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS three in five Americans who have access to a workplace retirement plan contribute, however 59% of all Americans’ employers do not offer one, leaving a gap in financial access and education at a critical entry point for investing. For local business ownersCorporation – who are responsible for creating two Detroit People Mover/Detroit Transportation 535new Griswold out of every three jobsStin the U.S. economy, according to the National Ste # 400 Business Association – implementing retirement savings benefits can be Detroit, MI 48226 PUBLIC NOTICE: RTA OF SOUTHEAST MICH challenging. Fortunately, new efforts are being made to support businesses PROPOSED DBE GOALS of all sizes in helping their employees reach their financial goals.For FY 2023 – FY2025 BID # 07-01-2022 REBID Jones isCorporation in the process expanding its plan product Theretirement Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michig The“Edward Detroit Transportation Office ofof Contracting has established a goal to of 8.20% for its Disadvantaged and Procurement requests proposals fromthan qualified firms financial shelf offered through our more 20,000 advisors include Enterprises (DBE) Program for fiscal years 2023 thr to provide CCTV and network upgrades. This includes Nationwide and Voya. The firm has also invested2025. in new likethrough Thistechnologies goal will be attained 5.31% fr modernization efforts for the CCTV system, Public Address (PA) and 2.89%and from race-conscious m Aboon, which streamlines retirement plan designneutral andparticipation administration, system, Variable Message Signs (VMS), and Wired Backbone which reflects the relative availability of DBEs to part Network system, at thea MCF, at financial each DPM station, and platform at Addition Wealth, digital wellness providing personalized contracts and procurements projected by the RTA. substations described herein. financial education for clients. With our vast branch network in and 68% of U.S. have been d The proposed goal its methodology All bids must be received by the Detroit Transportation Corporation in mid-size accordance businesses with the Federal counties, weonare well-positioned to serve small- to in Transit Admini via Bidnet/MITN or before 5:00 p.m. (EST) November 7, 2022. 49 CFR Part 26. A pre-bidof siteworkplace visit will be determined at a later date,ultimately, if necessary. theirregulations need solutions, and employees,” says Alyssa The goal and the methodology used to develop it are canprincipal be accessedand on thehead Bidnet Direct (Lysa)Proposals Harper, of the Workplace Segment at Edward for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday www.bidnetdirect.com//detroit-transportation-corporation Friday at RTA’s offices located at 1001 Woodward Aven Jones. 1400, Detroit, Michigan. These materials will be availa Mike Anderson “Local business owners are the backbone of communities. days following theWe’re date of hopeful this notice. Procurement Managerwe are making will meet more people the investments are and The RTAwhere will acceptthey comments on the goal for 45 days mandersonjr@thepeoplemover.com this notice.products Inquiries may be directed to the fol offer more business owners and their employeesdate theofadvice, and education they need throughout their financial journey,” Harper adds. RTA of Southeast Michigan 1001 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1400 If you are offered a workplace retirement plan,Detroit, following Michiganthese 48226 tips can help you make the most of it: Or e-mail to: info@rtamichigan.org Detroit People Mover/Detroit Transportation Corporation Start now. Savings grow 535 can Griswold St over time, making it valuable to start as early as Ste # 400 you can – even if you’re decades away from retirement. PUBLIC NOTICE Detroit, MI 48226 ACCURACY OF VOTING EQUIPME Start with the match. At a minimum, contribute enough to yourTEST employer’s To the qualified electors if ofone the City of Highlan BID # 08-8-2022 REBID plan to earn your employer’s matching retirement savings contribution, Wayne County, State of Michigan: Notice is hereb The Detroit Transportation Office of Contracting is offered. UltimatelyCorporation though, you’ll want to developthat a personalized goal, with a Public Accuracy Test for the electronic eq and Procurement requests proposals from qualified Contracthat will betoused for toward. the General Election being saving 10% to 15% of your income being aofgreat milestone work tor/Firm(s) to provide annual geometry measurements the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 is scheduled for LIM rail height, power rail tolerances, increasing running rail height andsavings rate by 1% each year. Make progress. Consider your October 25, 2022, at 2:00 p.n. in the City Clerk’s track gauge. room (lower level) located: Some plans even offer an auto-escalation option, making this easy. The initial information and subsequent trending information on B. Blackwell Municipal Compl the rate of change of the measured parameters of the Detroit Leverage windfalls. Reserve a certain dollar amountRobert or percent of future People Mover (DPM) track will be reviewed and utilized as part 12050 Woodward Ave. pay raises, bonuses or financial windfalls to go toward your retirement of the existing detailed maintenance plan to ensure long term Highland Park, MI 48203 safety and availability to the riding public. savings. The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demo All bids must be received by the Detroit Transportation Corporation Get assistance. Fifty-two percent of Americans say advice from program a financial that the computer used to tabulate the via Bidnet/MITN on or before 5:00 p.m. (EST) November 7, 2022. cast at the election meets the requirements advisor would themformore likelyOctober to participate in a workplace retirement A pre-bid site visit make is scheduled Wednesday, 25, Michigan election law. 2022 at according 10:00 a.m. (EST).to research from Edward Jones and Morning plan, Consult. Proposals can be accessedadvisor on the Bidnet Direct BRENDA GREEN Reach out to a financial who can review your situation and provide www.bidnetdirect.com//detroit-transportation-corporation CITY CLERK personalized recommendations for you. CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK Mike AAnderson workplace retirement plan can be a key part of a retirement savings Procurement Manager strategy. Fortunately, new solutions being offered to businesses of all mandersonjr@thepeoplemover.com sizes are expanding access to retirement savings plans to more working Americans.

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Classifieds

Commodity Buyer Grupo Antolin North America, Inc. has an opening for a Commodity Buyer in Shelby Township, MI responsible for the purchase of the best quality ANNOUNCEMENTS Detroit Transportation Corporation equipment, goods, and services for the 500 Griswold, Suite 2900 organization at the most competitive prices. Bachelor's Degree or (foreign academic Detroit, MI 48226 equivalent) in Purchasing, Business Written comments or requests regarding the application and/ REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Administration, Finance, Business Marketing or related field and– six (6) months of Exp.AND in the job or written requests for a public hearing to review the application CONSULTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE offered or related. Exp. must include: must be received by Monday, February 16, 2026. If a hearing SECRET SHOPPER SURVEY INCOTERMS 2020 conditions; and Microsoft is requested, notice of the scheduled date, time, and location Excel dynamic tables and SAPAND ERP. Requires DEVELOPMENT, DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS will be provided at least ten (10) days in advance. Submittals domestic travel, as needed, up to 5%. Any October 2022 applicant who is interested in this position should should be sent via email to DTCGrants@thepeoplemover.com. applyInitiatives to job reference 19833 at is seeking Supportnumber Corporation (LISC) This document will become final, barring any changes made in Detroit Local proposalshttps://careers.antolin.com/job-invite/19833/. for a qualified consultant to work with Detroit LISC to

response to the written comments.

create, distribute and analyze customer service surveys to gather information about the services of the Detroit at Work One Stop HELP WANTED System. The findings from the surveys will be analyzed and put into interim and final reports to be submitted to LISC. Employment Opportunity Specifically, Detroit LISC is seeking those with proven experience CITY OF EASTPOINTE in the following areas: ✓ Evaluation ✓ Analysis ✓ qualifications, Report Development review the minimum details ✓ SurveyTo Creation, Distribution and Collection Program Design on the position and to✓apply, please visit our

Legal No)ce Weston Preparatory Academy

Police Officer (Full-time)

A,en)on: HVAC Unit Replacement(s) 2026

Employment Opportunities web page at

Visit https://www.lisc.org/detroit/about-us/careers/ to downhttps://www.governmentjobs.com/ load full RFP. Responses to this RFP are due Friday, October 21 careers/eastpointemi and should be emailed to kgallick@lisc.org. LISC is committed to The Academy is reques6ng proposals for removal andworking with Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), and Women-Owned Business replacement of (11) HVAC roof top units with appurtenances. Enterprises (WBEs). LISC encourages submissions from SBEs, MBEs, and WBEs.

Vendors or their representa6ves may submit proposals to:

REQUEST FOR QUOTES

Weston Preparatory Academy 22930 Chippewa St, Detroit, MI 48219 APn: Farrah Adams

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 The Academy School Board reserves the right to accept ordue by 3:00 PM ET, November 11, 2022

reject any or all proposals or to accept the proposal that it finds, in its sole discre6on, to be in the best interest of the School District.

Please visit our Please visit website for more our website for more classified ads. classified ads.

A copy of the RFP will be available by email at dblackmar@charterschoolpartners.com by January 9, 2026. A voluntary walk-thru inspec6on is scheduled for January 15,The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking proposals for Architecture 2026, at 1:30 pm, 22930 Chippewa St, MI 48219. and Engineering Services for Facility Master Plan Series 1 under RFP 23-0111.

All proposals must be submi,ed no later than 12:00 pm,A virtual Pre-Proposal Conference will occur at 10:00 a.m. October 21, 2022. January 23, 2026. All proposals should be delivered in a sealed Call-In#: 1 313-462-2305 envelope and addressed to the Weston Prep Academy and be Conference ID: 944 369 237# clearly marked: “HVAC Unit Replacement(s) 2026”. https://tinyurl.com/yfm35pw5 01082026

The due date for Proposals is November 10, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.

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

www.michiganchronicle.com

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED www.michiganchronicle.com BSW Engineering Manager

Staff Design Release Engineer - Wiring

HELP WANTED

EXPERIENCED HAIR STYLIST NEEDED

Think Inside Quick ideas for busy season meals the Bowl 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

Rice and Beans Burrito Bowl

Part-time position

Must be able to style all hair textures but, preferably Black Hair textures.

Rania’s Hair Salon

inside Royal Oak Manor Co-op Apts., A Senior apartment building located at 606 Williams St., Royal Oak, MI 48067. Applications are available in the Royal Oak Manor office Mon-Fri from 9:00-12:00 pm. Call (586) 610-9203 with questions and to schedule interview. Please bring examples of your work. We are hoping to fill the position soon.

How Technology Ca Help You Age in Pla

ation, simply adjust the heat to your liking with a sprinkle of ancho chili Warren, MI, General Motors. Plan &perform advanced hen life gets hectic, eating well powder or add a touch of creaminess PROCLAMATION surfacing concepts &development of Class A surface of full vehicle exterior syss. Interpret &define design can get pushed toDECLARATION the bottomOF NON-CITIZEN with a generous helping of guacamole, intent of designer while collaborating w/ engineering, Senior Design Release Engineer – of your to-do list. A go-to mealNATIONALITY option packaging, human factors, &tooling teams. Design dollop of sour cream or sprinkle of Fuel Systems (FS) & Evaporative &develop 3D Class A surfaces of ICE, diesel, BEV Section 302 ofand Public Law 94-241 (StatePoint) By 2030, almost a quarter of the A Emission Control due(EEC) to System their simplicity, versatility &AV full vehicle psgr car, truck &SUV exterior cmpnts shredded cheese. To further transform population will be over the age of 65, up from 16% incl. front &rear fascias, grills, head/taillamps, doors, I DeIamond Henson, being duly Warren, MI, General Motors. Engineer, design, nutritional benefits, rice bowlsCarpre provide fenders, ABCD pillars, skid plates, liftgates, truck your meal into a festive feast, pair creating a situation that’s going to drive greater dem affirmed [sworn], hereby declare my &develop FS &EEC syss, incl. fuel tanks/lines/ vapor beds &detailed exterior cmpnts incl. door handles, a convenient and satisfying solution forbut notyour transfer lines, emission control canisters, &filler pipes intention to be a national a citizen greater pressure on the care industry. bowl with grilled chicken, tofu or In addition to mirrors, lamp internals &exhaust tips, using Autodesk for psgr vehicles incl. Premium Luxury/Mid-Size Cars of the United States. Alias AutoStudio, Autodesk Maya, NX &VRED tools, parents, students and busy professionworkforce and more financial resources, new techn &Large psgr &Cargo Vans, &Incomplete truck) a fresh green salad. for U.S., global &emerging markets. Interpret, define, prgrms, according to vehicle program timing rqrmnts, also have the potential to help solve the problems Notice: all executive and judicial officers als&aligned juggling conceptualize &execute unique solutions to technical from concept to production, to meet multiple responsibilities. by this seismic both of the United States and of the Or several for a Korean twist,demographic considershift. challenges &provide creative proposals to capture performance, safety (U.S. FMVSS), &strict technical busy season, they can be pre- this Quick Bibimbap. Derived from design intent from initial concept thru mass production &regional rqrmnts &standards,During using NX, Tc, Tc States According to experts, Artificial Intelligence (AI) achieved in various stages according to GVDP, while Vismockup, ETAS INCA, &ECM tools. Conceptualize, and areSection easy 1091 to customof Title 18, United States collaborating with engrg, packaging, human factors, design, validate &releasepared engine FSquickly &EEC sys chine Learning (ML) are already among the key com the Korean terms “bibim,” which &tooling teams to assure minimum radii/draft, tooling cmpnts to meet SSTS of propulsion system projects. Code,preferences prohibits genocide whether izecontrol to technologies suit different taste of new technologies providing improved quality o Benchmark critical emission &safety reqrmnts in compliance w/ U.S., European committed in time of peace or time of refers to mixing &recommend fuel injection HW to meet emission EPA &China standards. Bachelor, Transportation or those multiple who want to ingredients, continue living independently at and dietary needs. Typically offering a in section 1091 war. Genocide is defined &UNECE regs. Master, Mechanical or Automotive Industrial Design. 60 mos exp as Digital Sculptor, and “bap,” meaning rice, it starts Engrg. 36 mos exp as Engineer, developing Digital Modeler, or related, designing or developing “While AI and ML have transformed other ind and includes violent attacks with the balanced mix of carbohydrates, protein &releasing evaporative emission canisters for OEM 3D Class A surfaces of full vehicle psgr vehicle withorjasmine rice andhas is been topped destroy, in whole in adaptation slow with in the care industry, b prgrms, from concept to production, &aligned to meet they specific and vegetables, ensureintent youtoand exterior cmpnts incl. fascias, grills, head/taillamps, part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious carrots, performance, safety (incl. U.S. FMVSS), &strict working to change that,” explains Chia-Lin Simmon doors, fenders, ABCD pillars, &liftgates, using Alias kimchi, sauteed spinach, technical &regional rqrmnts &standards, using NX, your loved ones get a wholesome meal group. There is Federal jurisdiction if the AutoStudio, NX &VRED tools, for U.S., global officer of LogicMark, (NASDAQ: LGMK Tc, &Tc Vismockup tools, or related. Mail resume to bean sproutsexecutive and a fried egg. &emerging markets, or related. Mail resume to offense United without spending hours in isthecommitted kitchen.within the manufactures personal emergency response Ref#201, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Ref#1827-201, GM Global Mobility, Rice 300 Renaissance and Beans Burrito States. There is also Federal extraterritorial Center,Bowl MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265. (PERS), is health communications devices and rem Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265. The dish, which prepped and For example, this Rice andwhen Beans jurisdiction the offender is a national and activitycan monitoring technologies to create a C ready in 20 minutes, be further the United States Burrito Bowl offers aofburst of Southed Care Platform, and recently incorporated two-w customized with sauteed technology mushrooms, FORM: LPN #RE345528665US Vehicle Validation Engineer communication into its medical alert pe michiganchronicle.com DQE western flavor in just 10 minutes. Warren, MI, General Motors. Perform &execute tofu, seared beef, pickled cucumbers Featuring the zesty and natural flavors To help you live safely and comfortably in your electrical validation of BEVs in GVDP for Vehicle and more, butthesweet, Minute years tobuttery come, Simmons offers a few strategies f Motion Embedded Controls (VMEC), Body of Minute’s Cilantro & Lime Jasmine Electronics, Active Safety (AS), telematics, the newest technology to your advantage: Instant Jasmine Rice provides the fra&infotainment. Review, analyze &coordinate the Rice Cups, it’s a canvas for creativity testing &modification of BEV system &cmpnt level SW • PERS, also known as Medical grant, fluffy base. Ready in 5 minutesEmergency Respo complete with juicy pinto beans, crisp for electrical validation of VMEC &AS syss incl. allow you to call for help in an emergency b Long/Short Range Radars, Rear Vision/360/Driver and known fortems, its distinctive aromatic corn and a vibrant mix of salsa. Ready monitoring cameras, antennas, Body & Vehicle ing a button. Wearable pendants – along with Integration Control Modules, &features incl. Adaptive scent, it’s precooked then dried with and mobile solution in 1 minute, the BPA-free microwavesistant wall-mounted devices Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous protected in every room of your home Driving Features, Emergency Braking, Collision nothing added keep but you convenience so you able cups are perfectly portioned and Mitigation, Alerts, &related module &feature validation you instantly connect with loved ones and em can get a tasty ing meal made quickly. status plans for vehicle prgrms, using PQMS, NX, can be enjoyed as a meal right out of personnel. Those offered by LogicMark use AI an vSpy, Teamcenter (Tc), &ECM tools. Perform on time the container when crunched for time. 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Prep time: 8 minutes Cook time: 2 minutes Servings: 1 1 Minute Cilantro & Lime Jasmine Rice Cup 1 cup canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup fresh or canned corn 1 cup prepared salsa 1 teaspoon ancho chili ­powder (optional) 1 cup shredded lettuce 1 tablespoon sour cream 1 avocado, sliced ­(optional) 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped (optional) tortilla chips Heat rice according to package directions. In medium, microwave-safe bowl, combine beans, corn, salsa and chili powder, if desired. Microwave on high 1 minute. Mix in rice. Place lettuce in bowl and top with rice and beans mixture. Garnish with sour cream, avocado and chopped cilantro, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

Warren, MI, General Motors. Engineer, design, develop, &release conventional ICE, BEV &AV psngr vehicles electrical wire routing &packaging syss, &multi-branch wiring harnesses, incl. wire, terminals, connectors, coverings &attachments, using Tc Vismockup, ECM, ECR, &Auros tools. Design &release electrical wire routing &packaging syss to ensure proper functioning of electrical modules such as OnStar, LRR, cybersecurity syss, &other required vehicle electrical syss for AV. Ensure that electrical harness routings meet U.S. FMVSS. Apply GD&T, CAE, DFM/A, DFMEA, DRBTR, Red X, DFSS processes to design &validate wiring harness branch points for multi-branch harnesses, pin level, cavities, size, &thermal resistance specs &rqrmnts. Bachelor, Electrical or Automotive Engineering, or related. 60 mos exp as Engineer, engineering, releasing for production, &continuously improving conventional psngr vehicle &BEV electrical wire routing &packaging syss, &multi-branch wiringFEATURES harnesses, FAMILY using Tc VisMockup tool, or related. Mail resume to Ref#3882, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

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Engrg. 12 mos exp as Engineer, testing or verifying embedded telematics &infotainment embedded ECUs, using Tc &vSpy tools, or related. Mail resume to Ref#407-1175, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

• Automatic pill dispensers can help ensure you ne

Senior Design Sculptor Warren, MI, General Motors. Plan &perform advanced surfacing concepts &development of Class A surfaces of full vehicle exterior sys. Interpret &define design intent of designer while directly collaborating w/ engineering, packaging, human factors, &tooling teams. Design &develop 3D Class A surfaces of conventional ICE, diesel, BEV &AV full vehicle psngr car, truck &SUV exterior cmpnts incl. front &rear fascias, grills, headlamps, taillamps, doors, fenders, A,B,C &D pillars, skid plates, liftgates, truck beds &detailed exterior cmpnts incl. door handles, mirrors, lamp internals &exhaust tips, using Alias AutoStudio, Maya, NX &VRED tools, for U.S., global &emerging markets. Interpret, develop, &perform physical sculptures, &evaluate physical surfaces &digital sculptures in Alias (surfaces to mill), interpret sketches &drawings, &develop interior &exterior clay models of full vehicles (full-sized models) &cmpnts (and cmpnts in steel, carbon fiber, wax, low density foam (Renboard), rubber &wood) &scale models, working on 1-3 new concept psngr vehicles, facelifts &show cars at any one time. 36 mos exp as Sculptor or Designer, designing &developing 3D Class A surfaces of conventional &BEV full vehicle psngr vehicle exterior cmpnts incl. fascias, grills, lamps, doors, fenders, pillars, &liftgates, using AutoStudio, Maya, &VRED tools, for U.S., global &emerging markets, or related. Mail resume to Ref#455, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

PROCLAMATION

a dose or take too much medication. Depending Prepare rice according to package Quick Bibimbap needs, you may need to look for a solution offer directions.visual and audio notifications, or one suited for th Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 dexterity. In largelimited skillet over medium minutes Servings: 4 • Motion-sensing lighting make nocturnal trip heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil.can Saute 2 cups Minute Instant Jasmine Rice spinach, garlic, bathroomginger, – common in one’s salt andgolden years – mu to reduce the risk of dangerous trips a 1 cup canola oil, divided pepper 3-5helping minutes, or until Many lighting options plugspindirectly into outlets, w 8 cups baby spinach ach is wilted. to bowl ers areTransfer battery-operated and can be installed an 2 cloves garlic, minced Be sure to include these fixtures in bedrooms, and keep warm. 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger and bathrooms. Wipe out skillet. Heat remain1 teaspoon salt independence must be accompanied by p ing oil over“True medium-high heat. mind for you, your family and your caregivers,” sa 1 teaspoon black pepper Stir-fry rice minutes, until you can hel mons.3-5 “By adopting newor technologies, 4 teaspoons soy sauce slightly acrisp. Stir in sauce virtual safety net,soy enabling you to stay at home wh 4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar in a safe environment and providing piece of mind and vinegar. ones.” 1 cup bean sprouts Divideloved rice among four bowls. 1 cup matchstick carrots Top each serving with bean 1 cup prepared kimchi, chopped sprouts, carrots, kimchi and one 4 eggs, fried fried egg. Drizzle with Sriracha 4 teaspoons Sriracha and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 4 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted

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