Flint’s Water Crisis
From page A-1
ing oversight does not undo the lasting damage done, nor does it rebuild what was lost in the soul of this city.
What’s been restored are the pipes. What hasn’t returned is trust.
Residents were lied to for months. Complaints of rashes and discolored water were dismissed. It took tireless organizing, community science, and national pressure before officials even acknowledged what Flint families already knew. And when the criminal investigations finally rolled out, those at the top walked away unscathed. No meaningful convictions. No justice that mirrored the gravity of the harm.
The water may test below the federal limit now, but that doesn’t erase the legacy of institutional betrayal. Nor does it solve the financial problems that still hover over Flint’s water system.
Flint has lost nearly 20% of its population since the crisis began, down to 79,735 residents. Fewer people means fewer ratepayers, and that weakens the financial stability of the city’s water infrastructure. Even as tens of millions of dollars have been poured into repairs, the cost of delivering clean water continues to climb. The Great Lakes Water Authority — Flint’s wholesale provider — has steadily raised rates. So far, Flint has absorbed those increases using federal stimulus dollars, shielding residents from rising costs. But those funds are temporary.
Shana Rowser, spokesperson for the city, said Flint is working on a long-term financial plan and that efforts are underway to modernize billing systems, collect overdue payments, and expand support for low-income households. But the foundational question remains unanswered: what
happens when temporary relief disappears?
The state’s environmental regulators have repeatedly flagged concerns about Flint’s long-term financial health. The community that’s already paid the highest price is now being asked to fund a system broken by the same authorities that once failed to protect them.
As officials try to stabilize the water system, residents are still waiting on compensation from the $600 million settlement connected to the water crisis. More than 26,000 people are expected to receive some form of payment. But how much they’ll actually receive, and when, remains uncertain.
“That money is never gonna be enough,” Mays said. What it might do, she added, is serve as one more acknowledgment that “we were done wrong.”
The impact on Flint’s children continues to surface in painful, layered ways. Data doesn’t show direct academic harm from lead exposure. What it shows is a generation of students navigating broken schools, economic instability, and years of being told — explicitly and implicitly — that the crisis stole their potential. Teachers, parents, and even health professionals spoke of damage before they ever saw healing. That messaging alone has shaped outcomes.
While the water pipes are nearly replaced, the people of Flint are still waiting for truth to be treated with the same urgency.
City leaders say they see signs of recovery. Flint added 76 new residents last year—the first population growth in 25 years. Mayor Sheldon Neeley believes Flint’s future is still expansive. “We have all the ingredients right here in the city of Flint to be nothing less
Police Reform Bills
From page A-1
Skepticism from law enforcement remains. The Fraternal Order of Police, one of the state’s largest law enforcement unions, previously opposed the package outright. In a letter to the legislative committee, union president Michael Sauger argued that these reforms miss the most pressing concern for departments: recruitment and retention.
“First and foremost, the most important law enforcement related issue in Michigan is recruiting and retention of police officers,” he said. “These bills not only don’t address that, but some of these bills, if passed, will make the problem of recruiting and retention far worse.”
That pushback speaks to a fundamental tension. On one side, community members and lawmakers demand clear, enforceable policies to prevent harm and rebuild trust. On the other, police organizations warn that the rules could push potential recruits away or penalize officers too harshly for human error. But when those “errors” cost lives— especially Black lives—the stakes are too high to wait for consensus that may never come.
For many Black Michiganders, this legislation is long overdue. It speaks directly to lived realities where police response feels
more punitive than protective, more harmful than helpful. The bills ask departments to do more than simply exist—they ask them to serve, to communicate, and to self-regulate.
And that includes calling out fellow officers when they cross the line. The proposed “duty to intervene” policy requires law enforcement officers to step in when a colleague uses excessive force or abuses their authority. That step alone could mean the difference between another deadly encounter and a saved life. It challenges the long-standing blue wall of silence that has shielded misconduct in far too many cities.
The legislation also takes on no-knock warrants—tactics that have drawn national outrage after high-profile tragedies like the killing of Breonna Taylor. While details on how Michigan’s version would be restructured remain forthcoming, the signal is clear: legislators want greater scrutiny and consistency across departments before doors are kicked in without warning.
There’s also a deeper call embedded within these bills: a demand for systemic clarity. Without statewide standards, officers can leave one department under questionable circumstances and start fresh somewhere else, without transparency or oversight. That lack of
than excellent,” he said.
That hope is tied, in part, to new economic efforts. Flint reached a milestone on the redevelopment of the long-abandoned Buick City site, once a hub for General Motors. Developer Ashley Capital has leased the first building to a manufacturing company, with more development planned across the 350-acre site.
Even larger plans are in play. The city is competing for a semiconductor manufacturing facility on 1,300 acres near the Flint Bishop Airport—a project that could bring thousands of jobs. State and federal subsidies through the CHIPS and Science Act are key to that effort. But President Donald Trump has publicly pushed to repeal the legislation, creating new uncertainty for Flint’s long-term industrial comeback.
Still, Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke with optimism during her visit to Flint. “I want the world to hear the name Flint and think about the things that are made here,” she said, “and not the things that happened here.”
But before Flint can reshape its narrative, there must be room for the truth. The harm was not accidental. The suffering was not collateral damage. This was engineered through a system that values efficiency over equity, dollars over dignity, and control over community.
Flint’s residents are not asking for parades. They are asking for power. Real power—over their water, their government, their future.
The completion of pipe replacements is not the end of the story. It is only the end of a chapter that should have never been written in the first place. And until every child in Flint grows up believing they are safe, supported, and seen, this crisis remains unresolved.
Because what happened to Flint wasn’t just about water. It was about whose lives matter when no one’s looking. And Flint made the nation look.
continuity opens the door to abuse and erodes the integrity of policing as a profession.
By introducing standardized officer service records and more thorough background checks, lawmakers aim to bring sunlight into a system that has too often operated in shadow.
That said, the road ahead is still lined with uncertainty. Getting bipartisan support in a politically divided legislature requires more than good policy—it takes negotiation, pressure, and persistent public demand. Chang acknowledged that reality, saying she and her colleagues are working with conservative groups to ease concerns and earn broader buy-in. This move suggests a strategy not rooted in partisan lines, but in moral ones.
This effort is about more than policy—it’s about power. Who gets to define what safety means? Who decides whose lives deserve protection? For too long, the answers to those questions have excluded voices from Black, Brown, poor, and immigrant communities. This legislation, at its best, creates space for those voices to be heard, codified, and enforced.
Yet community members must stay watchful. As these bills move through hearings and possible amendments, the language may shift, the priorities may be tested, and the
Detroit’s Next Mayor
Without a regional transit system, southeast Michigan remains heavily car-dependent. Yet a 2017 study showed less than half of low-income Detroiters own cars. And of those who don’t own a car, 43% missed work, an appointment or something else due to a lack of transportation. Although this study is several years old, these statistics likely haven’t changed much due to rising costs of housing and car ownership.
A green bus waits for a rider to board.
Today, nearly one-third of Detroiters live in poverty – meaning, for a family of four, they earn less than US$32,000 per year – yet the national average annual cost of car ownership exceeds $12,000. Giving lower-income Detroiters a low-cost, reliable means to get to work would benefit the city’s neighborhoods, residents and businesses.
Expanding transit service has other benefits, too. Transit reduces traffic, encourages the healthy habit of walking to and from stops and improves air quality. Transit investments also increase land values around stations and brings new businesses to these neighborhoods. In addition to serving the needs of working Detroiters, more frequent and reliable bus service would increase neighborhood property values, according to research. Make property taxes fairer
Since the city’s emergence from bankruptcy 11 years ago, housing wealth in Detroit has grown by $4.6 billion.
Although a rise in land values signals investor confidence in the city and benefits its homeowners, high prices limit Detroiters’ ability to afford housing, the wealth is not shared with everyone, and there is heightened risk of displacing low-income residents.
weight of opposition may push to dilute what could be transformational. Now is the moment for community organizations, civil rights leaders, students, clergy, and everyday residents to stay engaged—to read the bills, attend the hearings, and hold lawmakers accountable.
Because reform that does not include the people it impacts most is not reform at all.
Michigan has a chance to lead with policy shaped by lessons learned and hard truths faced. And if lawmakers meet this moment with courage, this package could be the start of a new standard—one that puts justice at the forefront, not the aftermath.
For those who have marched, protested, and organized after names like George Floyd, Patrick Lyoya, and countless others, this legislation represents a call to keep pushing. Not because reform is a finish line, but because it is a necessary step toward a Michigan where safety does not come at the cost of dignity.
And where no family has to wonder if the law will protect them differently just because of where they live or how they look.
That’s not political. That’s personal.
And, as candidates frequently mentioned during the debate, after more than 40 years of tax increases to make up for sliding property values, the city has one of the highest effective property tax rates in Michigan, over 2.8%, making housing even less affordable. Nevertheless, Detroit routinely abates taxes for major commercial developments such as Hudson’s Detroit and several downtown hotels, which some residents view as unfair.
Detroit’s next mayor has an opportunity to reduce the property tax burden for residents and businesses, improve the system’s fairness, and use increasing land prices and new development for public benefit.
Duggan proposed a land-value tax to replace the city’s property tax in 2023. Unlike property taxes, land-value taxes place a levy on the value of land, not structures on the land. These taxes create an incentive for owners to develop their properties for productive use rather than speculate on underutilized land.
In a city like Detroit, with thousands of vacant properties, a land-value tax would encourage development by limiting the benefits of long-term land speculation. For lower-income homeowners and renters, the city could avoid displacement through exemptions and other mechanisms.
Duggan’s proposal failed in the Michigan Legislature, which needs to approve changes to the property tax. But Detroit’s next mayor could revive this push.
The next mayor could also press the Legislature for other tools, such as the authority to levy development impact fees to build parks and schools or provide social services in neighborhoods affected by new development.
Michigan law allows the formation of special assessment districts, business improvement zones and other special taxing entities to provide public infrastructure. Expanding these tools may allow Detroit to leverage rising property values to provide public benefits such as streets or parks.
Importantly, the city can gain better public services and infrastructure while encouraging development. Tools such as the city’s community benefits ordinance, which requires developers of large projects to negotiate with neighbors for services and amenities, look good on paper but can delay projects or mistake individuals’ interests for community needs. Similarly, affordable housing mandates often lead to counterproductive results such as discouraging new development or raising costs on market-rate housing.
(Here is the link to the original article: https://theconversation.com/detroit-voters-have-an-opportunity-to-picka-mayor-who-will-ease-zoning-improve-transit-and-protectlong-term-residents-254540.)
Roots.
2025
S.W.A.G. Awards
By Ebony JJ Curry, Senior Reporter
Imagine being 16 and the head of your household. That’s the lived reality for many Detroit students. Still, they show up, push through, and graduate with honor. The Michigan Chronicle’s 9th annual SWAG Awards, in partnership with Huntington Bank, honored that resilience—recognizing 15 students and five educators with $100,000 in scholarships and grants.
SWAG—Students Wired for Achievement and Greatness—is much more than a scholarship title. It’s a testimony. This year’s awards included six $2,500 scholarships, five $5,000, two $10,000, one $15,000, and a top $25,000 prize. That highest honor went to Ahauna Reed, a Northwestern High School graduate heading to Ohio Technical College to study welding. “This is basically a full ride for me,” she said through tears.
For the first time, four alumni were awarded scholarships to continue their journeys. Educators like Torrie Anderson-Lloyd, Adam Harris, Isabella Mahuad, Muffy Gaynor, and Dayna Peoples were also recognized with $1,000 grants for transforming classrooms and lives.
Gary Torgow reminded students, “Super power isn’t strength or laser vision—it’s kindness.” Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield uplifted purpose: “Education equips you to challenge injustice. Never forget Detroit.” Rev. Wendell Anthony issued a call: “Don’t stop. Don’t let today’s circumstances determine your destination. You’re here on purpose.”
This is community in action. Huntington has invested nearly $2 million in SWAG since 2015—not for recognition, but for results. The SWAG Awards prove that Detroit’s youth don’t just survive—they rise. And this is only the beginning.
Photos by: Monica Morgan Photography
A5 | June 11-17, 2025
Money.
Property is Power!
Ownership vs. Illusion What’s Real in an Age of Misdirection
By Dr. Anthony O. Kellum
CEO OF KELLUM MORTGAGE, LLC
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6
This scripture isn’t simply a lament. It’s a verdict. One that has echoed across time and space, from the Middle Passage to mortgage denials, from sharecropping to subprime lending, from redlined blocks to gentrified neighborhoods. And still, in 2025, it rings with painful clarity: a lack of knowledge is costing us our inheritance.
When Hosea speaks of destruction, he is not only referencing physical ruin. He speaks of spiritual collapse, cultural erosion, and the slow suffocation of potential. Today, that collapse often takes the form of economic illusion a carefully crafted narrative that distracts us from substance and seduces us with spectacle. Our people are not just uninformed. We have been deliberately misinformed fed fictions in place of facts, status symbols in place of assets, and distractions in place of direction.
We live in a world where performance is rewarded more than possession. Where social media flexes have replaced deed recordings. Where the aesthetics of wealth are celebrated while the architecture of wealth remains largely out of reach. And in that environment, illusion becomes currency, and the truth becomes an afterthought.
It is not by accident that we are more familiar with luxury brands than land trusts, more fluent in influencer culture than interest rates, and more likely to pursue “likes” than legacy. This is not simply a matter of personal failure. It is a structural condition. But it is our responsibility to dismantle it.
Let’s be clear: illusion is expensive. You can lease the lifestyle, but you cannot borrow your way to freedom. Faking it until you make it is a poor substitute for financial fluency.
Ownership, in contrast, is quiet. It doesn’t always photograph well. But it builds. It compounds. It roots you in agency. To own is to resist disposability. It is to take up space in systems that were not designed for your survival, let alone your success.
For Black people in America, ownership has always been political. From the moment emancipation created the question, “What does freedom actually look like?” land has been the answer. Not because land is magic, but because land gives leverage. Leverage to negotiate, to build, to belong. Our ancestors understood this. It’s why, within a generation of slavery, Black people owned millions of acres of land. And it’s why systemic forces conspired through violence, fraud, taxes, and law to take it back.
Today, those tools have simply become more subtle. Predatory lending. Appraisal bias. Wealth-stripping student debt. Urban renewal without urban inclusion. And a financial system that often denies us access to ownership even as it sells us the illusion of prosperity.
The truth is: we are not behind because we don’t dream big. We’re behind because we’ve been locked out of the infrastructure of ownership and taught to chase symbols instead of systems.
But this can change. If we want it to.
It starts with reimagining education not just in classrooms, but in kitchens, barbershops, and
See OWNERSHIP VS. ILLUSION Page A-6
Wayne
Dept. of Labor Guts Job Corps Program Stripping Jobs from Detroit Youth
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
There was no press conference. No public hearing. Just a quiet order from Washington—and hundreds of low-income Black youth in Detroit were told to pack their things and get out.
On May 29, the U.S. Department of Labor began what it called a “phased pause” of the Job Corps program, a federally funded workforce training initiative that for decades has served as a pipeline out of poverty for youth ages 16 to 24.
Three Michigan centers—Detroit, Flint, and Grand Rapids—were among the 99 contractor-run facilities nationwide ordered to suspend operations by the end of June. The decision came without warning, leaving students scrambling and communities demanding answers.
Students at the Detroit Job Corps Center were seen dragging garbage bags full of belongings, blindsided by a federal decision that displaced hundreds across the state. Some of these students had no stable home to return to. For many, Job Corps was the only structure, support, and future they knew.
Job Corps has never just been a jobs program. For Black youth in Detroit and other hard-hit cities, it’s been a necessary counterbalance to systems that fail them. The program offers housing, education, vocational training, healthcare, and critical wraparound services like childcare and mental health support. In 2023 alone, more than 700 students were enrolled across Michigan’s three centers. This shutdown is more than a program shift—it’s a dismantling of one of the few federal tools specifically supporting the economic mobility of underserved youth.
The Biden administration didn’t pull the trigger. This rollback comes under President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, which the Labor Department says reflects a broader push to “ensure federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results.” But for the Black families impacted by this shutdown, that kind of bureaucratic language reads more like a deflection from harm.
“This abrupt disruption has destabilized our communities,” wrote Dem-
ocratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Detroit), Hillary Scholten (Grand Rapids), Kristen McDonald Rivet (Bay City), and Shri Thanedar (Detroit) in a joint letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
“An unplanned and abrupt pause in all operations does not support these goals. Instead, it derails the lives of thousands of young people and dedicated staff committed to strengthening our country’s workforce, at a time of great worker shortage across the state.”
Detroit’s workforce crisis just got worse. The same communities fighting for housing, food access, and education equity are now being forced to absorb the fallout from a federal decision made without local consultation. According to Deputy Mayor Melia Howard, of the 217 participants enrolled at the Detroit Job Corps, 19 requested city assistance for housing. Twelve found shelter on their own. Six were placed into temporary housing. One remains unaccounted for.
“Our workforce development and housing teams have been in close contact with the Job Corps office in Detroit since late last week when this issue arose,” Howard said in a statement. “Job Corps youth participants are eligible for similar training through Detroit at Work and we are confident we will be able to provide training opportunities for those that have been displaced… We will be providing [Job Corps employees] with job placement support.”
But the damage is already done. These young people didn’t lose a job lead—they lost housing, access to education, food, community, and structure. They lost the one environment that was created with them in mind.
The U.S. Department of Labor says the program’s cost and performance were behind the decision. According to an April report, Job Corps carried a $140 million deficit in 2024 and a projected shortfall of $213 million for the 2025 program year. Graduation rates were under 40%, and the average annual cost per student exceeded $80,000.
“Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community,” Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “However… the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes
that students deserve.”
That assessment has been flatly rejected by the people who run and benefit from the program. Donna Hay, president and CEO of the National Job Corps Association, called the shutdown “needless” and the report “deeply flawed.”
“Job Corps has transformed the lives of millions of Americans,” Hay said. “This decision… needlessly endangers the futures and the lives of thousands and potentially millions more young Americans.”
The association also emphasized that more than 4,500 students were homeless before enrolling in Job Corps. Cutting access to housing and support mid-program doesn’t just slow progress—it puts young lives directly at risk. These are students, many of whom come from backgrounds marked by instability, violence, and neglect. They don’t need to be reshuffled—they need to be supported.
The facts matter. Michigan’s three Job Corps sites—Detroit and Flint (operated by Serrato Corp.) and Grand Rapids (operated by Human Learning Systems LLC)—were told to halt all services and transfer students back to their “homes of record.” Students are being registered with American Job Centers and offered transportation home, according to the federal FAQ. But the entire concept of “home” is misleading when some of these youth never had a stable one to begin with.
No warning was given to the centers. No contingency plans were shared in advance. Local agencies were left to clean up the aftermath of a federal directive that pulled the plug without care for the fallout. That kind of governance is not reform—it’s negligence.
Even the history of Job Corps reflects what’s being lost. Established in 1964 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, the program was designed to serve youth locked out of traditional education and workforce opportunities. While its results have varied over the decades, its impact in communities like Detroit has remained steady—offering young people a second shot at building lives rooted in dignity and possibility.
County Youth Council Closes Session with Policy Power Move on Food Insecurity
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
The youth of Wayne County didn’t wait to be told their voices matter—they walked straight into the policymaking process and showed what leadership looks like. On May 22, the members of the Wayne County Commission Youth Council gathered at the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority building to close out their 2024-2025 term. Instead of celebration alone, they left behind legislation—an urgent, deeply researched resolution that targets one of the county’s most pressing and often overlooked public health crises: food deserts.
This year, the council turned its attention to the daily reality faced by thousands of households in Wayne County who lack reliable access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. The result was a resolution titled No Man Hungry, a document grounded in public health data and community testimony. It calls for comprehensive solutions to eliminate food deserts and outlines a path for state and county policymakers to follow.
Nida Kumar, a junior at Northville High School and the Youth Council president, formally presented the resolution to the Wayne County Commission. It was adopted with clear support and is now being forwarded to local state legislators. The resolution names food insecurity not as a fringe concern but as a crisis connected to transportation access, structural racism, economic inequality, and urban disinvestment.
“The youth commission has again taken on an important issue in a meaningful way,” said Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell of Detroit. “Its members are to be commended.”
Anthony O. Kellum
Job Corps
From page A-5
Mariyah Louis, a 2017 graduate of the Detroit Job Corps, is living proof. “I can relate to that feeling of not knowing what I’m gonna do next,” she said. Louis, a former foster youth with a strained relationship with her mother, credits the program for helping her earn her diploma, a trade certificate, her driver’s license, and mental health support. She now runs her own car detailing business. Since the shutdown, she’s started a Facebook group to connect displaced students and is raising $12,000 for supplies and transportation.
“Job Corps was a safe haven,” Louis said. That kind of safe haven doesn’t show up in spreadsheets— but its absence will be felt on our streets, in our schools, and in our already overburdened shelters.
The long-term cost of stripping away this infrastructure will far outweigh any immediate savings. At a time when youth violence, unemployment, and disconnection are rising, cutting the one program built to intervene at the root is both
reckless and short-sighted.
What’s worse, the federal government did not present a reimagined model. It paused a legacy program without a clear alternative. That leaves Detroit—and every city like it—forced to play catch-up with young people’s futures hanging in the balance.
This isn’t budget tightening. This is erasure. And for Black youth in Detroit, that erasure is not abstract—it’s real. It’s now. And it’s dangerous.
The question isn’t whether Job Corps was perfect. The question is why a system that finally centered the needs of Black and brown working-class youth is being gutted while billions are funneled into defense contracts and corporate tax breaks.
If America truly believes in building a future workforce, then it must fund it. Not when it’s convenient. Not when the numbers look good. But when the stakes are high and the community is calling.
Detroit is calling.
And the youth who’ve been failed by every other system won’t settle for silence.
Ownership vs. Illusion
From page A-5
boardrooms. We need a cultural curriculum that teaches how to:
• Read more.
• Pass down property not just pearls of wisdom.
• Build LLCs as fast as we build followers.
• View homeownership not as an endpoint, but as an entry point into generational strategy.
Our children are watching. If all they see is us chasing aesthetics, they will inherit the same illusions. But if they see us anchoring in ownership if they see us walking through houses we bought, refinancing with strategy, leveraging equity to fund businesses then they will not just inherit wealth. They will inherit a blueprint.
Hosea’s warning is not just about ignorance, it’s about accountability. Knowledge is not something we wait for. It’s something we seek. It’s something we protect. And it’s something we pass on.
Because ownership is not a lifestyle it’s a lifeline. The generation that stops chasing illusions and starts investing in truth. The generation that turns renters into homeowners, consumers into creators, and survivors into strategists. Property is Power!
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.
Food Insecurity
From page A-5
car, distance becomes an insurmountable barrier. Many are forced to rely on options that are neither nutritious nor sustainable. According to the resolution, Wayne County contains a major imbalance—over 3,100 fast food establishments compared to only 1,700 grocery stores.
Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick, the Youth Council’s founder and current liaison, has guided the group since its establishment in 2020. She emphasized the importance of elevating youth voices in policy discussions and decision-making.
“I am thrilled to witness the remarkable impact that our youth council members continue to make as the voice of young people in government creating better conditions for their peers,” she said. “Our youth council empowers them for greater leadership roles in Wayne County and throughout the United States.”
The Youth Council met monthly throughout the school year. They participated in a legislative advocacy workshop hosted at Wayne State University. Members also traveled to Lansing for an Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. Two representatives attended a National Association of Counties event in Washington, D.C., positioning themselves among national youth leaders shaping local policy.
Since its inception, the Youth Council has addressed gun safety, student mental health, substance abuse, and economic oppression. Their gun safety resolution, introduced in a previous session, directly informed state legislation signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. This year’s resolution continues that tradition of addressing immediate needs through tangible policy proposals.
The No Man Hungry resolution offers concrete solutions. It calls for a county-wide ordinance permitting residents to keep chickens, ducks, and bees, a step aimed at increasing self-sufficient food production in neighborhoods underserved by grocery infrastructure. It advocates for the expansion of food banks and soup kitchens in school zones and near community landmarks. It demands support for community gardens in low-income areas to ensure regular access to fresh produce. It proposes food voucher and prescription programs that lower the cost of nutrient-rich meals. It urges public and family-based agencies across the county to formally endorse food access as a basic right for all residents.
The language of the resolution
When
outlines both the urgency and the opportunity: “Wayne County being the number one ‘least healthy county’ in 2024” is not just a statistic—it is a direct result of systemic neglect. The resolution connects public health outcomes to zoning policies, access to transportation, and patterns of commercial development that leave Black and poor communities behind.
This is not the kind of policy that stays on paper. The Youth Council structured it to serve as a foundation for future ordinances, partnerships, and agency-level shifts. It’s a document with reach and teeth, built to survive political change and push past red tape.
At the year-end celebration, speakers including Mark Lee and 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King reinforced the importance of community leadership grounded in service. Certificates of recognition from Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s office were presented to council members, affirming the national resonance of their work.
Each Youth Council member is appointed by a Wayne County Commissioner, ensuring geographic and cultural representation across all 15 districts. This structure brings students from a variety of economic backgrounds, racial identities, and neighborhoods together to build a shared civic vision.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Youth Council session are now open. Interested students can contact their respective Wayne County Commissioner for an application or call Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick’s office directly at (313) 2240884 for guidance.
The resolution concludes with a strong set of directives. It encourages collaboration between local agencies,
educational institutions, and families. It calls on all county public facilities and schools to recognize food security as a requirement for youth success— not a luxury. It positions the Youth Council not as symbolic participants but as legislative influencers equipped to write, present, and move policy forward.
The young people behind No Man Hungry did not write from abstraction. They wrote from the knowledge that food deserts have long been a structural failure of public will. They wrote from the urgency that comes from watching classmates rely on gas station snacks for dinner. They wrote from neighborhoods where grocery stores are a bus ride away, but dollar menus are around every corner.
The work these young leaders put forward is not symbolic—it’s structural. It’s the kind of blueprint elected officials claim to champion but rarely have the courage to build. This council didn’t wait on permission. They did the research. They brought the receipts. They moved a resolution through government with precision and clarity, calling out what too many have chosen to ignore: hunger is a policy failure, not a personal one.
Their vision doesn’t live in theory— it lives in real neighborhoods, where the nearest full-service grocery store might be two bus rides away and dinner comes from a gas station shelf. Their policy push is a reminder that community transformation doesn’t start at the top—it starts wherever truth meets action.
This is the next generation of leadership in Wayne County. Not someday. Right now. And they’ve already set the expectation: if decision-makers won’t fight for the people, these young voices will draft the roadmap—and hold every seat at the table accountable.
Opportunity Resource Fund Names Byna Elliott as New CEO
Christine Coady Narayanan to Retire After 35 Years
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Underneath the weight of inequity, Christine Coady Narayanan built a vessel that carried thousands of Michiganders toward ownership, dignity, and possibility. That vessel is Opportunity Resource Fund—a community-rooted institution that’s leveraged over $300 million to uplift people who’ve been told “no” by traditional lenders.
This year marks 40 years of that work—and with it, a shift that echoes the heartbeat of Detroit’s legacy of reinvention. After more than three decades of leading the charge for capital justice, Narayanan is preparing to step down. In her place, a new voice rises—one that’s been in the trenches of financial inclusion from the very beginning. Byna Elliott, a daughter of Detroit and champion of equita-
ble wealth building, will become the new CEO of Opportunity Resource Fund effective June 23, 2025.
This transition isn’t just symbolic—it’s deeply personal. It’s about what it means to pass the baton of power not out of obligation, but as an intentional act of faith in the next generation of bold, Black woman leadership. And for communities across Michigan—especially Black and Brown neighborhoods long divested from— this is about more than a leadership change. It’s about protecting and evolving a promise.
Christine Coady Narayanan wasn’t chasing headlines when she took the helm of OppFund more than 35 years ago. Her vision was quieter—but more radical. She believed that everyone—regardless of zip code or income—deserved access to the financial tools that fuel ownership.
New Poll Shows Frontrunners in Detroit’s August Primary Elections
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Detroit’s next chapter won’t be handed out—it’ll be earned. As Mayor Mike Duggan prepares to exit, a new poll lays bare what Detroiters are prioritizing: candidates who’ve shown up, done the work, and earned trust block by block. Conducted by The Glengariff Group between May 27 and May 29, the survey gives a sharp snapshot of who’s resonating most ahead of the August primary—and who still has work to do. This race is shaping up to be a referendum on presence, accountability, and real neighborhood results.
The poll, commissioned by WDIV and the Detroit News, reached 500 likely primary voters by phone. It shows Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield leading the pack with 38.4%. Her advantage isn’t based on flash or inflated promises. It’s coming from a steady hand and a name long tied to policy, community investment, and generational advocacy.
Sheffield’s numbers reflect what those working-class corners of Detroit already know. Voters who had heard of her gave her a 63.2% favorability rating, with only 4.5% holding an unfavorable view. Nearly a quarter had no opinion, and only 8.1% had never heard of her. These are not just numbers. They speak to a decade of public service rooted in the neighborhoods—not distant from them.
Coming in second, Solomon Kinloch Jr. earned 14%. Known widely as the pastor of Triumph Church, Kinloch pulled a 38.8% favorability rating among those who recognized his name. But nearly a quarter of voters— 22.2%—had never heard of him. Favorability will mean little if his team can’t close that name recognition gap in time.
James Craig polled at 9.1%, but there’s a cautionary tale embedded in his numbers. While 26.6% view him favorably, a larger 37.6% hold unfavorable views. That isn’t just skepticism. It’s memory. Voters remember Craig’s public stances, statewide campaigns, and his approach to public safety that did not always land well with Black Detroiters. The path forward for Craig is rough, and name recognition alone won’t be enough to pull him through.
Saunteel Jenkins secured 8.1%. Her nonprofit and civic resume is respected, and 37.2% of those familiar with her name view her favorably. But the clock is ticking. Twenty-five percent of voters had never heard of her, and 30.7% had no opinion. That silence is space her campaign must urgently fill.
Attorney Todd Perkins received 4.3% support. Among voters familiar with him, 19.3% saw him favorably, while 7.5% did not. Still, nearly 46% had never heard of him. That’s a stark indica-
Under her guidance, OppFund expanded from its early grassroots beginnings into a statewide financial force that has centered mission over margin, people over profit. That includes providing housing loans to families locked out of homeownership, business capital to Black entrepreneurs denied by big banks, and dollars to transform vacant blocks into hubs of community power.
tor of the visibility gap that persists in Detroit politics— where deep resumes don’t always come with public recognition.
Fred Durhal III polled at 1.6%. While 16.1% of those who knew him had a favorable impression, 51.2% of respondents didn’t know his name at all. It’s the same story for Jonathan Barlow, who polled at 1.4% and had over 61% unfamiliarity among voters.
Joel Haashiim and DaNetta Simpson both came in at 0.6%. Each had over 71% of respondents say they had never heard of them.
As Sheilah Clay, Board Chair and longtime community development advocate, put it plainly: “Christi leaves behind an amazing legacy. Her passion and unwavering commitment to economic justice have shaped OppFund into a trusted and vital partner across the state.”
That trust was earned, not given. And it’s what makes this moment of transition feel both grounded and expansive.
fought for, block by block.
“I’ve been in the financial industry for over 25 years, helping people get access to investments and financial products,” Elliott said. “It’s been a rewarding journey, and I’m excited to share that I’m now joining Opportunity Resource Fund. This is a dream come true for me—I’m thrilled to work with a team that’s passionate about helping others achieve their goals, whether it’s buying a home, starting a business, or revitalizing a neighborhood.”
This next chapter of OppFund will be shaped by Elliott’s unique vantage point—one that fuses big-picture financial strategy with an unwavering commitment to everyday people.
This isn’t about titles and transitions. It’s about who gets to build—and who gets backed.
In the current financial landscape, where Black borrowers still face higher denial rates, and where redlining’s ghosts still haunt entire corridors, institutions like OppFund are not a luxury. They’re a necessity. And the leadership at the helm matters.
Christine created a structure that proved what was possible. Byna is about to show us what’s next.
This leadership handoff comes at a critical time— not just for the fund, but for the state. Michigan is facing widening racial wealth gaps, a housing affordability crisis, and a growing urgency to invest in real, community-led solutions.
OppFund’s future under Elliott will reflect both the urgency of now and the hope of what’s possible when leadership looks like the people it serves.
“We are thrilled to welcome her as our new CEO,” said Board Chair Clay. “Byna is a proven strategic and community-focused leader and advocate for inclusive economic opportunity. We look forward to the next phase of OppFund’s growth and impact under her visionary guidance.”
But let’s not move past the foundation.
nity prosperity. Now, with a leadership baton passed and a legacy intact, Narayanan is preparing to step into her next chapter. But her fingerprints will remain—etched into every home preserved, every entrepreneur funded, and every neighborhood revived with care.
June 23, 2025, marks the official beginning of Elliott’s tenure—but the momentum is already building. OppFund’s 40th anniversary offers not just a milestone to honor its past, but a platform to galvanize its future.
OppFund isn’t just transitioning—it’s leveling up. And for Michigan’s most vulnerable communities, that means continued access to fair, flexible capital and a team that sees them as worthy, not risky.
The mission remains the same: to use finance as a tool for liberation, not limitation. But with Elliott at the helm, the strategy is poised to deepen its reach— anchored in data, rooted in community, and unapologetically led by a Black woman who knows exactly what’s at stake.
Too often, we miss the power in these moments— when leadership shifts and institutions evolve. But this right here? This is how movements are sustained.
View full article @ michiganchronicle.com
OppFund’s incoming CEO isn’t new to this work—she’s been shaping systems from the inside out for more than two decades. Most recently, Elliott held a global role driving inclusive growth at one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. But her track record isn’t built on corporate polish. It’s built on deep Detroit roots and a clear understanding that equity doesn’t just happen—it’s
From housing insecurity to access to capital, Elliott understands the gaps—and more importantly, she’s shown time and again that she knows how to close them.
Whether you’re a Detroiter navigating a system that wasn’t built for your success, a budding entrepreneur in Flint with a vision but no collateral, or a nonprofit organizer in Muskegon fighting for neighborhood investment—OppFund has either touched your work directly or cleared a path for your efforts to matter.
What Narayanan built wasn’t just a nonprofit lender. It was—and remains—a bold declaration: that capital can serve justice when it’s placed in the right hands.
She guided OppFund through recessions, disinvestment waves, and policy shifts, ensuring it remained nimble yet unshakable. Her efforts resulted in over $300 million invested in people— folks who used that support to stay in their homes, build businesses, hire neighbors, and plant seeds of commu-
Christine Coady Narayanan turned a small fund into a force. Byna Elliott is set to take that force and make it unstoppable.
For the families fighting for their first home, the entrepreneurs reshaping their blocks, the dreamers in neighborhoods overlooked—OppFund’s next chapter is written with you in mind.
And if history tells us anything, it’s that when Black women lead with intention, vision, and community at the center—everyone eats.
Byna Elliott
Christine Coady Narayanan
C ity . L ife . Style .
Detroit’s Cultural Renaissance:
DIA and Charles H. Wright Museum Spotlight Black Art and Identity
By Amber Ogden STAFF WRITER
Detroit’s premier cultural institutions are entering a new era, one that not only honors the city’s rich African American heritage but also redefines how Black art is viewed and celebrated in major museum spaces. At the heart of this cultural renaissance are the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, both of which are unveiling ambitious exhibits and permanent installations that reflect a broader commitment to diversity, access, and representation.
This year, the DIA is home to a bold new exhibition by Detroit native and internationally recognized artist Tiff Massey. Known for her dynamic installations and large-scale, jewelry-inspired sculptures, Massey’s exhibit, “7 Mile + Livernois,” opened in May 2024, spanning four galleries; it’s one of the most expansive exhibitions by a local artist in the museum’s history.
Rooted in the cultural legacy of Detroit’s historic fashion and business corridor, “7 Mile + Livernois” is more than an homage to the artist’s neighborhood. It’s a blueprint for reimagining the relationship between museums and the community.
courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Open Tues–Thurs 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Charles H. Wright Museum of
African American History
315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI
Open Wed–Sun
Tickets and info: www.thewright.org
Exhibitions: Luminosity: A Detroit Arts Gathering (through March 31, 2026), The Wright Generation (through June 30, 2025), And Still We Rise (ongoing)
Massey uses metal, wood, mirrors, and sound to explore themes of identity, adornment, and self-determination. The exhibit is also part of a larger shift within the DIA. As of October 2025, the museum’s African American Art galleries will be relocated from the rear of the building to a central space just off Rivera Court, the area best known for Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry mural. This new location will showcase works by Black artists from the DIA’s permanent collection and feature rotating special exhibitions, positioning them at the heart of the museum’s main traffic flow.
Lane Coleman is the Board Chair of the Detroit Institute of Arts and shared The DIA is the first museum to have galleries dedicated to African American art.
“I don’t even like to use the word progressive. What we try to do at the DIA is really emulate the community that we serve,” Coleman said.
“We still are going to tell the story of African American art, but we’ll evolve it.”
In addition to Massey’s current exhibition, the DIA has also announced the acquisition of her sculpture Baby Bling, which will become part of the museum’s permanent collection. Made from wood, steel, gold leaf, and mirrored acrylic, the piece evokes the oversized aesthetic of hip-hop jewelry and makes a bold statement about Black cultural pride and feminine power.
See BLACK ART Page B-2
Where City Meets Life and Life Meets
Beats, Bats & Black Excellence: Black in Baseball Weekend Hits it Out of the Park in
By Amber Ogden STAFF WRITER
Baseball’s roots run deep in Detroit, and this weekend, the city pays homage to the Black athletes, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who helped shape America’s pastime. “Black in Baseball Weekend,” a celebration of the Negro Leagues and Black culture in the sport, returns June 13–14 at Comerica Park, bringing history alive for a new generation of fans.
The two-day celebration, a collaboration between the Detroit Tigers and Comerica Bank, isn’t just a party; it’s a poignant reminder of the struggle, brilliance, and legacy of Black baseball in Detroit and beyond.
Festivities begin Friday, June 13, with an electrifying Block Party outside Comerica Park’s entry gates starting at 4:30 p.m. The free event is designed to bring fans together through culture, community, and curated entertainment.
Friday night’s game as the Detroit Tigers face off against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park, with a postgame concert by three-time Grammy Award winner Ludacris capping off the excitement. The first pitch is at 7:10 p.m., and fans with game tickets can stay in their seats to enjoy the live performance as part of Black in Baseball Weekend. The night is also a special hip-hop edition of “Friday Night Party in the Park,” presented by Casamigos, and includes themed concessions like the Peaches and Cream cocktail, a tropical mix of Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Peach Schnapps, lime juice, and coconut cream.
Asia Gholston, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Vice President of Brand Marketing, excitedly highlighted there’s nothing like the energy of a Friday night at the ballpark, and the added excitement of a major artist like Ludacris takes that experience to the next level.
“We’re thrilled to combine Tigers baseball at Comerica Park with a show-stopping performance for the best fans in baseball.”
The Ludacris concert adds another vibrant layer to a weekend dedicated to
Detroit June 13
honoring Black baseball history and celebrating Black culture through music, food, and community.
The Divine 9 step show, presented by Wayne State University at 5:30 p.m., leads the program, highlighting the presence of Black fraternities and sororities in Detroit. Local DJs will keep the music flowing, and fans can shop from a Black-owned business market featuring everything from art to apparel. Food trucks and drink carts will serve up local flavor, and photo ops throughout the space ensure the day is as Instagram-worthy as it is inspiring.
The Block Party serves as a prelude to Saturday’s more reflective celebration, Negro Leagues Tribute Day, which delves into the rich history and enduring legacy of Black players in baseball.
On Saturday, June 14, Comerica Park transforms into a living museum with a lineup of tributes to the players who broke barriers and changed the game forever. Fans will have the rare opportunity to hear directly from Negro Leagues alumni during a pregame Q&A session at the Big Cat Court, offering firsthand accounts of playing in a segregated league and their journey through a tumultuous but transformative time in American sports.
Throughout the stadium, a curated mini concourse museum under the Comerica Landing will display artifacts and exhibits honoring Negro Leagues’ history. From original jerseys to vintage photographs, the museum experience will take visitors back in time to an era where Black excellence flourished against the odds. Around the park, photo installations allow fans to pose alongside iconic imagery and immerse themselves in the story of Black baseball.
Detroit’s place in Negro League history is both proud and powerful. In the early 20th century, the city was home to the Detroit Stars, a founding member of the Negro National League in 1920. The Stars played at historic Mack Park and later Hamtramck Stadium, one of the few remaining Negro League ballparks still standing today.
Led by legends like Turkey Stearnes, a slugger who still ranks among the
greatest hitters in the game’s history, the Stars became a powerhouse and a source of pride for Detroit’s growing Black population during the Great Migration from the South.
Though the integration of Major League Baseball in 1947 with Jackie Robinson marked a turning point, the Negro Leagues’ impact didn’t end. The talent, style, and determination of its players have left an undeniable mark on the sport. That legacy is front and center this weekend.
The event highlights how baseball can serve as both a reflection of society and a catalyst for change. From Jackie Robinson to Mookie Betts and from Turkey Stearnes to current Tigers players, the influence of Black athletes has defined the sport in countless ways. By engaging fans through both entertainment and education, Black in Baseball Weekend is helping Detroiters of all ages see themselves in the history and future of the game.
For those attending, the weekend offers more than just games; it’s an invitation to understand, appreciate, and celebrate Black culture in Detroit. Whether it’s children posing with vintage memorabilia, elders sharing stories of the Stars, or families cheering during the step show, every moment is infused with meaning.
As the Tigers take the field under summer skies, they do so in the shadow of giants Black pioneers whose love of the game outshined every barrier placed before them. And for two unforgettable days, Comerica Park becomes more than a ballpark. It becomes a classroom, a block party, a gallery, and a shrine.
It becomes the heartbeat of a city that knows its baseball and never forgets those who built it. Black in Baseball Weekend takes place June 13–14 at Comerica Park. Tickets are available via the Detroit Tigers website. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for full access to the pregame events and exhibits.
For tickets and to purchase apparel, visit mlb.com/tigers/tickets/promotions/2025/black-in-baseball.
Retired NFL Star Joique Bell Launches Free Summer Program at Wayne State
By Amber Ogden STAFF WRITER
Born in Benton Harbor, “Detroit Made” former NFL running back for the Detroit Lions Joique Bell is taking his commitment to the city’s youth to the next level this summer, launching a five-week academic and athletic enrichment program designed to empower middle school students through a mix of STEAM learning, sports, mentorship, and real-world career exposure.
Set to run from June 23 through July 29 at Wayne State University, the alma mater of Joique Bell, the Joique Bell Charity Summer Enrichment Program is completely free and open to rising 6th through 9th-grade students in the Detroit area. Developed in partnership with Inspirational Learning, Curry
Motorsports, and I Am My City, the initiative offers a robust and holistic approach to summer programming at a time when many youth risk falling behind.
The initiative is powered by the Joique Bell Charity, a nonprofit organization founded by former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell. The charity focuses on empowering Michigan’s youth through a combination of education, mentorship, and access to opportunities. Yearround, the organization supports initiatives across health, education, and community enrichment, with an emphasis on uplifting inner-city youth and closing opportunity gaps.
“Detroit has given so much to me, from my education to my football career to the values I live by today,” Bell said.
“This program is my way of giving back to the city and its youth. I want every child in Detroit to know that their dreams matter, their talents matter, and their future is worth investing in.”
At the heart of the program is an ambitious blend of academic instruction and enrichment opportunities. Students will receive daily lessons in math and literacy, taught by certified educators, along with hands-on exploration of fields like artificial intelligence, digital media, marketing, and motorsports. Physical activity is also a key component, with options like flag football, dance, and team games rounding out each day.
But beyond academics and athletics, the program seeks to build confidence, community,
Tiff Massey’s “Baby Bling”,
Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Jake Woods, and Willie Horton, courtesy of MLB and Comerica. courtesy of MLB and Comerica
Joique Bell Courtesy of Joique Bell
Black Art
From page B-1
Across the street, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a similarly dynamic approach. The museum’s marquee exhibition, Luminosity: A Detroit Arts Gathering, will run through March 2026. Featuring over 60 artists, the show weaves together past, present, and future with works that reflect the city’s evolving artistic voice.
Multidisciplinary in scope, Luminosity includes painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, and video art. Visitors will find pieces from the museum’s own archive alongside commissioned works, many of which center on themes of ancestry, healing, futurism, and collective memory. The result is an ex-
pansive, often deeply personal reflection of what it means to be a Detroit artist in the 21st century.
Running concurrently is The Wright Generation, a more intimate exhibit showcasing portraits, ephemera, and oral histories from Detroit elders and cultural leaders. It’s a reminder that the past is never far behind in a city where legacy and resilience are intertwined.
For those seeking a deeper understanding of African American history, The Wright’s permanent exhibition, And Still We Rise, remains a cornerstone experience. Spanning 22,000 square feet, the exhibition guides visitors through ancient African civilizations, slavery, segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and contemporary social justice struggles. Through more than 20 immersive galleries, visitors walk through a
Free Summer Program
From page B-1
and a vision for the future.
Daily leadership panels will connect students with local role models and visit celebrity guests, while field trips and career spotlights, called “Power Hours,” will introduce a new professional pathway each day.
Don-Q Patterson, CEO of Inspirational Learning and the program’s director, highlighted that this is not just a camp but a catalyst for the youth.
“By integrating mentorship, academic tutoring, and career exploration, we’re ensuring that Detroit youth stay excited about their futures and equipped to pursue them,” Patterson said.
Organizers say the middle school years are a critical window for intervention. Students at this age often begin to disengage from science and math, especially during unstructured summers, making programs like this one essential for keeping them on track. The curriculum was designed to reignite curiosity, nurture talent, and surround students with en-
couragement and opportunity.
Julius Curry, founder of Curry Motorsports and a longtime advocate for Detroit youth, saw a chance to inspire through his own industry.
“When Joique shared his vision, I saw an opportunity to bring something extraordinary to life,” Curry said.
“Motorsports is just one example of the doors we can open for young people. This program gives them the keys to dream bigger, explore more, and believe in what’s possible.”
The experience will culminate in a graduation-style celebration, where students will receive certificates of completion, recognize their achievements, and share highlights of their summer experience. Participants will also receive free breakfast and lunch, branded gear, and access to transportation assistance for families in need.
Students enrolled in the Joique Bell Charity Summer Enrichment Program will receive free breakfast and lunch daily, along with branded gear to create a sense
slave ship, peer into a 1960s beauty shop, and stand faceto-face with pivotal moments in American history.
Together, these initiatives reflect a broader push among Detroit’s cultural leaders to center Black stories not as sidebars to the “main event,” but as foundational to the city’s past and future. From acquiring new works by Black artists to physically reshaping their gallery spaces, the DIA and The Wright are working to transform Detroit into a national leader in inclusive museum practices.
It’s a sentiment echoed by many museum-goers and artists who see this moment as the beginning of something greater and a long-overdue rebalancing of the scales, where Black creativity isn’t just celebrated during Black History Month but woven permanently into the city’s cultural fabric.
of pride and belonging. In addition to academic instruction and enrichment activities, students will gain access to exclusive guest sessions and curated field trips, offering meaningful exposure to new environments and career possibilities. For families with transportation barriers, support will be provided to ensure accessibility, and all instruction will be led by certified educators and trained professionals committed to student growth.
The five-week program will conclude with a closing ceremony on July 29, honoring students with certificates of completion and celebrating their hard work and growth. Organizers hope this pilot marks the beginning of a broader, long-term effort. With plans already in motion to expand the program in the coming years, Bell and his partners are building what they see as a sustainable pathway for youth empowerment across Detroit.
Enrollment is open now, but space is limited to 200 students. Families interested in registering or applying for staff roles can visit the following links: Register a student: currymotorsports.com/new-page-1
Wayne County Launches Mobile Vision Clinic to Close Gaps in Eye Care for Children
By Amber Ogden STAFF WRITER
Roughly one in four children struggles to see clearly in the classroom, a barrier that can severely hinder academic success. In the fall of last year Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans announced a new countywide partnership aimed at closing that gap, teaming up with the national nonprofit Vision To Learn to provide free eye exams and glasses to students in underserved communities. The initiative, launched at Barber Preparatory Academy in Highland Park, is set to deliver vision care directly to schools across Wayne County.
Backed by a $1.75 million investment from the county and matched by Vision To Learn with up to $1.5 million in additional funding, the program will deploy a full-time mobile vision clinic to schools throughout the region.
More than 100 children received new glasses at the launch event, marking the first major rollout of the service in Highland Park. The goal is to reach 10,000 students across districts such as Redford, River Rouge, Ecorse, Hamtramck, Taylor, Wayne/Westland, Dearborn, and Dearborn Heights, with plans to eventually serve every corner of the county.
Health, Human, and Veterans Services currently screens children in grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, as well as preschoolers at daycare centers and Head Start centers. While these screenings identify students in need, many fall through the cracks when it comes to follow-up care. The new program will close that gap by offering in-school exams and providing each student with two pairs of glasses, one for school use and one for home.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, director of the health department, highlighted if young people can’t can’t see what’s on the blackboard, it really doesn’t matter what’s happening on the blackboard.
“The health consequences of giving a child a pair of glasses of empowering them to see redound for the rest of their lives,” ElSayed said.
The vision initiative is part of the county’s broader Well Wayne public health push. Other projects in the portfolio include a countywide air quality monitoring program, a plan to install 100 Narcan vending machines, and a startup incubator that offers entrepreneurs free health insurance for three months.
Evans, who has long spoken about systemic barriers to education and equity, drew a clear connection between untreated vision issues and cycles of poverty and incarceration.
“I spent most of my career in law enforcement. I shudder to think about how many youths get caught in the system because, at some point, they simply couldn’t see what was happening at the front of the classroom,” Evans said.
“Making sure every single kid who needs a pair of glasses gets a pair is about more than just glasses, it’s about changing the course of a child’s life That’s why our partnership with Vision To Learn is so foundational to what we’re trying to do in here in Wayne County.”
Vision To Learn Founder Austin Beutner highlighted a startling statistic that more than 3 million children across the country go to school every day without the glasses they need.
“This effort will ensure 10,000 school children in Wayne County are provided with eye care. Every child in every school, everywhere in the country, should have the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life,” Beutner said.
Wayne County’s Department of
Vision To Learn, founded in 2012, is now the largest provider of school-based eye care in the U.S., having screened more than 3.2 million children and distributed nearly 500,000 pairs of glasses entirely free to families. Since expanding to Michigan in 2016, the organization has delivered services to over 100,000 children across cities, including Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Lansing.
For Wayne County Deputy Executive Assad Turfe, the partnership reflects a deeper philosophy: “You always hear people say education is the gateway to a better life, and it is. But if kids can’t see the lesson on the board, that gateway might as well be locked. We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell called the disparity in vision care among children “astonishing,” adding that the new initiative reflects a broader commitment to health equity.
“It’s astonishing to think that so many children lack access to basic eye care and that they struggle in school because of it,” Bell said.
“At the same time, it’s encouraging to realize the impact this partnership will have. A simple pair of glasses can make such a big, lifelong difference in a child’s life and we are stepping up to ensure that children who need them will get them.”
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We continue to modernize our energy infrastructure and further protect the Straits of Mackinac crossing by investing in the Great Lakes Tunnel.
As a North American integrated energy company, we’ve been delivering the energy the state needs for decades and we’re investing in Michigan communities and infrastructure. It’s how we’re building toward a better tomorrow.
Discover more at enbridge.com/Michigan.
MICHIGAN’S
Michigan is required to prepare a formal State of Michigan Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan (the Consolidated Plan) for further funding from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Develoment. Michigan is required to prepare a Consolidated an Actual Action Plan. The Consolidated Plan proposes an action strategy by which needs will be addressed through five program years. The consolidated plan being proposed covers FY25 through FY 29 anticipated allocations. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is responsible for preparing and soliciting comments from the public regarding the draft plan and its subsequent amendments.
The comment period will commence on Thursday, June 12, 2025, and end on Friday, July 11, 2025. In-person public hearings will be held at the MSHDA Lansing office, 735 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing on Tuesday July 1, 2025, from 1-2 pm and at the MSHDA Detroit office, 3028 W. Grand Boulevard 4-600, Detroit on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 1 -2 pm. A special virtual public hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 from 5-6 pm via Microsoft Teams, Meeting ID: 235 535 525 234 7, Passcode: JP9or2Vi OR call in (audio only) +1 248-509-0316, 750 034 541#, Phone Conference ID: 750 034 541#.
Introduction
Prior to submission for further funding from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development, Michigan is required to publish a five year plan document for public review and comment. The Consolidated Plan proposes an action strategy by which programmatic fund needs will be addressed and reflects activities for program years 2025-2029 beginning July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2030. The plan consists of funding by applicable formula programs: HOME, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and all related programs including CDBG Disaster Recovery, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDs (HOPWA), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), the Recovery Housing Program (RHP) as applicable, and the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is responsible for preparing the five year plan, annual action plans, as well as the annual Michigan Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and soliciting comments from the public regarding the outcomes tied to the draft Plan and reporting outcomes on an annual basis thereafter. A link to the proposed draft five year plan can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/neighborhoods/michigan-consolidated-plan.
All interested parties are invited to submit written comments directly related to the draft Michigan Consolidated Action Plan. Information gathered during the written comment period will be used to substantiate a formal five year Michigan Consolidated Plan. Individuals and organizations may submit written comments to Tonya Joy, 735 East Michigan Avenue, P.O. Box 30044, Lansing, MI 48909. Written comments must be received no later than July 11, 2025. Comments can also be submitted to the MSHDA Consolidated Plan Coordinator via e-mail to mshda-cdbg@michigan.gov.
Copies of the Michigan Consolidated Action Plan may be downloaded free of charge from the MSHDA website link above.
Special Assistance: Feedback is encouraged from mobility-challenged individuals. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation should contact the MSHDA Neighborhood Development Division at 517-335-2524 to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking proposals for subcontractors under RFP 26-0069 Davis Aerospace Technical High School Bid Release 1.
Architect/Engineer:
Construction Manager: Gilbane/KEO & Associates, Inc./Brix Corporation 1435 Randolph Street, Suite 450 Detroit, MI 48226
There will be a non-mandatory Pre-Bid conference for this RFP that will take place virtually on June 17, 2025 at 12 p.m. The meeting can be accessed at the below link.
https://tinyurl.com/msd8ynh6 Call-In: (313) 462-2305 Conference ID: 492 117 71#
The non-mandatory walk through will take place on June 17, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the below address.
• CAYMA (Municipal Airport Site) 11499 Connor St, Detroit, MI 48213
Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-bid and walk through.
The due date for Proposals is July 1, 2025 at 12 p.m. Proposals must be submitted electronically via Building Connected by due date and time. Late bids will not be accepted.
The Public Opening will occur virtually at 12:00 p.m. on July 1, 2025, and can be viewed at the below link:
https://tinyurl.com/26uvjzts Call-In: (313) 462-2305
Conference ID: 252 048 896#
This Project is subject to Michigan State Prevailing Wage Laws
(Michigan Public Act 10 of 2023) and the Contractor must pay prevailing wages and fringe benefits to all of Contractor’s, and is subcontractors’, construction mechanics working on the Project in accordance with Michigan Public Act 10 of 2023. All bids must be accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement disclosing any familial relationship that exists between the submitting company and any employee of DPSCD. DPSCD shall not accept a bid that does not include this sworn and notarized disclosure statement. A bid bond in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the base bid is also required.
Notice of Public Hearing
Weston Preparatory Academy a Tuition-Free Public-School Academy, will hold its 2025-2026 Budget Hearing on June 18, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at 22930 Chippewa Street, Detroit, MI 48219, (313) 387-6038 to review the proposed 2025-2026 operating budget. A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the above address.
Budget Hearing Notice
A public hearing will be held at DCP Harper Woods to review the 2025-2026 budget for Discovery Creative Pathways. The meeting will be held at 4:00 pm on June 24th, 2025 at the DCP HW Campus at 19360 Harper Ave, Harper Woods, MI 48225. A copy of the budget can be inspected at the DCP HW Campus at 19360 Harper Ave, Harper Woods, MI 48225, or via email request to mross@phalenacademies.org.
Budget Hearing Notice
A public hearing will be held to review the 2025-2026 budget for Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. The meeting will be held at 3:00 pm on June 23rd at 15000 Trojan Street. Detroit, MI 48235. A copy of the budget can be inspected at Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, 15000 Trojan Street. Detroit, MI 48235, or via email request to mross@phalenacademies.org.
Notice of Public Hearing
Academy of Warren will hold a public hearing June 17, 2025 at 5:30 pm at 13943 East 8 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089, (586) 552-8010 to review the proposed 2025-2026 operating budget. A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the above address.
Notice of Budget Hearing (Date Change)
The Detroit Achievement Academy District (MI PSA) shall hold a public budget hearing for its 2024-2025 annual operating budget on June 16th at 6:00pm at 7000 W Outer Dr, Detroit, MI 48235.
A copy of the budget is available for public inspection at: www.detroitachievement.org/budget
Product Support Engineer
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PROCESS ENGINEER
The
Honorable
Ulysses Whittaker Boykin Remembered as Legal Trailblazer, Devoted Mentor, and Faithful Son of Detroit
By Ebony JJ Curry, Senior Reporter
The legal community, civic leaders, and generations of mentees are mourning the loss of The Honorable Ulysses Whittaker Boykin, who passed away peacefully on May 10, 2025. He was 79.
Judge Boykin’s life was defined by discipline, study, and unwavering commitment to service. Born on November 8, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, he was the only child of Ulysses Boykin II and Cecil Whittaker Boykin. He came up through Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1963, where he focused on chemical-biological studies—a reflection of his early academic discipline and curiosity. Instead of pursuing the sciences, Boykin turned toward history, enrolling at Hampton Institute in Virginia, a historically Black university that sharpened his academic resolve and grounded his sense of community. He graduated summa cum laude in 1967 with a degree in history. While at Hampton, he joined Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, cementing bonds that would remain with him for life.
It was a constitutional history course at Hampton that shifted the direction of his path toward law. He was accepted into Harvard Law School and graduated in 1970. During his time there, Boykin co-founded the Harvard Black Law Students Association, laying the groundwork for Black law students nationwide to build support networks within historically exclusionary spaces. This milestone helped launch a career rooted in opening doors and ensuring others had the opportunity to walk through them.
Grupo Antolin North America, Inc. has an opening for a Process Engineer in Shelby Township, MI responsible for participating in APQP Team as Process Engineering representative. Determine best method to salvage non-conforming material Bachelor's Degree (or foreign academic equivalent) in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or related Engineering field of study and four (4) years of experience as a Process Engineer, Design Engineer, or related industrial engineering role Domestic and international travel required up to 20% Any applicant who is interested in this position should apply to job reference number 18952 at https://careers.antolin.com/.
Yazaki North America has multiple job openings based out of its Canton, MI North American headquarters. Send resume via email to kara.cyr@us.yazaki.com or via mail to YNA HR, Attn: K. Cyr, 6801 Haggerty Road, Canton, MI 48187 and reference job code No phone calls, please
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*SENIOR BUYER responsible for performing key commercial aspects of purchasing such as supplier selection, price negotiation, new material coordination, global coordination, and VA/VE. Bachelor’s degree + 5 years of related experience required. Job code SB-VN1.
SENIOR ENGINEER & PROGRAM
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After Harvard, Boykin became the first African American attorney to practice at Dickinson Wright in Detroit. His time there was brief, but symbolic. He later joined the U.S. Army, entering active duty as a Second Lieutenant and leaving with the rank of First Lieutenant in 1972. Military service was another way he honored his commitment to civic responsibility.
Upon returning to Detroit, he joined Patmon, Young, and Kirk P.C., one of the city’s prominent Black law firms, before continuing his legal work at Lewis, White & Clay. At LWC, he led the firm’s Summer Law Clerk Program for sixteen years, ensuring law students had real access to the tools, mentorship, and experience they needed to grow.
In 1999, then-Governor John Engler appointed Boykin to the Wayne County Circuit Court, where he served with distinction for two decades. His work in the Criminal Division included presiding over felony trials and district court appeals, always with attention to fairness and clarity. In 2017, he served as a judge in the Wayne County Circuit Court’s Veterans Court, handling matters with a balanced hand and a sense of respect for those who served.
Judge Boykin’s legal career was not confined to the courtroom. He served on several state boards and commissions, including the Michigan Crime Victims Compensation Board, the Detroit Civil Service Commission (which he once chaired), and the Michigan Military Appeals Tribunal. His legal insight and measured leadership led to board appointments at WGPR-TV and the Detroit Omega Foundation, among others.
He was a consistent presence in legal associations across the state and the country, including the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the State Bar of Michigan’s Bar-Media Relations Committee. He held positions with the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, the Wolverine Bar Association, and was a life member of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference. His influence was felt across all levels of the legal profession.
Judge Boykin was deeply involved in the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, serving as Treasurer, President-elect, and Board Member throughout his tenure. He used his positions not to elevate himself, but to strengthen the institutions he was part of. He made it a point to mentor younger attorneys and judges, and he remained connected to his Hampton alumni network and Detroit’s broader legal community throughout his career.
The recognition he received was never the motivation behind his service, but it followed naturally. He was honored with the 2016 Champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan and named an HBCU Game Changer by the Kentucky State University National Alumni Association the same year. Harvard Law School acknowledged him as a founding member of the Black Law Students Association and commended his decades of commitment to public service.
Outside of the legal world, Judge Boykin was a faithful and active member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Detroit. He regularly gave Black History presentations during Sunday services—another way he invested in educating and connecting with his community. His commitment to history, law, and service extended into his family life. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Traylor Boykin, and his son, Peter Jeffrey Boykin (Sheila), both of Detroit. He is also survived by his sister, Taunya Lovell Banks, Esq., of Baltimore, and a long list of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended relatives. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Alfred Wade Boykin Jr.
Judge Boykin was regarded not just for his legal acumen, but for his ability to listen, his willingness to mentor, and his clear sense of duty. Those closest to him speak of a man who made time—whether it was to advise a law student navigating their first clerkship or to explain the constitutional roots of due process during a Sunday conversation after church.
Many of those he mentored are now judges, attorneys, and civic leaders across Michigan and beyond. They carry with them not just lessons in law, but values that Judge Boykin lived by: precision, humility, and public duty.
His name may no longer appear on the bench, but the foundation he built continues. His legacy is evident in the policies he helped shape, the people he mentored, and the countless Detroiters whose lives were touched by his service.
Judge Ulysses Whittaker Boykin’s passing marks the end of a deeply rooted chapter in Michigan’s legal and civic history. But the blueprint he laid down—for justice, community mentorship, and generational excellence—remains a guiding light for those still doing the work.
PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Ciaran Griffin / iStock via Getty Images Plus
