Michigan Chronicle Vol. 88 -No. 42

Michigan Chronicle

Michigan Chronicle

Michigan Chronicle

Sam Robinson Joins Michigan Chronicle as Senior Political Reporter During Critical Year for Detroit

All Black Everything: A

UAW Triple Strike Against Detroit Automakers

Night of Elegance and Excellence at the 10th Annual Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

By Jeremy Allen Executive Editor

Journalist and Detroit resident Sam Robinson has joined the Michigan Chronicle as a senior reporter. Together with current senior reporter Ebony JJ Curry, the two will continue the Chronicle’s ongoing political coverage during a historic moment for Detroit’s government and civic life.

Late Thursday night, Sept. 14, a historic moment unfolded in American labor relations as the United Auto Workers (UAW) union initiated a strike against Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis. For the first time, the union took simultaneous action against all three major Detroit-based automakers. The action involves approximately 13,000 UAW members in assembly plants across Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri, who walked off their jobs after existing labor contracts ex-

Robinson, who brings more than a half-decade of experience covering politics and culture, joins the Chronicle at a critical inflection point for the city. With Mayor Mike Duggan stepping down after more than a decade in office and several seats on Detroit City Council up for grabs, Robinson says this moment demanded that he return to local, print-focused journalism rooted in community.

By Ebony JJ Curry

n a breathtaking celebration of talent, determination, and the unyielding spirit of Black excellence, the Michigan Chronicle marked its 10th Annual 40 Under 40 event Thursday evening. This year’s soirée, drenched in the theme “All Black Everything with Gold Accents,” transcended expectations and essential ly illuminated the golden gems within the true essence of Black excellence. Hosted by the charismatic duo of Andre Ash and Lynzee Mychael from Michigan Chroni cle’s Finally Friday, the night was a triumph for the city of Detroit and its vibrant community of young Black professionals.

“This is an important election year,” Robinson said. “We’ve had the same mayor 12 years, and the city of Detroit is going to change at the end of this year. We’re going to get a whole new administration as well as several new council members. I think it’s really important that that’s reflected inside the pages of the Michigan Chronicle.”

A Reporter Rooted in Detroit

Shortly before midnight on Sept. 14, GM released a statement expressing disappointment with the strike action, despite offering what it termed an “unprecedented economic package” that included historic wage increases. Stellantis also expressed disappointment in a statement, saying the company immediately went into contingency mode to protect its operations.

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

The evening sparkled with a golden promise as we celebrated remarkable individuals from various walks of life. Among the honorees were the brilliant and vi sionary co-founders of Detroit Hives, Nicole Lindsey and Timothy Paul Jackson. Their work has not only changed the landscape of beekeeping and urban farming in De troit but also exemplified the transformative impact Black professionals can have on their communities.

Born in Baltimore, Md., and raised in Midland, Mich., Robinson has reported for Axios, MLive, and the Detroit Free Press, where his coverage focused on local government, elections, and cultural trends shaping the Motor City. He also founded Detroit One Million, an independent media project dedicated to documenting a generation of emerging Black leaders in Detroit and dissecting the city’s population trends throughout the decades.

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

“Together we have created a social, environmental, and financial impact through bees,” said Jackson. Lind sey followed that sentiment with, “It is through our local partnerships and collaborative efforts that we exist in over 28 plus locations managing the health of 4.5 million honeybees – humbly speaking our movement has inspired others locally, nationally, and even internationally to take on similar missions.”

Irma Clark-Coleman didn’t campaign for power. She built it quietly, through years of tireless service rooted in Detroit’s neighborhoods, shaped by experience, and driven by principle. She passed away June 11, 2025, at the age of 88, after a brief illness. The community she served, protected, and empowered now carries her absence with reverence.

to Wayne County government as a commissioner representing District 6. She was in her sixth term when she passed. She chaired the Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary, and Homeland Security and led the Community Corrections Advisory Board. Her work shaped how jails were operated and how public safety was delivered across the county.

they go out to her family.”

Can Reparative Investment Finally

His return to print journalism with the Michigan Chronicle marks a full-circle moment—not just professionally, but personally.

Detroit Hives, a pioneering organization founded by Lindsey and Jackson, harnesses the power of urban beekeeping to revitalize neighborhoods in the Motor City. Their initiative not only addresses critical issues like environmental conservation but also provides valuable education and employment opportunities to Black De-

For many Detroiters, Interstate 375, or I-375, has long been just another stretch of urban highway, a concrete artery connecting different parts of the city. To some, it’s a mere convenience; to others, it’s an unremarkable part of their daily commute. However, there’s a deeper, far more troubling story beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary freeway—a story of pain, displacement, and the lasting impact on Black Detroiters.

“I’m really excited to have my name back in a print news product,” Robinson said. “I think the first time since I left MLive was 2023. My grandma gets a kick out of it.”

The UAW has branded the industrial action as the “Stand-Up Strike,” focusing on specific plants within each automaker. UAW President Shawn Fain stated, “This strategy will keep the companies guessing. It will give our national negotiators maximum leverage and flexibility in bargaining. And if we need to go all out, we will. Everything is on the table.” Union leaders have also indicated that additional plants could be targeted in future waves if negotiations remain stalled.

Her public service career stretched across decades, but it was never about resume-building. She entered county government in 1967, starting in an entry-level role at the Wayne County Road Commission. She rose to assistant public information director and later became media relations director for County Executive William Lucas and press secretary to Executive Ed McNamara. She retired in 1998 as human relations director.

Mitchell expressed. “But more importantly, I’ve been able to have experiences within an industry that not many of us, specifically women of color, have the opportunity to engage in and I’ve been the youngest person in the room, the only Black person in the room, and the only Sistah in the room, and I really had to articulate the importance of showing up, giving chances when others won’t, and being persistent.” As a trailblazing Black woman thriving in a predominantly male-dominated industry, her unwavering commitment to fortifying the connections between businesses and Detroit’s communities is unde-

forcibly displaced. Families were uprooted, generational wealth was obliterated, and a thriving community was torn asunder. The wounds inflicted by I-375 run deep, transcending the physical barrier of a freeway to penetrate the very soul of Black Detroiters.

this bustling downtown destination in awe. One of these shootings tragically claimed the life of a popular and beloved security guard following a dispute with a patron.

Robinson’s arrival comes as the Michigan Chronicle nears its 90th anniversary. He says the publication’s deep legacy and accessibility were both key motivators in joining the paper.

This painful legacy can be traced back to the nation’s interstate highway program of 1956—a program that aimed to connect the country but often did so at the expense of marginalized communities. In the case of I-375, it meant carving a path through the heart of Black Detroit, reinforcing segregation, and perpetuating inequality.

All Hands On Deck to Combat Homelessness

By Andre Ash DIGITAL ANCHOR

“A lot of Detroit’s political history—especially from the perspective of Black Detroiters—is in the pages of the Chronicle,” Robinson said. “Even early 2000s mayoral campaigns, like in ’05 or ’13—you’re more likely to find that stuff on the Chronicle’s website than you are on other sites, which are locked behind paywalls.”

The tale begins in what is now Lafayette Park, once known as Black Bottom—a neighborhood rooted in African-American culture and history. Named after its dark, fertile soil, Black Bottom flourished during the mid1900s, nurturing the dreams and aspirations of prominent Detroiters like Coleman Young, Joe Louis, and numerous other Detroit legends. But in the name of urban renewal in the 1950s, this vibrant neighborhood was systematically dismantled, erased from the map, and replaced by a lifeless stretch of asphalt.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said, “I was terribly saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend and dedicated public servant, Irma Clark-Coleman. Irma spent her entire professional career in service to others, from her early years at the Wayne County Road Commission and press secretary for Ed McNamara, to her impressive second career as an elected Detroit School Board member, State Representative, State Senator and, most recently, Wayne County Commissioner. I’ve never met anyone as driven to be of service than Irma and she leaves with us a legacy that demonstrates her commitment.”

than just correcting historical injustices; it’s about redefining the future. It will connect downtown Detroit to surrounding neighborhoods, bridging the gap that was placed upon the city decades ago.

The male suspect allegedly shot the guard before fleeing the scene, while his female companion is accused of concealing the weapon in her bra.

Fain clarified the union’s strategy: “I want to give a major shoutout to the thousands of members who are on the picket lines right now fighting for all of us. The Stand-Up Strike is a new approach to striking. Instead of striking all plants at once, select locals will be called on to stand up and walk out on strike. This is our generation’s answer to the movement that built our union – the sit-down strikes of 1937. We told the Big 3 that Sept. 14 was the deadline and we meant it. We gave the companies our economic demands eight weeks ago and it took more than a month to get to the table.”

A Holistic Approach to Providing Shelter and Support for Detroit’s Unhoused People

Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans remembered her legacy with deep respect: “I was so sad to learn that Commissioner Irma Clark-Coleman passed away. Irma was a tremendous public servant who served her community with relentless dedication and integrity for six terms as a representative of Wayne County’s District 5 after serving in the Michigan State Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives. Irma and I worked together for years going back to the ‘90s in the McNamara administration. Her life was all about helping others, and her impact improved the lives of literally thousands. She will be sorely missed and difficult, if not impossible, to replace. My sincere condolences go out to her family as well as her colleagues and constituents.”

For Robinson, keeping journalism accessible to the public is essential to civic engagement.

While the residential areas bore the brunt of this demolition, the heart of Black Bottom, its thriving business center, remained largely untouched. Restaurants, theaters, clubs, and bars—the very places that brought Detroit’s Black community together—were concentrated around Hastings Street, the epicenter of African-American culture in the city.

Her second career began where most end. She transitioned into elected office, serving two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives and eight years in the Michigan Senate. She authored legislation to ease adoption and foster care placements for family members. She pushed for stronger high school graduation standards. On the Senate Appropriations Committee, she ensured state budgets responded to real community needs.

For one to aptly recognize the harm caused by such projects, it is vital to note that some of the planners and politicians behind those projects built them directly through the heart of vibrant, populated communities—oftentimes to reinforce segregation and sometimes as part of a direct effort to replace or eliminate Black neighborhoods.

In 2010, Clark-Coleman returned

Housing Resource Helpline in response to the challenges that residents face in navigating the complex system of housing services. The helpline provides a single point of contact for people seeking housing assistance and connects them with the resources they need.

The union is pushing for a comprehensive list of demands. This

Homelessness continues to plague urban communities, with families and individuals grappling with the challenges of making ends meet in today’s economic climate. Whether it’s struggling to meet monthly mortgage payments or coping with soaring rental costs in a housing market marked by shockingly high prices, a variety of factors contribute to the growing issue of people becoming un-

Meagan DunnJulie Schneider

Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Hastings Street, too, was obliterated a few years later, making way for the construction of I-375. This marked the final blow, sealing the fate of Black Bottom and signaling the beginning of the end for Paradise Valley, the Black busi-

By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER

Historically, shelters have provided a temporary respite for those in need, often serving as the first or second option after exhausting alternatives like staying with friends or family. Shelters offer a place to rest one’s head and a warm meal, albeit sometimes for extended periods. For others, being unhoused means living in cars or makeshift outdoor

By Lynzee Mychael MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

The causes of homelessness are as diverse and complex as the individuals experiencing it. In response, the City of Detroit has adopted a holistic approach to combat this issue.

“Providing services and high-quality housing to persons at risk of or who are experiencing homelessness is a key priority of the City of Detroit, said Julie Schneider, Director of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department.

What a Federal Government Shutdown Could Mean for Detroiters?

“This means focusing on building the pipeline of supportive housing and coordinating with the Continuum of Care on the delivery of critical resources such as emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and diversion and prevention programs. It also means preserving and expanding affordable housing options for Detroiters of all incomes and improving housing stability though comprehensive service offerings available through the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine and Detroit Housing Services Division within HRD.”

There’s a debate over African Americans’ role in defending noncitizen migrants facing the threat of removal during President Donald Trump’s mass deportation effort. The conversation largely playing out online in the comments of viral social media posts is revealing the different attitudes of Black Detroiters— who are surrounded by immigrants within and around the city’s borders — including some elected leaders and grassroots organizers.

In May 2023, the City of Detroit launched the Detroit

From the days of the Great Migration when thousands of Black families flocked to Detroit in search of jobs and a better life, to the pivotal role they played in the city’s cultural and musical heritage, Black Detroiters have left an indelible mark on the city. However, in recent years, Detroit has experienced significant gentrification, which has raised concerns about the displacement of long-standing Black residents. Similar to a setting sun, there’s a rising spirit, and Black Detroiters are reclaiming their place in the city, despite the challenges posed by gentrification.

But now, after decades of enduring the scars of I-375, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Plans have been unveiled to transform this once-divisive freeway into a vision that seeks to right the wrongs of the past while heralding a new era of inclusivity and community revitalization.

Support for the helpline comes from the Gilbert Family Foundation, which has pledged $10 million over three years to fund the program. Wayne Metro Community Action Agency manages the helpline, making it accessible to all Detroit residents. This initiative simplifies access to the City’s various housing services, ensuring that residents in need can easily find assistance.

These incidents unfolded during an unseasonably warm spring, leading to increased pedestrian traffic and heightened tensions in the densely populated downtown area.

Commission Chair Alisha Bell added, “Irma brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to every role she filled and she will be profoundly missed by her constituents, her fellow commissioners and the many people whose lives she touched. Our hearts are heavy and

Today, the resurgence of Paradise Valley stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Black Detroiters and the enduring legacy of Black excellence. This historic district, once a vibrant hub for Black businesses and culture, is experiencing a renaissance that harkens back to its glory days. The destruction of Black Bottom may have torn apart a thriving community, but the resolute determination of a new generation of entrepreneurs and visionaries is reclaiming that lost legacy.

The surge in crime and the influx of visitors to Detroit’s downtown core garnered the attention of the Detroit Police Department (DPD), catching them somewhat off guard.

Gospel artist J. Moss shared the family’s announcement: “With the humble acceptance of God’s Will, we announce the transition of our beloved mother, Wayne County Commissioner and Living Waters Church Mother Irma Clark-Coleman on June 10, 2025. She will be greatly missed by her loving family, close friends, professional colleagues and those in the communities she diligently served. Let us be intentional in fervent prayer for the family as we solicit the gift of God’s peace and comfort during this delicate time. Final arrangement information for celebration and services will soon. WE LOVE AND MISS YOU MOM.” Clark-Coleman never detached

James White, Chief of Police for the Detroit Police Department, said: “We were caught somewhat flat-footed right out the gate. By design we went into the spring deployment, which is less than the mid-summer deployment, and saw we say an uptick in violence that first warm weekend.”

Chief White attributes the violence in Greektown to a combination of weather conditions and a surge in population.

In the heart of Paradise Valley, Blackowned businesses are not just flourishing but thriving, offering diverse services, products, and experiences that pay homage to the past while paving the way for a prosperous future. From jazz clubs to soul food restaurants, the Black Press, and art galleries to fashion boutiques, this revival is breathing life into the very essence of what once made this neighborhood a vibrant cultural epicenter. It’s a resurgence that extends beyond brick and mortar; it represents the resurgence of a spirit that refuses to be subdued.

Fueled by more than $100 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other partners, this ambitious project aims to create jobs, remove barriers to economic growth, and reconnect the neighbor-

“The city and its partners offer a lot of great services to help Detroiters with their housing needs, but they don’t mean much if people don’t know how to access them,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Thanks to the efforts of our partners and the generous support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, we now have a simple process to guide residents to the right housing resource and a growing number of programs to help them.”

The Gilbert Family Foundation’s broader commitment involves pledging $500 million to support projects across Detroit over the next ten years, with housing initiatives being a significant part of their contribution.

Notably, Detroit has witnessed a consistent decrease in recent years, with the number of unhoused residents steadi ly declining. In 2019, approximately 7,847 people were unhoused and entered the City’s community response system. In 2021, about 5,687 people experienced homelessness.

What resources undocumented immigrants receive in contrast to what is made available by the city and state for Black residents is an ongoing question posed by Shannon Slayton, co-founder of the Detroit Grassroots Coalition. Slayton has played an active role in offering feedback to the city’s reparations task force and strongly opposed the city restarting its municipal ID program in 2022 for those unable to attain other forms of ID due to their citizenship status.

According to the City of Detroit, since the start of the fiscal year 2019 to 2021, Detroit saw a 28% decrease in the

Slayton said in an interview she doesn’t agree with the sweep-

He explained, “ We saw numbers downtown that we have not seen, ever. People are emerging from COVID and there’s a feeling that we’re in a post-COVID era… and with the venues downtown and the reasons to come down with all the activities that are going on, we saw hundreds of more people and, in particularly, young folks, teenagers that we hadn’t seen.”

Black Detroiters Debate Support for Noncitizens Facing Deportation

Detroit City Councilman Fred Durhal III, representing District 7, where Eastern Market resides, told the Michigan Chronicle, “It’s still very early in the process, MDOT is

Responding swiftly to the surge in violence, DPD adjusted its deployment plans. Rather than waiting for mid-summer, they deployed officers in the spring itself to address the situation.

support undocumented immigrants seeking permanent residence in the United States is Slayton’s feeling that resources for the city’s neediest people are already worn thin.

The rise in visitors to the Greektown area is evident in data from Placer.ai, a location analytics company specializing in visit trends and demographic insights through geolocation-enabled mobile devices. From May 1-Aug. 27, 2022, there were 1.3 million visits and 655,000 visitors to Greektown, according to Placer.ai. In the same period this year, these numbers increased to 1.4 million visits and 670,000 visitors.

“You hear liberals welcome everybody through the door, but they never welcome these immigrants in their suburban neighborhoods,” said Slayton, who voted for Cornel West in the 2024 presidential election.

As Detroit’s downtown area continues to attract both residents and visitors, the police department has implemented various enforcement measures to manage the increased population. Notably, metal detectors have been strategically placed throughout Greektown to deter the illegal carrying of firearms.

Marcus Kelley, founder of The ChangeUp: Midnight Coalition, says Black residents should join the fight to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.

ing nature of Trump’s deportation effort, a signature campaign promise, but does believe illegal immigration is a problem.

because of discrimination, but they were also coming because Black people was doing some stuff. When did Black people start doing things in the city? They started doing things in this area in the 1800’s. In the 1800’s the major thing that they were doing in Detroit is they were the leaders in the fight

Slayton doesn’t support all of Trump’s actions but typically sides with Republicans on the issue of immigration enforcement.

“Snatching babies and ICE with masks, that’s starting to feel a little fascist,” she said.

“We have strategically placed them at key points, “ Chief White explains. It has been a deterrent for some, and some have tested it. If you are legally carrying a weapon and carrying a CPL, have a great day. If you’re

long after our current phase of gentrification.

Former state representative and Detroit school board member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo expressed a similar sentiment on Facebook: “No disrespect, but what we’re not about to do is turn the focus of #Juneteenth to immigration! Nobody helps us; stop waiting on us to save everyone else!”

“If you’re in the grass you know there’s a growing number of people who feel the same way I do — especially Black Americans,” Slayton

During the Great Migration, thousands of Black families from the South came to Detroit in search of jobs in the booming automobile industry. Despite facing discrimination and segregation, they built vibrant communities on the city’s east and west sides. Over time, these neighborhoods became centers of Black culture and entrepreneurship.

According to Historian Jamon Jordon Black resilience in the city has roots that extend far before the Great Migration and will persist

said. “Other Black Americans and I who are descendants of chattel slavery and have had boots here for 400 years, feel like they’re pitting us against other Black immigrants who want us to join their fight to help them to stay here.” At the heart of her refusal to

“Black people were coming to Detroit because Black churches were here, black schools were here, and its was Black businesses here,” said Jordon. “They were coming of course

She warned her Facebook follow-

DPD Chief James White

Amidst the glitz and glamour, the event also showcased the diversity of talent within our community. From Paris T. Prichard, a forensic scientist pushing the boundaries of her field, to math wizards like Donna Laster, who

Sam Robinson

ichigan Chronicle

cine and healthcare, may be adversely impacted

women been premoment of the final. a law1931 law effect, asked the affirm that constitucontain abortion. Our Planned Advocates of founding coalition

ReproducAll, a affirm abortion and freedom in constitution,” Giroux. is that everything in aborMichigan, makes we will we can patients care they and adoption numbers upward, a ban on abortions could leave many women to choose a less safe route restoring ‘back alley’ and illegal abortion practices, including self-abortions. Moreover, African American women and women of color, who already have a long-storied history with access and inclusion in medi-

ers to mind their business.

“If the FB & the I, handcuffed a sitting Senator, the only ICE I want you to be messing with is the one in your freezer,” Gay-Dagnogo said.

Marcus Kelly, founder of The ChangeUp Midnight Coalition, came to the federal courthouse after he heard from a friend at Michigan United that migrants were arrested by immigration officials outside of a courtroom following a hearing.

islature adopts it.

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Federal immigration agents arrested at least four Venezuelan migrants outside a Detroit courtroom Wednesday morning just moments after a judge dismissed their asylum cases, Outlier Detroit reported.

said

Also last week, Detroit state Senators Stephanie Chang and Sylvia Santana called on ICE to release a Detroit Public Schools student detained by immigration enforcement weeks before he was set to graduate high school. The student’s attorney is asking the federal government to allow him to self-deport after receiving his high school diploma.

Beyond the scope of pro-choice versus prolife, the fight for reproductive choice is one of freedom. As Michigan officials work to ensure each woman who finds herself in the position to choose has access to care without the threat of

“I feel like if they come for your brothers and sisters at night, they come for us in the morning,” Kelly said in an interview outside the courthouse Wednesday. “If we allow them to do that to our neighbors, then it’ll keep continuing to happen to us.”

Increase school funding: Statutory changes to increase the School Aid Fund revenue by at least $3.6 billion and establish a permanent weighted funding formula based on student and community needs and universal preschool (0-3).

“It is also that we’ve been suffering injustices in this country and all over the world for hundreds of years and few stand with us while we support everybody else’s movement,” Kelly said. “But we can’t change who we are as a people, we have to see the humanity in everybody, it’s not an either-or.”

State Rep. Tyrone Carter, who is challenging Gabriela Santiago-Romero for District 6 City Council seat, agreed with Kelly that it’s in Black people’s fabric to support other groups facing persecution.

The health committee recommends reviewing state licensure policies to address the barriers that Black psychologists face in obtaining licensure in Michigan.

Kelly blames the sentiment from those who feel differently about White Supremacy and “a lack of education.”

In an interview on the Michigan House floor Thursday, Carter compared Trump’s deportation efforts to the 1994 Crime Bill, which targeted Black Americans with racial profiling tactics he says aren’t too far off from how ICE agents are

operating in Hispanic neighborhoods.

“They’re going through what Black folks went through 40-50 years ago,” Carter said. “Trump said they’re going after criminals, yeah right. You’re getting people at work and in laundromats.”

Carter said he’s also heard the sentiment from some Black residents who say we shouldn’t care about noncitizen migrants, some with pending immigration cases, facing deportation.

Irma Clark-Coleman

Award from the Michigan School Social Workers Association and a 2016 Women of Excellence Award from the Michigan Chronicle. She graduated from Pershing High School and was the first in her family to graduate college. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wayne State University.

Clark-Coleman’s death leaves a seat to be filled, but her presence cannot be replaced. Her work was layered, consistent, and never performative. She lived the values she legislated.

Sam Robinson

Ensure equitable distribution of state health funds: Ensure all Michigan communities with a significant Black population receive adequate funds to address mental health issues.

“It’s bullsh*t,” he said. “We’ve always stood up for folks that wouldn’t stand up for us because we understand humanity. I do understand why it’s hard for some to reconcile with that when 46% of Latino voters voted for this man.”

An announcement regarding the selection of a new commissioner will be forthcoming.

“The Chronicle doesn’t have a paywall. I’ve been writing under a paywall for the last eight months and I’m excited to not have to say, ‘Sorry, you can’t read this,’” he said about the stories he will be writing for the Chronicle.

A Mission to Tell the Full Story

Reject censorship in history instruction: Encouraging Gov. Whitmer to ensure the goal for Michigan schools should be history instruction that is presented by professionals with the subject matter expertise, pedagogical skills, and judgment necessary to present complex information to students that are grounded in provable facts and add to the understanding of modern-day America.

Million, where he sought to elevate the stories of young changemakers and community voices often left out of traditional news coverage.

Protecting Black voting rights: Urge state officials to remain vigilant in the fight against schemes to disenfranchise Michiganders of color.

At the Chronicle, Robinson will focus primarily on political reporting—covering the 2025 Detroit mayoral race, city council elections, and broader civic trends across the region. However, for Robinson, political journalism is more than campaign updates. It’s about capturing the voices and concerns of everyday people.

“That project was about capturing not only the future generation as we grow our population and leadership,” he said, “but also understanding the legacy—what came before us. A lot of that is already inside the Michigan Chronicle. That’s why it felt right to come here.”

More Than Politics

Exit polls conducted by Edison Research found that 55% of Latino men voted for Trump, compared to 38% of Latinas.

in the Alpha Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her accolades included the 2005 Legislator of the Year

Final arrangements will be announced by the family. Until then, her name is held in gratitude by the city she never left behind.

While Robinson is deeply immersed in Detroit’s civic issues, he brings a multidimensional lens to journalism. Outside of work, he studies the behaviors of Generation Z and has a self-proclaimed admiration for the “genius of SpongeBob SquarePants,” a reflection of his belief that media and culture are deeply intertwined.

“I try to be personal. I try to use real words and talk like I’m talking to you right now,” he said. “I want people to understand not just who wins, but why they win. What matters to voters? What changes in the city?”

“BLAC members have worked hard to identify the needs of the Black community and we feel these recommendations will provide a solid first step towards breaking down barriers in education, community safety, health and business,” said BLAC Co-Chair Dr. Donna L. Bell.

He adds that his approach will be especially critical in helping Detroiters understand who their next leaders are—and what they stand for.

Increase mental health supports for the Black community: Recommending Michigan set a goal of increasing the number of Black mental health service providers by 20% each year over five years.

“A year from now, we’re going to be months into a new mayoral administration and a brand new city council,” Robinson said. “I hope people know who these folks are because of my reporting.”

Whether writing about elections or Gen Z trends, his mission remains consistent: to make the news feel relevant and real to the people living it.

“I want the Chronicle to be the go-to place for Black professionals and residents of Detroit who want to be civically engaged,” he said. “That’s my goal—to send them back here.”

people believe that they need to for themselves and others to live better lives.”

In many ways, this next chapter builds on the foundation he laid with Detroit One

“Chancellor Ivery is

BLAC will hold a virtual town hall meeting to discuss its policy recommendations on Thursday, May 12 at 4 p.m. Join BLAC and a virtual audience in discussing the recommendations to support the Black community.

event, visit www.michigan.gov/BLAC. embraces. transforleadership as a approach that change the syscircumstancoperating Ivory “Transformationdoesn’t just do certhem view of and exdrive that because what create everyentire because

As Detroit enters a year of political change, the Chronicle strengthens its newsroom with a journalist whose reporting is shaped by clarity, curiosity, and community. And for Robinson, the assignment is simple: tell the story of Detroit’s next chapter—and make sure it’s one the people can actually read.

ally and personally to do great things in the world.”

Vasquez Giroux.

Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe Wins $100,000 2025 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown

Funds and technical support will help 2025 winner bring seasonal bakery to Detroit

– The winning small business of the 2025 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown has been crowned.

Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe is the winner of the 13th annual Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest, taking home the $100,000 grand prize from Comerica Bank to open the brick-and-mortar business of their dreams in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park, as well as a business support package from TechTown Detroit, Wayne State University’s entrepreneurship hub.

Comerica Bank Vice President and External Affairs Market Manager Kevin Watkins addresses the Hatch Off audience prior to hearing the finalists’ final presentations.

Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe is a seasonally driven, small-batch, Black woman-owned bakery that specializes in viennoiseries such as croissants, Danish pastries, brioche and specialty bread. It focuses on Michigan seasonal produce and flavors from both the Midwest and the South, offering unique flavor combinations alongside delicious classics.

Lauren Ellis, founder and owner, has been a pastry chef for over a decade and worked in New York, Chicago and Sydney, Australia. Her business is named after her grandmother, who Ellis looks to as an inspiration of hard work and staying true to herself.

With the $100,000 business grant from Comerica Bank, Ellis plans to open a storefront in District 5, where her grandmother lived.

This year, the three runner-up finalists were also awarded a $10,000 grant to assist with the opening of their storefronts, courtesy of TechTown’s Small Business Support Hub grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

TechTown is proud of Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe’s win and excited to continue to support the business as it grows into a staple in the local community,” said Christianne Malone, Assistant Vice

Students Experience Careers and Racing at Detroit Grand

Breithaupt Career and Technical Center is one of Detroit’s most impressive technical schools. At Breithauptl, students do not just sit in a classroom—they roll up their sleeves and get hands-on experience in one of their outstanding, immersive learning programs, including Culinary, Cosmetology, Automotive, Welding, Mechatronics.

Students learn and thrive as they earn industry credentials that open doors to careers beyond high school. The school offers real-world experiences that prepares them for what awaits after graduation.

Opportunities that take them beyond the classroom are one of the benefits to the program, and one of those opportunities occurred this year at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix by Lear held on the streets of downtown Detroit May 30-June 1.

Students enrolled in the Automotive Collision Repair Program and the Au-

Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe, owned by Lauren Ellis, claimed the $100,000 grand prize of the 2025 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by Techtown. Pictured (L-R): Vice President and External Affairs Market Manager Mike Cheatham (Comerica Bank), Vice President and External Affairs Market Manager Kevin Watkins (Comerica Bank), Ellis, Chief Program

Officer Christianne Malone (TechTown Detroit), Michigan Market President Steve Davis (Comerica Bank). Back Row: President and CEO Ned Staebler (TechTown Detroit).

The four finalists of the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown provide one final pitch to the judges and audience before deliberations. The final four included (L-R): Myra Thomas (Livy’s Sweet Rolls), Lauren Ellis (Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe), Centurian Frost (Detroit Culture & Clay) and Halie Conyers (Halie & Co).

Hatch Off judges ask final questions to the remaining businesses before determining the grand prize winner.

Lauren Ellis of Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe presents to the gathered audience at the Wayne State University Industry Innovations Center.

TechTown Detroit Chief Program Officer Christianne Malone hosted Hatch Off and kicks off the annual event to determine the winner of the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown.

DETROIT

Breithaupt Career Technical Center students and staff with Comerica Cares volunteers at the Comerica Free Prix Day entry way to the Detroit Grand Prix near grandstands 1 and 9.

INDY NXT by Firestone driver Myles Rowe shares his career path and experiences on how he became a professional race car driver.

During the Detroit Tigers pre-game festivities, as part of Saturday’s “For the Past,” Comerica Bank donated $10,000 to the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation in recognition of the community organization’s Hannan Center Celebration.

DETROIT -- Baseball in Detroit holds a rich and storied history, thanks in large part to the Black baseball trailblazers who helped pave the way for future generations. During Black in Baseball Weekend, the Tigers and Comerica Bank partnered to honor those whose contributions have built the foundation of Tigers baseball and continue to inspire generations to shape the game’s future.

More than 1,300 tickets were donated to kids and local organizations to attend games throughout the weekend series with the Cincinnati Reds. The Wayne State University National Panhellenic Council and the Black Sports Business Academy benefited from the weekend’s 50/50 Raffle, while also received an additional match from Comerica Bank.

Black-owned Lobster Food Truck offered signature menu items all weekend outside Section 101.

Fans had opportunities to learn about and honor the Detroit Stars, the Negro Leagues and the contributions of Black baseball players throughout the weekend with photo opportunities, special merchandise and retail items, museum displays among others.

“For the City” Thursday led off Black in Baseball with the Black Diamond Dinner hosted at MotorCity Casino & Hotel. Fox 2 Detroit’s Woody Woodriffe emceed the evening dinner.

The Black Diamond Dinner featured a fireside chat session with Negro Leagues stars Jake Wood and Pedro Sierra.

“This weekend-long celebration of events has a long history with both the Tigers and Comerica Bank, and we are again honored to be part of this special weekend of festivities that dates back over two decades,” said Christine

Detroit Tigers Black in Baseball Weekend

Celebrates the Past, Present and Future

Moore, Comerica Bank Executive Vice President and General Auditor, during remarks at the Black Diamond Dinner.

“This is one of our favorite and most anticipated partnership events of the year.”

The festive event showcased the past and impact African Americans have had on the Tigers and the City of Detroit, as well as highlighted what the following days would celebrate.

“Together, we celebrate the impact that African Americans had, are having, and will have on the game of baseball and our communities. These are all true trailblazers that date back to the formation of the Negro Leagues over 100 years ago. We have witnessed

extraordinary players generation after generation,” continued Moore.

“It is remarkable how much of an impact Black Baseball players have made on both their sport, our culture, and community at large that stretches well beyond what happens on the field of play.”

As the evening was unfolding, the Tigers who are amongst the top teams in Major League Baseball, were completing their road trip at Baltimore with a 4-1 win over the Orioles before coming back to Detroit for their series with the Reds.

“As you know, tonight’s Black Diamond Dinner is For The City, and NO ONE is illustrating being For the Motor

City better right now than the Detroit Tigers,” said Moore.

Rajai Davis, an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers from 2014-15, received the Willie Horton African American Legacy Award.

“For the Culture” Friday, highlighted food, arts, fashion, religion and engagement with local HBCU/Divine 9 organizations. The events began with a vibrant Block Party outside the Comerica Entry

The annual “Passing of the Bat” on-field ceremony recognized Kole Waterman, a pitcher for the Detroit Edison High School baseball team, a Tigers Nike RBI representative and a scholar athlete.

Day in Farmington Hills at its corporate operations campus that opened in 2024.

Comerica partnered with Iron Mountain Incorporated and Information System Resources (ISR) to offer participants an opportunity to securely dispose of sensitive documents, computers, keyboards, monitors and cellular devices.

that serves the five counties in Southeast Michigan.

“Shred Day offers our community and small businesses an opportunity to help protect their personal and sensitive information from identity theft and potential breaches,” said Steve Davis, Comerica Bank Michigan Market President.

“As fraud losses continue to rise according to the Federal Trade Commission, we must do our due diligence in safeguarding both paper and electronic data

“Friday Night Party in the Park: Hip-Hop Night,” featured pregame entertainment, specialty cocktails and postgame concert by internationally acclaimed hip-hop icon Ludacris.

On Saturday, the 29th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Day and Detroit Stars Jersey Giveaway, which was presented by Comerica Bank, celebrated the Detroit Stars and other Negro Leagues teams throughout the country.

As part of MLB’s Play Ball Weekend, the Tigers also hosted a free youth clinic in the morning at the Detroit Riverfront.

Negro Leagues representatives Minnie Forbes, Johnny Walker, Ron Teasley, Pedro Sierra and others engaged with fans in a pre-game question and answer session held in the Comerica Bank Big Cat Court. The pre-game on-field ceremony featured a performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ by Joyce Stearnes Thompson and Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown.

During pre-game festivities, Comerica Bank also recognized the work of the Luella Hanna Memorial Foundation and the Hannan Center, led by Vincent Tilford. The Hannan Center strives to preserve the dignity and enhance the quality of life of older adults in the community.

Black in Baseball festivities wrapped up on Sunday with the theme “For Today and Tomorrow,” as the Tigers celebrated current and future stars of the game.

The Detroit Youth Choir performed the National Anthem, and high school athletes who participated in the Black Baseball Motor City Classic were recognized during the game. The two MVPs from the tournament threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Comerica Cares volunteers point vehicles in the right direction to shredding and recycling lines.

from exposure to criminals,” Davis continued.

“Safe storage and destruction are critical steps to avoiding potential fraud, and we appreciate Iron Mountain and Information Systems Resources for their support in providing these services to the community free of charge during our annual event.”

This year, over 900 vehicles were processed, and the crew serving the event for Iron Mountain destroyed 130,500 pounds of paper. This was the fifth-highest total shredded since the Metro Detroit Shred Day event first began in 2008. Since Comerica shifted to a single site event in 2013, this year’s tally was the third-most over the past 11 years and the second consecutive year that Shred Day resulted in over 130,000 pounds of paper securely destroyed.

President and Chief Executive Officer Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Ryan Gustafson (right of framed jersey) and Negro Leagues Legend Jake Wood (left of framed jersey), along with Tigers legend Willie Horton (seated) present former Tigers outfielder Rajai Davis (standing left) with the Willie Horton African American Legacy Award.

Comerica Bank Executive Vice President and General Auditor Christine Moore addresses the crowd at the Black Diamond Dinner.

Fox 2 Detroit’s Woody Woodriffe (left) asks legends Jake Wood and Pedro Sierra about their experiences in the Negro Leagues.

A packed audience gathered at the MotorCity Casino for the Black Diamond Dinner that led off the Tigers Black In Baseball weekend of celebrations.

Comerica welcomed residents, small businesses and

nizations, free of charge, to Metro Detroit Shred Day held at Comerica’s Great

A5 | June 18-24, 2025

Money.

Property is Power!

A Letter to My Brothers

By Dr. Anthony O. Kellum CEO OF KELLUM MORTGAGE, LLC

To Black men across this country, I see you. I feel you. I believe in you.

I know what it feels like to try and lead while still healing. To wake up and do what’s expected of you when no one sees what you carry. I know the pressure of having to show strength in public, even when you’re barely holding it together in private. That silence we wear like armor the unspoken rules about not showing weakness, not asking for help, not letting anyone see the weight. I’ve felt that too.

But I need you to know something: you’re not just surviving you’re essential. You are not a broken version of a man. You are the foundation. You are the blueprint.

We’ve been through a lot. Generations of being told we’re not enough, not qualified, not welcome. And still we show up. Still, we grind. Still, we dream. But the truth is, dreams without ownership don’t get passed down. They just become struggles our children inherit. And that’s why I’m writing you today. Because ownership specifically homeownership isn’t just about buying land. It’s about reclaiming agency. It’s about building something that lasts beyond us.

We don’t need to rehearse every barrier. You already know them. The numbers don’t lie. Only about a third of Black men in this country own homes. And while black women have made strides despite similar challenges, many of us feel like we’re stuck at the starting line discouraged by credit issues, overwhelmed by student debt, or just unsure where to begin.

But let me be clear: the system is real; the barriers are real but we are not helpless. Yes, history played a role. But we’re not here to play that game. That’s not what this is about. This is about responsibility. This is about rising. This is about us taking control of what’s next, even if we didn’t create what came before.

We push through. We build anyway. Because that’s who we are.

And when we own, things change. Ownership roots us. It creates stability. It gives our children a home they don’t have to leave behind. It gives us equity not just financial, but emotional. It gives us confidence. It gives us options. It shifts our position in the world from someone waiting to be chosen to someone building something permanent.

Our ancestors built this country with their hands and never got to own the land they worked. We are their wildest hope. And it’s time we reverse the story.

You don’t need to be perfect to begin. You don’t need a perfect credit score or a six-figure salary. You need information, intention, and a plan. There are tools out there: assistance programs, flexible loan options, education courses, professionals who actually care about helping you succeed. Not everyone out there is trying to hustle you some of us are here to help you win.

Homeownership isn’t just about where you sleep it’s about how you lead. It’s about creating a foundation for your children, your partner, your future. It’s about being the first one in your family to plant a flag. It’s about walking through a door that stays open behind you, so others can follow. Start where you are. Ask the questions. Learn what you don’t know. Find people who believe in your vision. And don’t stop. I believe in you. I care about you. And I’m walking with you. 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.

Michigan House Budget Slashes Free Lunches, Equity Programs, and University of Michigan, MSU Funds

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

Imagine a child standing in the cafeteria line with nothing on their tray because they couldn’t afford lunch. Not because their family didn’t care—but because the system decided their hunger wasn’t worth funding. Michigan lawmakers are once again inching toward a version of that reality with a new education spending plan that puts increased per-pupil funding ahead of targeted support services, including free school meals.

On Wednesday, the Michigan House advanced a $21.9 billion K-12 budget plan that includes a $2,400 increase in per-student funding. But that increase comes with a cost. The plan cuts direct spending for programs like free school lunches, mental health support, and career and technical education.

House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) defended the shift as one that gives school districts more control.

“We’ve had a lot of dictates from Lansing, right? What to do, how to do it, when to do it, and this allows up money to go back to the school districts where the locals can decide,” Bollin said.

However, decision-making without direction is not the same as empowerment. It’s deregulation dressed up as freedom. And in communities already navigating systemic gaps—where free lunch might be the only consistent meal a child gets—that cutback is felt immediately and viscerally.

For decades, Michigan has used targeted state and federal funds to ensure children could eat at school without stigma or financial strain. In Detroit, a majority-Black city where nearly 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, the importance of school lunch programs stretches beyond the cafeteria. It speaks to survival. It speaks to justice. The National School Lunch Program has been active in Michigan since 1947, but it wasn’t until the Community

Detroit City Council Puts Pause

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

Detroit didn’t just get a slice of the ARPA pie. It was one of the biggest recipients nationwide. Of the $350 billion the federal government pushed out to local and state governments through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Detroit received over $826 million—one of the largest awards to any major city. That figure came with promise. It came with power. It came with pressure. Now, years after the pandemic first broke our backs and revealed every crack in our social infrastructure, millions of those dollars remain unspent—sitting in limbo while neighborhoods still feel the weight of yesterday’s emergencies.

Detroit City Council recently delayed a vote on appropriating $9.4 million in remaining ARPA funds, money that had been evenly divided among all nine members—seven district representatives and two at-large councilmembers. Each pot totaled just over $1 million. The funding had clear constraints: it had to go toward existing initiatives, not new programs, due to timing restrictions set by the U.S. Treasury. That deadline matters. According to Treasury rules, ARPA dollars was slated to be obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully spent by December 2026. That’s not distant future. That’s now. And every delay risks leaving money on the table—money that communities across Detroit have been waiting on for years.

Council President Mary Sheffield, Pro Tem James Tate, and Councilmember Coleman Young II have each committed their funds to single, targeted investments. For Sheffield, that means directing her share to the Neighborhood Beautification Program—an effort aimed at restoring dignity and visual pride in communities that have seen too much decay for too long.

Eligibility Provision under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 that many schools—especially urban districts like Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD)—began offering free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of income. That meant a shift from means testing to universal access, removing shame and bureaucracy from feeding children.

To scale that back now, under the pretense of local control, is not only regressive—it’s dangerous.

Representative Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), the Democratic vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, made that clear. “If I get you x money for breakfast and lunch to make sure kids are fed, I expect y number of students to be fed,” he said. His words were not about micromanagement. They were about accountability—because when funding is specific, outcomes are measurable. When it’s vague, needs fall through the cracks.

The Republican-backed plan also freezes funding for at-risk students, reduces support for transportation services, and threatens early childhood initiatives like the Great Start Readiness Program. And while it increases some special education funding, the broader message remains: systemic supports that serve vulnerable children are negotiable.

Representative Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Twp), who chairs the budget subcommittee that shaped this proposal, referred to the bill as “our opening bid,” acknowledging that the legislation is expected to evolve. “Whatever passes off the floor in the House today, ain’t going to be what we vote on in the final budget,” Kelly said.

But opening bids have values baked into them. And this one chooses to defund food programs before revisiting the state’s $20 billion in corporate tax expenditures. It sets a tone.

Even more telling is the bill’s move to penalize districts that engage in in-

clusion efforts. Under the current draft, school districts using state funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programming—or for graduation ceremonies that honor students of color or marginalized identities—could face a 20% cut in their funding. Kelly pointed to culturally specific graduation ceremonies as examples of what lawmakers want to avoid, though he couldn’t provide clear parameters for what constitutes “race or gender stereotyping.”

It’s no secret that this proposal undercuts the dignity of Black and Brown students while framing their recognition as divisive.

“These are boogeymen put in to distract from the fact that their budget ends school lunch programs, their budget ends transportation,” Farhat said. And for many families across Michigan, especially in Detroit, these “distractions” mask the core issue: will their children be fed, seen, and supported at school?

Michigan Senate Appropriations Chair Senator Sarah Anthony criticized the House budget, saying, “The House budget doesn’t close opportunity gaps; it widens them. It cuts key investments Michigan families rely on while attempting to use short-term fixes that put the long-term stability of our state’s budget and the wellbeing of our residents at risk.”

The proposed changes come as the state grapples with a larger education overhaul. Separate budget talks are underway that could gut higher education funding for two of Michigan’s largest universities. The University of Michigan could lose around 65% of its state funding. Michigan State University could lose around 19%, according to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency. The proposal would instead divert funding to increase in-state scholarships, a shift Republicans claim would benefit smaller public universities and expand access.

on $9.4M in ARPA Funds

Anthony O. Kellum

ARPA Funds

From page A-5

In communities where the language of violence too often becomes a learned tongue, this investment speaks differently. It speaks of prevention.

Benson is also committing $277,368 toward home repairs specifically for seniors and disabled residents in District 3. In that same district, he’s earmarking $450,000 to build a pedestrian pathway to the Dorais playground—making it easier and safer for families to access green space. He’s also placing $150,000 toward a “Green the Block” vacant land strategy, aiming to reimagine blighted lots into usable, beautified community assets.

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero is investing $900,000 in the Renew Detroit Home Repair Program, another initiative tailored toward home repairs for low-income seniors. The remaining balance of her district’s funds will go toward Bridging Communities, an organization that supports intergenerational and neighborhood-rooted programs, particularly those serving older adults.

Mary Waters has proposed a 50/50 split: half of her ARPA share would go toward Detroit’s Basement Backup Protection Pro-

gram, which aims to prevent sewage and stormwater from flooding homes. The other half would fund ADA improvements at the St. Patrick’s Senior Center, upgrading accessibility for a facility that serves some of the city’s most vulnerable elders.

Angela Whitfield-Calloway is directing all her funding toward improving Comstock and Peterson Parks in District 2. In a city where children deserve clean, safe spaces to play and elders deserve a bench to rest on without fear, that investment doubles as both public health and joy.

Fred Durhal III is spreading his $1 million across three investments: half will go to Grow Detroit’s Young Talent, the city’s summer youth employment initiative that has connected tens of thousands of teens with work experience since its inception. Another $200,000 will be used to fund housing resource navigation through Matrix Human Services. The remaining $352,000 will be used for the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

Altogether, this patchwork of funding reflects diverse visions for neighborhood care—but none of it moves forward until council takes action. Right now, it’s stalled. The vote is delayed. And that delay raises hard questions.

Detroiters remember how quickly the city moved when COVID-19 forced every

Michigan House Budget

From page A-5

“We have done is place them in a position to compete for our Michigan students,” Bollin said. She framed the change not as a cut but as a redistribution—a move to make big universities work harder to retain local students. However, even that assumes all schools are starting from the same place, with equal resources and outreach. That has never been true—especially not for historically marginalized communities.

Bollin further argued that schools like U-M and MSU have large endowments and alternative funding sources that should cushion the impact. But public investment has never been about what institutions can do without. It’s about what they’re expected to guarantee with public support: affordability, accessibility, and equity.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Education faces its own version of trimming, as another proposal aims to cut costs by eliminating some vacant positions entirely. These roles, though unfilled, often reflect the needed capacity to implement state-level education policies, monitor school performance, and support districts in meeting requirements.

So what does all of this mean for the families sitting around the dinner table—or not?

For parents struggling to cover housing and utilities, school lunches aren’t an extra. They are a necessity. Cutting them means

that parents must either take on another financial burden or send their children to school without food. And for many Black families in Detroit, where poverty rates are nearly three times the state average, this is not theory. It’s Tuesday morning.

This proposal isn’t about flexibility. It’s about what—and who—gets deprioritized. It says that inclusion, nourishment, and early education are line items, not rights.

Michigan’s public schools didn’t just stumble into inequality. They’ve been sys tematically underfunded, reshaped by de cades of policies that abandoned Detroit and similar districts under the banner of “effi ciency.” Now, even when the state has the opportunity to restore and expand, some lawmakers are choosing to restrict.

To pretend that “local control” will fill the void left by this budget is to ignore the reality that not every district has the same capacity, funding infrastructure, or political will to reimplement these programs. Some will. Many won’t. And children—our children—will pay for it.

thing to stop. The need was immediate. The dollars came fast. But the healing—that’s taken time. These remaining ARPA funds were set aside to finish that work. To invest in what communities already said they needed. To follow through on recovery that was promised.

The federal deadline to obligate these dollars passed at the end of 2024. What’s left now must be used with intention, clarity, and urgency before the final 2026 deadline. That reality now rests not only with the current council but also with the next mayor of Detroit, who will inherit the responsibility of ensuring that this funding gets to the finish line. These dollars can’t be used to start something new. They must be used to strengthen what’s already in motion. That’s what makes this moment so critical. This last $9.4 million isn’t about launching ideas. It’s about reinforcing commitments already made.

Detroit’s past is filled with programs that began with strong support but didn’t always reach full execution. ARPA created an opportunity to change that pattern. These funds—especially now, at this final stage—are meant to uplift efforts that are working, deepen their reach, and provide stability to programs already in place. Mental health co-responses. Beautification. Sewer repair. Youth opportunities. These are solutions grounded in what residents have repeatedly called for.

When dollars like these don’t move fast

enough, people notice. It doesn’t come from a place of criticism. It comes from lived experience. From years of watching plans stall while neighborhoods wait. This is not just federal policy—it’s the final phase of a lifeline that Black communities, in particular, have pushed for since the earliest months of the pandemic.

Detroiters are not questioning the intent. They’re asking whether that intent will meet the moment. Whether the dollars that came to support them will, in fact, show up before it’s too late. That’s a fair question, especially given the federal government’s hard deadline. And it’s not a question of blame—it’s a call to focus.

The City Council will revisit the resolution soon. When that happens, residents are watching for action that meets their sense of urgency. Not because they doubt leadership but because the stakes are real. This funding can still make a meaningful difference. It can support seniors needing home repairs. It can boost programs serving youth who are trying to stay on track. It can rebuild trust through work that’s already underway.

Detroit has shown what’s possible when federal dollars are paired with community priorities. This final allocation is a chance to keep that momentum moving. The dollars are there. The plans are outlined. What remains is the timing—and how quickly council can align those intentions with the urgency of the community.

The House Republicans say they will revisit this budget, pending changes. But as negotiations continue, the values embedded in this version must not be ignored. Because every budget is a blueprint. And this one is building barriers instead of bridges.

So, as this debate plays out in Lansing, the question is simple: who are we choosing to feed? Who are we willing to leave hungry?

The new financial driver in town. At Mercantile Bank we're committed to building strong relationships - that's why we're proud to sponsor this year's Pancakes & Politics season. Where Detroit's most important conversations take place,

Detroit Lions and Comerica Cares Volunteers Team Up to Assist Southwest Detroit Community Center

For years, Comerica Bank has been known for its commitment to the community. As noted on the bank’s online Corporate Responsibility overview, “At Comerica, responsibility is the foundation of our business. Traits such as honesty, transparency, and fairness have enabled our company to be a “Force for Good” throughout our long history.”

“... This Force for Good mentality drives the positive change and longterm, sustainable value for our company, stakeholders, and communities.”

Perhaps no recent community engagement illustrates this better than when 100 Comerica Cares volunteers met up with the Detroit Lions Community Relations staff for a variety of cleanup activities to transform the Delray Community Center in Southwest Detroit.

As Comerica Michigan Market President Steve Davis explained it, “As far back as I can remember, everything at Comerica has been community oriented. We always punched above our weight, if we were at a Heart Walk, a UNCF walk, any kind of a fundraiser, we always showed up in bigger numbers than pretty much like anybody else our size.”

Davis adds, “And so it’s always been part of who we are. I explain it like there are two reasons for what we do. One is just because it’s the right thing to do, and our community helped us get to where we are and it’s the right thing to do to get back to the community.”

Last week, Comerica Bank employees turned out assist in the cleanup project that included sprucing up both the interior and exterior of the community center.

Joined by partners at the Detroit Lions, they pulled weeds, cut back bushes, and planted flowers, adding a pleasant refresh on the Delray Community Center (located at 420 S. Leigh St. in Detroit) to restore and revitalize property. Inside, volunteers painted walls and organized donated clothes for the community. The center’s sand volleyball court and playground received a much needed makeover.

One of the community volunteers, Rachel “Sumi” Hernandez from Detroit Hispanic Development Corpora-

tion, explained the importance of the project.

“I think it’s great, the beautification of this particular center, because we do have a lot of people that come out here for the soccer games and stuff like that. Plus, we have a clothing closet inside so it’ll be more appealing to the eye,” said Hernandez.

She noted that the beautification will also have a ripple effect on the rest of the neighborhood.

“I think this project will inspire other people in the neighborhood to spruce up their spaces as well.”

The project was inspired by the February 2025 floods that left dozens of people in this community displaced, with freezing water filling their homes. Since then, Comerica Bank has sup-

ing the DGP DMC Medical Center, headed by Medical Director Dr. Trifun Dimitrijevski.

tomotive Services Technician attended DGP’s annual Comerica Free Prix Day on Friday, May 30 and were taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of the pit crew life of Detroit Grand Prix drivers and technicians, as well as key support operations.

Tanisha Bronaugh, Breithaupt’s Work-Based Learning Coordinator, was excited about the engaging experience.

“The students had an amazing time at the Grand Prix,” said Bronaugh.

30-plus students toured the paddocks where cars crews prepped race cars for the weekend of race competition. “It was really cool to hear them say things like, ‘We have this machine at school.’” Ms. Bronaugh added that the real-world experience made them more confident about their career choice.

The field trip also included meeting and hearing from Detroit Grand Prix

President Michael Montri and visit-

In the Automobile Collision Repair program, students learn to repair and restore automobile and truck bodies, weld broken frame parts, replace damaged or missing vehicle body parts, estimate the cost of repairs, and prepare and paint repaired vehicle body surfaces. While in the Automotive Services Technician program, there is an emphasis on professional service and diagnostic procedures, students will learn the operation of automotive systems and perform skill exercises relative to automotive services. The Automotive Services Technician Program develops technical skills necessary to maintain one’s personal automobile and seek professional mechanic certification.

The program enables students to earn ASE Industry Certification. They also work with the City of Detroit repairing first-responder vehicles that has a direct positive impact on their community.

But Free Prix Day was a different kind of experience. “Our students’ faces lit up like Christmas morning as they watched cars go by during the

event. They also got to meet drivers and technicians who helped them shape realistic ideas about their career choices,” Ms. Bronaugh added. “It went over my head, but it was exciting to experience.”

On Comerica Bank Free Prix Day, fans watched all the Friday on-track action from two prime viewing locations – in Grandstands 1 and 9 – at no cost. Seating in these grandstands overlooked the unique two-sided pit lane and the finish line on the 1.7-mile Streets of Downtown Detroit circuit. Comerica Free Prix Day continues a cherished tradition that started with the inaugural Grand Prix event in 1982. Since then, every Detroit Grand Prix has offered fans free access on the first day of on-track action, embodying the welcoming spirit of Detroit.

“I’m very grateful for the relationship with Comerica Bank,” Ms. Bronaugh adds. “In my position at Breithaupt as a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, I set up events like this all day where we show them real-world experiences of what we teach them in class, and for our students, there’s nothing like the experience of ‘going backstage.”

In addition to visiting the Grand Prix, students had extended touchpoints with Comerica’s Financial Education Brigade back in April who provided financial literacy lessons.

Bronaugh noted, “Our students not only gained valuable knowledge, but they were also able to apply what they learned by depositing their internship paychecks into their bank accounts (for the very first time).

“It was a meaningful experience watching them fill out deposit slips and endorse the backs of their checks with confidence. These are small but significant steps toward lifelong financial independence.”

ported LA SED and other community organizations to help the neighborhoods recover. The City of Detroit, corporations and philanthropic entities have done a lot to get the community back on its feet but impacts from the flood can remain.

In response, Comerica Bank partnered with the Detroit Lions to help this part of the Southwest Detroit community better serve those in need.

“I always say is we can’t be as successful as the communities that we’re in if our communities aren’t doing well. It’s almost impossible for us to do well,” Davis said. “So the better we can help our communities, the better we can help people with financial literacy, the better we can help them, you know, do a little bit better in life, the better it is for us.”

and

and

President for Economic Development at Wayne State University and Chief Program Officer of TechTown Detroit.

“All of this year’s Top 4 businesses will bring vitality to Detroit’s small business ecosystem, and TechTown will continue to work with these entrepreneurs to help them bring their dream businesses to life and strengthen the communities in which they will be based,” said Malone.

Throughout the 2025 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest, public voting determined which businesses advanced in the competition, narrowing 10 semi-finalists down to four finalists. After more than 21,000 votes were cast, the four finalists – Detroit Culture & Clay, Halie & Co, Livy’s Sweet Rolls and Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe – were selected. A second round of public voting opened on June 2 and concluded at tonight’s event after each of the finalists pitched their business ideas live to a panel of judges and an au-

dience of their community, families and peers.

Public votes and the judges’ deliberation were taken into consideration in crowning Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe as the winner of the Hatch Off event on Wednesday, June 11, at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center in Detroit. “Comerica Bank works extensively with small businesses and recognizes the hard work by each of the top four finalists.

Shred Day

Following the five-hour cleanup project, the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation thanked Comerica and the Detroit Lions.

Comerica Cares volunteers team up with the Detroit Lions to clean up and transform the Delray Community Center in Southwest Detroit.

The inside the Delray Community Center, the hallways received a fresh coat of paint.

Volunteers help organize the community closet available to the Delray Community Center.

Shrubs

brush throughout the property also received a makeover

overgrowth was removed to improve the look and use of the outside areas.

During the Southwest Detroit Clean-Up project, volunteers revitalize the sand volleyball court with new sand and installed a new net.

C ity . L ife . Style .

Unapologetically Black and Proud: Juneteenth 2025 Brings the City to Life with Music, Legacy, and Liberation

By Amber Ogden STAFF WRITER

From drumbeats on the riverfront to gospel echoes in Highland Park, Detroit is gearing up to turn Juneteenth into a citywide symphony of liberation, legacy, and love. As June 19 draws near, the Motor City isn’t just commemorating freedom; it’s amplifying it with a vibrant mosaic of parades, performances, poetry, and purpose that stretch from downtown Detroit to suburban parks. This year’s celebrations promise not only to honor Black history but to energize a future built on unity, joy, and unstoppable cultural pride.

A Block Party at the Hart of It All

On June 19, Hart Plaza will come alive with the rhythm, flavor, and creativity of Detroit during the Juneteenth Block Party, hosted by AfroFuture Detroit, Detroit Vs. Everybody, and an all-star lineup of local partners. Running from noon to 5 p.m., the high-energy celebration offers a preview of what’s to come at this August’s AfroFuture Festival and promises an afternoon packed with live music, Detroit-style cuisine, local vendors, a drum workshop, Jit dance classes, Double Dutch, dance-offs, and more.

In a nod to design and youth innovation, attendees can also vote at the Pensole Lewis College Design booth to help choose the winning T-shirt design that will become official AfroFuture merch, set to be revealed at the end of the party. While the Juneteenth Block Party is a standalone event, it leads directly into the Hart of Detroit Summer Festival concert at 5 p.m. Culture, Cuisine & Curated Black Excellence

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History continues its long-standing Juneteenth tradition with a Jubilee Celebration on June 19. This daylong gathering includes ceremonial tributes, spirited performances, Gullah Geechee cuisine, and educational film screenings, including Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom. Workshops will explore themes of emancipation and modern resistance, making it both a reflective and festive experience.

For those looking to celebrate through the arts, Detroit Book City presents the Juneteenth Books, Music & Arts Fair on Saturday, June 21, at The Commons on Mack Avenue (7900 Mack Ave. Detroit, MI 48214). The event is designed for all ages, featuring youth musical ensembles, storytelling corners, live DJs, including DJ Holly, art installations, and plenty of opportunities to shop for Black-owned vendors and publishers.

Honoring the Legends at Hamtramck Stadium

Just a few miles away, another kind of tribute will take place at Hamtramck Stadium, one of the few remaining Negro League ballparks in the country. On June 19, the stadium will host a Historic Juneteenth Tribute Game, honoring the legacy of Detroit’s own Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, a baseball great who helped shape America’s pastime long before integration. His descendant, Derrick Hale, will be among those celebrated at the renovated field, now a beacon of Black sports heritage. Fans and families can expect throwback uniforms, storytelling, and heritage games that connect Detroit’s past to its present.

Freedom on the Move: Runs, Walks & Wellness

Juneteenth isn’t just about celebration; it’s also about liberation, resilience, and unity in action. That’s the message behind the Detroit 5K Run/ Walk, taking off the morning of June 19 from Glory Supermarket, where strollers and sneakers are equally welcome. A second run, hosted by Highland Park, will also start from Glory and chart a freedom-themed route across the neighborhood’s historic streets.

JUNETEENTH Page B-2

By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

Before Kronk Gym became a world-renowned name in boxing, before championship belts and Olympic titles, it was a training ground built beneath the surface—both literally and symbolically. The original Kronk Gym was located in the basement of the Kronk Recreation Center, which is found at 5555 McGraw Avenue near Junction Street. That west side facility became a haven for Detroit’s youth, led by Emanuel Steward, a trainer who understood that discipline could be a lifeline and that mentorship could mean the difference between being cast aside and rising to global stages.

That legacy, born in a Detroit basement and carried into boxing history, is returning home.

This summer, Kronk Gym will reopen inside the Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center, a historic site located near I-75 and Mack Avenue just east of downtown. After years of vacancy and abandonment, the building will once again host a space designed to develop champions—not just in the ring, but in life.

The new gym will occupy 3,500 square feet within Brewster-Wheeler, marking a full-circle return to the roots of Detroit boxing. Emanuel Steward himself began his boxing journey at Brewster before founding Kronk. This isn’t a symbolic gesture. It’s an intentional revival—led by those closest to the late trainer’s vision.

Steward’s wife, Marie Steward, and his daughter, Sylvia Steward-Williams, are guiding this effort. They’re joined by a team that knows what Kronk represents to Detroit: Paul Bhatti, the gym’s CEO; Managing Partner John Lepak; Amer Abdallah, Vice President of International Business;

lations; and James “Hilmer” Kenty, the first world champion to emerge from Kronk’s program. Their vision reaches beyond boxing matches and medals. The plan is to train athletes at both amateur and professional levels while offering advisory services, youth mentorship, licensing initiatives, and business partnerships. There is also an intentional effort to collaborate with local Detroit-based businesses and explore global opportunities. This will not be an isolated training facility—it will be a resource for the surrounding community.

The Brewster-Wheeler building holds a critical place in Detroit’s cultural and athletic history. Long before high-rises surrounded it, the center served the Black Bottom neighborhood, welcoming generations of Black Detroiters seeking space to grow. It trained fighters who became icons, including Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Eddie Futch. It was a central hub for youth before opportunities were redirected, repackaged, or denied altogether.

When Kronk reopens in this space, it will be stepping forward with the weight of its history intact and a new responsibility to Detroit’s present.

The decision to house Kronk inside Brewster-Wheeler came through collaboration with MHT Housing Inc., the nonprofit that owns the property. MHT, based in Bingham Farms, has plans to build around 200 apartments on the surrounding land. While the Kronk Gym is not part of that development project, MHT will handle the construction and interior build-out of the gym space itself.

MHT President Van Fox confirmed that the organization worked out a low-cost lease to help ensure Kronk could reestablish its presence in the city.

way to help them get up and running and bring the brand back to Detroit,” Fox said. “We’re working to find other tenants for the space, and there are a lot of companies interested, like fitness centers, commercial brands, and big box stores, but we want to find tenants that complement the community.”

That consideration—placing community compatibility above commercial gain—is rare. And in a city where redevelopment often excludes long-standing residents, it sets a necessary precedent.

Kronk’s leadership is approaching this return with a long view. They understand that building champions doesn’t happen overnight and that Detroit’s young people need more than a training schedule. They need a space that affirms them, pushes them, and offers consistency.

“This isn’t just about reopening a gym. It’s about reigniting a culture of excellence, mentorship, and opportunity for a new generation of Detroiters,” Bhatti said. “Situating Kronk Gym squarely in the heart of Detroit reinforces our commitment to be active members of the community all the while training future Olympic and World Champions and restoring Detroit to a center of the boxing world.”

The path to this point has been shaped by both dedication and disruption. After Kronk’s original site closed in 2006, the gym continued its programming in temporary locations. In 2015, a new facility opened at 9520 Mettetal Street, led by Steward-Williams. That location operated until 2020 when flooding forced its closure. Even after the original Kronk building was destroyed in a fire in 2017 and later demolished, the spirit of Kronk continued—waiting for the right space to carry it forward.

Mayor Mike Duggan spoke to that

Black Motorsports is Driving Detroit Youth Toward Global STEM Dreams

By Amber Ogden STAFF WRITER

Fresh off the high-octane thrill of the 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, the roar of engines barely had time to fade before another wave of racing fever gripped Michigan. From the tight turns of downtown Detroit to the wideopen speed of Brooklyn’s Michigan International Speedway for NASCAR, with back-to-back race weekends, the state continues to be a motorsports mecca, showcasing not just horsepower but heart, heritage, and high stakes.

This year’s Grand Prix wasn’t only about cars speeding through the streets of downtown. It was about reclaiming the Motor City’s automotive legacy through a cultural lens, one driven by creativity, representation, and a sense of purpose.

Murals painted by young artists from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) lined the event space, communi-

ty groups hosted tech showcases, and the presence of Black-owned Curry Motorsports sent a clear message: the future of racing includes everyone.

One of the most visible reflections of the Grand Prix’s community commitment came in the form of bold, eye-catching murals designed by BGCSM youth. This year marked the third consecutive year of partnership between the Grand Prix and the organization and the third year in which their artwork transformed the venue landscape into a gallery of aspiration and identity.

Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, presented by Lear, highlighted that the Grand Prix helps celebrate the city’s rich culture, along with the talent in the Detroit community.

to Abu Dhabi, where they participated in an international mobility coding program centered on autonomous vehicle development. The trip, organized through a partnership with global technology firms and mobility researchers, represents a bold leap forward in preparing Detroit youth for the industries of the future.

The students collaborated to solve real-world transportation challenges using artificial intelligence, software programming, and design thinking. They’ll also tour innovation hubs and engage with mobility startups leading the autonomous revolution.

every day. We would use those hours to test out our code and make sure everything was going well. Before this trip, I’ve always loved technology, so this has helped me love it even more.”

BGCSM Sonya Draper, Executive Director of Talent & Innovation, emphasized that the trip reflects the organization’s mission to provide exposure and access to youth from underserved communities.

“We’re on the pathway for providing economic mobility for our youth,” Draper said.

“Thanks to the support of our dedicated Community Partners, the Grand Prix is able to create and foster unique engagement opportunities that give students across the City of Detroit an opportunity to shine,” Montri said.

And now, as the last streaks of tire marks fade from the track, the real story continues one that stretches from Detroit to Abu Dhabi, where a group of five BGCSM teens represented the city of Detroit on a global stage, coding autonomous vehicles and exploring the future of smart mobility.

Last summer, BGCSM traveled

16-year-old Christian D says he was a bit nervous about taking the 12-plus hour flight out of the country but learned that he works well in a team setting.

“We were working most of the time, we were coding,” Christian said.

“We would get two test hours

“We like to be ahead of the curve,providing our youth with exposure and exploration to careers that are thriving. These opportunities are vital for our youth, especially dealing with Black and Brown youth who aren’t normally exposed.”

At the heart of Detroit’s continued passion for motorsports’ progress stands Curry Motorsports,

Julius Curry, courtesy of CurryMotor Sports

See KRONK GYM Page B-2

Black Motorsports

the city’s first Black-owned racing team, founded by former University of Michigan football standout Julius Curry.

Curry Motorsports made a visible impact during the Grand Prix weekend, announcing its upcoming 5-week engine-building summer boot camp. They received a $25,000 investment, and it’s in partnership with the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and the Detroit Auto Show. Through these kinds of partnerships and technical training programs, Curry is building a pipeline that specifically introduces Black and Brown youth to careers in racing, automotive engineering, and high-performance vehicle technology.

“We wanted to just be a part of something in Detroit where we can really make sure we’re making an impact,” Curry said recently during the check presentation.

The significance of introducing Black youth to motorsports goes beyond education. It touches on culture, history, and identity. The late Wendell Scott, the first Black driver to win a NASCAR race, has paved the way for racers such as 22-yearold Rajah Caruth, William Alexander Lester III, Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton, and Bubba Wallace, who have become symbolic beacons for young racers of color. Yet the representation gap remains wide.

Groups like the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia and Detroit’s own mobility boot camps have shown how high-impact programs can shift narratives and open doors. The Grand Prix’s focus on inclusive programming is part of a national movement to diversify what’s long been a homogenous sport.

While the Grand Prix weekend delivered high-speed thrills and packed crowds, its broader impact is being felt far beyond the stands.

Grand Prix Chair Bud Denker spoke with youth media correspondents from BGCSM ahead of the Grand Prix about the signifi-

Juneteenth

Festivities Beyond the City Limits

Metro Detroit’s suburbs are also turning up in celebration. In Oak Park, a full day of events on June 19 at Oak Park High School (13701 Oak Park Blvd) includes a mile-long walk, music, dance, and youth-led tributes from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On June 14, Madison Heights kicks things off early with a family-friendly festival in Civic Center Park, boasting a climbing wall, petting zoo, food trucks, and community performances.

In Ypsilanti, a three-day weekend festival from June 20–22 will spotlight vendors, spoken word artists, and music on historic downtown streets. Meanwhile, Farmington

Courtesy of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan

cance of inclusion and the economic impact of the event on Detroit. He emphasized the importance of making the 2025 Grand Prix one of the most inclusive events that the city has ever seen.

“The fact that you can come down for half of our race track and watch for free, No. 1, that’s pretty good inclusion,” Denker said.

“The fact that we allow these Boys and Girls Clubs of Michigan, [and] they are able to come in, [through] an artistic program,a photoshop program to design our barrier walls which are so beautiful, and the fact that we’ve now got correspondence courses with you all to have you get experience and doing what everyone else is doing is all a part of being inclusive.”

Though the checkered flags have been waved and the engines silenced, the 2025 Detroit Grand Prix has left behind more than memories. It’s left momentum for a renewed commitment to equity in education, innovation in mobility, and access in motorsports.

With Curry Motorsports championing representation on the track, BGCSM students showcasing their coding skills on the world stage, and a city invested in nurturing its next generation of builders and dreamers, Detroit isn’t just preserving its automotive legacy. It’s evolving it.

“Opportunities such as these will set these youth up on a pathway for success,” Draper said.

Hills will host a free Juneteenth concert by R&B group DA’JA at The Hawk Community Center on June 19, and Royal Oak will hold a daytime celebration at the Farmers Market, complete with pony rides, music, and family zones.

Juneteenth is more than a holiday; what began in 1865 as a delayed announcement of freedom in Galveston, Texas, has grown into a global call to reflect on liberation, justice, and the enduring contributions of Black Americans. Juneteenth in Detroit isn’t just a day off; it’s a citywide statement of pride and progress.

Whether dancing at Hart Plaza, learning at The Wright, honoring ancestors on the diamond, or running in solidarity through the city’s streets, Detroiters will unite under one collective banner: freedom celebrated, Blackness elevated.

alignment, stating, “Can you imagine a more perfect use for this building than the Kronk Gym? And to have Emanuel Steward’s family, Maria and Sylvia Steward, being a part of it? They have been working to keep the legacy alive. We are so lucky to have Paul Bhatti and the team step up and say, ‘we are not going to let the legend die.’”

That legend includes over 40 world champions trained through Kronk, including Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield. But what often gets overlooked is the foundation built by Kronk for local youth—those who didn’t go pro but found purpose. Kronk was a constant in a city where many systems failed. Its trainers didn’t just develop fighters—they nurtured leadership, accountability, and pride.

The return of Kronk to Brewster-Wheeler reclaims that role. It’s an investment in physical strength and emotional resilience. For many Detroit youth who are navigating violence, school disinvestment, and structural inequity, this gym will represent more than training. It will provide access to mentorship and structure when both are too often out of reach.

That work must be sustained through partnership, community presence, and a

clear understanding of what Kronk has always represented. It sole purpose was never just about competition. It was about affirmation. It gave boys and young men— and increasingly young women—a space to imagine something more for themselves and the discipline to reach it.

The return of Kronk comes at a moment when Detroit’s youth need outlets more than ever. Gun violence, limited recreation access, and public disinvestment have left too many young people without direction. Kronk has always been an answer to that. Not just with gloves, but with guidance. There is no announced opening date, but officials say the gym will open this summer. The financial details may not be public. The full list of partnerships may still be forming. But what matters most is already clear: Kronk is returning with its values intact. Discipline. Dignity. Detroit. Legacy is not inherited—it’s maintained. Steward’s family, Kronk’s alumni, and Detroit’s own are aligning to restore what was never meant to be lost and when those gym doors open this summer, they’ll do more than welcome fighters. They’ll welcome a city’s memory back into motion.

Detroit never forgot Kronk. And now, Kronk is making sure Detroit’s youth are never forgotten, either.

The legacy never left. It just needed room to rise again.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking proposals for subcontractors under RFP 26-0070 Cody High School Bid Package #3.

Architect/Engineer: Ghafari Associates, LLC 17101 Michigan Avenue Dearborn, MI 48126-2736

Construction Manager: Brinker-Christman, a Joint Venture 3633 Michigan Avenue, Suite 300 Detroit, MI 48216

There will be a non-mandatory Pre-Bid conference for this RFP that will take place at the below location. It is highly recommended that all bidders attend this conference.

– Cody High School, June 26, 2025 @ 9:00 a.m.

❍ 18445 Cathedral St, Detroit, MI 48228

The due date for Proposals is July 10, 2025, at 12:00 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 10, 2025 and can be viewed at the below link: https://tinyurl.com/2amestpy Call-In: (313) 462-2305 Conference ID: 966 254 59#

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFP Control No. 26-4205

Paratransit & Demand Response Regional Scheduling Software. RFP forms were available beginning June 13, 2025, from http://www.mitn.info. Bids are due by 3:00 PM ET, July 23, 2025.

Your Home Safety Checklist: Simple Steps to Keep a Safer, Happier Space

(StatePoint) Your home is more than just a place to live, it’s where you cre-

2cols

BUDGET HEARING NOTICE

The Board of Directors of Barber Preparatory Academy will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2025–2026 school operating budget on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. at Barber Preparatory Academy 45 E. Buena Vista Street Highland Park, MI 48203

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking proposals for subcontractors under RFP 26-0068 CMA Track and Field.

Architect/Engineer: DLR Group 520 Nicollet Mall, Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55402

Construction Manager: Gilbane/KEO & Associates, Inc./ Brix Corporation 500 Woodward Avenue, Suite 2250 Detroit, MI 48226

There will be a non-mandatory Pre-Bid conference for this RFP that will take place virtually on June 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting can be accessed at the below link.

https://tinyurl.com/2e7r2ad3

Call-In: (313) 462-2305

Conference ID: 240 688 336#

The non-mandatory walk through will take place on June 20, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the below address.

• CMA High School, 19501 Berg Rd, Detroit, MI 48219 Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-bid and walk through.

The due date for Proposals is July 7, 2025 at 12:00 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 7, 2025, and can be viewed at the below link:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) CONSULTANT – CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SECRET SHOPPER SURVEY DEVELOPMENT, DISTRIBUTION AND ANALYSIS

https://tinyurl.com/5fzc2hv3

Call-In: (313) 462-2305 Conference ID: 923 622 273#

October 2022

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.

Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is seeking proposals for a qualified consultant to work with Detroit LISC to create, distribute and analyze customer service surveys to gather information about the services of the Detroit at Work One Stop System. The findings from the surveys will be analyzed and put into interim and final reports to be submitted to LISC. Specifically, Detroit LISC is seeking those with proven experience the following areas:

Evaluation

Survey Creation, Distribution and Collection ✓ Analysis ✓ Report Development ✓ Program Design

Office of Contracting and Procurement Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1008 Detroit, Michigan 48226

City of Detroit RFP: 185754

Visit https://www.lisc.org/detroit/about-us/careers/ to download full RFP. Responses to this RFP are due Friday, October 21 and should be emailed to kgallick@lisc.org. LISC is committed to working with Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs). LISC encourages submissions from SBEs, MBEs, and WBEs.

The City of Detroit’s Office of Contracting and Procurement is soliciting proposals/pricing for Consulting Services for the Traffic Management Center (TMC) in accordance with specifications provided in RFP 185754. Bids must be received by 12:00 PM EST on July 7, 2025 and will only be accepted through the online Oracle Supplier Portal. To learn more about this bidding opportunity and to access the Supplier Portal, please visit detroitmi.gov/supplier”

The due date for Proposals is November 10, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. you have questions, please contact the Procurement Department at (313) 873-6531.

PUBLIC NOTICE BARBER PREPARATORY ACADEMY

The proposed budget will be available for public inspection at the school office during regular business hours beginning June 17, 2025

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. Budget Hearing The Public School Academies of Detroit (PSAD) will hold its annual Budget Hearing and Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m The meeting will take place in the CCS Boardroom (9th floor), 460 West Baltimore St., Detroit, MI 48202. To review or print a copy of the proposed budget, please go to: www.uprepschools.com/parents/transpare ncy-reports

This meeting is open to the public in compliance with the Open Meetings Act (Act 267, Public Acts of Michigan, 1976). For questions, please contact the school office at (313) 957-3005

PUBLIC NOTICE

INKSTER PREPARATORY ACADEMY

BUDGET HEARING NOTICE

The Board of Directors of Inkster Preparatory Academy will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2025–2026 school operating budget on: Tuesday, June 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Inkster Preparatory Academy

27355 Woodsfield Street Inkster, MI 48141

The proposed budget will be available for public inspection at the school office during regular business hours beginning June 17, 2025.

This meeting is open to the public in compliance with the Open Meetings Act (Act 267, Public Acts of Michigan, 1976). For questions, please contact the school office at (313) 278-3825.

Budget Hearing Notice

Pathways Academy Charter School will be holding its Annual Public Budget Hearing on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM to review and comment on the Academy’s 2025-2026 school year budget. The location for the hearing is 11340 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48214.

The budget is available for public inspection at 11340 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48214.

The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

ate memories, unwind and feel most comfortable. Yet, many household items and systems can hide potential safety risks.

“The good news is that by identifying and addressing potential hazards early, you can create a safer space for your family,” says Christine Reed, Fire and Disaster Mitigation program manager at the International Code Council.

As part of the recent International Code Council’s Building Safety Month campaign, Reed is sharing basic tips for at-home electrical safety, fire safety and more.

Electrical Safety

1. Manage Power Strips and Extension Cords

Proper use of power strips and extension cords is essential. Avoid overloading and make sure cords are never hidden under rugs or furniture. To keep electronics safe from electrical surges and help prevent potential fires, utilize power strips with built-in surge protection that will trip if overloaded.

2. Inspect Electrical Cords

Inspect electrical cords for fraying, cracking insulation or wire damage to prevent future issues. Replace worn-out cords right away.

3. Modernize Wiring

If your home is 30 or more years old, have the wiring evaluated or updated by a licensed electrician. Modernizing your electrical system can increase safety, reduce energy costs and prevent potential hazards.

Fire Safety

1. Keep Escape Routes Clear

Having clear escape routes and an action plan are critical. Ensure that evacuation pathways, like hallways and in front of windows, are free from obstructions. Practice periodic fire drills so everyone knows exactly what to do and where to meet.

2. Reduce Clutter

Keeping combustible items, such as paper, towels and other clutter, away from heat sources like stoves, space heaters and fireplaces can significantly reduce the chance of an accidental fire igniting.

3. Maintain Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers

Smoke alarms save lives. Test them monthly and replace the batteries semi-annually or replace any smoke alarm equipped with a built-in 10-year battery after the 10-year timespan has passed. Store your fire extinguisher close by, but not immediately next to, heat sources like stoves and water heaters, and keep the extinguisher’s periodic service tag current.

4. Use Lithium-Ion Batteries Properly

Detroit People Mover/Detroit Transportation Corporation 535 Griswold St Ste # 400 Detroit, MI 48226

BID # 07-01-2022 REBID

Lithium-ion batteries, common in portable devices, should be handled with care. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for charging, storing and disposing of these batteries, including using the charging cord that comes with the device. While charging, keep the device out of evacuation paths.

Proactive Maintenance

1. Address Aging Plumbing

PUBLIC NOTICE: RTA OF SOUTHEAST PROPOSED DBE GOALS For FY 2023 – FY2025

BorgWarner PDS (USA), Inc. seeks a Sr. Software Engineer based out of our location at 3800 Automation Ave, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work from the aforementioned address. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance of the aforementioned addresses. Note, this position requires domestic and international travel, as needed, up to 10%. Responsibilities include: lead, design, develop and test AUTOSAR architectures for multiple platforms; among other duties. Apply to job reference number R2025-2201 at borgwarner.com/careers

Small leaks can quickly become big problems, leading to water damage and mold. By checking your plumbing pipes and fixtures regularly and addressing leaks right away, you can avoid major health risks and costs, and ensure your water systems are running efficiently.

is interested in this position should apply to job reference number R017413 at https://careers.cooperstandard.com/. Sr. Software Engineer

The Detroit Transportation Corporation Office of Contracting and Procurement requests proposals from qualified firms to provide CCTV and network upgrades. This includes modernization efforts for the CCTV system, Public Address (PA) system, Variable Message Signs (VMS), and Wired Backbone Network system, at the MCF, at each DPM station, and at substations described herein.

2. Maintain Water Heater Systems

Water heaters are often overlooked, but keeping them updated can save you time and money. Flushing your water heater annually removes sediment buildup, helping it run more efficiently and prolonging its lifespan.

3. Prevent Mold Growth and Promote Clean Air

All bids must be received by the Detroit Transportation Corporation via Bidnet/MITN on or before 5:00 p.m. (EST) November 7, 2022.

By maintaining proper ventilation in damp areas like bathrooms and basements, you can prevent mold growth and improve your home’s air quality. Use dehumidifiers or exhaust fans where needed and keep an eye out for dark spots or musty smells.

Backyard Safety

A pre-bid site visit will be determined at a later date, if necessary. Proposals can be accessed on the Bidnet Direct www.bidnetdirect.com//detroit-transportation-corporation

Senior Project Engineer

Mike Anderson

FEV North America, Inc.: We seek a Senior Project Engineer based out of our office at 4554 Glenmeade Lane, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Note, this position does not require travel. Specializing in powertrain calibration and development, focus on base engine and OBD calibration and validation activities in engine dyno and in vehicle; among other duties. Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Apply to job reference number 25-00020 at: www.fev.com

1. Keep Pool Area Secure

The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast has established a goal of 8.20% for its Disadvantaged Enterprises (DBE) Program for fiscal years 2025. This goal will be attained through neutral participation and 2.89% from race-conscious which reflects the relative availability of contracts and procurements projected by The proposed goal and its methodology in accordance with the Federal Transit regulations 49 CFR Part 26.

Install a fence around the pool with a self-locking gate and safely store pool chemicals out of children’s reach. Always supervise swimmers to ensure their safety and your peace of mind.

Procurement Manager mandersonjr@thepeoplemover.com

2. Ensure Safe Outdoor Equipment

The goal and the methodology used to for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 Friday at RTA’s offices located at 1001 Woodward 1400, Detroit, Michigan. These materials days following the date of this notice.

Outdoor play equipment, grills and yard tools should be checked regularly to maintain safe use. Ensure play structures are stable and free from sharp edges or rust, and keep tools securely stored to avoid accidental injury. Keep grills clean of grease buildup to reduce flare-ups.

The RTA will accept comments on the goal date of this notice. Inquiries may be directed

For more fire, water and electrical safety tips, as well as tips for disaster preparedness and sustainability, visit iccsafe.org.

“Homes and buildings that have been updated to the latest building codes are better equipped to minimize the possibility and mitigate the effects of fire and other risks. Simple, proactive actions can help ensure continued safety and happiness of your family,” says Reed.

Detroit People Mover/Detroit Transportation Corporation 535 Griswold St Ste # 400 Detroit, MI 48226

BID # 08-8-2022 REBID

Any

for

The Detroit Transportation Corporation Office of Contracting and Procurement requests proposals from qualified Contractor/Firm(s) to provide annual geometry measurements of the LIM rail height, power rail tolerances, running rail height and track gauge.

The initial information and subsequent trending information on the rate of change of the measured parameters of the Detroit People Mover (DPM) track will be reviewed and utilized as part of the existing detailed maintenance plan to ensure long term safety and availability to the riding public.

RTA of Southeast Michigan 1001 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1400 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Or e-mail to: info@rtamichigan.org

All bids must be received by the Detroit Transportation Corporation via Bidnet/MITN on or before 5:00 p.m. (EST) November 7, 2022.

A pre-bid site visit is scheduled for Wednesday, October 25, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (EST). Proposals can be accessed on the www.bidnetdirect.com//detroit-transportation-corporation

Mike Anderson Procurement Manager mandersonjr@thepeoplemover.com

To the qualified electors

Ed Siaje President,