Michigan Chronicle
Michigan
Michigan Chronicle
UAW
Detroit Early Voting is Underway
All Black Everything:
Triple Strike Against Detroit Automakers
A Night of Elegance and Excellence at the
By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
Detroit voters are already voting by mail to choose their next mayor and city council and can begin voting in-person at early voting centers this weekend.
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
The Department of Elections is holding another block party after inviting the public to Grand Boulevard and Third Street this summer on the first day of early voting ahead of the Aug. 5 primary.
For the Nov. 4 General Election, you can vote early in person at an Early Vote Site starting on Oct. 25 through Nov. 2 from 9am to 5pm.
Early voting makes it easier for residents to vote on their schedule. At one of the many locations, you can register to vote or drop off your absentee ballot. After voters passed a ballot initiative in 2022, local clerks are required to provide at least nine days of early voting for eight hours a day ahead of statewide elections.
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
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 expired at 11:59 p.m.
ISept. 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
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 essentially illuminated the golden gems within the true essence of Black excellence. Hosted by the charismatic duo of Andre Ash and Lynzee Mychael from Michigan Chronicle’s Finally Friday, the night was a triumph for the city of Detroit and its vibrant community of young Black professionals.
‘What a
own path to success. Clement “Fame” Brown, the creative mind behind Three Thirteen Detroit’s Brand Name, received the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Brown’s commitment to empowering the city through fashion and entrepreneurship has left an indelible mark.
Woman’: Detroit Celebrates the Life of Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
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 visionary 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 Detroit but also exemplified the transformative impact Black professionals can have on their communities.
also expressed disappointment in a statement, saying the company immediately went into contingency mode to protect its operations.
Can Reparative Investment Finally
Votes Early” sign at Western High School in Southwest Detroit. Former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the high school during her presidential campaign in October 2024.
Prop 2, a constitutional amendment approved by 60% of voters in 2022, added protections like nine more days of early voting, a prepaid ballot postage and state-funded ballot tracking notification system, a permanent absentee voter list, among other provisions.
“Entrepreneur of the year – that’s a big deal,” said Brown. “It’s always an honor to be honored and it’s always a blessing to be in a room full of so many talented, accomplished, and popular people that look like me. I’m geeked. I started making and selling clothes as a kid and I always knew that I would have a business, but I never knew it would be Detroit’s brand name business, so I take a lot of pride in the fact that our business rep resents our city’s pride.”
Taking home the Corporate Excellence Award was Dannis Mitchell, Director of Community Engagement at Barton Malow.
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
The sanctuary at Greater Emanuel was already full before the first note of the organ swelled through the air. Every pew told a story of a city, of a people, and of a woman who spent her life fighting for both.
ness district that had been the lifeblood of the community.
“Together we have created a social, environmental, and financial impact through bees,” said Jackson. Lindsey 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.”
A cost estimate by the Secretary of State predicted the annual cost would be about $21 million annually to implement the changes.
The law gives local municipalities the ability to allow voting within 29 days of an election, so large communities like Detroit could take advantage to prevent long lines.
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.
On Wednesday, October 22, Detroit gathered for two reasons: to say goodbye to Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and, most importantly, to honor a legacy stitched into the city’s fabric like the red and black colors her family wore in her memory; bold, purposeful, unflinching.
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-
As her son, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, made his way to the front row, he paused.
Prop 3, approved in 2018, gave Michiganders the ability to vote early without needing a reason to do so.
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.
“It is so important to recognize that there are young leaders across the country, many that are born here in Detroit. I represent our city nationally and I tell people, ‘Yea I’m a D-girl I’m from the west-side of Detroit,’” 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 thriv ing in a predominantly male-dominated industry, her unwavering commitment to fortifying the connections between businesses and Detroit’s communities is unde-
It’s a history marred by pain, injustice, and economic devastation. More than 130,000 residents, primarily Black, were 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.
to celebrate a life that matters.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Early voting sites include: City Clerk’s Office, 2 Woodward Ave. Ste 200 48226
Looking out across the packed house of city leaders, neighbors, pastors, and those she’d quietly helped — he placed his fist to his heart and whispered twice, “Wow.”
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
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.”
WCCCD Northwest Campus, 8200 W. Outer Dr. 48219
By Andre Ash DIGITAL ANCHOR
Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd. 48235 Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Dr. 48234
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.
That small gesture held the weight of decades of service, triumph, and struggle that defined both mother and son, and by extension, Detroit itself.
To her family and close friends, she was “Nataki,” the Kiswahili name meaning “one born to be royal.” To the city, she was something just as rare, a daughter of Detroit who never forgot the people who sent her to Lansing and later to Washington.
A Holistic Approach to Providing Shelter and Support for Detroit’s Unhoused People
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 unhoused.
WCCCD Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner St. 48213 Department of Elections, 2978 W. Grand Blvd. 48202 Clark Park, 1130 Clark St. 48209
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.
Adams Butzel Recreation Complex, 10500 Lyndon St. 48238
The union is pushing for a comprehensive list of demands. This
Voters are also able to make their voices heard
From Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Congressman Shri Thanedar to Mayor Mike Duggan and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, dignitaries filled the room. But the power in the space didn’t rest in titles. It was in the people, thousands of them, who came because Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick had once made Detroit believe that government could be a tool of care, not punishment.
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.
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-
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 settings.
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
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.
Bishop J. Drew Sheard called the loss “great.” His words rose above the hum of the choir’s praise — “My Soul of Jesus” filling every corner of the church as the congregation lifted hands and hearts. Even in mourning, Detroit knows how
“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.”
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,
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.
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.
weapon in her bra. These incidents unfolded during an unseasonably warm spring, leading to increased pedestrian traffic and heightened tensions in the densely populated downtown area.
chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and fought for billions in federal funding that transformed Detroit’s riverfront, public transit, and housing landscape. Long before it became fashionable to speak of “equity,” she practiced it.
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.
Her younger sister, Marsha Cheeks, remembered a woman who believed abundance was meant to be shared.
“She wanted everyone to have an abundant life as God had blessed her,” she said. “So, she helped absolutely everyone, especially the children.”
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.
That was the foundation upon which she built her career: service rooted in love and accountability. Cheeks Kilpatrick became the first Black woman to serve on Michigan’s House Appropriations Committee in 1978, a place where few women, let alone Black women, were ever invited. In Washington, she
“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.
According to the City of Detroit, since the start of the fiscal year 2019 to 2021, Detroit saw a 28% decrease in the
to visible investment in the city’s young people after years in which many Detroiters wondered whether traditional public education would survive.
“This work is hard but there are moments through the process when you are reminded that generational investments are being made that
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.”
Mayor Duggan called her a trailblazer who “went where no Black woman in state elected office had been.” He reminded mourners that her legacy is visible, speaking to her work on the transportation and appropriations committee in Washington, D.C., where she helped bring tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to build a central bus station that connected downtown to the neighborhoods.
Chief White attributes the violence in Greektown to a combination of weather conditions and a surge in population.
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 neighborhood with the rest of Detroit. It is a step
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.
Even as Detroit’s political seasons shifted, her imprint endured. From her early days volunteering for Mayor Coleman Young’s campaign to her later years leading in Washington, she held fast to a vision of Detroit that refused to shrink
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.”
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.
DPD Chief James White
“Detroit
the rights of all women are continued.
will rule in the upcoming sion, advocates on both sides of the argument are willing to continue their
Michigan…”
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
from its Blackness or its complexity. Her politics came out of the same place as her faith, the Shrine of the Black Madonna and Oak Grove AME Church, institutions that taught her to blend Christianity with liberation.
Frankie Darcell introduced Kwame Kilpatrick with words that carried both affection and history: “He’ll forever be my mayor.” The congregation answered with applause and amens.
paring for this moment since the results of the 2016 election were final. We recently filed a law suit to stop the 1931 law from going into effect, and we’ve also asked the state courts to affirm that the Michigan constitu tion does already contain a right to abortion. Our advocacy arm, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, is a founding member of the coalition that launched Reproductive Freedom for All, a ballot initiative to affirm the right to abortion and reproductive freedom in the state constitution,” said Vasquez Giroux. “The bottom line is that we will do everything in our power to keep abortion legal in Michigan, and if SCOTUS makes that impossible, we will do everything we can to ensure our patients can access the care they need.”
More than legal implications, overturning Roe v. Wade would impact several systems across the spectrum. With the potential to drive both foster 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-
“Overturning Roe v. Wade would be a terrible break with nearly 50 years of judicial precedent and – more importantly – a blow against individual freedom. It is my hope ings of this draft. If that is not the case, we need to ity Leader Schumer and Gov. Whitmer in support of their efforts to preservetive freedom,”
Because whatever one’s politics, everyone in that room understood something deeper — that Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was the kind of woman who made room for contradiction. She was the mother who showed up, the public servant who stood her ground, the churchwoman who could quote scripture and legislation in the same breath.
islature adopts it.
Her son’s eulogy, titled “What a Woman,” brought both laughter and tears. Dressed in a black suit, red tie, and business-casual sneakers, Kwame Kilpatrick stood before the city his mother once helped him lead, a city where their names still carry equal measures of pride and pain.
corporate boards to have more diverse representation and pass the legislation.
He sang softly yet with the most powerful conviction, “My Hallelujah Belongs to You,” before speaking of the lessons his mother gave him. “It takes a remarkable woman to raise somebody like that,” he said, likening himself to Peter — the disciple known for his fire and flaws. “She was ‘raising Peter,’” he said with a laugh, “and that’s what she did.”
Better collection and analysis of criminal justice data: BLAC recommends data collection and professional analysis be initiated with the assistance of our Attorney General, Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), Association of Michigan Prosecutors and other stakeholders to collaborate, collect and analyze data strategically.
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).
Cody High School
From page A-1
Robeson / Malcolm X Academy and Pershing High School. Each site represents a step toward modern facilities, stronger neighborhoods, and equitable access to quality education across Detroit.
He told stories of her visiting him twice a month while he was incarcerated — their visits beginning with Bible study, their faith holding what the world had broken. “She received the Lord Jesus Christ not just because she knew about Him,” he said, “but because she had an encounter with Him in a prison visiting room.”
Around him, the sanctuary glowed — bouquets of red, white, and purple flowers spilling from every corner. A full-bodied bouquet of white roses rested atop her cherry-wood casket. Beside it stood two tall lamps, their soft light reflecting against the shine of one of her signature power suits. It was a scene that could only belong to a Detroit matriarch — a mix of grace, strength, and style.
funds: Ensure all Michigan communities with a significant Black population receive adequate funds to address mental health issues.
Because when a Black woman like Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick leaves this earth, she doesn’t go quietly. She leaves instructions. For the Mary Sheffields, the Portia Robersons, the young Black women studying policy at Wayne State or organizing tenants on the East Side — her life is a living syllabus on how to fight systems that weren’t built for us and still win.
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.
When the choir closed with praise and the crowd began to rise, Detroit did what it has always done — bore witness. The story of Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick is the story of this city’s resilience: brilliant, complicated, unbent. Her life stretched from the streets of Detroit to the halls of Congress, and even in death, she reminded her people that representation isn’t a position, rather it’s a calling.
Protecting Black voting rights: Urge state officials to remain vigilant in the fight against schemes to disenfranchise Michiganders of color.
“The investment in a new neighborhood high school on the west side was strategic and intentional,” Vitti said. “It sends a strong message to everyone that traditional public education is here to stay in Detroit. Our vision is to rebuild the system in such a way that residents once again want to send their children to neighborhood schools. This is how we will continue to rebuild the city and this is what our children deserve: upgraded and modern schools.”
Her service made clear that power can be both principled and Black, both feminine and fierce.
“She fought to the very last breath,” said Amir Kilpatrick, Cheeks Kilpatrick grandson. “Because of her spirit, I know she’ll never die. It will never be another person like her.”
Ban no-knock warrants: Urging the House Government Operations Committee to hold hearings on HB 5013 and other legislation that would ban or limit the use of noknock or quick knock warrants, and urging the state legislature to pass meaningful reform and advise Gov. Whitmer to sign the bill after the leg-
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.
In the end, the city sent her home the way she lived: full, radiant, unapologetically Detroit.
the chancellor embraces.
By Eric B. Larson DDP CEO
Detroit will remember her not just for the laws she passed or the billions she brought home, but for how she carried us as if we were all her children, deserving of abundance.
In this city, where the names of our foremothers echo through the corridors of power and pews alike, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick’s name will remain among them spoken with gratitude, said with pride, and remembered as proof that Detroit has always raised women built for the impossible.
“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.
COMMUNITY VOICES
The district will fund the project through one-time federal dollars rather than local tax increases. That choice reflects fiscal caution and responds to residents who have asked for reinvestment that does not add new financial burdens. In a city where economic recovery remains uneven, the decision signals that renewal can come without added cost to families already carrying much of Detroit’s rebuilding effort.
The new Cody High School will include expanded Career and Technical Education programming shaped by student input. Planned courses include health science and marketing, along with a student-run store featuring apparel designed by students and alumni. The additions aim to create practical pathways into business and health careers and to strengthen student pride through hands-on learning.
Maintaining the Momentum Together
people believe that they need to for themselves and others to live better lives.”
tives
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.
Since its inception, the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) has worked with 21 mayoral administrations. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with the oncoming administration and stand ready to provide support when needed.
“I think of transformational leadership as a thoughtful approach that causes people to change but also causes the systems and circumstances they are operating in to change too,” Ivory said. “Transformational change doesn’t just ask people to do cer tain things; it asks them to change their view of what’s possible and ex cites them to drive that change together because they believe that what they’re doing will create positive change for every one. That’s how entire systems change because
oral administration. Administrations have come and gone, but we have maintained a leadership position as the steadfast constant for the Downtown and beyond.
• Planning for long-term structural challenges
“Cody’s transformation is not simply a construction initiative. It reflects deliberate policy, strong fiscal stewardship, and a commitment to legacy,” said Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn, Ph.D., president of the Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education. “As a Board, we anchor this district through strategic oversight, financial discipline, and sustainable frameworks. Every groundbreaking secures a stronger foundation not just for today’s learners, but for generations to come.”
“Chancellor Ivery is a true transformational leader and an outstanding CEO, who is more than worthy of the CEO of the Year Award he just received, “ said Prof. James C. Mays, who teaches entrepreneurship and supply chain management at WCCCD’s Corporate College. “In his 27 years at WCCCD, Dr. Ivery has elevated WCCCD to become nationally recognized for excellence and innovation and preparing our students professionally and personally to do great things in the world.”
While we represent the Downtown, our connections extend throughout the city, partnering with neighborhood groups, individuals, businesses, and public-sector and nonprofit organizations. As residents prepare to elect their next administration, the DDP’s goal is to ensure alignment on the existing and anticipated challenges and opportunities that will emerge as the new leaders take on their roles.
Over the past decade, the city has received plenty of national recognition, population growth, and recovery from bankruptcy. While we’re proud of our collective progress, the DDP recognizes that more work is needed to continually build a sustainable, world-class city in which we can all take pride.
The Downtown Detroit Partnership collected input from numerous stakeholders and published what it sees as the city’s priorities within its “Maintaining the Momentum” white paper.
The DDP believes it is important for Detroit’s diverse communities to be aligned on key principles and areas of focus to ensure the city continues its progress. In addition, we believe there are important qualifications for any individual who is willing and able to step into a role that can be both extremely rewarding and thankless at the same time.
And we have a robust amount of urban innovation, placemaking, data analyzing, and investment experience to build upon. The Downtown Detroit Partnership was founded in 1922, and we will be supporting our 22nd may-
While the DDP does not endorse political candidates, we proudly support each administration in serving Downtown’s businesses, residents, employees, and visitors. This requires consistent communication and partnership with city leadership at all levels. Supporting the public sector is critical to our mission of cultivating social and economic impact in Detroit.
The next mayor will oversee a $1.4 billion budget and be responsible for roughly 30,000 employees. The importance of this vote cannot be overstated.
BLAC is housed in the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Members represent many professional backgrounds, including economics, law, public safety, health and wellness, arts and culture and media. They leverage their experiences and expertise to make recommendations to the governor on critical issues affecting the Black community.
As you prepare to cast your vote, our white paper may provide some key factors to consider.
Keys to Success
Building Detroit’s progress under Mayor Duggan, our stakeholders identified strategies that will help the next administration maintain this momentum:
• Proactively invest in a strong and diverse coalition of relationships.
• Build a strong team.
• Strengthen ties with residents.
• Understand the governmental apparatus.
• Reinforce the spirit of collaboration.
To learn more about BLAC and this upcoming event, visit www.michigan.gov/BLAC.
About Maintaining the Momentum
For months, the DDP worked with stakeholders, DDP Board Members, and community leaders to build consensus on the priorities needed to sustain Detroit’s progress over the next four years. Together, we identified the most critical issues and opportunities.
The paper is organized into four sections:
• Priorities for the City
• Keys to Success
• What Makes a Great Mayor
• The Role of the DDP
Priorities for the City
Detroit has celebrated major wins: increased population, reduced crime, and record investments. Yet the challenges remain significant. How do we, emphasis on we, tackle housing, education, poverty, homelessness, and other pressing issues?
Maintaining the Momentum highlights seven areas where we must move the needle:
• Driving a “One Detroit” vision
• Sustaining progress in public safety
• Continuing critical quality-of-life investments
• Increasing economic prosperity
• Making city government more efficient
• Completing key high-impact initia-
What Makes a Great Mayor
The mayor’s role demands exceptional skills and relentless commitment. We believe the next mayor should embody the following qualities:
• Relationship builder
• Problem solver
• Two-way communicator
• Builder of trust and confidence
The Role of the DDP
Finally, the DDP needs to be as accountable as the voters. Our Board of Directors and team stand ready to:
• Approach new relationships with trust: Maintain open communication with the new administration and City Council, share our initiatives, and avoid comparisons to previous leaders.
• Assist with talent: Help identify and recruit qualified local and national talent and lend our own staff when needed.
• Support the transition: Provide on-demand assistance and facilitate dialogue among community, business, and philanthropic leaders.
• Provide resources and expertise: Offer historical context, current data, and subject-matter expertise across critical disciplines. For more than 100 years, the Downtown Detroit Partnership has helped shape the city’s development and investments. We stand ready to support the next mayor and City Council in driving Detroit’s future and keeping up the momentum.
For Detroit’s Black community, which has long carried the weight of underfunded schools and shuttered buildings, the sight of new steel rising on the west side carries deep meaning. It stands as proof that local control can translate into tangible results. It also signals that the district sees education not as a service to manage but as a public trust to rebuild.
Cody’s construction aligns with a broader vision of Detroit schools as neighborhood anchors. The district’s Facility Master Plan links physical renovation with social renewal, promising spaces that inspire learning and strengthen the city’s fabric. Each completed project restores a sense of permanence and pride that decades of disinvestment eroded.
The new high school is scheduled to open in summer 2027. When it does, the building will represent much more than new classrooms or updated technology. It will show that Detroit’s public schools are again shaping the city’s future.
Detroit Early Voting
by mail with an absentee ballot. You can get one at the Detroit City Clerk’s office located at 2 Woodward Ave #200 Detroit, MI 48226 starting 40 days before Election Day until 4 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
Completed applications for absentee ballots must be received by the clerk via mail, email or dropped off in-person by 5pm the Friday before Election Day. Applications can also be filled out in person at the clerk’s office by 4pm the day before Election Day.
More than 30,000 absentee ballots have already been returned, according to elections officials.
For the Nov. 4 General Election, you can vote early in person with an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office starting on Sept. 25. If you are registered to vote at your current
address, you can vote at the Clerk’s office until Nov. 3 at 4pm. You can vote in person at a Detroit Early Voting Site. The voting experience is similar to what happens inside a polling place on Election Day. You will complete your ballot, place it in a secrecy sleeve, and then place it into the voting tabulator.
You’ll also get an “I voted” sticker. You can request an absentee ballot at the Secretary of State website. After you complete filling it out, drop it off anytime at one of the drop box locations across the city or at one of the early voting centers. A full list of ballot drop box locations can be found on the secretary of state’s website: https:// mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/ Index/#yourclerk You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle.com.
From page A-1
Eric B. Larson
Michigan Chronicle Hosts
Jack & Jill of America
Students for
Reporting Workshop
Earlier this month, the Michigan Chronicle’s executive editor, Jeremy Allen, and senior reporter, Ebony JJ Curry, welcomed a group of 20 fifth- and sixthgrade students from the Jack & Jill of America Detroit Chapter to the newspaper’s downtown office for an exciting, hands-on journalism experience.
The students, along with several parents, spent a few hours shadowing the Chronicle’s editorial team, learning the ropes of reporting and storytelling. The workshop kicked off with an introduction to the world of journalism and a history lesson about the Black Press, followed by an assignment where the students split into two groups—boys and girls, naturally—and set off into downtown Detroit to search for stories. Whether it was capturing community events or observing street life, the students quickly
discovered how to find newsworthy moments in their surroundings.
Back at the office, the students collaborated to turn their observations into polished stories, with Allen and Curry offering guidance and insight along the way. The boys’ group reported on the Detroit Lions’ upcoming Monday Night Football game and some of the work that goes into making it happen, while the girls’ group focused on the rich history and resurgence of Detroit’s Paradise Valley.
As the workshop came to a close, the students shared their career aspirations with Allen and Curry, discussing everything from journalism and engineering to professional athletes and entrepreneurship. The day wrapped up with pizza and juice, leaving the young participants inspired and excited about the pos-
The Beauty and Importance of Black Culture in Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley was once known as Detroit’s Black business district, a community filled with thriving Black-owned clubs, shops, and restaurants that drew people from every background.
sibilities within the world of media and beyond.
This event provided an invaluable opportunity for these future leaders to engage with professionals and gain firsthand experience in the field of journalism. It also reinforced the importance of storytelling in shaping and reflecting the world around us. See each group’s story below.
Ford
Field Supervisor Talks About Preparing for Lions Monday Night Football Game
the organization when she was in high school.
When we think about Black culture in the city of Detroit, Paradise Valley immediately comes to mind.
It’s a place full of murals, music, soul food, and history, a true living reflection of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Paradise Valley has some of the area’s most iconic spaces that keep Detroit’s Black legacy alive from Fixins Soul Kitchen, Spectacles shop, Paradise Valley Park, and the Stevie Wonder mural that reminds us all of the rhythm and brilliance that runs through this city.
Today, the spirit of that legacy is rising again.
Diversity fills the streets here, with people from all walks of life coming to experience the culture that was born through Black excellence and creativity. Our culture, our food, and our history continue to draw people in because we make it look good.
One of the most visited spots is Fixins Soul
It was an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon in downtown Detroit. It was two days before the Detroit Lions Monday night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That afternoon there was youth football happening at Ford Field, specifically Boys & Girls Club football, but that was just a preview of what people were going to see Monday.
During our walk downtown we talked to an employee who works for Ford Field. There were a lot of people inside and outside of the stadium preparing for the big game on Monday.
We decided to interview one of the employees about the game and other things, including what they do to prepare for the game, and what they do for fun when they’re not working.
Blake is a supervisor with a company that contracts with Ford Field on events and event management. Coincidentally, Blake was in the Detroit chapter of Jack & Jill where she served as legislative liaison for the Midwest region and the vice president, so she routinely went to teen convention with
“I have a great time working at Ford Field. It gives me a lot of challenges, but we have a good time working here,” Blake said. “I am a supervisor of an events team and my area is the lower bowl area, where people sit and watch the game. I have a team of about 12 people and I’m in charge of the team that oversees section 121-126.”
Blake also said: “There are so many different jobs in the stadium. There are people who do security, marketing, events, cleaning, then you have coaches and players. So many people do so many jobs.”
She said her favorite Lions players were Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and that when she’s not working, she like to canoe and kayak. She said that during breaks while she’s at work, she will sometimes take a peak at the football games. She also lives in Detroit.
Overall, this interview was very great, and this was probably one of the most engaged people we could have interviewed.
We interviewed a very important person who works at Ford Field. Her job really helps out the stadium and people’s experience at the stadium.
By Ashlyn Nealy, Lia Bruner, Bella Irons, Ameera Johnson, Reagan Mcdonugal, Addison Wade, Skylar Williams, Makayla Cockroft, Jordyn McClendon, Kenley Jackson (Jack & Jill of America – Detroit Chapter)
By Jack & Jill of America – Detroit Chapter Youth
(Zion Allen, Derrick Register, Hardy Wilson, Tyler Jones, Chase Rhodes, Anthony Nealy, Mason Frederick Cannon, Santana Jackson, Ivan Mckeithen)
Three Democrats from across the state have announced bids for attorney general in Michigan
By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
The attorney general and its office is in charge of prosecuting the laws of the state of Michigan. In Michigan, the attorney general is elected in midterm election years and serves terms lasting four years.
Since 1993, the attorney general is limited to two terms in office. That will include current AG Dana Nessel, a Democrat who is term-limited after next year.
Nominees for attorney general and secretary of state are selected not by a primary election, but at the state party nominating convention.
Democrats have set theirs for April 19, 2026.
The following candidates have until then to convince party delegates they are the best choice to take on a Republican candidate next November:
Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit entered the office in 2021 after his Bernie Sanders-backed campaign promised voters a vision for fair and equal justice for all residents.
Savit ushered in nearly a dozen new policies in the early months of 2021 aimed at shifting the county to a more progressive style of criminal justice.
One of those policies was to end cash bail.
People detained pretrial make up roughly half of Michigan’s jail population, often because they couldn’t afford their bail, according to a state task force study.
Savit as prosecutor has also declined to charge certain low-level drug offenses, and pledged to track racial disparities in prosecution.
His campaign is endorsed by a number of progressive state legislators, including state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, state Reps. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit, Tonya Meyers Philips, D-Detroit. He is also backed by former Michigan Democratic Party chair Lavora Barnes and City of Detroit corporation counsel Conrad Mallet.
Mark Totten, a lawyer appointed by former President Joe Biden as a U.S. attorney in the Western District of Michigan from May 2022 and Jan. 2025. He has also worked as a criminal law professor at Michigan State University.
Totten led prosecutions against domestic
abuse, hate crimes and discrimination while working serving as U.S. attorney.
“I have watched in horror as a president has stoked division, trampled civil rights, and undermined the very rule of law,” Totten said in a video announcing his candidacy. “I refuse to stand by and watch, and that’s why I’m running for attorney general, to fight for you and to fight for everything we hold dear.”
Totten ran for Michigan Attorney General previously in 2014, when he lost to Republican incumbent Bill Schuette as the Democratic nominee.
He served as Chief Legal Counsel for the governor of Michigan from 2019 to 2022 before being appointed by Biden.
Totten is backed by a number of city officials across Michigan, including the mayors of Kalamazoo, South Haven, Benton Harbor and Flint.
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald of Birmingham became the third Democrat to enter the race back in June.
“I’m running for Attorney General because I’m someone who has always been drawn to doing the most good,” McDonald said in a statement. “Right now, our state is facing major threats on everything from public safety to the rule of law. From gun violence and human trafficking, to threats to our fundamental freedoms and federal overreach — the stakes have never been higher.”
McDonald was elected as Oakland County Prosecutor in 2020. Her early initiatives include juvenile justice and establishing a trafficking and hate crimes unit.
McDonald was a high school English teacher in Midland before becoming a prosecutor.
Prior to her election as Oakland County Prosecutor, Karen was an Oakland County Circuit Court judge from 2012 to 2019.
She is endorsed by former Michigan Governor James Blanchard, U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, state Sen. Rosemarie Bayer, state Reps. Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac, Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw, the Detroit Plumbers Local 98, United Food and Commercial Workers 876.
Republican candidates include Kalamazoo County attorney Matthew DePerno, Brimingham attorney Kevin Kijewski and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd.
You can reach Sam at srobinson@ michronicle.com
Detroit City Council Enacts $100 Fine for Chewing Tobacco, Nicotine Pouches at Ballpark
By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
Last week Detroit City Council members voted 7-2 to make using tobacco products at stadiums and arenas illegal and punishable by fines for both athletes and attendees.
The use of chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches are now a misdemeanor offense, with a $100 fine for non-compliant offenders. The ordinance allows offenders the chance to stop without penalty before issuing the fine.
At-large Councilman Coleman A. Young II and District 6 Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero voted no.
Young said adults should be able to partake in the use of tobacco products, like alcohol.
“If you ban that, then you also have to ban beer, in terms of the negative externalities of that,” he said.
“You’d also have to ban hot dogs based on the amount of cholesterol — how far do we go?”
Santiago-Romero pointed to the fact that tobacco use is already prohibited at stadiums but not enforced. She said there are more important things for council could be voting on.
Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena already prohibits all tobacco-related products.
“I just don’t see the enforcement,” she said. “To member Young’s points, instead of trying to tell people what they can or can’t do — especially if we can’t enforce what you already
have on the books — I understand the spirit of this… But I don’t believe passing this will necessarily make an impact on the things that are being shared. There are many other things we should be doing.”
Supporters of the proposal including Angela Whitfield Calloway, District 2, and Fred Durhal III, District 7, who introduced the proposal.
The effort is part of a national anti-tobacco campaign, Knock Tobacco Out of the Park, which says it has the support of the Tigers.
Durhal spoke at an event at The Corner Ballpark, the former Tiger Stadium, earlier this month in support of the push to ban tobacco inside pro sports stadiums. Durhal was joined by District 7 resident Minou Jones of the Detroit Wayne Oakland Tobacco-Free Coalition, who argues kids shouldn’t be subjected to tobacco-use.
The products are being marketed to kids, Whitfield Calloway said Tuesady.
“I’m grateful to Chief (Todd) Bettison for going into our gasoline stations and other retail outlets that are selling these devices to folks under 18-years-old,” Whitfield Calloway said.
“We do have I call it an epidemic in our city whether we want to acknowledge it as so. If we go into our schools today, you can smell the vaping going on. It’s in the air.”
Detroit will join 18 other cities with full smokeless-tobacco bans inside sports arenas, including Wrigley Field and Rate Field
Paradise Valley
Kitchen, owned by Kevin Johnson, who shared how his restaurant is much more than a place to eat.
“Welcome home. That’s what I want our soul food restaurant to be, a place that when African Americans come in, they feel like they’re coming home,” Johnson said. He explained that soul food started in the South, during times when Black families turned survival into tradition.
“Soul food was survival food. We would take the leftover parts and make it our own — seasoned with Africa in every bite,” he told us. “Fixins has locations in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Tulsa, and now Detroit where we are employing around 100 people, most of whom are African American or Latino.
“It’s a safe place where people feel welcomed and loved,” Johnson added.
Spectacles, a Detroit fashion and culture staple that’s been open since 1984 is defining fashion and culture right here in Paradise Valley. Its owner, Zana Smith, told us how the shop helped shape the city’s creative scene. “What really put us on the map was when we had the Spike Lee merchandise,” she said. “We were the only store to carry Spike Lee, even before he had a store in Brooklyn.” Smith explained that the name “Spectacles” came from outfitting bands who wanted to stand out on stage and “make a spectacle of themselves.”
Fashion here is about freedom. Detroit resident and customer Shade summed it up best: “Detroit fashion means so many things,” she said. “Just being yourself, creating your own aesthetic, not following
trends, just thinking outside the box.”
Walking through Paradise Valley feels like stepping into a story that never stopped being told.
It’s a story about pride, power, and people who turned their dreams into Detroit landmarks.
From the soulful smell of fried chicken and mac and cheese floating from Fixins Soul Kitchen to the culture that burst throughout the park, this neighborhood carries the heartbeat of generations.
It’s a place where you can taste history, see culture in color, and feel community in every smile. Whether you come to shop at Spectacles, eat at Fixins, or stand in front of the Stevie Wonder mural, Paradise Valley reminds you that Detroit’s Black culture is much deeper than just our history — it’s home.
And no matter where you’re from, when you’re here, you’re family. Welcome home.
ATTENTION: WAYNE COUNTY RESIDENTS
Would you benefit from affordable, high quality rental housing?
MSHDA’s Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program may be able to help. The PBV Program is a federally funded rental subsidy program that may assist families living at Benjamin O. Davis Veterans Village with paying their rent.
MSHDA’s Housing Choice Voucher/PBV Program is partnering with the Benjamin O. Davis Veterans Village LDHA LP, Community of Hope, Premier Property Management, Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND), and RPI Management, Inc. to make available permanent supportive housing units with rental subsidies for 25 one-bedroom apartments – located at 4777 E. Outer Dr., Detroit, MI 48234.
The PBV waiting list will be established by MSHDA on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 and will remain open indefinitely. You may qualify for assistance if:
•Your family’s income falls at or below 30% percent of area median income for Wayne County, AND
in Chicago.
Chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches lead to nicotine addiction. It can cause cancer of the mouth, esophagus and pancreas. The Centers for Disease Control says the habit can cause an increase in risk of death from heart disease and stroke.
You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle.com.
•Your family meets the Top 10% of Local CoC Prioritized List – which is defined as a Chronically Homeless individual or family.
Staff at Communities of Hope, Inc. will be accepting inquiries beginning Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Please call: 313-432-8700. Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm, to receive information regarding the PBV waiting list application process for this property.
NOTE: Proof of legal identity (birth) and proof of a valid social security number will be required for all members of the household.
TO: ALL ELIGIBLE DISABLED VOTERS
Federal Public Law 98-435 requires that polling places be accessible to disabled voters.
If a polling location is not disabled accessible, this law allows the assignment of an alternate polling place. However, several polling places which were previously inaccessible are now accessible to disabled voters.
Disabled voters are entitled to vote at the polls within the precinct where possible. Pollworkers are obligated to provide whatever assistance is needed to facilitate the voting process.
Disabled voters with an inaccessible polling place are eligible to vote without notice at the:
Department of Elections 2978 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202
until the close of voting at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
If additional information is needed, or to confirm disabled accessibility, please contact the Department of Elections office at (313) 876-0190.
Janice M. Winfrey City Clerk & Chairperson Detroit Election Commission
4 cols x 6 inches
Mark Totten Karen McDonald Eli Savit
Money.
Property is Power!
Buy the Block! What It Means for the Black Community
By Anthony O. Kellum
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ownership is more than personal wealth, it’s collective transformation. For generations, Black communities have been the heartbeat of American culture, resilience, and creativity, yet too often these same neighborhoods have been disinvested, undervalued, or left behind. Investing in the block isn’t just about buying property, it’s about reclaiming space, rewriting narratives, and rebuilding the foundation of economic power from within.
The Power of Ownership in Our Own Neighborhoods
When Black Americans buy homes or invest in property within their own communities, the ripple effects extend far beyond one address. Ownership creates local stability, attracts new businesses, and increases neighborhood pride. It keeps wealth circulating within the community rather than flowing out through rent, corporate ownership, or speculative investors who have no stake in the area’s future.
According to recent data from the Urban Institute, homeownership remains the largest contributor to wealth among Black households. Yet the racial homeownership gap hovering around 30 percentage points compared to white households reflects a long history of systemic exclusion. By redirecting investment back into historically Black neighborhoods, we can begin to close that gap while building community-based wealth that endures.
The Cycle of Disinvestment and How to Reverse It
Many Black neighborhoods still bear the scars of redlining, predatory lending, and decades of disinvestment. Once financial institutions and developers withdrew, property values dropped not because the community’s lacked potential, but because they were deprived of fair capital access. The result was a self-fulfilling prophecy less lending meant less development, and less development meant declining values.
But that cycle can be reversed. When Black homeowners, entrepreneurs, and investors purchase, rehab, and develop property in their own neighborhoods, they flip the script. Property improvements raise surrounding home values, small business growth attracts outside spending, and local ownership ensures that revitalization doesn’t equal displacement.
Modern Tools for Building Local Wealth
Today’s mortgage and lending landscape offers several creative pathways to invest in property beyond traditional home loans. Understanding these tools is key to transforming community investment from a dream into a movement:
• Rehab Loans: These loans, such as FHA 203(k) or Fannie Mae’s Homestyle Renovation, allow buyers to finance both the purchase and renovation of a property. They’re perfect for revitalizing older homes in need of repair helping turn neglected properties into neighborhood anchors.
• Construction Loans: For those building from the ground up, construction loans finance new developments and can later be converted to permanent mortgages. This helps entrepreneurs and small builders bring new housing and business spaces to underserved areas.
• DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) Loans: Designed for investors, DSCR loans base approval on the property’s income potential rather than personal income. This opens opportunities for multi-family, rental, or mixed-use investments in the community.
• P&L and Bank Statement Loans: Self-employed borrowers, small business owners, and gig workers many of whom are pillars of the Black economy, can qualify for mortgages using their profit and loss statements or bank deposits instead of W-2s, making access to capital more inclusive.
• Collective Ownership Models: From investment clubs to community land trusts, group ownership allows multiple people to share costs, mitigate risk, and retain control of local real estate. These models preserve affordability while ensuring that the community benefits from rising values. Economic Empowerment Through Local Investment Investing in the block also means investing in the people who make it thrive. Local ownership creates a multiplier effect homeowners spend at local shops, local businesses hire local talent, and tax revenue supports better schools and services. Each transaction contributes to a stronger ecosystem of self-sufficiency.
This is how we move to sustainability when the barber owns his building, the café owner buys her building, and the family down the street renovates their home the entire community gains economic security and pride. Property ownership becomes the vehicle for both personal freedom and collective advancement.
Tips for Turning Investment into Impact
• Start Local: Look for opportunities in neighborhoods you know and understand. Familiarity reduces risk and increases your ability to spot long-term value.
• Leverage Equity: Use the equity in your current home to fund investment in other properties or community development projects.
• Collaborate: Form partnerships with trusted peers or community organizations to pool resources and scale impact.
• Learn the Lending Landscape: Connect with lenders and brokers who understand programs like FHA 203(k), DSCR, and construction loans.
• Plan for Sustainability: Focus on developments that improve quality of life not just profits such as affordable housing, mixed-use spaces, or small business hubs.
What It Means for the Black Community
Investing in the block means turning ownership into empowerment. It means ensuring that revitalization doesn’t lead to gentrification, but to regeneration by us, for us. Every rehabbed home, every locally owned business, is a declaration that Black community’s matter.
Property is Power not just because it builds wealth, but because it builds futures.
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 Central and GVSU Partner to Expand Workforce Training and Education in Detroit
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Michigan Central and Grand Valley State University are joining forces to train Detroiters for careers in mobility, advanced manufacturing, and robotics, placing GVSU programs and people directly inside the Michigan Central district.
The partnership embeds GVSU students, faculty, and adult learners into Michigan Central’s 30-acre ecosystem, linking coursework to hands-on experience with startups and employers and providing access to the district’s infrastructure. The focus is clear: align education with in-demand jobs and open practical routes from classroom to career for Detroit learners.
“Michigan Central was designed as an open platform where education, industry, and community unite to solve real-world challenges,” said Carolina Pluszczynski, COO of Michigan Central. “This partnership with Grand Valley State University is a natural extension of that mission— equipping learners of all ages with the tools and connections they need to thrive in high-growth industries like mobility, advanced manufacturing, and robotics, while fostering a more accessible and prosperous region.”
GVSU brings its regional reach and equity-driven approach to the collaboration, expanding access points for Detroiters.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to inclusive innovation, workforce readiness, and educational access for students in Detroit and throughout Southeast Michigan,” said GVSU President Philomena Mantella. “Together, we’re building bridges between higher education, industry, and community.”
Youth pathways sit at the center of the work.
Building on Michigan Central’s partnerships with the University of Michigan Center for Innovation and Wayne
State University, GVSU will introduce earlier connections to higher education through Rep4 and Federal TRIO programming for middle and high school students, offering exposure to credentialing and four-year degree opportunities inside the ecosystem.
Adults will see short-term credentialing and upskilling through GVSU’s Omni, along with flexible online and hybrid degree options for underserved learners. The partners will also create applied research opportunities that connect GVSU students and faculty with Michigan Central startups and employers across mobility and technology.
“Detroit is the front door to innovation and inclusion,” said B. Donta Truss, Vice President for Enrollment Development & College Futures at GVSU. “Together with Michigan Central, GVSU is embedding programs that blend research, workforce readiness, and youth engagement in ways that create pathways to excellence and opportunity. For many, these programs will begin as early as 8th grade, serving as their first connection to higher education and setting them on a course toward educational accomplishment and lifelong success. This is a partnership built on action—and Detroit is at the center of that vision.”
GVSU will establish a presence inside Michigan Central’s STEM lab on the youth-dedicated floor of The Station and within Newlab at Michigan Central. Several initiatives are already underway, with additional youth programming launching in early 2026.
The agreement builds on Michigan Central’s talent work to date.
The ecosystem now includes more than 240 companies and startups and has served over 3,000 youth and adults through talent initiatives. A recent $2 million grant from Google.org is supporting expanded STEM opportunities for local students.
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@michronicle. com.
Detroit’s Gratiot and Seven Mile Area to Receive $20 Million Investment from Fifth Third Bank
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Fifth Third Bank is returning to the place where its neighborhood investment work began, committing $20 million over three years to Detroit’s Gratiot and Seven Mile area, known to residents as G7. The reinvestment comes as the bank finalizes a $10.9 billion merger agreement with Comerica Incorporated, expected to close in early 2026 pending shareholder and regulatory approval.
The program, which first took root in the G7 neighborhood in 2019, will bring new funding for small businesses, affordable housing, and community development in a corridor that has long symbolized both Detroit’s resilience and its decades of disinvestment. Fifth Third officials say the new investment will build on what was started through Invest Detroit’s Strategic Neighborhood Fund and other local partnerships.
Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third, said the bank’s renewed focus will align with a larger “One Michigan Community Plan” aimed at driving economic mobility across the state.
“After we fully integrate with Comerica, we plan to launch our One Michigan Community Plan to drive our philanthropic investment approach for the state,” Gibson said. “As part of that, we will officially welcome Detroit into the Neighborhood Program with an initial investment of $20 million over three years to help advance economic mobility and financial inclusion for G7 residents and businesses.”
The One Michigan Community Plan includes statewide commitments beyond Detroit. Among them, 53 small businesses across Michigan will receive $5,300 grants through the Fifth Third Small Business Catalyst Fund next year. Fifth Third has
also pledged to maintain Comerica’s Great Lakes Campus in Farmington Hills, where 2,000 employees currently work.
The G7 neighborhood was the pilot site for Fifth Third’s place-based investment model. In 2019, the bank provided $5 million to Invest Detroit’s Gratiot/Seven Mile Strategic Neighborhood Fund, supporting improvements to streetscapes, housing, and small business corridors. That early partnership with the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and local nonprofits helped make visible changes across the east side, from park upgrades to new affordable housing units.
“Our approach to community investment and engagement reflects a deeply aligned commitment to broadening financial access across our footprint,” Gibson said. “With Detroit’s official addition to the Neighborhood Program and our expansion into Texas, we are excited to bring our place-based strategies to more communities and continue driving meaningful impact.”
Since expanding in 2021, Fifth Third’s Neighborhood Program has
reached 10 cities and delivered more than $270 million in local investments, while catalyzing an additional $200 million from public and private entities. The model focuses on historically disinvested neighborhoods through partnerships that blend financial, social, and intellectual capital. Both Fifth Third and Comerica have earned “Outstanding” ratings under the federal Community Reinvestment Act, which measures how banks serve low- and moderate-income communities. Detroit officials say that history of engagement will be critical as the merger takes shape. Detroit’s G7 neighborhood, once seen as a testing ground for the city’s post-bankruptcy redevelopment strategy, is again positioned to show how long-term partnerships can anchor change when residents are included. The new $20 million commitment, layered with local partnerships and accountability, is expected to direct funding where it matters most—on blocks that have waited decades for reinvestment to return.
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@michronicle.com.
Anthony O. Kellum
This year marks a major milestone for the DTW Golf Classic. Since 2022, this event has raised $1 million for nonprofits in Southeast Michigan. The generosity of our sponsors is unmatched. Our Wayne County Airport Authority team, including our Board of Directors, is truly grateful for all the support we’ve received.
Phenomenal organizations have benefited from the DTW Golf Classic including Alternatives For Girls, Davis Aerospace Technical High School/Detroit Public Schools Foundation, and LAHC: Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities.
C ity . L ife .
TEDxDetroit 2025 Moves to Durfee Innovation Society, Highlights Local Efforts
By Jeremy Allen
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
TEDxDetroit returns this fall with a new focus and a new venue. On Wednesday, November 12, the long-running event will take place at the Durfee Innovation Society, marking the first time it will be held outside of downtown Detroit. Organizers say the move is designed to give attendees a closer look at the people and organizations shaping change in the city.
The event will bring together entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, artists, and other professionals from across the region for a one-day gathering centered on storytelling, collaboration, and idea sharing. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. for open house tours of the Durfee building, with speaker presentations scheduled from 2-4 p.m.
TEDxDetroit, now in its 16th year, is part of the larger network of independently organized TEDx events. Its mission remains consistent: to spotlight creative thinkers and spark discussions that help shape the future of Detroit and surrounding communities. Hundreds are expected to attend this year’s program, which includes talks from a range of speakers and an interactive exhibit space known as TEDxLabs.
The Durfee Innovation Society is operated by Life Remodeled, a nonprofit focused on revitalizing Detroit neighborhoods through education, workforce development, and community services. In recent years, the organization and its work have been featured in several TEDxDetroit talks. This year, the event will be held directly in one of Life Remodeled’s main facilities.
“We’re excited to bring this year’s event to the Opportunity Hub at Durfee Innovation Society, where attendees can immerse themselves in the city’s communities,” said Terry Bean, TryBean Founder and TEDxDetroit Executive Producer. “Detroit is home to countless changemakers and leaders and this event provides a space to unite their ideas and turn them into action.”
Attendees will also be able to engage with the work of the Durfee Innovation Society through TEDxLabs, a hands-on experience showcasing community projects and nonprofit programs based in the building. Life Remodeled describes its mission as converting vacant school buildings into “one stop hubs of opportunity,” where multiple nonprofits can operate together to serve families and students in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“Bold ideas and powerful stories drive the city of Detroit,” said Diallo Smith, President and CEO of Life Remodeled. “We’re proud to host TEDxDetroit at the Durfee Innovation Society to magnify the voices of Detroit’s dreamers and doers who are inspiring change and progress within our great city.” Life Remodeled’s model is based on collaboration. By housing several organizations in one location, the group aims to streamline access to services, improve student performance, and increase access to jobs, health care, and family support resources. The building currently supports programs focused on youth education, job training, and essential human services, reaching thousands of community members each year.
TEDxDetroit has built a strong following since its debut in 2009, featuring more than 250 speakers from Detroit and the Great Lakes region. Past presenters have included doctors, filmmakers, engineers, poets, and business leaders. The event has grown to become one of the largest independently organized TEDx events in the country.
Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style
The ‘313 Spelling Bee’
Brings More than Just Wordsmiths
By Sam Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
(This story originally appeared on DetroitOneMillion.com.)
Nneka Ezeanya (denim jacket) and her friend Asiimwe Najjuma get ready to deliver the next word to former champion Bill “Dollar Dollar.”
A trip to Chicago was the inspiration behind Nneka Ezeanya’s 313 Spelling Bee.
Hundreds of Detroiters attended her first two spelling bees this summer, with a third Halloween-themed contest happening Friday evening at Olympia Skateshop’s new store in Milwaukee Junction.
The spelling bee I had the pleasure of attending near Boston Edison last month was packed with passionate readers and writers thanks to a viral TikTok posted by her sister, Chinelo Ezeanya. The bookworms, wordsmiths and poets I met said they were motivated to come after seeing the flyer on social media.
“The family is involved and very helpful,” Ezeanya told me Thursday. “I got my younger sister who is a social media head to make videos — that’s our collaboration. She has a great vision and she executes it well.”
The idea was created earlier this year when Ezeanya saw a flyer for an adult spelling bee while walking around Chicago, and imagined hosting her own in Detroit.
“My friend was like, ‘No that’s lame,’” she said.
Ezeanya did it anyway.
“I want to thank the first group that came out because they pushed me to have another event” Ezeanya said,
Together
Nneka Ezeanya offers a goodie bag from Book Suey in Hamtramck to winner Bill “Dollar Dollar.” Runner-ups Martin and Quincy stand beside him. The store supplied a t-shirt, $25 gift card, a word search and bookmarks.
adding that the demand for more is the only reason she planned another.
At the second spelling bee under the gazebo at Gordon Park across from the Congregation, spellers asked for repeats, for a word’s definition or to hear it in a sentence, just like spelling competitions you’ve watched on television.
People in attendance, sitting in lawn chairs and blankets in the grass, cheered on their friends who advanced until the final three spellers. Some laughed at their own failed attempts to spell along with contestants.
The promotion video for the event received more than 27 thousand likes on TikTok.
“My sister made a post on TikTok and said, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to blow up.’ I opened the app and there’s thousands of likes and comments — we
got 180 RSVPs on Partiful.”
The viral clip caught the attention of Partiful staff, who came to the September spelling bee to offer gifts and prizes for participants.
Michael Hirsch’s recap of the gathering has more than 10 thousand likes, with a comment section filled with praise for community, heart emojis and one person saying the video nearly made them cry. Attendees I talked to were mostly language lovers, but some spectators told me they just wanted to be part of something wholesome and fun.
The successful spelling of prestidigitation by Bill “Dollar Dollar,” the winner of the September contest, drew a similar reaction online as it did in person.
Ezeanya, a public health official with
Halloween in the D Celebration will Feature Family-Friendly Activities with New Component for 2025
The City of Detroit continues its tradition of Halloween in the D with a host of fun, family-friendly and, sometimes, spooky activities during the weeks surrounding HalloweenOct. 25, Oct. 31 and Nov. 8. This will make the 8th year for the event, which began in 2018. Mayor Duggan, other City officials, community representatives and corporate sponsors outlined plans at a news conference Oct. 7 at Chandler Park Field House.
New this year is a Halloween decorating contest. The City is inviting neighbors and block clubs to bring their street to life by decorating with pumpkins, cobwebs, ghosts, and goblins. The best-decorated blocks will get bragging rights and prizes! Residents are encouraged to light up their block with spooky fun in this friendly competition. Registration at: Block Club/Community Group Decorating Contest.
The Halloween in the D effort is led by the Department of Neighborhoods with support from the General Services, Police and Fire departments. Other City departments also join in the effort by donating candy, decorating cars and passing out candy at a number of the Halloween in the D locations.
The City also is still soliciting sponsors, candy donations from area businesses and volunteers for the series of special events, Halloween parties, and trunk-or-treat locations at police stations and fire stations.
Most of the Halloween in the D events will take place Oct. 31. Additional Halloween-themed events include ScareFest on Oct. 25 at Palmer Park and Fall Fest on Nov. 8 at Williams Park.
“When we started Halloween in the D in 2018, we knew it would be well-received. Now it has grown into a cherished tradition, providing fun for thousands of children in a family-friendly and safe environment,” said Mayor Mike
Duggan. “We are so grateful to our City departments, sponsors and volunteers who make this annual event a highlight of the year.” Halloween in the D continues to grow in popularity since it was first introduced in 2018. During Halloween in the D in 2024:
Total Pieces of Candy Distributed / 1 million+
Total Amount Donated / $104,000
Total Number of Volunteers / 700+
Attendance at Halloween in the D Events / 30,000+
Residents’ Participation Encouraged
While the City is taking care of most of the planning and logistics, there are still some things residents can do to support the Halloween in the D celebration. Residents are encouraged to volunteer to decorate a car for a trunk-ortreat event at police precincts and fire stations.
How to Get Involved For more information on activities or to volunteer,
visit halloweeninthed.org or call (313) 224-4415. Corporate Sponsors Still Needed for Halloween Effort
The City is still soliciting businesses to sign up as sponsors, donate candy and support Halloween events.
Mayor Duggan also thanked this year’s sponsors. Michigan Recreational Construction Inc., Rocket Companies and Major Contracting are the lead sponsors, each with a $5000 donation.
“Michigan Recreational Construction (MRC) has been building parks and playgrounds for 28 years, but our most meaningful work has been right here in the city of Detroit. It is so rewarding seeing the joy and excitement of children playing in a park we proudly built in their neighborhood,” said Craig Sheffer, MRC President.
“That same sense of joy and community is why we have always sponsored Halloween in the D. This event brings excitement and magical moments across Detroit, which we are honored to be a part of. What’s more fun than a child dressing up in their favorite costume and getting candy?”
Title Sponsors
Michigan Recreational Construction Inc., Rocket Companies, Major Contracting
Additional Sponsors
City Abatement Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DTE Energy, Detroit Thermal, GAA, Gandol Inc., CNS Healthcare, WSP, Uncle Rays Companies and organizations that want to sign up as Halloween in the D sponsors or volunteers should send an email to tonie.stovall@detroitmi.gov or call (313) 236-8521.
Nneka Ezeanya (denim jacket) and her friend Asiimwe Najjuma get ready to deliver the next word to former champion Bill “Dollar Dollar.”
313 Spelling Bee
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Halloween in the D
“I’m Nigerian — stereotypically, my parents were really big into academia and I fed into it as a kid,” Ezeanya said. “My dad is a fan of the literary arts, he walks around with books wrapped up in rubber bands to keep bookmarks from falling out so he doesn’t lose his place. He’s always been writing in them. He has a nice collection of books and he annotates them with sticky notes.”
Ezeanya says her mom, who sat front row for the Gordon Park event, is big into writing as well.
On Saturdays Ezeanya works with a national nonprofit, MindsMatter, where she helps assist Detroit students seeking higher education.
“We meet and help kids with their school application process; looking at transcripts, writing recommendation letters, helping them secure scholarships,” she said. “It’s nice, I really enjoy it and it’s why I keep going back.”
The third installment of the 313 Spelling Bee — the Spelling Bee for Adults: Spooky Edition — is 7pm at Olympia Skateshop (626 Harper Ave. Suite F) Friday, Oct. 24.
There are over 120 RSVPs on Partiful, with 30 spellers set to compete. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
A brand ambassador with Partiful, the invitation app, reached out again with plans to supply a special grand prize for the winner, Ezeanya said.
She says to watch out for more events. Eventually the goal is to partner with a bookstore or even the Detroit Public Library for one of the spelling bees.
“That was my safe haven growing up,” she said.
“I’m very grateful for the amount of love we’ve gotten in such a sort amount of time,” Ezeanya told me. “It warms my heart people want to come together to enjoy the joys of spelling. That people are coming together socially and professionally — it’s surreal.”
From page B-1
Tickets for TEDxDetroit 2025 are available now at TEDxDetroit.com for $50.
TEDx events operate independently but follow guidelines established by the main TED organization. These events combine live speakers with TED Talk videos to encourage dialogue and learning. While TEDxDetroit is specific to the city and region, it shares in the broader mission of the TED organization, which aims to share ideas that inform and connect people around the world.
The shift to a new location for TEDxDetroit signals a practical effort to place the spotlight on neighborhoods and organizations working at the community level. For attendees, the setting offers a chance to engage with the work being done every day to support families and improve access to opportunity across Detroit. the state, says she has always had a love for words.
11187 Gratiot
10th Precinct from 5 - 7 p.m., 12000 Livernois 11th Precinct from 4 - 7 p.m., 5100 Nevada
12th Precinct from 4 - 8 p.m., 1441 W. Seven Mile Road Detroit Fire Department Trunk-or-Treat
Fall Fest features carnival rides/games, hay and pony rides, petting zoo, paintball, rock climbing, zip lining, mobile entertainment, a coat giveaway and food trucks and vendors. Go to halloweeninthed.org for details on all of these events.
THURSDAY, NOV. 6 / 8
Hamtramck Public Library 2360 Caniff St Hamtramck, MI 48212
Public Hearing – Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Oakland University Oakland Center – Ambassador Room 312 Meadow Brook Rd Rochester, MI 48309
Public Hearing – Thursday, November 20, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Mount Clemens Public Library 150 Cass Ave Mt Clemens, MI 48043
Please visit SMART’s website for information on potential virtual airings of the public hearings.
An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be made available if SMART is contacted seven (7) days prior to the public hearings. Comments will also be accepted by telephone via Michigan Relay: 711/866-962-5515 option #2.
For those unable to attend the meetings, written comments will be accepted through November 20, 2025. Written comments should be addressed to “Public Hearing” and mailed to SMART Administrative Offices, 535 Griswold Street, Suite 600, Detroit, MI 48226. Comments may also be emailed to PublicHearing@smartbus.org.
Proposed service change information will be posted on SMART’s website www.smartbus.org or you may call SMART Customer Service for details at (866) 962-5515, Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
ADAS Features & Software Engineer
Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the Dearborn office. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from Dearborn, MI. Understand the design of collision avoidance, low speed maneuvering, parking, trailering and camera feature code in the ADAS ECU. Lead development vehicle builds and program prototype vehicle issue resolution for feature development and validation. Domestic Travel Required up to 10%. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
DevSecOps Engineer
Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a purely telecommuting/workfrom-home position whereby the employee may reside anywhere within the U.S. Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines using Tekton, terraform, and GCP. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
Data Scientist Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a purely telecommuting/work-from-home position whereby the employee may reside anywhere within the U.S. Develop and deploy Natural Language Processing (NLP) models to extract insights from unstructured textual data. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
Fluid Fill Engineer
Durability CAE Engineer
Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Allen Park, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the Allen Park office. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from Allen Park, MI. Lead the CAE analysis of next generation Model E products, in one or more of the following areas: Body, Closures,
Exteriors, Interiors and Chassis. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
HMI Software Developer Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the Dearborn office. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from Dearborn, MI. Work on proof of concepts and implementation for next generation digital cockpit and infotainment system experiences. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Position reports to Dearborn, MI office. Telecommuting permitted in accordance with company policy, but must live within commuting distance of stated office. Responsible for all fluid fill systems for Ford final assembly plants in North America. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
DR. MEHMET OZ, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES
As the new head of the Medicare program, I encourage everyone with Medicare to take full advantage of this year’s Open Enrollment period.
This is your once-a-year opportunity to take a fresh look at your coverage for the year ahead. As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how the right health plan can improve both the quality of care you receive and your peace of mind. Now is time to take a moment, do a little homework and make sure you are getting the right care at the best price. Health plans can undergo changes every year including adjustments to benefits, costs and coverage. Even the plan you’re in now could be changing. At the same time, your health needs may have changed over the past year. When you review your coverage options and compare plans, you may find that you can save money, get better coverage or both. A simple plan comparison could save you hundreds – in some cases even thousands of dollars, depending on the prescription medications you take.
Start at the Official Source: Medicare.gov Medicare.gov is your official source for all your Open Enrollment needs. It’s the trusted resource to help you navigate Open Enrollment. Here people can explore and compare every available Medicare health and drug plan available in their area. If you prefer speaking with someone directly, call 1-800-MEDICARE to connect with our team of experts. We’re available 24/7 to help you review your options and answer any questions about your Medicare coverage.
To get started, go to Medicare.gov and click on “Find Plans Now.” For the best shopping experience, log in or start a Medicare account. You can easily compare plan costs, side-by-side, all based on the drugs you take. This is important: Make sure the plan you choose covers your prescription drugs and your doctors.
Time is Limited So Start Early
Medicare Open Enrollment ends Dec. 7. After this deadline, you’ll typically need to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to make changes to your coverage. The deadline approaches quickly, so start early to make sure you have time to compare your options – including costs, benefits, covered drugs and provider and pharmacy networks. Then you can feel confident in selecting the plan that delivers the right care at the right price for your needs.
Help is Available 24/7
If you have any questions about your coverage options, visit Medicare.gov. If you prefer to talk it over with someone, call the experts at 1-800-MEDICARE –they’re available 24/7 to review your options and answer your questions. One final note: Stay vigilant against Medicare fraud, especially during Open Enrollment. Remember that Medicare will never contact you
If someone you don’t know calls,
or
Senior Software Engineer Positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the Dearborn office. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from Dearborn, MI. Develop Test Data Management strategy and platform leveraging automotive industry standard for test data, that is, ASAM ODS and cloud technologies. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
NOTICE OF ELECTION – MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025
For the purpose of voting for the following offices:
If you have any questions regarding your polling location on Election Day, please contact the Detroit Department of Elections at (313) 876-0190.
MICHIGAN LAW MANDATES ALL VOTERS TO PRESENT VALID PHOTO ID AT THE POLLS OR COMPLETE AN AFFIDAVIT OF VOTER NOT IN POSSESSION OF PICTURE IDENTIFICATION. Acceptable forms of photo IDs: Michigan Driver’s License or a Michigan Personal ID: Driver’s License or Personal ID by another state; Federal or State Government photo ID; U.S. Passport; Military ID with photo; current Student ID with photo or Tribal ID with photo. Absentee Ballots are available for all elections. Registered voters may obtain a ballot at the office of the Detroit Department of Elections, the office of the Detroit City Clerk or at any of our Early Voting Centers listed below.
WCCCD Northwest Campus 8200 W. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48219
Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers Rd. Detroit, MI 48235
Farwell Recreation Center 2711 E. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48234
WCCCD Eastern Campus 5901 Conner St. Detroit, MI 48213
HOURS OF OPERATION:
• Early Vote Centers open on Saturday, October 25, 2025
• Regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
• Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
• Monday, November 3rd – voting ceases at 4:00 P.M.
• Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Department of Elections 2978 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 City Clerk’s Office (Coleman A. Young Municipal Ctr.) 2 Woodward Ave., Ste. 106 Detroit, MI 48226
Clark Park 1130 Clark St. Detroit, MI 48209
Adams Butzel Recreation Complex 10500 Lyndon Detroit, MI 48238
Voters may also submit their ballots by dropping it into any of our additional drop boxes (24 hours, 7 days a week) listed below.
Crowell Community Center 16630 Lasher Rd. Detroit, MI 48219
Rouge Park Golf Course 11701 Burt Rd. Detroit, MI 48228
North Rosedale Park Community House 18445 Scarsdale Detroit, MI 48223
Greater Grace Temple 23500 W. Seven Mile Rd. Detroit, MI 48219
Liberty Temple Baptist Church 17188 Greenfield Rd. Detroit, MI 48235
Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC 19190 Schaefer Hwy. Detroit, MI 48235
Tindal Recreation Center 10301 W. Seven Mile Rd. Detroit, MI 48221
Palmer Park Community Center 1121 Merrill Plaisance St. Detroit, MI 48203
Perfecting Church
7616 E. Nevada Detroit, MI 48234
Faith Temple 19000 Conant Detroit, MI 48234
Greater St. Paul 15325 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48205
Heilmann Recreation Center 19601 Crusade Detroit, MI 48205
Balduck Park 5271 Canyon Detroit, MI 48236
Bethany Lutheran Church 11475 E. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48224
Franklin Library 13651 E. McNichols Detroit, MI 48205
Jesus Tabernacle Church 11001 Chalmers Detroit, MI 48213
Considine Center 8904 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48202
Greater Christ Baptist Church 3544 Iroquois Ave. Detroit, MI 48214
Horatio Williams Foundation 1010 Antietam Ave. Detroit, MI 48207
Renaissance Baptist Church 1045 E. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48207
Butzel Family Center 7737 Kercheval Detroit, MI 48214
Detroit Pistons Performance Center 690 Amsterdam St. Detroit, MI 48202
WCCCD Downtown Campus 1001 W. Fort St. Detroit, MI 48226
Unity Baptist Church 7500 Tireman Detroit, MI 48204
Kemeny Recreation Center 2260 S. Fort St. Detroit, MI 48217
Davison Service Yard 8221 W. Davison Detroit, MI 48238
William S. Ford Memorial Church 16400 W. Warren Detroit, MI 48228
Christ Temple Baptist Church 10628 Plymouth Rd. Detroit, MI 48204
Edison Library 18400 Joy Rd. Detroit, MI 48228
JANICE M. WINFREY
