women been premoment of the final. a law1931 law effect, asked the affirm that constitucontain abortion. Our Planned Advocates of founding coalition ReproducAll, a affirm abortion and freedom in constitution,” Giroux. is that everything in aborMichigan, makes we will we can patients care they
legislacollection and criminal jusrecomcollection analywith the AttorMichigan Law Standards Association Prosecutors stakeholders collect and strategically. warHouse Operations hearand other would ban of noknock urging the pass reform and Whitmer to the leg-
Elected officials are also working to keep Roe v. Wade intact thus holding off Michigan’s 1931 trigger ban. Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement saying, in part:
“Transformationdoesn’t just do certhem view of and exdrive that because what create everyentire because
able housing, and support for small and Black-owned businesses shows a comprehensive understanding of the needs of District 3 residents, coupled with strategies to build generational wealth and sustainable opportunity.
Cranstana “Gina” Anderson offers a personal, empathetic approach rooted in lived experience and community advocacy. Her focus on property tax justice, infrastructure improvements, and fair pay for city workers reflects a commitment to fairness and accountability. Anderson’s labor and community organizing background, along with her resilience in the face of personal tragedy, have shaped her platform around inclusivity and direct support for residents, particularly the most vulnerable.
“The words ‘Roe overturned’ are no longer theoretical. I want every Michigander to know— no matter what happens in D.C., I’m going to fight like hell to protect access to safe, legal abortion in Michigan…”
While Anderson’s progressive platform and deep East Side roots are admirable, Scott Benson’s combination of hands-on experience, proven results in neighborhood revitalization, and forward-looking economic strategies make him the candidate best positioned to deliver both immediate and long-term benefits for District 3.
The Chronicle endorses Scott Benson for Detroit City Council, District 3.
District 4
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-
cine and healthcare, may be adversely impacted by the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. “What we are really concerned about is the impact on our patients. Access to abortion is already out of reach for far too many Michiganders, especially Black people and people of color who face additional barriers to care as a result of systemic inequalities and institutional racism. Losing access to legal abortion will impact those communities most, forcing people to become parents or expand their families against their will. Being able to decide and control if, when and how to become a parent is central to building and living a healthy, happy life,” said Vasquez Giroux.
In Detroit’s District 4, voters have the opportunity to reelect a councilmember who has consistently demonstrated dedication, vision, and results for her community. Latisha Johnson has built a record of advocacy for neighborhood revitalization, small business support, and equitable development. Throughout her tenure, she has worked to ensure that residents benefit directly from city investments, championing initiatives that preserve affordable housing, promote public safety, and strengthen local schools.
Johnson’s approach to governance emphasizes transparency and accountability, holding city departments and developers responsible while fostering partnerships that produce tangible benefits for residents. Her focus on neighborhood infrastructure, community engagement, and workforce development reflects a comprehensive strategy for improving quality of life in District 4. From supporting programs that uplift Black-owned businesses to advocating for policies that protect renters and homeowners, Johnson has consistently centered her work on the people she serves.
islature adopts it.
opportunities facing District 5.
what the Supreme Court will rule in the upcoming days. Despite the decision, advocates on both sides of the argument are willing to continue their pursuits.
Detroit City Council Endorsements
Now running to represent the district formerly held by Mary Sheffield – the Chronicle’s endorsee for Detroit’s next mayor – Miller is focused on building a city that works for everyone. Her platform emphasizes protecting legacy Detroiters from displacement, increasing access to affordable housing, holding developers accountable through strong community benefits agreements, and reinvesting in mental health and senior services. She is also committed to improving city services, strengthening neighborhood associations, and making city government more accessible and responsive to residents.
Willie E. Burton has been a lifelong Detroiter and Police Commissioner, and he has championed public safety reforms and initiatives to support economic development. His service has brought attention to important issues like officer accountability, mental health, and gun safety.
While both candidates bring valuable experience and commitment, Miller’s deep ties to the community, record of hands-on advocacy, and people-centered vision for Detroit make her the best choice to lead District 5 forward. Her focus on equitable development, housing justice, and neighborhood empowerment ensures that long-time residents have a true voice at the table.
District 6
Beyond the scope of pro-choice versus prolife, the fight for reproductive choice is one of freedom. As Michigan officials work to ensure each woman who finds herself in the position to choose has access to care without the threat of legal action, many wonder
The Chronicle endorses Latisha Johnson for re-election. Her proven leadership, deep ties with the community, and commitment to equitable growth make her the best candidate to continue advancing District 4. District 5
Voters have two strong candidates dedicated to public service and community well-being: Renata Miller and Willie E. Burton. Both bring deep experience and a focus on equity, but the Michigan Chronicle endorses Renata Miller for City Council.
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).
Miller, a lifelong Detroiter, UAW retiree, and respected community advocate, has demonstrated unwavering dedication to neighborhood preservation, historic district protections, and community-led development. Her decades of grassroots activism have centered on supporting homeowners, working families, seniors, and ensuring transparency and accountability in local government. Her lived experience, combined with her tireless work on the ground, reflects a deep-rooted understanding of the challenges and
Reject censorship in history instruction: Encouraging Gov. Whitmer to ensure the goal for Michigan schools should be history instruction that is presented by pro-
“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 that the majority of justices will reject the findings of this draft. If that is not the case, we need to stand with Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Gov. Whitmer in support of their efforts to preserve the right to reproductive freedom,” said Chair Alisha Bell, on behalf of the Wayne County Commission.
The Chronicle endorses Renata Miller for Detroit City Council, District 5.
Gabriela Santiago-Romero has spent her career building a City Council legacy rooted in accountability, community-centered leadership, and progressive values. Born and raised in Southwest Detroit, she brings lived experience, deep understanding of her district, and a record of standing up for residents over corporate interests. Her refusal to accept corporate PAC money and her vote against a $60 million tax break for a major developer illustrate her commitment to ensuring that Detroit’s growth benefits the people who live here, not just the wealthy few.
On public safety, particularly as federal protections against undocumented residents continues to be at the forefront in this district, Santiago-Romero emphasizes proactive, community-based solutions that address the root causes of issues, from youth engagement and mental health programs to stronger neighborhood partnerships. She champions affordable housing through zoning reforms, protects renters’ rights, and advocates for policies that prevent displacement, ensuring long-term stability for families in Southwest Detroit.
The health committee recommends reviewing state licensure policies to address the barriers that Black psychologists face in obtaining licensure in Michigan. Ensure equitable distribution of state health funds: Ensure all Michigan communities with a significant Black population receive adequate funds to address mental health issues.
She is also a tireless advocate for workers’ rights, environmental justice, and sustainable infrastructure—priorities that align closely with the needs of her constituents. As chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee and cochair of city task forces, she has shown a consistent ability to translate policy into tangible results for Detroiters, especially immigrants and marginalized communities.
While Tyrone Carter brings experience and legislative relationships, Santiago-Romero’s progressive vision, proven track record, and uncompromising focus on the people of District 6 make her the best positioned candidate to continue driving inclusive growth and meaningful change.
Protecting Black voting rights: Urge state officials to remain vigilant in the
The Michigan Chronicle proudly endorses Gabriela Santiago-Romero for Detroit City Council, District 6.
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Members represent many professional backgrounds, including economics, law, public embraces. transforleadership as a approach that change the syscircumstancoperating Ivory
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
“full circle.”
“It’s the work that I began in my 27-year-old self on the 13th floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center and now being able to come back at 58. I mean, it’s just full circle. And it’s beautiful, and it doesn’t belong to me alone,” she said. “It belongs to all of those that truly, truly believe in social justice, looking out for the least of these and fighting for our citizens, and so I share this victory with the people that showed up today.”
The ombudsman role, established in the 1970s to rebuild public trust, gives residents a voice against bureaucracy. Gay-Dagnogo said the responsibility is clear.
“To serve as an advocate, as a bridge to the city departments, to city council, to take residents complaints and champion and remove any bottlenecks, mitigate any barriers and challenges to make sure that we have optimal city services.”
She added that the office exists to ensure equity in how services are delivered.
“This department was developed in 1973, I believe, implemented in 1974 to make sure that we build public trust for residents to know that no matter what their complaints, their concerns, their challenges, would be heard and making sure that we work with them to work with our department heads to get those problems addressed.”
Her comments made clear that the appointment builds on the work she has been doing for years in other roles.
“Detroit is my love. Detroit is my heart. It just means that I get to serve my family in a broad way with some support. I’ve been doing a lot of this work because in Detroit, if people identify that you are a problem solver, guess what? You’re going to get more problems to solve. And in many instances, I’ve had to facilitate receiving these complaints through social media, inbox messages, emails, people seeing me out on the streets, just not knowing where to go, how to go, who to go to address their concern.”
Her preparation for this role, she said, stretches back decades.
“This is work that I started when I was 27 years old, just sitting in the city council offices, taking complaints, having to go out to constituents’ homes and address and hear some of their issues. The same thing in Lansing, hearing the concerns, working with residents, and many instances our seniors that had no one else to look out for them.”
Although her official start date is October 5, Gay-Dagnogo said she has already begun shaping her agenda.
“It seems as though it has started already. But officially, I believe the charter speaks to October the 5th as the official date that is enshrined in the charter. But we have started conversations with council members. I gave city council a 90-day plan, which encompasses meeting with both council members, department heads, staff, the ombudsman’s office in fact, and hearing from all of them so we can compile data information as we develop our strategic plan going forward. So for me, it’s already started. I had an opportunity today to meet briefly with the auditor general and I plan to attend a meeting on Wednesday at 11 a.m. While it’s officially in the charter on October the 5th, we’ve already started.”
The appointment also brings an immediate requirement: stepping down from her role on the DPSCD board.
The city’s Legislative Policy Division concluded that the ombudsman cannot hold another compensated post, and the charter bans occupying any other “office of trust or profit.” Gay-Dagnogo confirmed she will resign within 48 hours.
“Somewhat bittersweet,” she said, though she emphasized that her relationships with education leaders will continue. “So it’s the same constituency, whether city services or Detroit Public School services. I have relationships in both. So I plan to continue to collaborate and find ways to work with my colleagues from the school board as well.”
She closed with gratitude that reflected the breadth of her career and her vision for the role.
“I just want to say that I am thankful to every council member that supported my leadership, my candidacy. And even those that had another candidate in mind, I’m here to serve all of them, partner with all of them. And I’m just thankful. I’m thankful for that guidance. I’m thankful for the guidance and the support from the mayor. I appreciate that. My colleagues at the Detroit School Board—it’s somewhat bittersweet. But the work will continue, just in another capacity.”
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@michronicle. com.
Sherry Gay-Dagnogo
A3 | October 8-14, 2025
Detroit Economic Opportunity Director Launches Bid for State Senate Seat
By Samuel Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
Detroit entrepreneurship and economic op-
portunity director Justin Onwenu launched a bid for state Senate in a seat in the redrawn 1st Senate District that could see a competitive Democratic primary election. State Senate District 1 now covers parts of Detroit, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, and Wyandotte.
In an announcement video, Onwenu asks whether Michigan politics is worse than D.C., highlighting the chaotic lame duck session last year in which Democrats were blocked from accomplishing legislation that would have benefited Detroit residents the most.
“I do think that the lame duck session, which is the first time that all three of our branches of government, all of our branches of government, were aligned, we saw a lot of priorities, from the ‘Momnibus’ package to important labor priorities not get passed in the way that they should have,” Onwenu told Michigan Chronicle in an interview Tuesday. “I really do believe that the Democrats are the party of working people… But I also think that we need to do a much better job of actually bringing people together and delivering.”
Onwenu
Onwenu, 29, attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he changed course from medical school aspirations to becoming an environmental justice organizer after seeing the effects of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
He graduated from Columbia Law during the pandemic.
The attorney and community organizer said he can bring together business and labor, given his background in boosting small businesses and start-ups in his most recent role with the city of Detroit. He said he would like to see a Motor City Match-type program at the state level.
“There are a lot of entrepreneurs in Detroit, but also Downriver that wind up dealing with some of the same issue when it comes to small business, attraction, retention, that we could solve in that way,” Onwenu said.
As a server at an Applebee’s in Brooklyn, New York, Onwenu experienced wage inequality first-hand and filed a wage discrimination lawsuit against the restaurant chain, claiming he was paid less than the company pays white workers.
Applebee’s agreed to settle after Onwenu was wrongfully fired for organizing his coworkers to stand up for their wages.
In an interview over the phone on Tuesday, Onwenu said he would fight for a state-level right-to-organize act to strengthen collective bargaining rights and repeal the ban on project labor agreements.
“And there’s so much more that we could do
See ONWENU BID FOR STATE SENATE SEAT Page A-4
By Samuel Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
State Rep. Karen Whitsett wasn’t present at a candidate forum last week, but it didn’t stop the candidates, moderators, and members of the audience from calling out her support of conservatives.
Candidates running for city council and board of police commissioner spoke about what they would do if elected at the LaVonne M. Sheffield Bridge Center Library on Grand River last week for a community forum targeting voters on Detroit’s west side within District 7.
Write-in candidate McClendon Starks II made his pitch to voters, outlining a community-centered vision for the seat, while Board of Police Commissioners candidate Victoria Camille highlighted her commitment to civilian oversight.
At-large candidate James Harris talked about the need for fresh leadership on the nine-member
Community
By Genevieve Fox
Acommunity land trust (CLT) is a type of community ownership model where the community stewards land in perpetuity for the common good of those who live there, says GenesisHOPE Executive Director Jeanine Hatcher.
GenesisHOPE is a nonprofit that strives to improve equity through community health and development, affordable housing, and open green spaces in Islandview, the Villages of Detroit, and other nearby neighborhoods.
The organization is working to develop the Common Ground Community Land Trust as part of its drive to create more affordable housing options for Detroiters. The idea came to Hatcher years ago after she visited New York City and conducted research about CLTs to address gentrification and displacement. She began strategizing around ideas that would use vacant land in Detroit neighborhoods.
The organization plans to acquire 10 lots from the Detroit Land Bank and is considering building single-family housing on those lots, organized through a community land trust.
“The point is whatever is developed on the land or owned by the land trust, it’s typically permanently affordable, and it’s done so with restricted ground leases that restrict how equity will be shared,” Hatcher says. The goal behind the land trust is that families at every income level have choices and options for a quality home.
Built by community, for community
But for community land trusts to work, you must have community, Hatcher says.
GenesisHOPE created a seven-member advisory board, also known as “the fellows,” who will be in charge of community outreach and engagement, as well as creating documents for the Common Ground CLT.
Says Makaila Lucas, project manager
body, contrasting himself with his opponents (Mary Waters, Coleman Young II, and Janee Ayers), saying he’s not just a well-known name.
District 7 candidate Denzel McCampbell, who faces Whitsett in the general election after finishing above her by a few dozen votes during Detroit’s Aug. 5 primary election, wasn’t the first to criticize the controversial state representative.
At the end of each question to the panelists, Chantel Watkins, a program coordinator at DABO, turned to the empty chair with Whitsett’s name crossed out on a piece of paper, sarcastically asking what the state representative thought.
Whitsett told Michigan Chronicle prior to the event that participating in forums during her campaign wasn’t necessary.
Before the event began, Rev. Horace Sheffield, the founder of DABO, told Michigan Chronicle
with GenesisHOPE, “We chose those fellows to transition to an advisory board to create these governance documents, the by-laws, the ground lease, the home buyer selection criteria and things of that nature that establishes the community land trust.”
Those advisory board members are currently learning how to set up a trust with Jeff Washburn from Burlington Associates, a consultant through the Detroit Justice Center. Burlington is a national consulting cooperative that provides technical assistance to community land trusts
he was disappointed by Whitsett’s vote for a Republican budget proposal, her refusal to show up to House session during last year’s chaotic lame duck sessions, and her unwillingness to participate in forums like the one he hosted Thursday night. Sheffield said Whitsett’s behavior is a detriment to the community.
“My opponent voted for a budget that would take money from the city of Detroit, that would strip money from health care programs, that will cut funding for food assistance, that will cut funding for public safety, and also is not here, nowhere to be found,” McCampbell said of Whitsett’s recent vote for House Republicans’ budget proposal.
She was the lone Democrat to vote for the plan that called for millions less for Detroit.
Whitsett, who represents the 4th House District covering
of Detroit and
and nonprofits that are working on permanently affordable housing initiatives.
One of the fellows, Delores Orr, vice president of the East Village Association, became involved with GenesisHOPE after her daughter attended one of its summer camps. She came across information on the community land trust and was intrigued by the idea of bringing affordable housing to the area.
Justin
parts
Dearborn in the
state House, tells the Michigan Chronicle that she voted for the proposal with the knowledge that it wasn’t going to be approved by
Democratic leadership in the state Senate or the governor.
“If I wasn’t doing my job right he wouldn’t try to scare people
Chantel Watkins, Horace Sheffield, McClendon Starks II, and Denzel McCampbell. A chair with State rep. Karen Whitsett’s name, crossed out, sits between Sheffield and Starks.
Toyia Watts, President of the Charlevoix Village Association, became a fellow after hearing about GenesisHOPE;s plan to create a community land trust.
Delores Orr, with her grandson Blake, says that community land trusts are meant to build communities for generations to thrive
District 7 Candidate Forum
into vote for him,” Whitsett said. “Empty promises are easy to make when you have zero clue how to do the job.”
Whitsett has a history of breaking with her party on a number of issues, at one time during a slim 56-54 majority, wielding the power to tank Democratic priorities in the House.
She’s voted against the Reproductive Health Act that amended several laws hindering abortion access. She disagreed with allowing state Medicaid funds to be used for abortions and repealing a mandatory 24-hour waiting period for abortion patients from the time of consultation to the procedure.
Before that, she visited the then-President Trump’s White House in 2020 to participate in a meeting with recovered COVID-19 patients to champion an alternative treatment for the illness.
Most recently, Whitsett sided with Republicans over a battle to bring greater paid leave to workers. That fight resulted in Republicans boycotting the final days of the House session, which tanked a number of Democratic proposals that would have specifically benefited Detroiters.
Because of the lack of a quorum, Democrats in control of the House, Senate, and governor’s office were unable to pass legislation to address racial disparities in maternal health, a ban on ghost guns and bump stocks, expand a state program that pays for community college for residents without a degree, and reinstate productivity credits for inmates.
Minou Jones, president of the Making It Count Community Development Corporation, asked candidates whether they would support the enforcement of a tobacco retail licensing
requirement for businesses she says are selling tobacco products to minors.
“Karen Whitsett supported our bills to make sure that adults who sold tobacco to our kids are held responsible… She said she was a health hero for kids, that she believed in our bill package,” Jones said. “She was the only Democrat who walked out during the last session of the Legislature to tank all of the bills, not just the ones we were fighting for, but all of them — bills that would require representation for juveniles facing criminal penalty, bills to protect seniors, she tanked all of them.”
Jones pointed to Whitsett’s vote for the Republican state budget proposal that would have reduced state money to the Charles H. Wright African American Museum.
“This is not your person,” Jones said. “Karen Whitsett is not for us.”
McCampbell, a former city charter commissioner, said being present at community meetings, block clubs, and neighborhood association events is a requirement for those seeking elected office.
“I can’t skirt accountability as long as I’m being present,” McCampbell said.
Another member of the audience, resident Mary Alexander, went to the microphone to warn those present against voting for Whitsett, who she said has done more for Dearborn than she has for the part of the city she wants to represent on the city council.
“I think our community generally stayed great because Benny Napoleon lived there,” Alexander said. “It changed after his death. She lives there too and hasn’t done anything… The last election for Duggan when he was campaigning for mayor, she did come out for that and stood out there on Wyoming along with
Duggan and some people from the EPA about the car repair shops. Our area has hundreds of them, we’re trying to get them closed down. Whitsett announced she was putting up a bill to increase the fine from the state, which wouldn’t go to Detroit. That was her contribution to Detroit. She was out there trying to get out the vote for him, but we haven’t seen her since then.”
In the upcoming fiscal year budget, which legislative leaders say they have come to an agreement on, Whitsett submitted 41 individual requests to fund local projects, the highest number of requests by any House member.
Legislative spending documents reveal nine of the 41 requests are for organizations located in her legislative district.
Whitsett’s earmark requests made by Whitsett include, among others, $10 million for the Detroit Economic Growth Development for the Motor City Match program; $1.5 million for the Detroit Police Athletic League; $30 million to Renew Detroit, a home repair program for Detroit residents; $6 million for down payment assistance up to $25,000 for Detroit residents; $7.5 million to the Capital Area Housing Partnership, a housing consultant agency in Lansing; $1.2 million for landscaping and improvements in Detroit parks; $20 million for the city’s water and sewage department; and $5 million for THAW.
Whitsett says she doesn’t play politics, and her breaks with the Democratic Party have been backed by her majority Democratic district. She says she has fought across party lines, navigating a divided House as a Democrat, to ensure Detroit residents get their fair share.
“A bunch of people who have no idea what it takes to do the job,” Whitsett said when asked about the forum. “They have no clue what actually transpires, they only know the Democratic talking points.”
Responding to criticism from Sheffield, whose daughter, Mary Sheffield, is expected to become Detroit’s next mayor, Whitsett said the pastor’s church would not have made it through to serve his community during the pandemic, “If I hadn’t shared my blessings with them.”
“I have done so much for him and his daughter,” Whitsett said.
Sheffield responded to Whitsett’s comments during an interview with Michigan Chronicle on Monday afternoon.
“Karen hasn’t done anything for me,” Sheffield said. “She gave me a few refrigerators to give my community. We were supported through grants from the United Way. For her to say I wouldn’t have made it through is as if she spared my life. She’s delusional.”
You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle.com.
Onwenu Bid for State Senate Seat
on wage theft,” Onwenu said.
If elected, Onwenu would be the youngest and only Black male in the state Senate.
When asked about his political heroes, Onwenu said U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ healt hcare for all and economic justice message was an inspiration, as was watching his mother cry happy tears the night President Barack Obama was elected, he said.
“Michigan state government is just not working the way it should,” former State Sen. Marshall Bullock, D-Detroit, said in a statement. “Justin is the bright, new voice Detroit needs to help make our state government the most ethical and effective in the nation.”
Onwenu is the first candidate to announce a bid to replace Geiss, who is term-limited.
“Erika Geiss has been a champion and a trailblazer in many ways,” Onwenu said. “So I’m really excited to try to carry forth the work that she’s done.”
Onwenu, an appointee of both Mayor Mike Duggan and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has been endorsed by the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, former U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, and Michigan Reps. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, Helena Scott, D-Detroit, and a number of local officials, including the following:
Virgil Smith, Former State Senator
Chris Calvin, Wyandotte City Councilmember
Jason Behr, Lincoln Park Councilmember
Patty Campbell, River Rouge Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem
Ronald Agee, Ecorse Councilmember
LaTonya Lamb, Ecorse Councilmember
Kimberly Alexander, Ecorse Councilmember
Karen Ward, River Rouge Councilmember
Jonathan Holly, River Rouge Councilmember
Darryl Folks II, River Rouge Councilmember
Michael Bowdler, Former River Rouge Mayor
Michael Higgins, Former Lincoln Park Mayor
Lylian Ross, Lincoln Park Councilmember
Carlos Salcido, Lincoln Park Councilmember
Michelle Deatrick, Co-founder of Our Revolution Michigan You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle.com.
TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN:
Community land trusts
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that any qualified elector of Detroit, Michigan who is not already registered, register to vote at the office of the Detroit Department of Elections, the office of the Detroit City Clerk, the office of the County Clerk, a Secretary of State branch office, or other designated state agency. Registration forms can be obtained at mi.gov/vote and mailed to the Detroit Department of Elections or the Detroit City Clerk’s Office. Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www.expressSOS.com
The last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk is Monday, July 21, 2025
Toyia Watts, president of the Charlevoix Village Association, became a fellow after learning about what other nonprofits in the area were doing and hearing about GenesisHOPE’s plan to create a community land trust.
“I feel like I’m going back to school,” Watts says. How the land will be developed, how the project will be funded, and how the houses will be built are part of the complexity of steps the fellows are learning.
Orr says it’s also about studying the city’s laws for the land.
“Individuals as homeowners, as community members or whatever, there are lots that you can buy,” Orr says. “But to go into what we’re going into, there are bundles of land, and that’s a whole different thing. The laws are different.”
After this date, anyone who qualifies as an elector may register to vote in person with proof of residency 168.492) at the Detroit Department of Elections or the Detroit City Clerk’s office.
Department of Elections City Clerk’s Office (Coleman A. Young Municipal 2978 W. Grand Blvd. 2 Woodward Ave. Ste. 106 Detroit, MI 48202 Detroit, MI 48226
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Watts also conducted her own research on the history of CLTs.
“I didn’t know that it began in 1969, back in the day about black farmers wanting their land,” Watts says. “I never thought it would come up to Detroit…Land never crossed my mind. We just always thought about who owned the house; that’s all we knew. We never figured in the City of Detroit about land, but we’ve got so much of it, what are we going to do with all this land now?” Home ownership and protecting community assets
The importance of CLTs is that they show people that they can own a home in an area they thought was not accessible, Orr says. She says that the model is meant to build communities for generations to thrive and not have to leave their home.
Community land trusts are a democratic way to preserve the affordability of housing that benefits the community. A nonprofit entity owns the land in perpetuity, and those who buy homes on it pay a very small lease for the land. (The home purchase amount is economical because the purchaser is not buying the land, just the house.)
• Regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Department of Elections)
• Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (City Clerk’s Office)
NOTICE OF REGISTRATION FOR THE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025 DETROIT, MICHIGAN
TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN:
• Saturday, August 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Department of Elections)
• Monday, August 4th – Absentee Voting ceases at 4:00 p.m.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that any qualified elector of Detroit, Michigan who is not already registered, may register to vote at the office of the Detroit Department of Elections, the office of the Detroit City Clerk, the office of the County Clerk, a Secretary of State branch office, or other designated state agency. Registration forms can be obtained at mi.gov/vote and mailed to the Detroit Department of Elections or the Detroit City Clerk’s Office. Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www.expressSOS.com.
• Election Day, Tuesday, August 5th from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Detroit will be voting in the Primary Election for the following offices:
The last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk is Monday, October 20, 2025. After this date, anyone who qualifies as an elector may register to vote in person with proof of residency (MCL 168.492) at the Detroit Department of Elections or the Detroit City Clerk’s office. Department of Elections City Clerk’s Office (Coleman A. Young Municipal Ctr.) 2978 W. Grand Blvd. 2 Woodward Ave., Ste. 106 Detroit, MI 48202 Detroit, MI 48226
HOURS OF OPERATION:
• Mayor
The model helps to sustain the stock of affordable housing as the homeowners agree to sell their homes at a controlled price point to keep it affordable in perpetuity. The trusts are run by ordinary people – people like Orr and Watts – with board members typically consisting of residents and community members.
• Regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Department of Elections)
• City Council At Large
• Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (City Clerk’s Office)
• City Council District 2
• Saturday, November 1st from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Department of Elections)
• Monday, November 3rd – Absentee Voting ceases at 4:00 p.m.
• City Council District 5
“They can now take not just ownership, but they can create a community inside of a community,” Orr says. Some CLTs have amenities like community gardens, public buildings, shared workspace, and conservation landscapes.
• Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• City Council District 7
“They [homeowners] can say what’s going to be built there,” says Orr. “They can say how the home is going to be designed. They can say who’s going to build it.”
Although the organization is still battling to purchase the vacant lots for development, there is hope from community members about the CLT model.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Detroit will be voting in the Municipal General Election for the following offices:
• Mayor • City Council (Districts 1-7)
• City Clerk
• City Council At Large
• Police Commissioner (Districts 1-7)
• Community Advisory Council (Districts 4, 5, 7)
Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact the Department of Elections at 313-876-VOTE (8683).
“I’m excited,” Orr says. “I’m extremely excited over here, where we live. So many things are coming up, just little common things that you once forgot about are coming back. That’s going to happen all over Detroit. We’re rising from the ashes, and this is our vehicle.”
Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact the Department of Elections at 313-876-VOTE (8683).
JANICE M. WINFREY DETROIT CITY
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A5 | October 8-14, 2025
Money.
Property is Power!
What the Government Shutdown Means for Black Homeownership
By Dr. Anthony O. Kellum
A government shutdown isn’t just a headline it’s a shockwave that ripples through every corner of the economy. For the African American community, already facing structural barriers to homeownership, the fallout can be especially harsh. In times of federal gridlock, the systems that help level the playing field housing programs, mortgage support, and regulatory oversight can slow or stall. This makes it more important than ever to be informed, prepared, and active in defense of Black homeownership.
The Black community enters shutdown periods from a position of vulnerability. Many buyers are already stretched financially, so delays or disruptions hit harder when there’s less room to absorb unexpected costs. First-time buyers, in particular, can lose momentum when contracts expire or closings drag out. Some will face extra fees or even lose the deal entirely. Others may walk away discouraged, widening the gap between Black and white homeownership rates. These disruptions deepen inequality, as well-resourced buyers are better able to navigate or wait out the uncertainty. For too many Black households, the process reinforces doubt about whether the system is stable enough to trust, creating a chilling effect on participation
What Happens During a Government Shutdown
When Congress fails to pass funding, many federal agencies must furlough staff, curtail services, or suspend nonessential operations. The housing sector is not exempt. With limited staffing and paused authorizations, some government-backed housing programs and mortgage processes can be delayed or disrupted. In past shutdowns, HUD has slowed or paused loan processing functions, especially for FHA and USDA mortgages. Borrowers in flood zones may also be blocked from closing if the National Flood Insurance Program cannot issue or renew policies. Mortgage underwriting often requires tax transcript verification from the IRS, and when the IRS is short-staffed, approvals are held up. Industry estimates warn that as many as 1,400 home sales per day could fall through if a shutdown is prolonged. Meanwhile, Black federal workers and contractors, who make up a significant share of government employment, face delayed paychecks, creating additional stress for households already preparing to buy.
What It Means Specifically for Black Homeownership
The Black community enters a shutdown period from a position of vulnerability. Many buyers are already stretched financially. Delays or disruptions hit hardest those with less cushion, smaller credit margins, or tighter timelines. Some specific consequences: Loss of momentum for first-time buyers
People trying to break into homeownership can see their timelines slip. What was a firm contract may become unstable under delays.
‘Manufacturing Day’ Gives Detroit Students an Inside Look at Auto Production
By Samuel Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
More than 200 students from six Detroit schools toured the inside of the LM Manufacturing facility in Southwest Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 1, as part of the automotive company’s fourth annual Manufacturing Day.
“For the people here to take the time out to include young people and make them feel wanted makes you actually want to build a future in it,” Pentecostal Christian Academy sophomore Isaiah Clay, 15, told Michigan Chronicle.
Clay is also enrolled at Philip Randolph Career and Technical Center, which prepares students for high-wage careers in construction, trades, and design technology. He said in an interview on Thursday inside the facility where he watched Ford car seats being made that he wants to become an electrician and start a business after he graduates high school.
Clay is one of the dozens of students who raised their hands when asked whether they would be interested in an internship at the auto parts facility.
Randolph CTC was one of the schools that brought students to the event, including César Chávez Academy High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, Southwestern High School, Renaissance High School, and Osborn High School.
Representatives from General Motors, Comerica Bank, Chase, Wayne State, Lear, Toyota, Wayne County Community College District, Henry Ford Health, and Central Michigan University were stationed at tables sprawled throughout the plant to meet and connect with high school students planning for what’s next.
The Southwest Detroit facility at 6401
Michigan Expands Reentry ID Program to Wayne County
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Michigan has expanded its reentry ID program to Wayne County, a decision that touches the lives of thousands of Detroiters and their families every year. The move ensures that people leaving the county jail, which houses between 1,300 and 1,500 people daily, can step back into their communities with a driver’s license or state identification card in hand. For many, it is the first tool they will need to reclaim stability.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson underscored what is at stake. “People deserve to be able to move forward after serving their time. Having an ID is a critical first step,” she said. “You need an ID to apply for a job. You need an ID for housing. You need an ID to enroll in education and training programs.” Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington pointed to the scale of the issue: about 60 percent of people incarcerated in the jail last week did not have valid identification. “We’re looking forward to changing that,” he told reporters.
The program has been under-
way since 2020 and has already provided identification to roughly 20,000 people leaving Michigan prisons and jails. By extending it to Wayne County — home to Detroit, the state’s largest Black population — the state is addressing one of the clearest barriers to reentry. Identification is the foundation for everything that comes after release. Without it, a person cannot cash a paycheck, rent an apartment, apply for benefits, or even pick up medication. In Detroit, where jobs are scarce and affordable housing is even scarcer, that missing piece often pushes people back into cycles of instability.
For Black residents in particular, the consequences of not having identification are compounded by over-policing and racial profiling. Driving to work without a license can lead to arrest. Attempting to work informally can spiral into fines or probation violations.
When people are released without ID, families are forced to step in, piecing together documents like birth certificates or social security cards while covering transportation, clothing, and food. The weight of reentry falls squarely on households already under strain.
W Fort St. was once home to a Sakthi Automotive supply plant before LM Manufacturing took over the 300,000 square foot facility.
Sakthi Automotive closed its supply plant in 2019.
“We submitted applications to MEDC and the DECG, letting them know that we had an opportunity to win this program,” President and CEO Sylvester Hester said in an interview Thursday. “We were competing against Ohio because from a logistics standpoint, they could have put the program anywhere.”
“I love Detroit, so I was very interested in being in Detroit. Ford doesn’t tell you where to put your facilities but if you’re intuitive, you see they just made a billion-dollar investment at Michigan Central Station, made investments at NewLab to create a startup ecosystem. And now,
with all of the many startup suppliers in NewLab, they were hoping that the extended ecosystem with manufacturing companies like us right here in town.”
Since 2023, LM Manufacturing — a joint venture between Magna and Lan Manufacturing — has developed automotive seating for Ford Broncos and other models.
President and CEO Sylvester Hester toured Michigan Chronicle through the plant before speaking to students on stage about his company’s “C Power” mantra: caring, commitment, connection, communication, and celebration. Hester says those values underpin the pillars of LM Manufacturing: health, wealth, and education.
LM Manufacturing’s Expose 2 Inspire
Detroiters know the stakes intimately. Nearly three-quarters of those detained in Wayne County Jail are Black, despite the county being just over one-third Black. These disparities reflect a long pattern: aggressive policing in majority-Black neighborhoods, higher rates of pretrial detention, and court systems that punish poverty. Against this backdrop, an ID card is not a small detail. It is often the difference between getting a foothold in the labor market and slipping back into the justice system.
The state’s recidivism rate stands at 21 percent, the lowest in Michigan’s history. Advocates attribute part of that progress to programs like this one. Research shows that people without hous-
ing or steady work within the first months of release are far more likely to reoffend. Identification clears the first hurdle. It allows a returning citizen to get on a payroll legally, sign a lease without a co-signer, or apply for public benefits while searching for work. It makes participation in job training programs or community college possible. The tangible impact is measured in lower returns to prison and stronger neighborhood stability. Voting rights are also tied to identification. Michigan law allows people with felony or misdemeanor convictions to vote once they are no longer serving a sentence. Those on probation or parole and those detained pretrial are eligible. Yet confusion around
these rules silences many. In a majority-Black city like Detroit, access to the ballot is directly linked to access to IDs. A person leaving jail with identification in hand is not just able to rebuild their personal life. They are able to rejoin civic life. Community groups have long insisted that this kind of reform was necessary. Detroit-based H.O.P.E. describes its mission as empowering individuals “to find healing by addressing the barriers created by systemic injustice. Through restorative practices, we provide support and opportunities for those affected by the judicial system to realize their full poten-
Anthony O. Kellum
Sylvester L. Hester, President and CEO of LM Manufacturing
Government Shutdown
Increased costs & uncertainty
When closings stretch or rework, unexpected fees, higher interest, or contract renegotiations can erode financial edge.
Widening the disparity
These disruptions deepen inequality: White or more-resourced buyers may absorb delays better. Black buyers, without that buffer, may lose deals or walk away.
Chilling effect on trust & participation
Frequent systemic breakage reinforces skepticism: “Is the system stable enough to rely on?” This discourages new entrants into homeownership.
Tips & Strategies for Black Homeownership during a Shutdown
Lock in early and request firm commitments
Aim to have key steps completed inspections, underwriting, firm commitments before any shutdown threat becomes real. The more you can push your timeline forward, the better protected you are.
Build a margin of time in your schedule
Expect delays. Leave buffer days (or weeks) before deadlines or closing dates. Don’t assume everything moves on “normal” timelines.
Ask lenders about processing backup plans
Ask whether your lender has contingency plans for IRS transcript access, HUD staffing lapses, or other outage risks. Work with lenders who have multiple underwriting paths.
Diversify your loan type options
If you’re eligible, consider conventional or non-government backed mortgage options. Those are less directly affected by federal furloughs compared to FHA, USDA, or HUD-dependent programs.
Strengthen your documentation ahead of time
If you may need tax transcripts or additional income proof, request them early before potential shutdowns. Keep copies of all financials so that interruptions don’t leave gaps.
Stay politically active and vocal
Advocate for housing stability policies. Support leaders
Manufacturing Day
program partners with 18 Detroit schools to walk students through the different facets of manufacturing.
“We invite them to come to our place for a job shadow, where then we bring them in and walk them through all the five disciplines of manufacturing, and then they can work on projects,” said Jimmie Comer, the leadership and development specialist at LM Manufacturing. “Those who are still interested, we do internships which lead to job opportunity.”
The number of students who participate grows larger every year, Comer said.
who protect funding for HUD, NFIP, fair housing, and anti-discrimination enforcement. Track federal budgets and call representatives when threats of cuts arise.
Educate your community
Share knowledge: inform neighbors, church groups, or local associations about how shutdowns can affect closings. Community awareness protects more households.
Final Word
In a government shutdown, the machinery behind homeownership inspections, documentation, underwriting, insurance can slow, stall, or even seize altogether. For the
Reentry ID Program
tial.” The expansion of the ID program represents a state response to the barriers H.O.P.E. and similar organizations have worked against for years.
The legislative path has been less straightforward. Last year, lawmakers approved bills that would have required the Department of Corrections to apply for identification on behalf of people preparing for release. Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the bills, citing technical issues that conflicted with other election law changes. In her veto letter, she wrote, “I fully support the policy behind these bills. I look forward to working with the current Legislature on passing this important criminal justice reform issue in the near future.” While statutory changes stalled, the expansion to Wayne County demonstrates that the administration is continuing the work through executive action.
Michigan is now one of at least 17 states providing identification as part of reentry. The idea has been adopted across political lines because it produces measurable results. States that have implemented similar policies report reduced recidivism, stronger employment outcomes, and less reliance on social safety nets. For policymakers,
Showing young people there are opportunities they might not have ever been able to picture themselves in is important in Detroit, says Zona Stewart, a Manufacturing Day volunteer from Rocket Mortgage. Stewart came to the Southwest Detroit plant to help facilitate programming as part of her required volunteer service at Rocket.
“Some kids might not have people in their families that have good paying jobs,” Stewart said. “I’m an 80s baby and can remember when going to nice community centers in our neighborhoods — we don’t really have that anymore,” Stewart said. “It’s so good to let these kids know that instead of taking the wrong route straight out of high school, this is what you can do.”
You can reach Sam at srobinson@ michronicle.com.
Black community, which has long wrestled with inequities in access and outcomes, these moments carry outsized risk. But knowledge is power. By understanding how shutdowns affect housing, preparing ahead, choosing resilient strategies, and staying politically engaged, Black buyers can navigate uncertainty. Property is Power! In periods of disruption, that power lies in vigilance, strategy, and collective action to defend the right to own, build, and preserve wealth in Black America.
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.
the case is practical as much as moral: providing IDs is inexpensive compared to the costs of repeated incarceration. Yet the weight of the change will be felt most in homes across Detroit. A father leaving jail with an ID can immediately apply for construction work or warehouse shifts, jobs that keep families afloat. A mother can sign a lease in her own name instead of couch-surfing with children. A young adult can re-enroll in community college or trade school without bureaucratic delay. These outcomes ripple beyond the individual, affecting children, partners, and entire neighborhoods.
The expansion also raises questions about what true reentry support should look like. Identification is a starting point, but it does not address housing shortages, wage disparities, or the trauma of incarceration. Black Detroiters returning from jail face landlords who discriminate, employers who refuse to hire people with records, and probation systems that criminalize poverty. Identification is necessary, but it is not sufficient. Advocates argue that reforms must go further — ensuring fair hiring practices, expanding affordable housing, and investing in mental health services.
Detroiters have always shouldered the burden of reintegration. Churches, block clubs, and nonprofits often step
in where government falls short. Families organize rides to job interviews, pay for application fees, and navigate systems that assume access to documentation. By embedding ID distribution in the jail system, the state is acknowledging that the burden should not fall entirely on families and communities. It is a shift toward meeting people where they are, not expecting them to claw their way through red tape after release.
Secretary Benson called the program “a critical first step.” For people leaving Wayne County Jail, that step is now less uncertain. The policy gives them a document that affirms their right to participate in society, to work, to live, to vote. For Detroit’s Black community, where incarceration has been used as a tool of control, this recognition is significant. It represents not only access to services but also a measure of dignity.
Families waiting outside the jail gates will now see their loved ones return with something more than the clothes they wore inside. They will return with proof of identity, proof of belonging, and the chance to begin again with a barrier already lifted, in a city that has carried the weight of systemic injustice for decades, that shift matters.
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@michronicle.com.
Benefits vary by county. To file a grievance, call 1-800-MEDICARE to file a complaint with Medicare. Not all plans have $0 Premium, Cash Back ($1,785.60 per calendar year, which is $148.80/month) or Part D prescription drug coverage benefits. Copays and coinsurance vary by plan. Free enrollment guide given without obligation. Other pharmacies, physicians or providers are available in the plan’s network. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 888-546-2834 (TTY: 711).
Detroit School Board Moves to Fill Gay-Dagnogo’s Seat Using July Runner-Up
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has adopted a process to fill an anticipated vacancy following the appointment of Board Member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo as the city’s next Ombudsman.
The board acted during a special meeting on Wednesday, moving to streamline the selection by offering the seat to the runner-up from the district’s July 2025 vacancy process instead of launching a new public search.
Gay-Dagnogo is expected to resign in the coming days to begin her new role with the city, which will leave an open seat on the seven-member board. The board’s decision means the next appointee will serve through December 2026, aligning with Michigan Association of School Boards policy that requires appointed members to run in the next scheduled board election.
Board President Corletta J. Vaughn framed the decision as a step to maintain stability.
“On behalf of the Board of Education, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Board Member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo on her appointment as the City of Detroit Ombudsman. We thank her for her dedicated service to Detroit’s children and families. As a Board, we also recognize the importance of continuity and stability in governance,” Vaughn said. “This new process ensures that we maintain momentum as we continue to serve our students with integrity, accountability, and unwavering commitment.”
The streamlined process lays out specific steps: within 24 hours of the meeting, the board’s third-party administrator, Allen Law Group, will contact the second-highest-ranking candidate from July’s process. That person will have 24 hours to accept or decline. If they accept, the board will hold a special meeting to confirm the appointment. If they decline, the board will reconvene to decide the next steps.
Gay-Dagnogo confirmed that during the discussion on Wednesday, Vaughn identified the runner-up as Bessie Harris, a retired special education teacher and former principal at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy. Harris previously ran for the school board in 2020 and 2022. Her name was not intended to be shared publicly at this stage, and several members quickly objected. Vice Chair Latrice McClendon and others urged the board to follow procedure and later voted to strike Harris’ name from the meeting record.
Board members debated whether relying on the July finalist list was the right path. The July process filled the vacancy created when Angelique Peterson-Mayberry left the board for the Wayne County Commission. That search lasted a month, with 14 candidates submitting applications and completing public interviews. Resumes and written responses were scored, and candidates were interviewed during a public meeting before the board voted to appoint Steven Bland Jr.
Board Member Monique Bryant argued that repeating the entire process would be unnecessary.
“In light of the fact that we just went through this less than 90 days ago, we had more than enough candidates that we have already vetted,” she said, noting the administrative burden of organizing another series of meetings. Gay-Dagnogo also said streamlining the selection would allow the board to focus on pressing district business rather than a new round of interviews.
Other members disagreed. Iris Taylor raised concerns that suspending the district’s stated vacancy policy could erode public trust.
Bland, the most recent appointee, also opposed the move, pointing out that he did not participate in July’s process and wanted an opportunity to review candidates directly.
The district’s policy calls for vacancy appointments to be filled by seeking applications from the public, conducting interviews, and holding a majority vote. The board must appoint a replacement within 30 days of a vacancy being announced. On Wednesday, four members — Bryant, Gay-Dagnogo, McClendon, and Ida Short — voted to suspend the policy to allow the new approach. Vaughn, Taylor, and Bland voted against the suspension.
Once the policy was suspended, the board adopted the process to offer the seat to the runner-up from July, with Taylor abstaining from the final vote.
If Harris or another runner-up accepts the appointment, the board will convene a special meeting for an official vote. A majority of the board must still approve the appointment before the new member is seated. Vaughn said the decision honors the recent public process while avoiding unnecessary delays. “We look forward to our newly appointed board member working to continue the mission and vision of DPSCD as we ensure all students are career, college, and workforce ready,” Vaughn said. “We will continue to roar.”
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@ michronicle.com.
Gilchrist Says at Arab Conference that Israel is Committing Genocide
By Samuel Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, on Saturday at an Arab American conference in Dearborn, said Americans should not be sending tax dollars toward the war in Gaza and vowed against taking money from a pro-Israel PAC.
“The Netanyahu government is committing a genocide on the Palestinian people. This is not a matter of opinion. This is a matter of fact,” Gilchrist said on Saturday at Arab Con, a national conference that included notable Arab American and Muslim speakers. “This has been established by the global leaders who study genocide. This is not something that we should support. American taxpayer dollars should not fund offensive weapons of war while children are starving, while medical resources are being blocked to civilians and while lineages of families are being erased.”
Gilchrist said candidates should not accept money from people who support the genocide.
“That is why as a candidate for the governor of the state of Michigan, I will not accept money from AIPAC,” Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist is breaking with the rest of the gubernatorial field on the polarizing issue that has divided Southeast Michigan Democrats since the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Metro Detroit is home to the largest Arab American community in the U.S., and is also the home to a large Jewish population.
Since Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 people two years ago, the death toll in Gaza has topped 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump this week for talks on halting Israel’s attacks on Gaza City.
Some in Dearborn’s Arab American community say they were surprised to hear Gilchrist criticize Israel, while others say his views on the issue have been long established.
When Gilchrist was selected as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s running mate, conservative critics pointed out that he once questioned Israel’s influence on American politics and considered Hamas a legitimately elected political party.
“I’m (sick) of politicians and Evangelicals kissing Israel’s ass regardless of what they do in the name of ‘defense’,” Gilchrist posted on Twitter in January 2009. “Hamas is a legitimately elected party that only rose to power b/c of Israeli aggression & Western complicity/enablement.”
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is one of three Democratic gubernatorial candidates along with Gilchrist and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, has made appeals to both sides of the issue.
“The Israel-Hamas war has been devastating to see the loss of life and the way communities are grieving all across our state,” she said when asked about her views on the war last February. “My hope is that we can get to a peaceful resolution where we’ll see return of the hostages and a ceasefire on both sides.”
Pundits and pro-Palestine advocates have pointed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ inability to distance herself from former President Joe Biden’s staunch pro-Israel policy as one of the reasons she lost the state of Michigan after state voters elected Biden in 2020.
Another speaker at Arab Con over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, a progressive Democrat who’s considering a run for president in 2028, said he has tried to push Democratic leadership to call for an end to the war in Gaza.
Gilchrist’s statements could win him support from Muslims in Michigan, who largely abandoned the Democratic Party — some even voting for Trump — due to hostility from Democratic Party leadership toward those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
He’s also breaking with Black Democratic leaders in Michigan, who have mostly supported candidates who support Israel.
Last weekend, Michigan Democratic
out in support of Haley Stevens, who has taken more than $5 million from the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC.
It’s unclear where Republican candidates stand on the issue.
Independent gubernatorial candidate Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and his wife, Dr. Sonia Hassan, who is Muslim, were present inside the Islamic Center of Detroit during Ramadan in March. Speakers, including former state Rep. Abe Aiyash, urged those in power to commit themselves to justice in Detroit and the Middle East.
Duggan reportedly spoke about the war in Gaza with Arab American doctors in Genesee County earlier this year, but it’s not known what exactly was said.
“The truth is the tides are shifting and Palestine has become a defining issue in our party,” said Dearborn resident Adam Abusalah, who helped elect President Biden in 2020 but worked on the Uncommitted campaign during the 2024 election. “It is an issue that separates those who stand for justice from those who sell out to AIPAC while children are being slaughtered.”
Abusalah said Democratic voters in Michigan are tired of politicians who hide behind rehearsed talking points instead of speaking with moral conviction.
“History will remember where every single one of these politicians stood,” he said.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit, a staunch supporter of Israel, criticized Gilchrist’s comments in a statement.
“We are deeply disappointed by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist’s recent remarks labeling Israel’s war against terror organization Hamas a ‘genocide’ and using his campaign as a platform to vilify support for Israel,” the Federation said. “This inflammatory language is an attempt to foster divisiveness as a campaign tool.”
You can reach Sam at srobinson@ michronicle.com.
Party Black Caucus Chair Keith Williams, former House Speaker Joe Tate, Reps. Tyrone Carter of Detroit and Amos O’Neal of Saginaw came
Board President Corletta J. Vaughn
C ity . L ife .
B1 | October 8-14, 2025
Detroit’s Own Loni Love Returns: A Homecoming of Laughter, Resilience, and Real Talk
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Loni Love is coming home. The Detroit native, Emmy winner, two-time NAACP Image Award honoree, and four-time Gracie Award recipient is bringing her unapologetic humor back to the Motor City. On October 17 and 18, 2025, she will headline at The Detroit House of Comedy, marking her first stand-up performance in Detroit since 2015. The return is not just another tour stop; it is a homecoming steeped in joy, reflection, and the raw, unfiltered comedy that has become Love’s signature.
“I felt like it was time to come back home because there’s so much happening in the world,” Love shared with the Michigan Chronicle. “And the reason why it has taken me so long is because I been busy, sista been booked. But now is a really good time to come back to talk about Detroit and the resilience of Detroit and also to talk about my family members, because they gone come.”
Loni Love has been everywhere. From co-hosting the Emmy-winning daytime talk show The Real to guest judging on RuPaul’s Drag Race and making us laugh on A Black Lady Sketch Show, she has proven herself a versatile force in entertainment. Yet, despite her packed schedule with appearances on Live from E!, E! Daily Pop, Pictionary, MTV’s Binged to Death, and philanthropic work like her involvement with When We All Vote, Love’s heart has never left Detroit. Her roots, planted firmly in the city’s soil, have always grounded her success.
The Cass Tech alumna knows what it means to hustle. Raised in Detroit, she learned early on that resilience and authenticity are non-negotiable. The grind has paid off, but the journey to comedy superstardom wasn’t conventional.
“I came into comedy through engineering,” Love said. “I went to an HBCU, Prairie View A&M University, and I was an engineer for eight years. But I was always a comic at heart. I would do it on the side while I was in college. One day, I went to a comedy store, and I realized that there weren’t a lot of females. I thought, wow, there needs to be more female voices. I made it my lifelong goal to be a female stand-up. And it’s been great.”
That commitment to creating space for women in comedy is part of what makes Love’s return to Detroit significant. The city’s comedy scene has evolved, but it remains a place where performers must bring their best.
“The reason why I love Detroit is because Detroit is real,” Love explained. “We work hard, we can deal with the snow, and we can deal with the sunshine too. When it comes to comedy, you have people like Mike Epps who has come and brought comedy back to the city. You have Katt Williams who will sell out the Little Caesars Arena, you have Kevin Hart that has done the same thing. I’m just happy to see that people still consider Detroit this great place to come, and they know they
See LONI LOVE RETURNS Page B-2
Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style
First Look at Detroit’s New Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Park on West Riverfront
By Samuel Robinson SENIOR REPORTER
Residents along Detroit’s Southwest riverfront can expect to see an influx of new visitors when it opens at the end of this month.
The new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, at 1801 W. Jefferson, sprawls 22 acres across W. Jefferson at the Detroit riverfront. Opening on Oct. 25, the $80 million park includes a four-acre playground, a water garden, a sports pavilion, a 20-foot-tall bear slide, and other animal-shaped structures.
Matt Cullen, the CEO of the Riverfront Conservancy, compared the new park to that of downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park, one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions, during a media tour on Wednesday.
“This is going to be the most iconic park in the United States,” Cullen said.
He said he wants the park to change the way people in Detroit feel about their city and interact with their community.
“When we started this, we started with a philosophy of bring everybody,” Cullen told media representatives ahead of the hard-hat tour. “We didn’t always have that — we didn’t have assets that represented that. We didn’t have a place for young adults to come and play basketball, we didn’t have a splash pad, the kind of thing that you’re going to bring your kids and your grandparents and taking advantage of all the family picnics.”
The park is calling the giant bear slide the Bernstein Bear. Crews assembled the bear in May 2024, at
RALPH C. WILSON JR. PARK Page B-2
Ruth E. Carter and PLC Detroit Launch Apparel STU/DEO at National Black Footwear Forum
By Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER
Ruth E. Carter has long been known for turning fabric into history. From the bright, bold kente-inspired regalia of Black Panther to the raw streetwear sensibility of Do the Right Thing, her career has been a masterclass in how design can capture the soul of a people. Now, the two-time Academy Award–winning costume designer is pouring that same vision into Detroit, partnering with Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) to unveil her new Apparel Creation STU/DEO by adidas.
The launch took place on September 18 during the sixth annual National Black Footwear Forum, a gathering that has become the definitive homecoming for Black and Brown creatives in the industry.
Carter, an HBCU graduate herself, has spent more than three decades setting the standard for what it means to use clothing as narrative. With over 70 credits across film, television, and theater, she has worked with some of the most respected directors in the world, from Spike Lee to Ava DuVernay, Steven Spielberg to Ryan Coogler. Her place in cinematic history is undeniable. In 2019, she became the first Black person to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Black Panther. She returned to the stage four years later as the first Black woman ever to win multiple Oscars in any category when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned her a second golden statue. No costume designer before her had ever been recognized for both a feature film and its sequel. Most recently, her work reached audiences once again in Coogler’s blockbuster Sinners, a visual spectacle praised for its textured blend of futurism and history.
For Carter, the Detroit partnership is as personal as it is professional. “When I was a young designer, I hoped for places like the Apparel STU/DEO,” she said. “I’m grateful that my longstanding career has allowed my work to honor our history and culture while inspiring others to tell their
own stories. To stand here now, seeing students at PLC Detroit take that same dream and shape it into something new through my name, is profoundly moving. Moments like this remind us that design is more than fashion—it is storytelling, it is culture, it is legacy. I am honored to mentor these brilliant young creatives as they begin to write their own chapters, and I cannot wait to see how their vision transforms the future of design.”
That vision has already begun to take shape at PLC. Two students, Angel Buckens and Rodney Banks, contributed to the design of the STU/DEO itself, weaving their own ideas into the fabric of the space. Their work represents the kind of hands-on, collaborative education that the college promises its students. Completing the studio is a mural by Detroit’s own Sydney G. James, whose large-scale artwork has become synonymous with cultural pride and storytelling across the city.
Together, the students and James created a backdrop that embodies the spirit of Detroit while amplifying Carter’s message of creativity and boldness.
“Make bold choices with your creativity and be unprecedented. You have your whole life to live by the book,” Carter advised students as they prepared to debut the new space. Her words echo the philosophy
Loni Love
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Park
From page B-1
the centerpiece of the Delta Dental Play Garden, one of four sponsored zones in the park, including the Clinton-Huron MetroParks Water Garden, the William Davidson Sports House, and DTE Foundation Summit.
The water garden is the first-ever Metroparks location within the city of Detroit.
A $1 million donation will create two open-air basketball courts and surrounding gathering areas inside the sports complex named after the late Detroit Pistons owner. Tom Gores, the current owner of the Pistons, announced the investment in the park on Wednesday in a press release.
The new courts and activity space are in addition to the 60 basketball courts the Pistons built as part of a $2.5 million community court project.
augural weekend with family-friendly entertainment. Former Motown group, The Jacksons, will perform on the Summit Main Stage at 4 pm Oct. 25 as part of the Detroit Harvest Fest. Grand opening weekend events are happening at 10 am-8 pm on Oct. 25 and 11 am-8 pm on Oct. 26.
Marc Paso, the public relations director at the Conservancy, didn’t give an exact number, but said they expect a big turnout with people attending throughout the community during the weekend.
There’s also the Gilbert Family Foundation Water Wonderland for interactive water play.
The park, which features landscaped, tree-lined walking paths and sprawling lawns, opens its in-
The Riverfront Conservancy tapped Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates, a New York-based architecture firm known for its design of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, to design a park for the west riverfront in 2018.
In October that year, the park was named after Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., after the foundation with the same name donated $50 million for the park’s construction and long-term sustainability of the riverfront. It’s all part of the Riverfront Conservancy’s decade long, community-led effort to transform the five and a half mile Detroit riverfront. You can reach Sam at srobinson@michronicle. com.
Black Footwear Forum
From page B-1
she has carried throughout her career: courage and culture must guide design if it is to have real impact.
The unveiling is being timed with the National Black Footwear Forum, co-hosted by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Known as “The Industry’s Homecoming,” the Forum is a platform where executives, students, and creatives gather to celebrate leadership and creativity while reimagining what’s possible in design.
For PLC Detroit, the only design-focused HBCU in the country, hosting the Forum highlights the college’s role in shaping the future of design education.
Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, president of PLC Detroit, spoke to the significance of the moment.
“This marks the second time PLC has collaborated with Ruth E. Carter. Continuing to work with a history-making icon as Ruth, PLC continues to provide
opportunities that elevate aspiring creatives to realize their dreams of becoming the future of design. Sharing this moment with over 1,000 BFF attendees, alongside our talented students and dedicated faculty at PLC Detroit, is truly special.”
The partnership also reflects a growing recognition by corporations of the importance of investing in creative spaces that honor culture while nurturing new talent. Adidas joined the project as a collaborator, with Ayesha Martin, Senior Director of Purpose Marketing, framing the work as a model for how brands can drive meaningful impact.
“This collaboration is about more than fashion, it’s about community, legacy, and the next generation of creators,” she said.
“Ms. Ruth E. Carter and the students at PLC Detroit are showing how design can be a force for storytelling and reimagining possible futures. We’re proud to stand alongside them in building spaces where young talent can
thrive and shape our industry.”
Carter’s career has always shown how design can transcend aesthetics and become a cultural narrative. Every detail she constructs is intended to be read like language, translating identity into fabric, thread, and form. In Detroit, that lesson will now be experienced not only through her costumes on screen, but through the work of students who are finding their own voices in the studio that carries her name.
The launch of the Apparel STU/DEO is a moment that links legacy with opportunity. It marks the convergence of a cultural icon, a historic HBCU, and a city that has always set the rhythm for innovation. For Carter, it is a chance to give back what she once dreamed of. For students, it is an opportunity to learn directly from someone who has redefined an industry. And for Detroit, it is another example of how its cultural footprint continues to grow as a global center for design.
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@michronicle.com.
Loni Love Returns
From page B-1
have to come with the jokes because Detroit is not gonna laugh if it’s not funny.”
Love’s return to stand-up comes at a time when Detroit, like much of the nation, is navigating complex social and economic realities. Loni understands the importance of laughter during challenging times.
“I think that in different spaces, people see me in different ways. Some may see me as the talk show host, and that’s great, but stand-up comedy is a different beast. I just came off tour with Martin Lawrence, and that is a whole different theme from my own personal shows where I headline. You learn to adapt, and that’s what I would tell anybody, especially in the times we’re in. Still make your money, still get your message out, and still continue to find some happiness. And that’s another reason why I wanted to come back home—because I think we need to bring back happiness and joy. Even though things may seem crazy right now, we can find some joy in that, and that’s what I talk about.”
Detroit has always had a unique relationship with comedy. From the days of Red Foxx and Richard Pryor to the rise of modern giants like Martin Lawrence, the city has been a proving ground for comedians who keep it real.
“There are a lot of evolutions,” Love noted. “Back in the day, there was only one type of comedian taking the platforms, like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. But with the onset of HBO and Def Jam, that allowed multiple different comedians to be seen, to have a platform. That’s when you had Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, DL Hughley, and Martin Lawrence, who was the host of Def Jam. That was the evolution from having one main top Black comic to now we have these different varieties of comics.”
That evolution has brought more diverse voices to the stage, including more women, but Love acknowledges that the path is still challenging.
“When I came into the game in 2003, I saw the need for more female voices. There were rooms where I was the only woman performing. But I stayed consistent, and now I’m working on a stand-up show that will be produced for women, and we are going to put it out there for the public to see. This is my life’s calling: to do comedy and production. I try to use my platform to help give exposure to as many people as possi-
ble—and flirt with as many men as I can see,” she added, with a signature laugh.
The upcoming performances at The Detroit House of Comedy aren’t just about cracking jokes; they are about reconnecting with the spirit of the city that shaped her. Detroit’s resilience mirrors Love’s own journey—persistent, innovative, and authentic.
“People want to act like Detroit is this city that is so bad, but actually, it is not. It is a beautiful city,” Love said. “You know a Detroit woman— everything is just always put together. When people hear the word Detroit, they think of crime, but it is not like that. It is my home, and every time I come back, I feel loved and safe. I’m always repping. I am the daughter of Detroit, and I will always speak up for Detroit. I love my city.”
Love’s presence on stage promises to bring a sense of relief, joy, and, undoubtedly, thought-provoking humor that touches on everyday realities. Her comedic style has always reflected an understanding of the struggles and triumphs of Black communities. Her observations are sharp but never dismissive, grounded in lived experiences and a genuine desire to uplift.
The Detroit House of Comedy will host a daughter of the city who has earned national acclaim yet remains deeply rooted in the essence of her hometown. With multiple current projects, including the “A Time To Laugh Tour,” appearances on the new Hollywood Squares with Drew Barrymore, guest spots on Martin Lawrence’s Y’all Know What It Is! tour, and co-hosting the Grown Women Talking podcast, Love shows no signs of slowing down. But for now, she is focused on coming home, taking the stage, and sharing some much-needed laughter.
“Detroit has always been that place where you have to come correct,” Love said. “But that’s why I love it. You get on that stage, and you feel the energy from the people who know what it means to grind. They came for the jokes, and I got ‘em.”
When Loni Love steps on stage in February 2025, Detroit won’t just be welcoming a comedian; it will be celebrating one of its own. And for Love, nothing beats performing for the people who understand her best. Tickets will go fast. Detroit doesn’t just show up for the jokes; it shows up for its own. And Loni Love, daughter of Detroit, is ready to deliver.
You can reach Ebony JJ Curry at ecurry@michronicle.com.
Pew Finds Just 6% of
Are Black as Crisis Grows with Recent Firings
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The dismissal of Karen Attiah from the Washington Post has become more than a personnel decision. It is a scarlet warning, a reminder of what has long haunted the American press: the Black voice is too often invited in only to be pushed out when it dares to speak of the nation’s truths. Attiah, the Post’s only Black female opinion writer, said she was terminated after more than a decade at the paper for posts she wrote on social media addressing violence and the dangers of white extremism. “Being pushed out of the Washington Post for expressing myself, for not even expressing myself, for doing my job as a journalist, is really a deep, sort of cruel 180,” she told the Associated Press.
Her removal comes at a time when Black journalists already stand on fragile ground in an industry that continues to exclude them. According to the Pew Research Center’s most recent survey of American newsrooms, only 6 percent of reporting journalists in 2022 were Black, though Black people make up 12 percent of the population. White journalists accounted for 76 percent of reporters, even though the white population stands at 61 percent. The National Association of Black Journalists said Attiah’s firing had “raised an alarm about the erosion of Black voices across the media.” “The absence of Black journalists doesn’t just harm us, it impoverishes the entire profession,” NABJ President Errin Haines declared. “When our voices are missing, stories go untold, perspectives go unchallenged, and the truth remains incomplete.”
For diversity advocates, the danger is not confined to one journalist. It sets a precedent that ripples across the profession. Media 2070, a group dedicated to racial equity in journalism, called the firing “a dangerous and deliberate act of erasure by media owners.” Philip Lewis, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists, called it a chilling moment. “This firing sends a message to other Black journalists and writers that our perspectives aren’t valued unless we align with the status quo.” Attiah has refused to go silent. At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, she spoke during a panel on Black women in media and warned that the campaign against truth would not stop with her. “I hate to be Debbie Dark Cloud, but if you think things are really bad, they can and they will, and they’re trying to make it worse,” she said.
Experts caution that the absence of diverse voices has real consequences. “When you disappear people from spaces, you lose those valuable discussions that help our nation really process who we are and what kind of country we want to be,” Khadijah Costley White, a professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University, said. Eric Deggans, the Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University, questioned the Post’s judgment. “I don’t understand why the most extreme punishment is the first punishment,” Deggans said. “I don’t understand why there’s not an attempt to sort of talk with the employee and let them know what they did wrong.”
The Pew study found that Black journalists are most visible in coverage of social issues and policy, where they make up 15 percent of those reporters, but remain scarce across politics, the economy, science, and technology. This clustering leaves most national conversations filtered through a white lens, even as the country grows more diverse. Despite her firing, Attiah has insisted there is still a possibility in this moment. “I think this is also a time for profound creativity,” she said, “being like water rising and like water moving around the cracks and actu ally, over time, eroding and undoing.”
By Rev. Stephen Herrod CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
In the historic Gratiot-Woods neighborhood of Detroit, healing is taking root in a new way. From health care enrollment and assistance to helping youth get into school, from food, housing, and utility assistance to education on healthy lifestyles and behaviors, these resources are now closer to home than ever. Residents can access support for managing chronic conditions and medications, receive free preventative care such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings, and get referrals to a variety of other services. There are also resources for substance use disorder, mental health support, crisis intervention, and more.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is excited about what this means for the community. Neighborhood Wellness Centers bring these services into non-traditional health care settings, places where people feel at ease, supported, and known. In this case, a neighborhood church on the Eastside of Detroit. All services are free of charge. Open to all Detroit residents.
Historically, the Black church has been far more than a place of worship. It has served as the heart of the community, an epicenter for support, connection, and empowerment. Bethel Baptist Church, East, located at 5715 Holcomb Ave., Detroit, MI 48213, has long embraced that calling, and now, we continue in that tradition through new partnerships and renewed purpose.
In collaboration with MDHHS and the Detroit Health Department, Bethel Baptist Church, East, has reimagined part of our space to house a Neighborhood Wellness Center and provide a home base for community health worker services.
This collaboration is more than just a logistical arrangement; it is a vision for what can happen when public health agencies and trusted neighborhood institutions come together for the good of the people. It models the kind of creative, community-rooted strategies that are essential for organizations committed to being salt and
light in a morally declining and ethically decaying world.
Placing a Neighborhood Wellness Center inside a church that has a long-standing relationship with its surrounding community is a classic example of meeting people where they are.
The Detroit Health Department has a wealth of resources that could benefit residents, yet many people are simply unaware that these services exist. By hosting a wellness center within the church, we are building a bridge, helping neighbors cross over to the resources, care, and hope they need. And in a very real sense, the doors of the church are open, not only for worship, but for wellness, wholeness, and community transformation.
Looking ahead, we must continue to move beyond tradition, isolation, and “the way it’s always been done.” We must continue to work together and form coalitions with like-minded organizations, with justice and liberation as our guiding goals. We are not alone in this work.
Across Michigan, churches are part of this same partnership and have opened their doors to Neighborhood Wellness Centers with the betterment of people in mind. These efforts demonstrate the power of collaboration and the potential of faith communities to play a central role in community well-being. Hours of Operation for the Neighborhood Wellness Center located in Bethel Baptist Church, East: Monday: 10 AM – 5 PM Wednesday: 10 AM – 6 PM Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM Additional locations can be found at michigan.gov, and for a complete list of programs and services offered by the Detroit Health Department, residents can also visit DetroitMI.gov. By increasing awareness of the sites already open, and by planting seeds for future possibilities, we are working toward a healthier, stronger, and more connected Detroit.
Rev. Stephen Herrod is the Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church East, located at 5715 Holcomb Ave. in Detroit, MI.
JANICE M. WINFREY, City Clerk Chairperson, Election Commission
GINA C. AVERY-WALKER Director
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 Halloween - Oct. 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-or-treat 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.
CANDY, CANDY AND MORE CANDY! – October 31
Detroit Police Department Trunk-or-Treat events
Trunk-or-treat events at Detroit Police precincts and other activities are set for Oct. 31. The 2nd, 5th and 7th precincts will hold their events at a recreation facility.
3rd Precinct from 4 - 7 p.m., 2875 W. Grand Blvd. (parking lot in rear of building)
4th Precinct from 4 – 7 p.m., 4700 Fort St.
5th Precinct from 4 - 8 p.m., Chandler Park Field House, 12300 Chandler Park Dr.
6th Precinct from 5 - 7 p.m., 11450 Warwick
7th Precinct from 5 – 7 p.m., Young Recreation Center, 2751 Robert Brady Dr.
8th Precinct from 5 - 7 p.m., 21555 W. McNichols Road
9th Precinct from 5 - 7 p.m., 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 Locations October 31 from 5 – 7 p.m.
NOTE: Five fire engine houses Detroit will be located at recreation facilities on Halloween.
Fire Department, Young Recreation Center, 2751 Robert Brady Dr.
Fire Engine House 30, 16543 Meyers Road
Fire Engine House 33, 1041 Lawndale St.
Fire Department, Williams Recreation Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd.
Fire Engine House 41, 5000 Rohns
Fire Department, Chandler Park Field House, 12300 Chandler Park Dr.
Fire Department, Crowell Recreation Center, 16630 Lahser
Fire Engine House 55, 18140 Joy Road
Fire Department, Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Dr.
Fire Engine House 58, 10801 Whittier
Recreation Centers and Facilities to Host Activities – Oct. 31 at various times
The Parks & Recreation Division is planning a variety of activities for children and teens at 14 recreation centers and facilities on Oct. 31. Activities include haunted houses, carnival games, trunk-ortreat, picture station, arts-n-crafts, face painting, DJs and more. Contact the recreation center for additional details.
AB Ford Recreation Center | 4- 7 p.m., 100 Lenox (313) 628-1197
Williams Recreation Center | 4 - 7 p.m., 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd. (313) 628-2039
Young Recreation Center | 5 – 8 p.m., 2751 Robert Brady Dr. (313) 628-0995
Halloween Park Events
Along with the Halloween parties and trunk-or-treat events on Halloween, the City is sponsoring events on Oct. 25 and Nov. 8.
ScareFest | Oct. 25 from 5 - 10 p.m. | Palmer Park, 910 Merrill Pl.
Palmer Park will transform into a place of fun and fright for children and adults with the Zombie Trail of Terror, thrill rides, Fear Factor/Mystery Eats, haunted dinosaurs, dragon face painting, inflatables, entertainment, food trucks, vendors and more.
Fall Fest | Nov. 8 from 1 - 5 p.m. | Williams Park next to Williams Recreation Center at 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd.
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.
DTE Foundation Announces the 2025 Community Empowerment Award Recipients
The awards spotlight organizations driving equity, resilience and opportunity across Michigan communities
The DTE Foundation has awarded nearly $360,000 in grants to 11 Michigan nonprofits through its 2025 Community Empowerment Awards. The funding supports grassroots organizations working to advance equity, wellness and placemaking in underserved communities across the state.
Now in its second year, the Community Empowerment Awards program recognizes nonprofits that are deeply rooted in the neighborhoods they serve. Each grantee demonstrated a clear plan for long-term sustainability and measurable impact, with projects focused on youth development, food access, public safety and inclusive recreation.
“This initiative reflects our belief that community transformation begins with local leadership,” said Rodney Cole, president, DTE Foundation. “We are proud to partner with organizations that are creating lasting change through innovative, community-driven solutions.”
Highlights from this year’s awards include:
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will convert a neglected lot into a family-friendly park.
• Disability Network Eastern Michigan is expanding adaptive recreation and wellness programs in underserved counties.
• Growing Hope will enhance urban farming infrastructure and improve food access in Ypsilanti.
• We The People Opportunity Farm is supporting reentry and employment for formerly incarcerated individuals through farmbased internships.
• Global African Business Association will host mobile relief clinics in high-need areas including Detroit, Inkster and Benton Harbor.
Other grantees are addressing issues such as youth impacted by incarceration, bike access for low-income families and neighborhood beautification. The awards span communities in Detroit, Ypsilanti, Grand Rapids, Westland, Inkster, Benton Harbor and the Thumb region, reflecting the Foundation’s statewide commitment to equity and empowerment.
To learn more about the DTE Foundation and its nonprofit partnerships, visit www.dtefoundation.com.
Lead Civil Engineer – Northville
Metro Engineering Solutions, LLC has available positions of Lead Civil Engineer in Northville, MI. Although the Lead Civil Engineer will work in Northville, MI, the Lead Civil Engineer will be expected to travel 10% of working time to customer project sites throughout the state of MI. Position requires a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering & 12 months experience as a Traffic Engineer. Position also requires: Exp. must include: 1) 12 mos. exp. designing Work-Zone Traffic control plans for roadway construction & maintenance adhering to customer, state, & federal Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines; 2) 12 mos. exp. drafting construction & maintenance plans for roadway upgrades, including cost estimates, project prints, & specifications that comply with customer & regulatory guidelines; 3) 12 mos. exp. designing electrical & communications schematics in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) projects; 4) 12 mos. exp. coordinating with various utility companies to obtain approvals & all associated permits for Roadway construction & maintenance projects; & 5) 12 mos. exp. using AutoCAD & Microstation to design construction plans, standard details, & materialspecific provision documents pertaining to Transportation Engineering & Roadway construction projects. Exp. reqs. may be met concurrently during the same time period. Job duties: Lead projects in civil engineering pertaining to structural resiliency & integrity of Electrical Sub-transmission & power distribution infrastructure which must be completed per customer-specific standards, as well as National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), & National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines. Manage, train, & supervise 2-3 engineers & project designers on various overhead & underground electrical power distribution projects. Design & oversee projects in Work-Zone Traffic control plans for roadway construction & maintenance adhering to state & federal DOT guidelines. Create project-related cost estimates, project prints, & specifications that comply with all applicable customer & regulatory standards/guidelines. Design electrical & communication schematics in ITS projects. Coordinate with various utility companies to obtain necessary approvals & all associated permits to complete project. Perform estimates of budget & scheduling for various projects in electrical power distribution, street lighting, as well as Underground power conduit design & planning. We maintain a drug-free workplace & perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. Refusal to submit to testing will result in disqualification of further employment consideration. Qualified applicants should e-mail resume & verification of reqs. to Allison Domen, Payroll/Human Resources, at adomen@metroes.net.
4 cols x 5 inches
Kinaxis Maestro 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 new functional solutions using Maestro (formerly known as RapidResponse) products. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
products on a cloud analytics platform. Work on ingesting, transforming, and analyzing large datasets to support the Enterprise in the Data Factory on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
Senior Software Engineer
Positions offered by Ford Motor Credit Company LLC (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. Validate and release applications using continuous integration and continuous delivery tools. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
Exterior Systems Design and Release Engineer
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. Design, develop, validate and release parts (fixed glass, wipers and washers, EV charge ports, fuel doors, leaf-screens, badging, appliques, spoilers, running boards, roof rails, etc.) under their responsibility for assigned program(s). Must be willing to travel domestically 20% and internationally 2%. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
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. Design and implement scalable microservices for Ford’s e-commerce platform, focusing on cart and checkout functionalities. EOE. Apply online: corporate.ford.com/careers
Supplier Quality Engineer & Procurement Specialist Detroit Diesel Corporation seeks a Supplier Quality Engineer & Procurement Specialist in Detroit, MI. Position requires domestic and international travel, as needed, up to 30% per year. This position plays a pivotal role in driving supplier quality improvement results in an effort to increase the supplier capability of consistently meeting existing or new customer requirements. Responsible for planning, directing, and strategizing, together with crossfunctional business partners to shape the future of transportation for powertrain components, among other duties. To apply, email resume to Donald.Connelly@daimlertruck.com. Reference job number DT-15405.
Senior Engineer FEV North America, Inc.: We seek a Senior Engineer based out of our office at 4554 Glenmeade Lane, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Lead the design, development, validation, and release activities for various propulsion component and vehicle systems; among other duties. Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Apply to job reference number 25-00041 at: www.fev.com
(StatePoint) Stress is part of every day, especially when you’re juggling deadlines, meetings, and endless to-do lists. And while you can’t always eliminate the pressure, by building the right habits and backing them up with the right tools, you can learn to handle it better.
Thought leaders across companies have chimed in to help readers understand how they deal with stress and how their vocation has shaped their behaviors. Ariann Langsam, vice president of Marketing at Pilot Corporation of America (Pilot Pen), often collaborates with psychologists and wellness experts to explore how small adjustments can make a big difference within her role at Pilot Pen. Here, she shares three simple ways to build stress resilience — and how the right tools can help support your mindset.
1. Write It Out
When you’re about to embark on something that causes you stress, maybe it’s a big presentation at work or a tough conversation,
(StatePoint) In the coming years, baby boomers are poised to pass down an estimated $17 trillion in home equity to their children, according to a recent Freddie Mac survey. But whether or not you’re among the 75% of homeowners in this generation planning to leave your current home or the proceeds from a home sale to family members when they pass away, having a clear estate plan is critical to ensuring your wishes come to fruition.
Without one, your future heirs may face complex ownership issues, potential legal disputes and even the loss of family property.
To help your family plan for the future and protect generational wealth, Freddie Mac is sharing information about some of the pitfalls that may occur in the absence of an estate plan, as well as steps you can take to protect the wealth you’ve built over your lifetime.
Tangled Titles
Heirs’ property, also referred to as a tangled title, is created when a family member dies without a will or court document passing their property to a specific heir or heirs. When this happens, the property may be transferred by inheritance to multiple family members who each have equal rights to use and occupy the property. Unfortunately, this can lead to messy legal disputes among family members, limited access to resources, and loss of generational wealth due to forced sales or costly legal battles.
These disputes are common in this scenario because each heir has shared responsibilities regarding the property. For example, all heirs will be expected to contribute to property-related taxes and upkeep, which can become difficult to manage collectively. Additionally, major property decisions often require agreement among all heirs, which can make it difficult to maintain, improve or sell the property. As generations pass, the property may be further divided among new heirs, complicating ownership even more. Lacking a clear legal title, heirs often struggle to qualify for resources like home equity loans or disaster relief funds, leaving properties vulnerable to foreclosure or forced sales.
Avoiding Heirs’ Property
Planning for the future helps prevent legal and financial complications like heirs’ property. Here are steps to take to protect your family’s property and wealth:
• Create a will or trust. Work with a trusted legal advisor to create an estate plan that can ensure your property is passed down as intended.
• Establish a power of attorney. Appoint someone you trust to manage your property and financial affairs in your absence.
• Develop a wealth management plan. This can help you and your family prepare for unexpected situations and emergencies.
• Get smart about estate plans and other wealth management topics. Freddie Mac CreditSmart Essentials, a customizable and free online course, has all the tools, resources and lessons you need to help achieve your financial goals.
Taking proactive steps in estate planning is crucial for protecting your assets and ensuring they benefit future generations.
taking a moment to write down positive affirmations can help calm your nerves. Try phrases like:
• “I’m ready for this.”
• “I’ve done the work.”
• “I am resilient, capable and calm.” What helps make the planning process go as smoothly as possible? Choosing a pen that feels good in your hand. A smooth-writing tool can make the act of writing feel more soothing and intentional, not like just another task.
2. Use Tools That Keep You in Flow Research shows that when writing feels effortless, your brain is more likely to enter a “flow state” -- that focused zone where ideas click and distractions fade. Whether you’re brainstorming or planning your day, having the right pen can give you the zen focus you need.
Take
shape how you feel throughout the day. For example:
• Pink sparks optimism
• Purple stimulates your creative side
• Blue can boost your productivity
• Green promotes calm and balance
You can apply this concept in small ways, like choosing color-coded pens to match your goals or surrounding yourself with certain hues in your workspace or wardrobe. It’s a simple, visual way to give your brain a gentle nudge in the right direction.
Everyday stress isn’t going away, but with a few mindful habits and the right tools, you can take back a sense of control. For more tips and to explore wellness-focused writing utensils, visit PowerToThePen.com.
3. Let Color Work for You Color affects mood more than most people realize. With a little intention, you can use it to
“Small changes in your routine can have a surprisingly big impact,” says Langsam. “You might not be able to change what’s coming at you, but you can change how you show up for it.”
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