Featured Stories

Detroit Revitalization Fellow: Brian Connors

Jay Walljasper Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Before moving to Detroit in 2010, Brian Connors lived in Beijing, where he created a language school and a 24-hour, American-stlye diner. We should be glad he's brought his energy and ideas to our town, says Jay Walljasper.

Choosing Michigan, Detroit, Higher Ed, Move to Detroit, Urban Leadership, Wayne State University

Letter from Cambridge: Destination D:hive

Laura Hogikyan Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Laura Hogikyan attends Harvard College, where she studies the classics. This summer, she studied the classic Detroit experience at downtown's D:hive.

Detroit, Education and training, Entrepreneurs

Downtown Detroit

Midtown rebuilding block

Dennis Archambault Tuesday, September 11, 2012

There are many dead zones in Detroit. One of them was the block between The Max M. Fisher Music Center and the Majestic Theatre on Woodward Avenue. Dennis Archambault shines a light on why we're talking about it in the past tense.

Reuse / Rebuild, Transformational change, Urban Leadership, Woodward Avenue

Midtown

UIX TV: Soh Suzuki

DETROIT LIVES! Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Soh Suzuki of Detroit Asian Youth Project engages young people through community projects, empowering the next generation of changemakers. Video by DETROIT LIVES!

Detroit, Social innovation, Video

Green City Diaries: Reclaiming the built environment

Matthew Piper Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The bad news is that we've lost buildings to neglect and disinvestment. The good news is that we're not going to take it anymore. There are new strategies to repurpose Detroit properties. Matthew Piper hunts down some more sustainable solutions.

Architecture, Detroit, Green, Placemaking, Reuse / Rebuild

Hamtramck, Midtown, Lafayette Park

Model D Speaker Series: Transportation and Business Development

Model D staff Tuesday, August 28, 2012

At Thursday's Model D Speaker Series, representatives of the small business community, local anchor institutions, economic development experts, and transit advocates will lead the discussion on transportation. Register now.

Placemaking, Transit

Midtown

Detroit Revitalization Fellow: Felicia Andrews

Jay Walljasper Tuesday, August 28, 2012

She started making a difference in Johannesburg and London, came home to attend U-M Law before returning to work in Africa. But Felecia Andrews found her calling where she began, in her native Detroit. Jay Walljasper makes the introduction.

Detroit, Move to Detroit, Redevelopment, Transformational change

Model D TV: Nextek Power Systems

DETROIT LIVES! Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Detroit is filling up with growing companies, and we're scouring the city in search of as many we can find to broadcast on Model D TV. DETROIT LIVES! takes its cameras to Nextek Power Systems for this episode.

Alternative Energy, Detroit, Entrepreneurs, Sustainability

UIX people and projects: Shayne O'Keefe and Hot Spokes

Tunde Wey Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Shayne O'Keefe is owner of Hot Spokes, a lunch delivery service serving greater downtown by bicycle, and shop manager at the Hub of Detroit. He is also a musician and part owner of Woodbridge Records. Tunde Wey reports for the Urban Innovation Exchange.

Alternative Energy, Detroit, Entrepreneurs, Social innovation, Transit

Midtown

FilterD extra: All that jazz

Veronica Grandison Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Model D takes its annual Labor Day break next week, right on time to spend our weekend at the ever-fab Detroit Jazz Festival. Writer Veronica Grandison started getting excited months ago.

Detroit, Nightlife , Performing Arts, Woodward Avenue Lifestyle

Downtown Detroit

First class: Creating jobs across Workforce Intelligence Network

Jon Zemke Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Recent graduates of the IT in the D training program are ready to hit the ground running developing sofware and exploring entrepreneurship possibilities. Jon Zemke made it to the ceremony and came back with some tasty testimonials.

Detroit, Education and training, Entrepreneurs, Job Creation, Talent Dividend, Transformational change, Workforce/Talent development

New Center, Downtown Detroit

Part of the solution: ACLU interns talk about need for justice for all in Detroit

Amy Kuras Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Law students from Brooklyn, Harvard, Virginia and Michigan schools get valuable training in a variety of civil rights issues at the Detroit office of the ACLU. They also get to know the city while they're here. Amy Kuras reports.

City Kids, Civil liberties, Law, Transformational change

Midtown, Woodbridge

Model D TV: LGBT leader of color Marlin Colyer

DETROIT LIVES! & Andrea Poteet Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Meet Marlin Colyer, a recent graduate of KICK's first Learn, Educate, Advocate and Drive (LEAD) program and this month's LGBT leader of color. DETROIT LIVES! got the pictures, Andrea Poteet, the words.

Detroit, LGBT

UIX people and projects: Malik Yakini and D-Town Farm

Tunde Wey Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Meet urban agriculture pioneers the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, a group advocating for food justice for Detroit’s majority African-American community. Writer Tunde Wey takes it all in for Model D.

Building Communities, Detroit, Food and Drink, Green, Social innovation, Transformational change

The audacity of the Talent Dividend

Amy Kuras Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A conversation with Kresge Foundation program directors on the value of working with communities, and why small changes have the potential to make big impact toward college completion in America.

Talent Dividend