"In our community, we have a lot of great programs," says Eisha Branner, founder and CEO of E-Community Outreach Services in Pontiac. "We have a lot of great resources. But we also have a disconnect, especially in the last few years with COVID-19," she says. "There was nowhere near enough support for our families."
"During this crisis, I think, finally, there was a real recognition of how critical direct care workers are, especially if you look at the residential providers," says Shaindle Braunstein, CEO of JARC, a nonprofit serving individuals with developmental disabilities across Oakland County. "We were the only people standing between many people and homelessness."
Nowfal Akash is proud of what he and his team have done with the John R. Road location for the new Hot Box Social cannabis lounge in Hazel Park: "It's part of the community now, it feels like it's been there forever." Biba Adams dives into the foodie scene there, from Frame movie pairings to city policy changes, to find out how it's evolving.
“We’re all about inclusivity,” says Marc Pasco, director of communications for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “This is a project that we asked the public to help design so we want everyone to come out.”
Our team received multiple awards this week in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Detroit’s 2022 Excellence in Journalism awards, with 13 journalists and photographers making the finalist list for their work in the past year. Journalist Mike Galbraith won for his innovative Instagram strategy in a series, while Nick Hagen and David Lewinski took out first place for their portrait and feature photography.
"There’s so much competing for people's attention so we strive to prove that a museum like ours needs to exist. It’s sometimes an uphill battle," says AANM director Diana Abouali. "That's my job, to continue to gain people's support as we tell this multi-layered story of the Arab American experience and the history of our community."
Southwest Detroit's Blessing of the Lowriders ceremony, founded in 1997 as a way to destigmatize lowrider culture in the neighborhood, holds a special place in the hearts of the Latinx community. Here, photographer Rosa María Zamarrón captures the way the festivities today cut across different sections of the community, fueled by family, faith, and a love of all things wheels.
“This will be a space to talk about what people’s needs are within the corridor. And as a business owner, it can be very valuable. There will be networking opportunities; you can see what needs and resources are out there,” says Chelsea Salame, economic development manager for the GRDC. “We’re all about providing access to resources and plain old grassroots organizing.”
The discussion of mental health awareness and mindfulness is an important one, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are five metro Detroit authors, ranging from poets to children’s book authors, who have written powerful material within the genre.
From screwdrivers to digital expertise, this East Side Community Development Organization has embraced some unique approaches to helping local businesses expand and thrive.
Our Partners
Common Ground Is Brewing
Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).
Drink Better, Read Local
