Willie Brake has always been ahead of the curve, joining business incubators before they became trendy and recognizing the value in refurbishing computers early on. Now the Detroit entrepreneur is using his business to build up equitable access to technology and tech training in his city.
Ruth Bell has been constantly told by the people in her life — from family members to business moguls to postal workers — that she needs to be baking. Now, she's finally listening.
COVID-19 isn't the first crisis Felicia Williams-Patrick has seen her business through. The Detroit boutique owner has weathered the city's ups and downs, and knows a thing or two about what it takes for a retail store to survive.
Among the lessons learned were how to trim costs without sacrificing quality, ways to reinvent menus for carryout, and the willingness of customers to dine outdoors — a trend that’s likely to stick around.
You've likely seen Tytiana "Ty" Steele's work without realizing it. The set designer and director is behind sumptuous scenes in TV shows like "Queen of the South" and brand campaigns like Barefoot Wine's We Stan with Her, but now the Detroit artist is bringing her talent back to her hometown, starting her own company to help build equity in her industry.
In Detroit communities hit hardest by COVID-19, solar power projects provided some relief and continuity of service this year. For engineers and entrepreneurs Ali Dirul and Karanja Famodou, renewable energy is not just about the sustaining the environment, it's about sustaining equity.
COVID-19 setbacks and losses have not been able to diminish the optimism of neighborhood innovator Tammy Black. The Jefferson Chalmers resident is drawing on the strength of her community to sustain plans for the construction of a treehouse community center and advocate for horticultural therapy.
A group of Detroit puppeteers discovered their performing arts nonprofit is surprisingly well-placed to survive COVID-19 restrictions, with established partners, the creativity to explore new mediums, and a focus on equitable access to the arts.
It's not just a design hub that Tanya Saldivar-Ali and her husband, Luis, are building on 18th Street — the Detroit couple is developing a construction pipeline to connect residents with sustainable careers. But it's the cutting-edge technology they are using to tell residents' stories that is capturing international attention.
Detroit firefighter Gary Ringer is connecting with national health experts to promote a better culture of health in his community, and wants local stations to be a part of that change: "As firefighters, we can do more than just putting the ‘wet stuff on the red stuff,’ we can play a more intricate role in the community we serve."
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