WDET is ‘Crossing the Lines’ in Highland Park

May 16, 2026

WDET's "Crossing the Lines" is a long-running journalism initiative that explores diverse communities across Metro Detroit by engaging directly with residents about their local concerns and perspectives. Since launching in 2011, the project has covered numerous communities including Canton, Southfield, Windsor, and various Detroit neighborhoods, with 2026 focusing on Northville and Highland Park. Recent Highland Park stories examine the city's historic significance as home to both the automotive assembly line and one of America's earliest purpose-built mosques, constructed by Syrian Ford workers in the early 1900s.

Who is affected

Residents of Highland Park (population under 9,000)
Highland Park students (kindergarten through 8th grade at charter schools; no local high school option)
Syrian immigrant community descendants (historical mosque congregants)
Cheryl Sanford (Highland Park School Board president)
Carlton Clyburn (Director of Community and Economic Development)
WDET listeners and Metro Detroit communities
Nargis Rahman, Sascha Raiyn, and Bre'Anna Tinsley (journalists)

What action is being taken

WDET is examining Northville and Highland Park as part of its 2026 Crossing the Lines series
Highland Park School District is authorizing charter schools (specifically Barber Preparatory School for K-8)
City officials are working on plans to rebuild housing stock and population through "missing middle" development

Why it matters

Highland Park's story represents a dramatic example of urban decline and potential revitalization in Metro Detroit. The city's population has plummeted by nearly 85% from its peak, leaving it without functioning traditional schools, with only charter options through 8th grade and no high school within city limits. This community-focused journalism matters because it preserves important historical narratives—like Highland Park's role in automotive history and as home to one of America's first purpose-built mosques—while documenting current resident experiences and giving voice to community concerns about education, housing, and economic development that affect thousands of residents' daily lives.

What's next

City officials plan to rebuild housing stock and increase population by developing "the missing middle" housing, according to Carlton Clyburn, Director of Community and Economic Development.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com