education

BasBlue, a Detroit community hub supporting women and gender-diverse individuals, has launched a free weekly Community Supper program to address growing food insecurity affecting city residents. The initiative responds to increased grocery costs, reduced SNAP benefits, and strained household budgets by offering complimentary Monday dinners from 5-7 p.m. without any eligibility requirements or paperwork. Local Detroit chefs, including teams from Folk Detroit, Baobab Fare, and Fried Chicken and Caviar, prepare rotating menus that celebrate the city's diverse culinary traditions. The program has already served over 100 meals and operates with support from Plum Market, providing a dignified, welcoming space where families, elders, and individuals can gather for nourishment and community connection. # Key Takeaways

Fred Durhal Jr., a highly respected Michigan legislator and community advocate, died at age 73 on November 19, 2025, leaving behind a powerful legacy of public service spanning several decades. Throughout his career serving Detroit in the Michigan House of Representatives from various districts and terms, including 2008-2014 as Dean Emeritus, Durhal earned recognition for his compassionate advocacy for working-class families, marginalized populations, and Detroit's most vulnerable residents. His leadership extended beyond legislation to community revitalization efforts, youth programs, and affordable housing initiatives, while he maintained a reputation for integrity and bipartisan cooperation. The father of current Detroit City Councilmember Fred Durhal III, he is remembered by family, colleagues, and former political opponents alike as a mentor, tireless fighter for equity and justice, and devoted family man who exemplified genuine commitment to improving lives in his community. # Key Takeaways

The Rx Kids program, which provides direct cash payments to expectant and new mothers, has expanded to six Wayne County communities but excludes Detroit due to jurisdictional reasons. The initiative offers eligible mothers $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for six months after birth, targeting areas with high child poverty rates. Detroit was not included because it operates its own independent health department, while the county-administered program only serves municipalities without their own health departments. Since launching in Flint in 2024, the program has distributed $17 million to over 3,900 families and will now serve 17 Michigan municipalities total. Wayne County selected the six participating cities—River Rouge, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster, Melvindale, and Dearborn—based on demonstrated need and their reliance on county health services.

A $29.3 million affordable senior housing development has opened on the site of Michigan's only Historically Black College and University in Detroit's northwest side. The Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village features 105 income-restricted apartments for seniors, combining two restored historic buildings from the original Lewis College of Business campus with new construction. The development serves residents earning between 30% and 80% of area median income, with rents ranging from $468 to $1,408 monthly depending on unit size and building type. Financing came primarily through federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and various state, city, and private sources, transforming the long-vacant Meyers Road campus into active community housing while honoring Dr. Lewis's educational legacy.

The City of Detroit, along with development partners MHT Housing and Kirsten's Touch led by Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, has initiated construction on four buildings that will create 211 affordable housing units on previously vacant property adjacent to the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center. The $83 million development includes 159 affordable housing units across three buildings (Brewster I, II, and III) serving residents earning 30-80% of area median income, plus 52 permanent supportive housing units at The Sanctuary at Brewster specifically designed for homeless individuals with wraparound services. Financing comes from multiple sources including Michigan State Housing Development Authority tax credits, Comerica Bank's $40 million investment, and various other banking and community development partners. The project, scheduled for completion in 2027, also includes the restoration of the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center where the KRONK Gym will reopen, with that facility targeting a 2026 completion date. # Key Takeaways

The National Entrepreneurs Association (NEA), led by Dr. ZaLonya Allen, hosted its 2025 conference at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield on October 24th, focusing on the theme of "Collaboration." The full-day event brought together business owners, leaders, and innovators for eight breakout sessions covering critical business topics such as marketing strategies, artificial intelligence, funding, cybersecurity, and mental health. Keynote presentations were delivered by former NFL player Jon Jansen on media collaboration and Paula Tutman on the power of working together, while attendees networked over lunch and participated in panel discussions. The conference successfully facilitated meaningful business connections and partnerships, with sponsors including Comerica Bank, Lawrence Technological University, and the City of Southfield supporting the NEA's mission to provide entrepreneurs with resources and networking opportunities to grow their businesses.

Comerica Bank hosted a Día del Niño (Children's Day) celebration in Detroit, partnering with the Detroit Institute of Arts and Latino Press to honor the traditional Mexican holiday celebrated on the last day of April. The event brought together over 100 students from Harms Elementary School in Southwest Detroit for art appreciation, financial literacy education, and cultural activities. Since launching its Día del Niño initiative in 2021 with a small donation drive in Dallas, Comerica has expanded the program to impact more than 7,000 children and families across multiple communities over five years. The bank's efforts earned an Honorable Mention for Volunteerism from the ABA Foundation's Community Commitment Awards, marking Comerica's third consecutive year receiving recognition from the foundation for various community programs. # Key Takeaways

The Better Business Bureau of Michigan held its 2025 Torch Awards for Ethics Luncheon on November 10 at Schoolcraft College, celebrating businesses that demonstrate exceptional integrity and ethical practices. The event featured keynote speaker Mark S. Lee and was hosted by investigative reporter Rob Wolchek, with finalists representing Michigan businesses from across the state competing in six categories. A significant highlight was Comerica Bank's recognition for achieving 100 years of BBB accreditation, making it only the sixteenth business nationwide to reach this milestone, while McNaughton-McKay Electric Company celebrated 75 years. BBB of Michigan's CEO Lisa Frohnapfel also announced upcoming AI-driven training programs and the organization's first AI Summit planned for next year to help businesses adapt to evolving technologies. # Key Takeaways

The 12th Annual Black Friday Scholarship Bootcamp, organized by Fresh Perspectives Seminars, will take place in Southfield, Michigan on November 28-29, 2025, to help Metro Detroit families navigate college financing challenges. Founded by scholarship expert Gwen Thomas, known as "The Scholarship Guru," the event has previously assisted over 10,000 students in securing more than $30 million in scholarships. This year's programming will address current obstacles in college funding, including reduced financial aid availability and changing admissions requirements, while providing practical guidance on test preparation, essay writing, and financial literacy. The bootcamp aims to prevent families from falling into debt traps and predatory lending situations by teaching them how to access scholarships and understand the college financing system properly.

Covenant House Michigan will host its 12th annual Sleep Out event on November 20th in Detroit, where participants will spend a night sleeping on cardboard and tarps to raise awareness and funds for youth homelessness. The event comes as Michigan reported over 35,000 homeless students during the 2023-2024 school year, many of whom struggle to maintain focus on education while lacking stable housing. Since 1997, Covenant House Michigan has served more than 80,000 young people aged 18-24, providing not just emergency shelter but comprehensive services including education support, job training, mental health care, and housing assistance. The overnight gathering will include a candlelight vigil, discussions about root causes of youth homelessness, and conversations with young people who have experienced housing instability. Proceeds from the event support the organization's round-the-clock programs that last year provided over 29,500 nights of shelter and helped 160 youth secure stable housing.

Wayne County has introduced the Rx Kids initiative with a $7.5 million investment to address maternal and infant health challenges by providing direct cash payments to expectant mothers in economically distressed areas. The program offers eligible pregnant women $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for their baby's first six months across six selected communities: River Rouge, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster, Melvindale, and Dearborn. This local launch follows Michigan lawmakers' approval of $250 million in state funding to expand Rx Kids statewide in the upcoming budget cycle. The initiative, originally piloted in Flint in 2024, has already distributed $17 million to nearly 4,000 families and now operates in 17 Michigan communities showing positive maternal and infant health outcomes.

Detroit will become the nation's only city hosting a film festival exclusively for HBCU student filmmakers when Autumn Sun presents its three-day event in November 2025. The festival will showcase work from student directors, writers, producers, and visual artists representing more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across various film genres. An awards ceremony at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will honor outstanding films and filmmakers, drawing attention from arts leaders and industry professionals. The initiative, supported by Detroit's mayor and City Council, aims to establish the city as a creative pipeline for emerging Black film talent while providing students critical early-career visibility, networking opportunities, and professional development through workshops and industry meetings.

The article warns against naming minor children as direct beneficiaries on financial accounts and life insurance policies, as this practice can create significant legal complications rather than avoiding them. While such designations bypass probate initially, financial institutions typically require courts to appoint a conservator to manage funds for minors, resulting in court supervision, delays, and restricted access until the child turns eighteen. The author illustrates this problem through the example of Jill, a single mother whose sudden death leaves her children with substantial benefits that her mother cannot access without court involvement. To avoid these issues, the article recommends establishing trusts or using Michigan UTMA accounts, which allow designated adults to manage funds for minors without court interference.

JPMorgan Chase has announced that its combined business and philanthropic investments in Detroit have exceeded $2 billion since 2014, marking a major milestone in the company's commitment to the city's revitalization. The financial institution has appointed Katrina Chaves as its new Global Philanthropy Program Officer for Detroit to help guide future investments and partnerships in the community. Chaves brings extensive experience from Detroit's public sector, including previous work with the city's Housing and Revitalization Department, and most recently with Trust Neighborhoods, a national nonprofit focused on mixed-income housing. The firm's philanthropic efforts concentrate on affordable housing, neighborhood commercial development, small business support, and workforce development programs aimed at creating economic opportunities for Detroit residents. # Key Takeaways

Detroit Elevate, a new growth-stage business program launched by TechTown Detroit and the Gilbert Family Foundation, concluded its inaugural four-month cohort with 44 Metro Detroit entrepreneurs completing the initiative. The program provided comprehensive support including one-on-one coaching, strategic planning assistance, and customer visibility, delivering over $326,000 in technical assistance and 460 hours of virtual coaching to revenue-generating businesses seeking to scale. At the closing ceremony held at One Campus Martius, participating entrepreneurs showcased their businesses and competed for growth grants, with awards distributed based on business growth potential, presentation quality, and community impact. The program specifically targeted businesses owned by Black and Brown Detroiters who typically lack access to non-loan capital and growth resources, emphasizing practical acceleration tools rather than theoretical curriculum or requiring founders to start from scratch.

Former NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas has become the first NBA player to hold majority control of a publicly traded company through his leadership of Isiah Enterprises, a clean-tech firm focused on renewable materials and sustainable production. Thomas's journey began with studying natural plant fibers like rice, corn, and soy to develop alternatives to plastics, eventually leading to patented processes now used in automotive and packaging industries. He revitalized a near-bankrupt Michigan facility and transformed it into a sustainable manufacturing operation that now processes tens of thousands of pounds of renewable materials weekly and has shipped over 100,000 pounds of pelletized rubber compounds. Beyond business success, Thomas aims to create generational wealth opportunities for communities traditionally excluded from ground-level investment, encouraging families to become shareholders rather than lottery ticket buyers, with the ultimate goal of taking his company to NASDAQ.

The Motown Museum in Detroit marked a significant construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony celebrating its $75 million expansion into The Motown Experience, a nearly 50,000-square-foot entertainment and education campus. Motown legends, including Martha Reeves and the son of Levi Stubbs, signed the final structural beam alongside museum leadership, symbolically anchoring the project's next phase. The expansion will add immersive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studio, and retail spaces to address overwhelming visitor demand that frequently causes the current historic house museum to sell out. Simultaneously, the museum appointed Dr. Kenya LeNoir Messer as its new CEO to oversee operations while Chairwoman Robin Terry continues leading the expansion through completion, scheduled for spring 2027.

Communities First, Inc. is hosting a "Community Candor Live" event on November 21 at the Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center, focusing on women's authentic leadership in Detroit. The morning panel discussion will feature four prominent female leaders from various sectors including philanthropy, energy, sports, and corporate development, moderated by Essence Wilson, the organization's Chief Strategy Officer. The event aims to provide an honest dialogue about women's leadership while offering networking opportunities and a live Q&A session for attendees. Communities First, Inc., which serves over 35,000 people across Michigan and Indiana through various community programs, has secured support from major corporate partners for this gathering. Registration is available for $25, with the event running from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. and including breakfast.

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has launched "Rise Higher Detroit," an expansive transition initiative featuring 18 policy committees led by prominent local figures from various sectors including finance, healthcare, education, and public safety. The transition team, headquartered at Marygrove Conservancy in a Detroit neighborhood rather than downtown, represents the first time a mayoral transition has operated from within the city's residential areas. More than 795 residents submitted resumes for administrative positions, demonstrating significant community interest in Sheffield's incoming administration, which begins January 1st. The committees, chaired by leaders ranging from banking executives to community activists, will meet weekly through year's end to develop recommendations for Sheffield's first 100-day plan, with a focus on creating policies that benefit all Detroit neighborhoods, not just the downtown core.

Detroit made a significant impression at Art Basel Paris 2025 through the Detroit Salon initiative, which showcased over 20 local artists across three exhibitions at venues including the Palais de Tokyo. The presentations, curated by leaders from Cranbrook Art Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts, highlighted Detroit's deep artistic heritage rooted in the 1960s Black Arts Movement while demonstrating its contemporary creative vitality. The programming extended beyond visual art to include musical performances featuring Detroit DJs and the Detroit Public Schools All-City Marching Band, offering international audiences a comprehensive experience of the city's cultural output. For the author, a leader with the DIA's Founders Junior Council, seeing artists whose work her organization had acquired for the museum's permanent collection displayed on this global stage validated years of intentional investment in Detroit's Black artistic community. # Key Takeaways

Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans has announced a $7.5 million commitment to bring the Rx Kids program to six cities across the county, providing direct cash payments to pregnant women and families with newborns. Eligible mothers will receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for their baby's first six months, with no conditions or work requirements attached. The program, which originated in Flint and demonstrated success in reducing preterm births and improving maternal health, has already expanded to multiple Michigan communities with $270 million in state support. This evidence-based initiative aims to address economic instability during critical early development periods in communities that have historically faced disinvestment and systemic inequity.

Dr. Theodore T. Turman has completed his first year as the seventh president of Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, focusing on connecting theological education with urban community needs. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and listening while strengthening partnerships between the seminary and local organizations throughout the city. Drawing on his Detroit roots and extensive background as a pastor, chaplain, and educator, Dr. Turman has worked to position ETS as both a spiritual anchor and practical resource for urban ministry. The seminary is experiencing growth in enrollment and community engagement as it redefines its role under his people-centered approach. # Key Takeaways

The Detroit Youth Choir is partnering with Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church to present a Christmas concert called "Soul Holidays: A Celebration of the King!!" on December 13, 2025. Now in its 29th year, the choir will blend traditional holiday music with gospel and contemporary elements in a performance designed to celebrate both the spiritual meaning of Christmas and community togetherness. General admission tickets are available for $25, with proceeds supporting youth arts programming in Detroit. Following the concert, the organization will hold open auditions on January 3, 2026, for students aged 8-18 who wish to join the nationally recognized ensemble that has evolved from its church-based origins while maintaining strong community ties. # Key Takeaways

The General Manager of SMART transit argues that public transportation in Southeast Michigan should be viewed as a fundamental right and foundation of the community rather than merely a last-resort option. Through personal stories of individuals whose lives were transformed by transit access—including a business leader, photographer, and former county official—the article demonstrates how reliable transportation provides security, independence, and opportunity during life's unpredictable moments. The piece emphasizes that respecting riders means providing quality infrastructure, professional service, accessible features, and responsive planning that acknowledges people's dignity and daily needs. SMART is working to build community trust by developing a transit system that serves as the connective tissue linking residents to employment, education, healthcare, and each other throughout the region.

The Michigan House of Representatives honored David L. Holmes, Wayne State University's groundbreaking athletic director and coach from 1917 to 1958, by presenting a legislative tribute recognizing a newly published biography about his career. Holmes built an exceptionally inclusive athletic program that welcomed Black, Jewish, and Eastern European athletes during an era of widespread discrimination, producing three Olympians, nine All-Americans, and multiple record holders despite limited facilities and resources. His pioneering work included appointing Wayne's first Black team captain in 1929 and mentoring Leroy Dues, who became Michigan's first Black athletic director. The biography, "Coach of Champions," co-authored by Holmes's grandson Keith D. Wunderlich and David L. Holmes Jr., preserves this important legacy of athletic excellence combined with social progress and has received formal recognition for its contribution to Detroit's sports heritage. # Key Takeaways

Veteran White House correspondent April Ryan is hosting a panel discussion featuring prominent journalists to examine current events and topics from their recent books. Ryan, who has covered urban issues from the White House since the Clinton administration and serves as Washington Bureau Chief for TheGrio, will be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project and Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University. The third panelist is Don Lemon, former CNN anchor with three decades of broadcasting experience who now hosts The Don Lemon Show and recently authored books on race and religion. This event continues an ongoing series of conversations centered on the panelists' published works and contemporary issues.

Eastern Michigan University is significantly expanding its Loan Repayment Assistance Program beyond education majors to include 16 additional academic fields such as Communication, Economics, and Social Work. The program, which helps graduates earning under $50,000 annually repay federal and private student loans at no cost, grew from 39 participating students in fall 2024 to 121 in fall 2025. The original version, called EMU Educators Promise, was created to combat Michigan's severe teacher shortage, with nearly 500 school districts reporting vacancies during the 2022-2023 school year. Students across various programs have expressed that the financial safety net provides crucial peace of mind, allowing them to pursue careers in public service and education without overwhelming debt concerns.

U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed held a town hall event with Representative Rashida Tlaib to promote his healthcare reform platform, receiving endorsements from both Tlaib and Reverend Horace Sheffield. El-Sayed is running in Michigan's Democratic primary against Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens, positioning himself as a progressive candidate advocating for a single-payer healthcare system he calls "Medicare for All." The campaign focuses on addressing medical debt as a crisis, with supporters sharing stories of bankruptcy from medical bills and criticizing the Affordable Care Act as insufficient. El-Sayed promotes government-funded universal healthcare as a solution that would reduce administrative costs and allow the government to negotiate prices on behalf of all Americans.

The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a comprehensive plan to restructure American government along conservative ideological lines, has reached approximately 48% implementation according to the Center for Progressive Reform's analysis. The initiative has resulted in significant policy reversals across multiple federal agencies, including the Justice Department's revival of the death penalty and the China Initiative, the Education Department's rollback of Title IX protections, and HHS's restrictions on abortion access and gender identity data collection. The article characterizes these changes as attacks on civil rights, public welfare programs, and democratic institutions, with particular impact on marginalized communities including Black Americans, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and low-income families. The author frames Project 2025 as an authoritarian transformation of government orchestrated by figures like Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, representing what they view as white nationalist and Christian nationalist objectives. # Key Takeaways

Michigan has allocated $270 million to expand its Rx Kids unconditional cash assistance program, which will launch in Ypsilanti on December 1, 2025. The program provides pregnant residents $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for their baby's first six months, with no strings attached or eligibility requirements beyond residency and confirmed pregnancy. Originally piloted in Flint in 2024 by Michigan State University's Pediatric Public Health Initiative, the program has already supported over 3,800 families with approximately $16 million in direct payments. Early results from Flint demonstrate reduced parental stress, healthier pregnancies, and improved outcomes for newborns, prompting state leaders and philanthropic organizations to fund its expansion across Michigan. # Key Takeaways