education

Detroit Opera is launching its 2025-26 season with "Highways and Valleys," a double-bill production featuring two American operas centered on love and struggle. The December performances pair William Grant Still's *Highway 1, USA*, which explores a Black couple's pursuit of the American dream, with Kurt Weill's *Down in the Valley*, receiving a world-premiere staging set in a Birmingham jail. The production reunites acclaimed artists including director Kaneza Schaal and several celebrated vocalists, with costume and scenic design that honors Detroit's working-class heritage. Detroit Opera is amplifying the event's impact through community programming at churches and libraries, while offering discounted tickets to make the performances accessible to diverse audiences.

Ernesto Cuevas Enciso, a 34-year-old construction worker and DACA recipient, was detained by ICE while driving to work in Ypsilanti, despite having pending legal permanent residency applications and valid work authorization. Community leaders, including Michigan state senators and Detroit city council members, are demanding his release, arguing he was following proper immigration procedures and should be allowed to remain with his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their one-year-old child. The detention represents a shift in ICE policy under the Trump administration, which now arrests individuals with pending immigration applications rather than waiting for application outcomes. Cuevas Enciso is being held at a reopened for-profit detention facility near Baldwin, Michigan, and is one of several Detroit-area residents recently detained, including four students who advocates say are also in federal custody.

Holiday Detroit, an annual performance showcase, will present its seventh edition at the Music Hall on December 18th. Producer and Director Lisa McCall is leading an expanded production featuring over 100 performers, including eight musicians, multiple vocalists, dancers, student performers from Voyageur College Preparatory High School, and nationally recognized artists. The show blends diverse musical styles from Motown to gospel and hip-hop with choreography and storytelling that celebrates Detroit's cultural heritage. McCall, an entertainment industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience who has worked with legends like Aretha Franklin, has received numerous honors for her contributions to the arts and Detroit community. # Key Takeaways

The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), Detroit's workforce development agency, has appointed Talitha Johnson to serve as its communications director, where she will oversee messaging and branding for major workforce programs including Detroit at Work and Grow Detroit's Young Talent. Johnson previously held the communications director position at Downtown Detroit Partnership and brings extensive experience from organizations including Detroit Regional Partnership, Michigan State University, and UAW-Ford. DESC operates as the centralized resource hub for workforce development in Detroit, managing career centers, training programs, and employer services while implementing the Mayor's Workforce Development Board vision. Johnson, a Detroit native and Wayne State University graduate, replaces the retiring Robin Johnston and started her new role in mid-November.

The Detroit Transportation Corporation has launched its first online retail store, PeopleMoverStore.com, featuring branded merchandise and celebrating with a limited-time promotion offering free T-shirts through December 8th. This retail expansion follows the system's transition to fare-free service in February 2024, which has successfully increased ridership and improved accessibility for downtown Detroit commuters. The store partners with Corktown-based supplier MyLocker, which uses print-on-demand technology to manufacture customizable items locally while employing Detroit residents. The initiative represents another effort to strengthen community engagement with the elevated rail system, which has connected downtown destinations since 1987 and serves as an established component of Detroit's transportation infrastructure.

R&B artist Usher and Detroit rapper Big Sean are investing $1 million to establish an entertainment production studio and innovation incubator at the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan's new Michigan Central location. The 13,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in February 2026, will provide young people aged 14-24 with access to advanced production equipment, business education, and mentorship opportunities in entertainment and emerging technology fields. Both musicians are Boys & Girls Club alumni who are contributing through their respective foundations, alongside partners including Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University's business school. The incubator aims to help Detroit youth build careers in industries ranging from film production to artificial intelligence without having to leave their city.

The Detroit chapter of the Public Relations Society of America held its annual meeting at Wayne State University on November 20, selecting leadership for 2026 and recognizing outstanding communications professionals. Antonice Strickland from 98Forward was elected as the chapter's 2026 president, emphasizing themes of collaboration and accessibility for practitioners at all career stages. The organization also appointed new board members and officers representing major institutions across corporate, nonprofit, government, and educational sectors throughout metro Detroit. Individual honors were awarded to longtime industry leaders, including Tina Kozak's induction into the chapter's Hall of Fame and distinguished service awards to Sharon Garcia and Georgie Kirsten. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan Chronicle hosted its Power 50 dinner at Detroit's Harmonie Club, bringing together 50 influential Black leaders from Southeast Michigan to address critical issues facing the city during a pivotal mayoral transition. Publisher Hiram E. Jackson convened this diverse group of business executives, judges, philanthropic leaders, and public safety officials to move beyond celebration and engage in substantive problem-solving. Participants tackled longstanding structural challenges including the tension between real estate and economic development, educational system deficiencies, youth support, and intergenerational poverty. Rather than serving as a ceremonial recognition event, the gathering functioned as an accountability checkpoint where leaders with decision-making authority committed to ongoing collaboration and developing tangible solutions for Detroit's most pressing problems. # Key Takeaways

The inaugural Strong Youth Strong Communities Summit brought together approximately 400 Detroit-area students at Wayne State University before Thanksgiving, organized through a partnership between the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, and community organizations. The event addressed critical challenges facing Detroit youth, including high poverty rates exceeding 45% and chronic absenteeism affecting nearly two-thirds of district students during the 2023-2024 school year. Pro Football Hall of Famers Darrell Green and Aeneas Williams, along with former college basketball player Iman McFarland, shared personal stories about overcoming adversity while leading interactive sessions focused on resilience and life skills. The summit represents part of a nationwide Centene Corporation initiative aimed at empowering teenagers through mentorship and community support to help them navigate challenges and build positive futures.

Dream Studio Detroit has opened a $1.5 million, 11,000-square-foot community center in the Cody Rouge neighborhood on Detroit's west side, consolidating education, childcare, workforce training, and entrepreneurship resources in one accessible location. Founded by Detroit native Danielle North, who invested $250,000 of her own money and served as general contractor, the facility addresses longstanding gaps in neighborhood-based services for multi-generational families. The center houses Kidz Kingdom childcare facility, college access programming through the Detroit College Access Network, youth entrepreneurship training, and leadership development initiatives targeting women and Black men specifically. Funding partners include Invest Detroit, Motor City Match, IFF, and private investors, reflecting growing support for Black-led community infrastructure projects. The permanent facility represents a significant step toward eliminating barriers that prevent families in underserved Detroit neighborhoods from achieving economic mobility.

Over 1,600 middle school students from Wayne County schools participated in Literacy for Kids' annual author event at Music Hall Detroit and the Detroit Public Library this week. Students from ten schools across Detroit, Hamtramck, Redford, and Harper Woods met three acclaimed authors—Matt de la Peña, Soman Chainani, and Kelly Baptist—who contributed to the anthology "Flying Lessons and Other Stories" that students had been studying in class. The interactive event featured a moderated panel discussion, author readings, question-and-answer sessions, and concluded with students receiving signed copies of the anthology. The nonprofit organization, founded in 2019 by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, aims to cultivate literacy and creative expression among young people by connecting them with professional writers and poets. # Key Takeaways

Detroit City Council approved two major sports development projects on November 26: a $198 million soccer stadium for Detroit City FC in Corktown and a $50 million WNBA practice facility on the city's east riverfront. Unlike past controversial stadium deals such as Little Caesars Arena, which received over $403 million in public subsidies but failed to deliver promised development, these projects faced minimal community opposition. The DCFC stadium includes community benefits like free tickets, public art funding, and labor standards, while the WNBA facility will be paired with a youth sports academy, though critics argue the split structure avoids triggering Detroit's community benefits ordinance. Detroit's new WNBA team, set to begin play in 2029, will mark the city's return to women's professional basketball after the Detroit Shock relocated in 2009.

Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson and Professor K. Dara Hill argue that expanding tutoring and early childhood education programs represents a more practical approach to improving Detroit's education system than a city takeover of K-12 schools. They highlight Soar Detroit, an existing one-on-one tutoring initiative that has helped participants gain two grade levels in reading over one year, which is critical given that 86% of Detroit third graders read below grade level. The authors propose a citywide tutoring expansion costing approximately $9.4 million annually to serve 5,000 students, utilizing university teaching students as tutors and emphasizing culturally relevant materials. They maintain that investing in targeted, evidence-based educational interventions will strengthen Detroit's workforce, attract businesses, and ultimately drive the city's economic prosperity.

The Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media are hosting an unveiling celebration for the 2025 Who's Who in Black Detroit Yearbook on December 5, 2025, at the Harmonie Club in Detroit's Paradise Valley. The publication recognizes outstanding leaders and achievers across metropolitan Detroit through various categories including Newsmaker of the Year, Living Legends, Game Changers, and Most Influential individuals, while also serving as a directory of all recipients from the Chronicle's annual recognition programs. The event will feature networking opportunities, red carpet moments, live music, and filming, with tickets priced at $125 including the yearbook or $90 without it. Community leaders Dr. Curtis Ivery and Evette Hollins have contributed written pieces that frame the collection of honoree profiles highlighting Detroit's continued progress and the people driving positive change. # Key Takeaways

Governor Gretchen Whitmer acknowledges that Michigan families are struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty, particularly as they approach Thanksgiving. She attributes much of the price increases to widespread federal tariffs implemented over the past nine months, which have driven up costs for food, healthcare, and retail goods across the state. While she cannot control federal tariff policy, the Governor highlights her administration's efforts to provide relief through state-level measures in the recently signed bipartisan budget. These measures include tax credits for working families, elimination of taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security, expanded road infrastructure investment, healthcare access protection, and free school meals for all public school students. # Key Takeaways

A new report from Pure Desire Ministries reveals that pornography use is widespread among faith communities, with 61% of U.S. adults viewing pornography and 75% of surveyed Christians admitting to using it, including 67% of pastors. Ashley Jameson, who works with Pure Desire Ministries, trains church leaders on addressing this addiction and emphasizes that brain imaging shows pornography affects the brain similarly to heroin, causing physical damage that can be reversed through treatment and neuroplasticity. The issue remains largely hidden because people fear judgment and removal from leadership positions, with half of users keeping their behavior secret and most lacking support systems. Jameson, who discovered her own husband's pornography addiction and has personal experience with trauma-related addiction, travels internationally to help faith communities address this problem through honest conversation and structured recovery programs.

Fifth grader Lyric Weathers from Schulze Academy for Technology & Arts won The Skillman Foundation's 34th Float Design Contest with her submission "Cultures are Around the World," which will appear as an actual float in Detroit's 99th America's Thanksgiving Parade on November 27. The competition invited students in grades 4-8 from Detroit public and charter schools to create designs based on the theme "My Dream for the World," with Lyric's vision of cultural unity selected from hundreds of entries. Five additional students received Honorable Mention awards, and their designs will be featured on the skirt of Lyric's float. The partnership between The Skillman Foundation and the Parade Company aims to provide Detroit youth with a platform for artistic expression while contributing to the city's beloved holiday tradition, which will be broadcast to millions of viewers nationwide. # Key Takeaways

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.