education

The Rackham Choir is presenting "An Evening with Alvin Waddles & Friends VII: A Study in Blue," a genre-spanning concert returning after a six-year hiatus on November 21, 2025, in Beverly Hills, Michigan. The performance will showcase pianist Alvin Waddles performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with orchestra and Will Todd's Mass in Blue, alongside various guest artists. Similar to the popular "Too Hot To Handel" production, the concert blends musical styles including classical, jazz, gospel, and soul across three centuries. The event will take place at Groves High School Auditorium with tickets ranging from $15 for students to $50 for VIP seating.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), a century-old organization that has collaborated with 21 mayoral administrations since 1922, has released a white paper called "Maintaining the Momentum" to guide Detroit's upcoming mayoral transition. After gathering input from various stakeholders, board members, and community leaders over several months, the DDP identified key priorities and qualifications needed to sustain the city's recent progress following its recovery from bankruptcy. The white paper outlines critical challenges including housing, education, poverty, and homelessness that require attention, while also highlighting strategies for success and desirable mayoral qualities. Although the DDP does not endorse specific candidates, the organization commits to supporting the incoming administration in managing a $1.4 billion budget and approximately 30,000 employees through partnership, communication, and accountability.

Nneka Ezeanya launched the 313 Spelling Bee in Detroit after being inspired by an adult spelling bee flyer she encountered in Chicago, despite initial skepticism from a friend. Her first two events this summer drew hundreds of participants, gaining massive attention after her sister Chinelo posted promotional videos on TikTok that went viral with tens of thousands of likes. The spelling bees have attracted language enthusiasts and community members seeking wholesome social activities, with competitors following traditional spelling bee formats at outdoor venues like Gordon Park. Ezeanya, a public health official who also volunteers helping Detroit students with college applications, credits her Nigerian parents' emphasis on academics and literature for her lifelong love of words.

Michigan's 2026 gubernatorial race is heating up with candidates from both major parties and an independent competitor raising significant campaign funds in the most recent reporting period. Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leads overall fundraising with $1.2 million raised and nearly $3 million available, while Republican former Attorney General Mike Cox has accumulated the largest war chest at $3.8 million, largely through personal loans exceeding $3.5 million. Other notable candidates include Republican Congressman John James and Democratic Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, along with independent Mike Duggan who is emphasizing his Michigan-based donor support. The race is gearing up to replace term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer, with debates beginning and candidates outlining policy positions on issues like taxation, labor laws, and education reform. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan Chronicle newspaper is launching a special publication called "Power 50" that will recognize the fifty most influential Black leaders in the Detroit metropolitan area. This commemorative edition will spotlight leaders making significant contributions across various sectors including government, business, religious institutions, and education. The publication represents a celebration of African American achievement and leadership within the Detroit community. The Michigan Chronicle is offering advertising opportunities for businesses and organizations interested in associating their brands with this recognition of Black excellence and supporting the tribute to these community leaders. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan Chronicle hosted a panel discussion examining Michigan's struggling K-12 education system, which ranks 44th nationally in outcomes despite increased funding. Three leaders—representing philanthropy, business, and public schools—discussed how inconsistent policies and inadequate funding for high-need students have hindered progress. The panelists emphasized that Launch Michigan, a decade-old coalition bringing together business leaders, philanthropists, and educators, is working to advance coordinated policy solutions. They agreed that addressing the crisis requires collective responsibility and collaboration across all sectors, including providing additional resources for students with disabilities, those in poverty, and English language learners.

The Michigan Chronicle hosted twenty fifth- and sixth-grade students from Jack & Jill of America's Detroit Chapter for a journalism workshop at their downtown offices. During the hands-on experience, participants received instruction about journalism fundamentals and Black Press history before venturing into the city to gather stories in gender-divided teams. Upon returning, students crafted articles about topics including an upcoming Detroit Lions game and Paradise Valley's historical significance with guidance from editorial staff. The session concluded with students discussing their future career goals while sharing pizza, providing them with practical media experience and professional mentorship.

Sati Smith, CEO of Diversified Members Credit Union in Michigan, will become the first credit union CEO from her state inducted into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame. The honor from the African American Credit Union Coalition recognizes her leadership in expanding financial access and opportunity. Smith's remarkable career trajectory includes starting as a teller over twenty years ago and rising to become DMCU's first African American CEO in 2023, while earning her GED, bachelor's, and master's degrees along the way. Under her guidance, DMCU serves approximately 30,000 members with $500 million in assets across three Michigan locations, offering financial products and coaching programs focused on building generational wealth. The formal recognition ceremony will take place in March 2026 at the Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

The author argues that addressing America's family breakdown crisis requires raising the minimum wage to create family-sustaining incomes, as poverty wages prevent workers from building stable households and relationships. Currently, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour falls drastically short of what families need to afford basic necessities, with MIT calculations showing even the cheapest areas require over $33 per hour for modest two-parent households. The article highlights how viral social media claims about Trump promising $25 minimum wage—though false—revealed bipartisan working-class support for substantially higher pay. The Living Wage for All coalition proposes a phased implementation of $25-$30 minimum wage with business support measures, which the author contends would strengthen marriages, enable parental presence, improve child outcomes, and save taxpayers billions in social program costs. # Key Takeaways

Bishop William J. Barber II, a Yale theologian and civil rights leader, has announced a comprehensive campaign to challenge North Carolina's newly approved congressional redistricting map that eliminates a Black congressional district. Barber characterizes the Republican-led gerrymandering effort as "surgical racism" designed to secure more GOP House seats and advance President Trump's policy agenda, including healthcare cuts and blocking minimum wage increases. Despite physical challenges requiring the use of canes and a mask, Barber plans to mobilize opposition through legal action, public protests, and voter engagement, comparing the moment to the historic 1965 Selma voting rights march. He argues the redistricting violates constitutional provisions limiting such changes to once per decade and points to polls showing 85% of North Carolinians oppose the new map.

Three Democratic candidates are currently vying for Michigan's attorney general position as current AG Dana Nessel approaches her term limit. The contenders include Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit, who has implemented progressive criminal justice reforms; former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, who previously ran for the position in 2014; and Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald, who has focused on juvenile justice and hate crimes initiatives. Unlike primary elections, nominees for attorney general in Michigan are selected at state party conventions, with Democrats scheduled to choose their candidate on April 19, 2026, ahead of the November general election against Republican opponents.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has approved her seventh balanced state budget, which focuses on reducing financial burdens for residents while investing in critical infrastructure and services. The budget package includes multiple tax reductions, such as eliminating state taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits, while continuing existing tax credits for working families and retirees. A historic $2 billion annual investment will address the state's deteriorating road infrastructure, while education funding reaches record levels with continued free meal programs for all public school students. Additionally, the budget protects Medicaid coverage for over 2 million residents and maintains investments in public safety personnel following federal healthcare funding cuts. # Key Takeaways

A far-right Christian nationalist named Joshua Haymes recently proclaimed that slavery is not inherently evil and demanded Christians defend the right to own human beings, reflecting a broader movement within white Christian nationalism that includes connections to high-ranking government officials. Simultaneously, the Trump administration has ordered the National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution to remove or revise exhibits that discuss slavery's brutality, including directing the removal of historical photographs showing enslaved people's scars and panels describing George Washington's enslaving of people. This coordinated effort to sanitize American history extends beyond museum censorship, as young Republican groups have been exposed using racist slurs and celebrating violence in private communications. Historians and activists argue this represents a dangerous campaign to erase historical truth about slavery and racism, making it possible to repeat past atrocities by eliminating cultural memory of them.

The Detroit City Council voted 7-2 to criminalize the use of chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches, making them misdemeanor offenses with $100 fines, while giving offenders an opportunity to stop before being penalized. The ordinance faced opposition from two council members who questioned enforcement feasibility and governmental overreach in regulating adult behavior. This effort is part of the national "Knock Tobacco Out of the Park" campaign, which reportedly has support from the Detroit Tigers. Detroit joins 18 other cities that have implemented full smokeless-tobacco bans in sports arenas, with proponents arguing the measure helps protect youth from tobacco marketing and exposure.

Recent data from the Michigan League for Public Policy reveals nearly three-quarters of Michigan high school students are unprepared for college based on standardized test benchmarks, despite increased education spending. Michigan students are performing below the national average and learning less than children in other Midwest states, with particularly poor results in fourth-grade math. While high school graduation rates have improved, college readiness continues to decline, prompting Governor Gretchen Whitmer to acknowledge the state's unacceptable situation of higher-than-average per-pupil investment yielding bottom-tier educational outcomes. Michigan has implemented financial aid programs including Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship to address these challenges, while also expanding enrollment in the Great Start Readiness Program.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has appointed Bessie Harris, a veteran educator with extensive experience as a teacher and administrator, to fill the vacant seat left by Sherry Gay-Dagnogo's resignation. The appointment occurred on October 14, 2025, with Harris being immediately sworn in after being selected from a pool of 14 applicants from the July 2025 selection process. Harris, a Detroit native with decades of experience in education, will serve until the November 2026 election while contributing to the district's Blueprint 2027 strategic plan. The Board emphasized that Harris's appointment maintains leadership continuity during a period of significant transition, with the addition of multiple new members to the seven-person Board this year.

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a trailblazing former U.S. congresswoman and lifelong educator, died on October 7, 2024, at age 80, leaving behind a legacy of public service spanning over 32 years. Beginning her career as a Detroit Public Schools teacher before serving nine consecutive terms in the Michigan House of Representatives starting in 1978, Kilpatrick later became only the second Black woman elected to Congress from Michigan in 1996. During her congressional tenure, she secured a powerful position on the House Appropriations Committee, where she obtained over $1 billion in federal funding for Michigan projects including job training, university research, public transportation, and hospital improvements. As chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2007 to 2009, she advocated for urban communities while maintaining deep connections to Detroit, where her influence is still visible in infrastructure projects like the Rosa Parks Transit Center, the Q-Line, and the People Mover.

On World Homeless Day (October 10), Dr. Chad Audi, President and CEO of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, highlights America's escalating homelessness crisis, with over 771,000 Americans experiencing homelessness—an 18% increase in one year. The crisis stems from stagnating wages, soaring rents, and insufficient federal housing assistance, resulting in one in every 400 Americans lacking stable housing and over 1.3 million homeless students in U.S. public schools. Detroit exemplifies both the crisis and potential solutions with its seven-point plan to address homelessness, while nationally there's tension between punitive approaches to encampments and the need for compassionate, housing-focused solutions.

The Michigan Democratic Party has launched billboards across Detroit criticizing Mayor Mike Duggan for accepting donations from Republican supporters during his independent gubernatorial campaign. Duggan, who left the Democratic Party in December after serving as mayor for 12 years, has received contributions from prominent Republican donors while also securing endorsements from traditionally Democratic labor unions. The party claims the billboard campaign aims to show Michiganders that Duggan "can't be trusted," coinciding with a fundraiser Duggan attended with a Trump donor. Despite Democratic criticism, Duggan's campaign spokesperson dismissed the attacks, noting his strong support from traditionally Democratic unions.

Detroit is experiencing a significant decrease in violent crime, with double-digit declines in homicides, nonfatal shootings, and carjackings through the third quarter of 2025, marking the sharpest drop since 1965. The city has recorded 132 homicides through September 30, down from 155 during the same period in 2024, while also seeing improved clearance rates for nonfatal shooting cases due to stronger coordination between police and prosecutors. This progress stems from a combination of enforcement strategies and prevention efforts, particularly through Community Violence Intervention (CVI) groups led by neighborhood organizations. The Michigan Legislature has recently approved the Public Safety Trust Fund, providing unprecedented long-term funding for CVI programs statewide, which will help sustain Detroit's crime reduction momentum.

LM Manufacturing in Southwest Detroit hosted its fourth annual Manufacturing Day, where over 200 students from six Detroit schools toured the facility and learned about career opportunities in manufacturing. During the event, students like 15-year-old Isaiah Clay were introduced to automotive manufacturing processes and expressed interest in future internships. Representatives from major companies including GM, Comerica Bank, and Henry Ford Health were present to connect with students and discuss career paths. LM Manufacturing, a joint venture between Magna and Lan Manufacturing that produces automotive seating for Ford, emphasizes its "C Power" values and operates an Expose 2 Inspire program partnering with 18 Detroit schools to provide job shadowing and internship opportunities.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has adopted a streamlined process to fill the upcoming vacancy created by Board Member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo's appointment as Detroit's Ombudsman. Rather than conducting a new public search, the board voted to offer the position to the runner-up from their July 2025 vacancy selection process, who was later identified as Bessie Harris, a retired special education teacher. The decision passed despite objections from some board members who preferred following the district's standard vacancy policy requiring public applications and interviews. If the runner-up accepts, they will serve through December 2026 and will need to run in the next scheduled board election to continue serving.

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo has been appointed as Detroit's new ombudswoman following a 6-3 City Council vote, granting her a 10-year term through 2035. The longtime educator, former state legislator, and current school board member will resign from the Detroit Public Schools Community District Board to take the position beginning October 5. Gay-Dagnogo received strong public endorsements from various community leaders including Superintendent Nikolai Vitti and Rev. Wendell Anthony of the Detroit NAACP. She describes the appointment as a homecoming, having started her political career in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, and views the role as continuing her decades-long commitment to advocating for Detroit residents by addressing complaints and ensuring equitable city services.

Michigan's Legislature is racing against a government shutdown deadline with a critical focus on preserving free breakfast and lunch programs for low-income students. Senator Sarah Anthony, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has made this program a priority in budget negotiations, emphasizing that the state has sufficient financial resources to maintain it. School districts are already warning parents about possible meal service disruptions, creating fear and confusion for families who depend on these meals as their children's primary source of nutrition. The outcome of these negotiations will reveal Michigan's commitment to addressing childhood hunger, particularly in communities with high populations of Black and Brown students where the program helps counter systemic inequities.

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter has partnered with Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) to launch the Apparel Creation STU/DEO by adidas, unveiled during the National Black Footwear Forum. Carter, the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards for her costume design work on films like "Black Panther," aims to provide mentorship and creative opportunities for aspiring designers. The studio, designed with contributions from PLC Detroit students Angel Buckens and Rodney Banks and featuring a mural by Detroit artist Sydney G. James, represents a collaboration between an iconic designer, the only design-focused HBCU in the country, and adidas to nurture the next generation of design talent.

Michigan has expanded its reentry ID program to Wayne County, ensuring people leaving the county jail can obtain driver's licenses or state identification cards upon release. The program, operating since 2020, has already provided identification to approximately 20,000 individuals exiting Michigan prisons and jails. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized that having an ID is critical for accessing employment, housing, and educational opportunities after incarceration. This expansion addresses a significant barrier to reentry in Wayne County, where about 60 percent of jail inmates lacked valid identification, and is particularly impactful for Detroit's Black community, which is disproportionately affected by incarceration.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), in collaboration with MDOT and the City of Detroit, will launch the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study with a virtual public meeting on October 2, 2025. The study will advance engineering and design work for a project that aims to reconnect neighborhoods to Downtown Detroit by creating a series of three park caps over I-75. Funded by a $2 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant, the feasibility study follows community visioning sessions that gathered input from hundreds of residents. Engineering firm AECOM will lead the 12-month feasibility phase, which will develop schematic plans, evaluate traffic impacts, and prepare engineering documentation while continuing community engagement.

The Henry Ford Museum has relocated the historic Jackson Home from Selma, Alabama to Dearborn, Michigan as part of a $30 million project. This significant Civil Rights landmark served as Martin Luther King Jr.'s strategic planning hub for the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches and was where King watched President Johnson's speech that preceded the Voting Rights Act. The home, previously operated as a museum by Joanna Jackson (daughter of the original owners), will open to the public in June 2026 following restoration supported by a $9 million bond from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The museum leadership believes relocating the house to Greenfield Village will allow more visitors to experience this crucial piece of Civil Rights history while ensuring its proper maintenance.

Michigan is on the brink of a partial government shutdown as Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate lawmakers remain deadlocked over the state budget with an October 1 deadline approaching. Governor Gretchen Whitmer remains confident a bipartisan agreement is possible despite the current stalemate, though her administration has not outlined shutdown management plans. Essential functions like public safety would continue during a shutdown, but many state services could stall, affecting school districts, state employees, and organizations reliant on state funding. The standoff centers on competing spending priorities, with Republicans criticizing Democrats for rejecting a stripped-down plan while Democrats argue the GOP proposal would cut too deeply into core priorities like education and infrastructure projects.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, is actively campaigning for Detroit's support in the 2026 Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate, recently holding an event with members of Michigan's Legislative Black Caucus. During the event, Stevens addressed her controversial vote to approve a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, while her colleague Rep. Thanedar noted he voted against it due to Kirk's racist views. Stevens emphasized her experience representing Southeast Michigan residents and highlighted her focus on addressing healthcare costs and economic issues affecting everyday Americans. Former House Speaker Joe Tate endorsed Stevens as the candidate who best represents the interests of Black voters, particularly amid concerns about rights being diminished and historical revisionism.