education

The Michigan Chronicle held its 2025 Men of Excellence ceremony on June 27 at the International Banquet and Conference Center, celebrating Southeast Michigan's Black male leaders across various sectors. The event honored numerous accomplished individuals including CEOs, educators, public servants, and community builders, with special Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to Bishop Edgar Vann, George P. Barnes Jr., and Conrad Mallett for their transformative leadership. Shawn Wilson received the Vanguard Award for his work in corporate social responsibility and community impact. The ceremony recognized these men not just for their career achievements but for their commitment to uplifting Detroit's Black communities through service, leadership, and excellence.

Daniel and Yasmine Jones recently celebrated the opening of Goodboy Multimedia's new headquarters in Midtown Detroit, marking the 189th business launched through the City of Detroit's Motor City Match program. What began as Daniel volunteering with church livestreams in 2019 has evolved into a full-scale multimedia production company serving high-profile clients including the State of Michigan and Detroit Branch NAACP. The business received a $30,000 grant from Motor City Match to establish their Detroit location, where they now employ five full-time staff and contract with over 30 creative professionals. Beyond commercial services, Goodboy Multimedia operates the Adamark mentoring program, which has trained more than 60 Detroit high school students in media production skills to create career pathways in the creative industry.

The Michigan Chronicle received five national awards at the 2025 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Messenger Awards, reinforcing its position as a leading Black news outlet. The Chronicle's achievements were part of a larger success for its parent company, Real Times Media (RTM), which won a total of 11 awards across its publications. Executive Editor Jeremy Allen attributed these recognitions to the team's dedication to serving Detroit's Black community through quality journalism. The awards highlight the Chronicle's commitment to digital innovation and impactful storytelling within the Black Press ecosystem, which continues to play a vital role in representing and advocating for Black communities nationwide.

Global Citizen will host its inaugural Global Citizen NOW: Detroit summit on July 10, 2023, marking the first time this high-profile action summit will be held outside New York City in the U.S. The event at Hudson's Detroit, presented by Bedrock, will bring together cultural icons, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and activists including Wyclef Jean, Mark Cuban, and Marcus Samuelsson to discuss building equitable and future-forward cities. This summit is the centerpiece of a three-day series featuring community-focused activities beginning July 8 with a city-wide Volunteer Day at UNI Park and concluding with a live music event at Third Man Records. Detroit was selected as the host city to spotlight its transformation from industrial powerhouse to innovation epicenter and its potential as a model for urban revitalization.

In a recent mayoral debate in Detroit, candidates Mary Sheffield, Saunteel Jenkins, Fred Durhal III, and Todd Perkins outlined strategies to attract and retain young residents and recent graduates. Key priorities included developing the region's tech industry, improving public transportation, and creating more economic opportunities. The debate comes as Detroit has experienced modest population growth in recent years, with Mayor Mike Duggan claiming young people are driving this increase. Candidates emphasized that creating high-demand jobs, affordable housing, quality education, and robust transit systems would help Detroit compete with other major cities for young talent.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has outlined three key priorities for Michigan's future: attracting an advanced chip manufacturing plant, implementing long-term road infrastructure solutions, and improving literacy rates among children. Despite progress in education funding and graduation rates, the Governor expressed concern that only 24% of Michigan fourth graders can read proficiently. Whitmer emphasized that while her Rebuilding Michigan bond plan has improved state roads and bridges, a permanent solution for local roads is still needed. The Governor is advocating for a semiconductor fabrication facility ("fab") in Michigan that would create thousands of jobs and position the state at the forefront of technology development.

Vincent Chin, a Chinese American who was beaten to death in 1982 by auto workers in a racially motivated hate crime, was honored on Monday with a street sign on Peterboro Street in Detroit. Local lawmakers and Asian American leaders gathered for the unveiling ceremony, acknowledging how Chin's death sparked an Asian American civil rights movement. The City Council had to amend its symbolic street name ordinance to allow Chin, who lived in Highland Park, to be recognized in this way. The ceremony highlighted the historical significance of the area as Detroit's second Chinatown and coincides with upcoming revitalization efforts for the block.

Virgil Clark Smith, a 79-year-old former Michigan lawmaker and judge, died on June 23, 2024, from kidney failure after a long battle with COPD. During his distinguished career spanning over two decades in the Michigan legislature, Smith made history as the first Black minority floor leader in the Michigan Senate while spearheading significant court reforms and the reorganization of Detroit Public Schools. Following his legislative service, he worked as chief of staff for Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Duggan before being appointed to the 3rd Circuit Court by Governor Jennifer Granholm, where he became the first Black chief judge during his 14-year tenure. Outside his professional accomplishments, Smith enjoyed recreational activities including riding motor scooters and kayaking on the Detroit River.

The Morehouse Alumni Association Detroit Chapter hosted its inaugural president's reception to honor outgoing president Dr. David Thomas and welcome incoming president Dr. F. DuBois Bowman. The event served as a fundraiser for the historically Black college and included the presentation of a $12,000 Michigan Morehouse scholarship in honor of William "Bill" McGill. During Thomas's seven-year tenure, Morehouse transitioned from a $5 million structural deficit to raising $350 million of a declared $500 million capital campaign, funding significant campus renovations and new construction projects. Bowman, who previously served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, expressed enthusiasm about Detroit's talent pipeline to Morehouse and acknowledged the responsibility of carrying on the institution's 150-year tradition.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas that enslaved people were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II have officially proclaimed June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day in Michigan, with government offices closing for the holiday. The proclamation emphasizes both celebrating Black resilience and recommitting to ongoing justice work, acknowledging that freedom requires not just recognition but policy protections. Communities across Michigan, particularly in Detroit, will mark the occasion with various cultural events including concerts, block parties, and educational programs highlighting Black history and achievement.

The Henry Ford is hosting "Celebrate Juneteenth: Liberation and Legacy," a comprehensive day-long event on June 19, 2025, at Greenfield Village to honor Black American history, culture, and resilience. The celebration commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of freedom to the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Visitors can experience live music performances, historical reenactments, cooking demonstrations featuring traditional African American recipes, and shop from over 25 Black-owned businesses at the Detroit Central Market. The event also offers family activities including collaborative mural creation, music education, and culinary demonstrations, with admission being free for members or included with Greenfield Village tickets.

The Detroit Tigers and Comerica Bank are hosting Black in Baseball Weekend from June 13-15 at Comerica Park, featuring a comprehensive celebration of Black culture and contributions to baseball. The three-day event includes concerts, ceremonies, youth clinics, a step show, and food from Black-owned vendors during the Tigers' series against the Cincinnati Reds. Activities range from the exclusive Black Diamond Dinner honoring community changemakers to public events like the Black in Baseball Block Party and a Ludacris concert. The weekend will also pay tribute to Negro Leagues players with special ceremonies and provide career development opportunities through the Black in Baseball Career Mixer, all while supporting organizations like Wayne State University's National Panhellenic Council and the Black Sports Business Academy.

Dream Studio Detroit is hosting its second annual Father's Day Brunch on June 14, 2024, at Wayne County Community College District Northwest Campus to honor Black fathers and father figures in the community. This free public event is part of their Black Male Achievement Initiative (BMAI), designed to provide a space where Black men can be celebrated for their presence and contributions to families and the community. Led by CEO Danielle North and her husband Eugene North Sr., Dream Studio Detroit aims to support Black families in achieving economic mobility through various programs, with the Father's Day Brunch serving as a cultural celebration that affirms the value and importance of Black fatherhood.

Kronk Gym, the legendary boxing training facility that produced over 40 world champions under Emanuel Steward's leadership, is set to reopen this summer within the historic Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center in Detroit. The new 3,500-square-foot facility will be led by Steward's family members and a dedicated team focused on training both amateur and professional athletes while providing youth mentorship and community resources. After experiencing multiple relocations since its original basement location closed in 2006, this homecoming represents a meaningful return to Detroit boxing's roots, as Steward himself began his career at Brewster before founding Kronk. The gym's revival in collaboration with MHT Housing Inc. aims to restore not just a training facility but a cultural institution that provides discipline, mentorship, and opportunity for Detroit's youth.

Former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell is launching a free five-week academic and athletic enrichment program for Detroit middle school students this summer through his nonprofit organization. Running from June 23 through July 29 at Wayne State University, the program will offer STEAM learning, sports activities, mentorship, and career exposure for rising 6th through 9th-grade students. The Joique Bell Charity Summer Enrichment Program, developed in partnership with Inspirational Learning, Curry Motorsports, and I Am My City, aims to address the critical middle school years when students often disengage from science and math. The initiative includes daily math and literacy lessons, exploration of fields like artificial intelligence and motorsports, physical activities, leadership panels with local role models, and field trips.

Twelve-year-old Kyler Jackson from Grand Rapids, Michigan has been selected to represent his state at the 2025 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship in New York City from June 24-27. This prestigious event, hosted by Learn Fresh in partnership with the NBA and NBA Cares, brings together 24 students from across the globe who have excelled in the NBA Math Hoops program, which combines basketball with math education. Kyler, described as a standout student and athlete who consistently helps others, qualified through his dedication to the STEM Scholars Program at STEM Greenhouse, showing academic growth and exemplary character. The championship experience will include competitive gameplay, STEM workshops, tours, and even attendance at the NBA Draft.