education

Detroit's nonpartisan mayoral primary election on August 5 will determine the two candidates who will compete in the November 4 general election, with campaign finance disclosures providing insight into candidates' financial backing. The top three candidates raised $526,560 from Detroit addresses, while $1.5 million came from non-residents, according to BridgeDetroit, which created an interactive map showing donation origins. City Council member Mary Sheffield leads the nine-candidate field with $737,176 raised, followed by Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. with $407,548 and nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins with $400,961. Donations came from various sources including political action committees, business leaders, church members, and individuals across Metro Detroit and beyond.

Detroit Public Schools Community District is actively reforming its curriculum to better represent Black history and culture beyond just slavery and civil rights, addressing the fact that only 13% of Michigan's K-12 curricula include meaningful Black historical content. Under Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti's leadership, the district has developed specialized programs including a Detroit History curriculum and the Detroit Perspectives Project, which incorporate local Black history, movements, and diverse literary works. Chief Academic Officer Leenet Campbell-Williams emphasizes their commitment to creating education that is both academically rigorous and culturally relevant for the district's predominantly Black student population. This initiative continues despite growing national pressure to reduce race-conscious education, as district leaders prioritize curriculum that authentically reflects students' identities and experiences.

Detroit is receiving $410,000 in state funding through Michigan's Make MI Home initiative to support local entrepreneurs and recent graduates via two new programs. The City of Detroit was granted $210,000 to establish the Detroit Tech Fellowship for recent Michigan university graduates developing startups in sectors like AI and clean energy, while Michigan Women Forward received $200,000 for its Founder Forward program supporting existing founders and returning Michigan talent. These investments aim to address long-standing inequities in access to capital and resources, particularly for Black entrepreneurs in the majority-Black city, while focusing on both attracting new talent and retaining existing Detroit innovators. The initiatives represent part of a broader state strategy that recognizes Detroit's central role in Michigan's population growth and economic recovery.

Money Matters for Youth, founded by Gail Perry-Mason in 1996, is a comprehensive financial literacy initiative in Detroit that teaches students aged 8-18 about investing, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. The program goes beyond basic financial education to provide holistic development through its annual five-day camp, where participants learn about multiple income streams, budgeting, and leadership skills. In partnership with One Detroit Credit Union, the program recently awarded $25,000 in scholarships to 25 Detroit-area teens, who also received collegiate checking accounts with no fees or minimum balance requirements. For nearly 29 years, Perry-Mason has mentored thousands of youth, creating a generational ripple effect with many former participants returning as volunteers and mentors.

Michigan is experiencing a severe decline in local journalism, with 40% of newspapers lost since 2005 and more than half of counties down to one or no local news outlets. This crisis prompted a summit at the Detroit Athletic Club on July 22, organized by the Local Media Association and partners, where media leaders discussed the consequences of declining local coverage and potential solutions. The gathering highlighted alarming statistics, including the loss of 58% of journalism jobs in Michigan over 15 years, and emphasized the critical role local journalism plays in maintaining community accountability and democracy. Leaders from various media organizations stressed the importance of partnerships, diversified funding models, and community engagement as pathways to rebuilding local news infrastructure.

The Trump administration has frozen $171 million in congressionally approved education funding for Michigan, affecting critical programs that support vulnerable students. Michigan has joined over 20 states in filing a lawsuit against this sudden halt of funds for six essential programs that provide services for immigrant students, English learners, after-school care, and other educational support. The freeze has left school districts and nonprofit education providers scrambling to maintain programs that were already planned for the 2025-2026 school year, with funding typically received by April now under "review" as of July 1. This unexpected decision particularly impacts organizations like SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers EcoSchool, which provides crucial after-school and summer programs for nearly 1,000 children in low-income rural communities across Michigan.

Center Field Detroit, a two-day dance intensive created by the nonprofit Autumn Sun, will take place July 31-August 1 at the Joseph Walker Williams Center for Metro Detroit student dancers ages 12-18. The program offers up to 200 youth the opportunity to train with elite instructors from three prominent HBCUs: Jackson State University, Southern University, and Texas Southern University. This initiative provides culturally grounded education through dance while equipping participants with skills for auditions, higher education, and creative careers, regardless of their experience level. Arriving at a time when many institutions are scaling back diversity efforts, Center Field Detroit represents a commitment to investing directly in young people's cultural heritage and future opportunities.

The Equitable Internet Initiative (EII) and Michigan Central have launched a partnership called the Southwest Equitable Internet Initiative to provide affordable high-speed internet for $10 per month to residents in Detroit's 48216 and 48209 ZIP codes. This initiative addresses a significant digital divide, as over one-third of Detroit households lacked broadband access in 2015, with low-income areas being disproportionately affected. What makes this program unique is its community-centered approach, training and employing local residents as Digital Stewards who build and maintain the network infrastructure. The initiative plans to connect 200 homes annually for five years, ultimately serving 675 households in these underserved neighborhoods.

Three Detroit entrepreneurs, Racheal Allen, Ebony Cochran, and Jessie Hayes, have established community-focused business schools designed specifically for underserved Detroit entrepreneurs, particularly Black women. These initiatives—Operations School, Detroit Wealth Club, and The Hayes Institute of Esthetics & Entrepreneurship—address the systemic barriers that have historically limited access to business education and capital for Black entrepreneurs in Detroit. Despite Black women being the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs nationally and Detroit having one of the highest concentrations of Black women-owned businesses, less than 1% of venture capital reaches Black women entrepreneurs. These grassroots institutions provide culturally relevant training, mentorship, and infrastructure to build wealth, foster entrepreneurship, and create lasting economic opportunities within Detroit's communities.

AfroFuture Detroit will make its U.S. debut on August 16-17, 2025 at Bedrock's historic Douglass Site, once home to the Frederick Douglass Homes where Motown legends like Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson lived. The festival extends beyond a two-day event with a comprehensive series of community-focused activities from August 11-28, including a bar crawl, restaurant week featuring Black-owned establishments, pitch competitions for Black entrepreneurs, spoken word performances, and Afrocentric movie nights. With headliners Asake and Davido leading an international lineup, AfroFuture aims to honor Detroit's cultural significance while celebrating Black innovation, culture, and legacy on grounds that hold deep historical importance to the city's Black community.

Joi Harris will make history on September 8 when she becomes the first woman president and CEO of DTE Energy following a unanimous board vote as part of a planned leadership transition. Her remarkable 34-year journey with the company began as a high school engineering co-op, culminating in her current role as president and chief operating officer where she oversees electric and gas operations, customer service, IT, and safety departments. Under Harris's leadership, DTE launched the $1 billion Blue Water Energy Center and achieved a 70% improvement in electric reliability in 2024. Beyond her corporate achievements, Harris maintains deep community connections through her board service with organizations like the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) and the Skillman Foundation, while advocating for mentorship and career pathways for Black youth.

Angelique Peterson-Mayberry has resigned from Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) board after eight years to become Wayne County Commissioner for District 5, filling the vacancy left by the late Irma Clark-Coleman. Peterson-Mayberry played a crucial role in reestablishing local control of Detroit's public schools since 2017, working alongside Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti to rebuild community trust and stabilize district finances. DPSCD has now opened applications for her board seat replacement, with a special meeting scheduled for July 7 to begin the appointment process. The district seeks a candidate who will continue Peterson-Mayberry's legacy of service and collaborative leadership to address ongoing educational challenges in Detroit.

The Apple Developer Academy in Detroit recently celebrated the graduation of 125 local residents who completed a 10-month program focused on app development, coding, design, marketing, and project management. This fourth cohort of graduates, ranging in age from 18 to 72, represents the academy's commitment to inclusivity and Detroit's growing reputation as a technology hub. The academy is a partnership between Michigan State University, Apple, and the Gilbert Family Foundation, designed to prepare Detroiters for careers in the tech industry without any prerequisites for entry. Graduates can further their education through the Renaissance program, which offers advanced training and collaboration opportunities with local institutions and businesses.

The 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix showcased not only high-speed racing but also community inclusion and diversity initiatives in motorsports. Young artists from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) created murals for the event space, while Black-owned Curry Motorsports announced a summer boot camp program supported by a $25,000 investment. The Grand Prix emphasized making racing more inclusive, with BGCSM teens participating in global mobility coding programs and free access to portions of the racetrack for spectators. Beyond the excitement of race weekend, the event demonstrated Detroit's commitment to evolving its automotive legacy through education, innovation, and increased representation in motorsports.

The U.S. Senate has narrowly advanced President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" by a 51-50 vote, which local Detroit leaders like Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell are calling the "Big Ugly Bill" due to its proposed cuts to vital social programs. The legislation threatens significant reductions to Medicaid and SNAP benefits that currently support millions of Michigan residents, including nearly half of Detroit's population and over 434,000 people in Wayne County who rely on food assistance. If passed by the House, the bill would potentially eliminate healthcare coverage for 11.8 million Americans over the next decade while creating a $467 million shortfall in Michigan's food assistance budget, all while providing $4.5 trillion in tax cuts primarily benefiting wealthy individuals and corporations.

Light Up Livernois, returning on July 5 from noon to 8 p.m., will transform Detroit's Avenue of Fashion between 6 Mile and 8 Mile into a vibrant cultural celebration showcasing Black music, fashion, food, and entrepreneurship. Produced by the Independent Business Association (IBA), this free event serves as both a cultural celebration and economic engine for one of the oldest and most significant Black commercial districts in the country. The festival features local performers across various music genres, fashion showcases highlighting Detroit designers, pop-up shops with handmade goods, food vendors offering local cuisine, and art installations illuminating storefronts. Beyond entertainment, Light Up Livernois represents a community-led initiative to support and amplify Black-owned businesses by creating visibility and generating revenue for the small enterprises that sustain Detroit's economic future.

At Detroit's 70th Annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner, Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered a powerful keynote address emphasizing the urgency of policy-driven change to address systemic inequality. Moore highlighted his administration's achievements, including investing $1.3 billion in HBCUs, granting 175,000 clemencies for cannabis convictions, and launching the "Just Communities" initiative that directs $400 million to communities harmed by systemic neglect. The event also honored several individuals for their contributions to social justice, including Roland Martin, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Alice G. Thompson, Courtney Smith, and Yousef Almadrahi. Throughout the dinner, speakers reinforced the theme "The Power Is Within The People" and stressed the importance of immediate action rather than delay in the ongoing fight for justice.

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.