Michigan news

The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office has received a $75,000 federal grant to document and preserve the architectural legacy of Nathan Johnson, a pioneering Black modernist architect who shaped Detroit's built environment from the 1950s through his death in 2021. The funding will support hiring a preservation consultant to conduct a comprehensive study of Johnson's career and buildings, with the goal of nominating at least one of his properties to the National Register of Historic Places and creating documentation to facilitate future listings. Johnson, who became Detroit's Board of Education's first Black architect in 1965, designed dozens of churches, commercial buildings, and civic projects including People Mover stations, while also mentoring other Black architects throughout his career. The project, conducted in partnership with Noir Design Parti, aims to correct Johnson's relative absence from official Michigan architectural histories and provide property owners access to preservation incentives like tax credits and grants. # Key Takeaways

The article warns about common and costly mistakes people make with beneficiary designations on financial accounts and insurance policies. Many individuals fail to update beneficiaries after major life changes like divorce or remarriage, which can result in assets going to unintended recipients since beneficiary designations override wills and trusts. The author illustrates this problem through a fictional scenario where a woman's life insurance proceeds went to her ex-husband instead of her current family because she never updated the designation after remarrying. The piece emphasizes the importance of regularly reviewing and updating beneficiaries on all accounts, including life insurance, retirement accounts, and bank accounts, to ensure assets pass according to one's current wishes. # Key Takeaways

Dr. Anthony O. Kellum argues that the Trump administration's policies since January 2025 represent a systematic dismantling of systems that have supported Black Americans' economic advancement over six decades. By eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies, educational institutions, and corporate contractors, these policies directly threaten Black access to education, employment, and homeownership. Kellum contends that removing equity protections will constrict the pathways that lead to stable employment and mortgage eligibility, ultimately widening both the Black housing gap and wealth gap. He emphasizes that this regression is deliberate rather than accidental, and calls for Black communities to maintain political engagement while building alternative support systems and community-driven capital sources. # Key Takeaways

DTE Energy concluded its 2025 United Way fundraising campaign by raising nearly $2 million through employee participation and a matching contribution from the DTE Foundation. Employees engaged in various creative fundraising activities including cookoffs, raffles, trivia contests, bingo events, and themed gatherings like Worktoberfest and karaoke parties. The campaign also featured volunteer service projects, such as an August backpack drive at Beacon Park where workers filled bags with school supplies for students. The funds will support United Way programs including 2-1-1, a service that helps connect community members to essential resources like food, shelter, and utility payment assistance. # Key Takeaways

A utility company is offering energy-saving advice to customers during the holiday season when home appliances experience increased usage. The guidance includes lowering thermostats when hosting guests, switching to LED holiday lights with timers, and using alternative cooking appliances instead of ovens to reduce natural gas consumption. For those traveling during the holidays, recommendations include adjusting thermostats to lower settings without turning them off completely and unplugging unnecessary electronics. The company also promotes its Bill Analyzer Tool, which allows customers to review their previous year's energy consumption patterns and identify opportunities for savings. # Key Takeaways

The DTE Foundation and Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan have launched a new interactive exhibit called "Energy MVP - From Rookie to Legend" at the JA Finance Park in Detroit. This hands-on installation showcases career opportunities in renewable energy, skilled trades, engineering, and emerging technologies through real-world simulations and scenarios. DTE employees contributed actual equipment and personal tools from their careers to make the exhibit authentic and engaging. The exhibit aims to connect thousands of students annually with high-paying career pathways in Michigan's evolving energy sector, from electric vehicle infrastructure to solar technology. # Key Takeaways

The DTE Foundation has announced a $300,000 commitment to combat increasing food insecurity throughout Michigan by supporting six established partner organizations that distribute meals to families in need. This donation represents part of a larger initiative, bringing the Foundation's total hunger-relief investment this year to over $1 million across 39 organizations operating statewide. Foundation leaders and partner organizations emphasized that addressing hunger strengthens entire communities, not just individual recipients. The funding will help these organizations expand their meal distribution capabilities and maintain services during a period of heightened need across the state. # Key Takeaways

Michigan's Senate voted 23-13 on December 16 to restore $634 million in work project funding that House Republicans had eliminated one week earlier through a rarely used procedural mechanism. The original cuts, which removed approximately $645 million from previously approved projects serving vulnerable populations, sparked intense backlash from affected organizations, local governments, and the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, who demanded accountability through press conferences and coordinated advocacy. Five Republican senators crossed party lines to join Democrats in reversing the funding cuts, which had impacted essential programs including childhood cancer treatment, fire safety equipment, environmental projects, and maternal health initiatives. The restored funding legislation now returns to the Republican-controlled House for final consideration, while questions about the constitutionality of the budget maneuver remain under legal review. This reversal demonstrates how organized community resistance successfully challenged unilateral budget decisions that disproportionately harmed Black, low-income, rural, and medically vulnerable communities.

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has appointed David Bowser as her chief of staff, a key leadership position in her incoming administration. Bowser previously worked as a senior policy advisor on Sheffield's campaign and currently serves as director of transition operations for her transition team. He brings extensive experience from various roles in the Duggan administration, where he focused on housing, health equity, and human services, including helping establish programs like Code Blue and the Detroit Housing Services Office. In his new role, Bowser will manage citywide communications, internal administrative functions, and high-priority mayoral projects while also serving as a senior advisor to Sheffield.

The Judson Center is launching a new infant mental health program in Oakland County with $150,000 in funding from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, distributed as $75,000 annually over two years. The "Our Early Years" pilot program will serve families involved with child welfare services and those experiencing poverty-related trauma, focusing on strengthening caregiver-child relationships for children from birth to age three. This initiative responds to concerning Michigan data showing that 68% of adults and 58% of youth have experienced adverse childhood experiences, with infants under one year representing 11% of child maltreatment victims in 2023. Additionally, Judson Center's CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster received the foundation's "Mental Health Hero" Award, which provides $25,000 to her organization along with support for leadership renewal time. # Key Takeaways

The article argues that Trump's executive order challenging birthright citizenship, currently before the Supreme Court, would reclassify millions of U.S.-born residents—predominantly Latino, African, Caribbean, and Asian Americans—as non-citizens eligible for deportation. The author contends this immigration pause targeting "Third World" countries is part of a calculated strategy to prevent America from becoming a majority-minority nation by 2040, despite demographic shifts already showing non-white youth as the majority in numerous states. The piece draws parallels between current anti-immigrant rhetoric and Nazi Germany's scapegoating tactics, highlighting discriminatory enforcement where Black and Brown migrants face militarized responses while European immigrants receive preferential treatment. Beyond immigration restrictions, the author argues that systemic policies affecting healthcare access, environmental quality, and economic opportunity in communities of color constitute a coordinated form of demographic control designed to maintain white political and economic dominance. # Key Takeaways

Michigan contributing columnist Adam Hollier argues that recent federal immigration enforcement actions demonstrate the critical importance of accessible identification systems and progressive state leadership. He advocates for modernizing Michigan's ID infrastructure through the Secretary of State's office by implementing features like custom photos, blockchain-secured digital IDs accessible via smartphones, and optional embedded medical information for emergencies. Hollier envisions IDs that could facilitate secure online document signing, prevent identity theft, and streamline healthcare and business transactions while maintaining user control over personal information. He emphasizes that Michigan has an opportunity through upcoming elections to lead national innovation in identification technology while protecting residents from both cybercriminals and federal overreach. # Key Takeaways

Michigan's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, headed by Matt Hall, has blocked $644 million in previously committed funding for various state programs and organizations. The cuts affect numerous initiatives including food infrastructure, Flint water emergency support, voting equipment, firearm violence prevention, and institutions like the Museum of African American History and Detroit Zoo. Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony criticizes these funding cuts as cruel and lacking compassion, arguing they harm vulnerable Michigan residents under the false pretense of addressing fraud and waste. He calls on Michigan residents to protest these decisions and urges Republican legislators to reconsider their actions, comparing the situation to the Grinch stealing Christmas and suggesting the cuts align with President Trump's policies rather than serving Michigan residents' needs.

Detroit's west side has become home to a growing Senegalese immigrant community, with many arrivals coming through challenging routes from Brazil via Central America or more recently through Nicaragua starting in 2020. The Khadimu Rassul Foundation, a Mouride Muslim community center, serves as a vital hub providing both spiritual guidance and practical assistance including temporary housing, food distribution, and community networking for newcomers. Religious communities offer immigrants crucial support systems that help them navigate difficulties like ICE surveillance, employment challenges, and cultural adjustment while maintaining their spiritual grounding. Despite being recent arrivals, many Senegalese immigrants are already contributing economically to Detroit through various jobs and are working to transfer their professional credentials from Senegal, while also bringing cultural values of hard work, respect for elders, and mutual aid to their new home.

Joe Louis Southern Kitchen has opened its second location in Southfield, Michigan, expanding the restaurant brand named after Detroit boxing legend Joe Louis. The 5,300-square-foot breakfast and brunch establishment employs 35 people and serves traditional comfort food seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Co-CEO Joe Louis Barrow II, son of the heavyweight champion, aims to connect diners with his father's enduring Detroit legacy through food and planned branded merchandise. The expansion follows the success of the original 2021 Detroit location, leveraging Joe Louis' historical significance as a cultural icon who represented both athletic excellence and American pride during challenging social and political times. # Key Takeaways

Detroit-based nonprofit CALM has launched "Therapy Within Reach," a program providing free mental-health counseling exclusively for Black women who cannot afford traditional care. The initiative addresses a significant treatment gap, as CDC data reveals only 15.3 percent of Black adults received mental health treatment in 2023 compared to 25.6 percent of white adults, while just four percent of psychologists nationwide are Black. Founded by Takyra Fulton and initially funded by Black women business owners, the program partners with local shelters and community organizations to deliver culturally competent care directly to women facing housing insecurity, caregiving burdens, and systemic barriers. The program emerges during a cultural shift where Black women increasingly seek mental health support, though financial barriers and lack of culturally informed providers remain significant obstacles. # Key Takeaways

Detroit native Irene Hamilton-Sparkman has transformed a long-vacant building in the city's Pulaski neighborhood into Lil Love Bugs Daycare Center, addressing a critical shortage of licensed childcare facilities in Wayne County. The early childhood education center, which opened in July 2025 and held its grand opening in December, serves infants through five-year-olds with a structured learning program that includes meals and developmental activities. Hamilton-Sparkman received a $50,000 Motor City Match grant to renovate the property she purchased in late 2022, converting it into a licensed facility that can serve over 40 children compared to the 10 she previously cared for in her home daycare. With more than two decades of childcare experience, she plans to expand further by developing adjacent properties for after-school tutoring and additional programming. # Key Takeaways

Pharrell Williams expressed strong anti-political views during the fifth annual Black Ambition Demo Day, stating that he despises politics and views it as a divisive illusion rather than reality. He emphasized that businesses should receive support based on merit and excellence rather than racial identity, asking whether entrepreneurs want backing because they are the best or simply because of their skin color. Williams has consistently maintained a neutral political stance, previously stating that celebrity political endorsements annoy him and that he prefers focusing on concrete action over political rhetoric. While he acknowledges he will vote and cares about his community and country, he distances himself from both political sides and believes significant work needs to be done outside the political sphere.

The Democratic National Committee has released statistics claiming that Trump administration policies are financially harming Michigan families through tariffs, budget bills, and inflation that collectively cost households over $1,700 annually. Democrats are particularly focused on Republican resistance to extending Affordable Care Act tax credits, which could cause over 470,000 Michigan residents to face dramatically higher healthcare premiums. The party views Michigan as strategically important for the 2026 midterm elections when voters will elect a new U.S. Senator, and they're pointing to Trump's declining approval ratings as evidence voters are rejecting his economic agenda. While the White House counters with data showing private sector job growth of 121,000 since September, Democrats argue proposed SNAP benefit cuts could affect nearly 800,000 Michigan residents who rely on the program for food security. # Key Takeaways

Detroit's Reparations Task Force is dissolving at the end of the month after releasing nearly 100 policy recommendations in October, including cash payments for descendants of enslaved people and investments in housing and economic development. Task force leaders are pushing Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield and the newly elected City Council to establish a permanent Reparations Administrative Office to study and implement these proposals, though Sheffield has not committed beyond continuing discussions. The recommendations lack clear funding mechanisms and prioritization, leaving questions about implementation, with some task force members expressing disappointment that the report doesn't adequately measure the wealth extracted from Black Detroiters. The effort, which began with an overwhelmingly supported 2021 ballot initiative, now depends on public pressure and political will to move forward, as task force leaders plan community organizing to hold the new administration accountable.

Detroit has issued only 71 citations for snow and ice removal violations since 2019, despite city ordinances requiring property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours of snowfall. The majority of these violations involve absentee landlords, with 62% of ticketed properties owned by people living outside Detroit, who account for 68% of unpaid fines totaling over $4,000. Meanwhile, the city has introduced an AI chatbot called "Emily" to help residents in Districts 3 and 4 report issues like icy sidewalks, though early testing revealed significant limitations in the system's ability to provide accurate information or connect callers to human representatives. As incoming Mayor Mary Sheffield prepares to take office in January, questions remain about enforcement priorities and how the new administration will address infrastructure safety concerns.

An economic impact study commissioned by the Detroit Land Bank Authority found that the agency has generated approximately $2 billion in property value increases since 2014 through its rehabilitation and demolition activities. The research revealed that rehabilitating blighted properties into occupied homes produces roughly three times greater impact on surrounding property values compared to demolitions, with each rehabilitation increasing nearby home values by an average of $90,890 versus $30,092 for demolitions. As Detroit's largest property owner managing about 66,000 parcels, the land bank's operations are estimated to account for up to 40 percent of the city's total home value growth over the past decade. Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield plans to reform rather than dismantle the agency, seeking improved processes and customer service while utilizing its unique legal powers to clear titles and eliminate liens. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan Municipal League has proposed the MI Home Program, which would allocate $160 million per year over five years to develop and renovate 10,000 affordable homes across Michigan. The program emphasizes "Partnership Over Preemption," giving local governments funding and flexibility to address housing shortages in ways that reflect their communities' specific needs rather than imposing top-down state mandates. The Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials has endorsed this approach, viewing it as a means to promote equity and empower historically overlooked communities. The organization's president argues that collaborative partnership, rather than preemptive state control, will better serve diverse communities and create pathways to housing equity for all Michigan residents. # Key Takeaways

Dr. Anthony O. Kellum argues that property ownership serves as a fundamental cornerstone for Black American advancement through three interconnected elements: power, protection, and progress. He contends that owning property transforms families from vulnerable renters into stakeholders with control over their environment, shielding them from displacement and economic instability that has historically plagued Black communities. The article emphasizes that homeownership represents the primary vehicle for building generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap, while also strengthening political influence through increased civic engagement. Kellum frames property ownership not as a luxury but as an essential tool for economic liberation, arguing it enables Black families to shift from survival mode to building lasting legacies that benefit future generations.

Detroit's Health Department launched the Rides to Care program one year ago to address transportation barriers preventing pregnant women and new mothers from accessing essential healthcare appointments. The initiative has now provided over 20,000 free round-trip rides to prenatal, postnatal, and pediatric appointments for pregnant residents, new mothers, caregivers, and infants under one year old. Operating Monday through Saturday, the service eliminates transportation costs and scheduling difficulties that historically caused families to miss critical medical visits in a city with significant maternal and infant health disparities. The program's success is exemplified by residents like Margarie Isbell, who previously experienced a miscarriage due to delayed transportation but successfully carried her daughter to term using Rides to Care for consistent appointment access. # Key Takeaways

Darius Acuff Jr., a highly-ranked freshman basketball player for the Arkansas Razorbacks who grew up in Detroit, is returning to his hometown on December 23rd to host a complimentary basketball camp for local youth. The event will take place at the ACC Youth Center on Seven Mile Road and will focus on teaching fundamental basketball skills through various training stations. Acuff, who previously attended Cass Technical High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, has been performing exceptionally well in his college debut, averaging impressive statistics and earning recognition as one of only seven freshmen on the Naismith National Player of the Year Watch List. His homecoming camp represents an opportunity for young Detroit athletes to learn from a successful player who shares their background and demonstrates that professional-level talent can emerge from their own community. # Key Takeaways

A bipartisan group of Michigan legislators is introducing bills to repeal tax exemptions for data center developers that were approved by the state Senate last year, which allow facilities to avoid sales and use taxes on equipment through 2050. While Governor Gretchen Whitmer has championed data center projects as major economic investments creating thousands of jobs, including a massive facility planned for Saline Township, critics argue these developments threaten Michigan's clean energy goals, will increase utility rates, and provide minimal community benefits. Environmental advocates and rural residents are particularly concerned about the facilities' energy consumption, strain on fossil fuel reliance, and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. The controversy reflects a growing national debate as communities across the country grapple with billion-dollar tech companies seeking to build approximately 1,000 new data centers beyond the 3,000 already operating nationwide.

Detroit's incoming Mayor Mary Sheffield has announced that Todd Bettison will remain as the city's police chief, continuing in the role he assumed earlier in the year. Sheffield praised Bettison's nearly three-decade career with the Detroit Police Department and credited his community-focused approach for contributing to significant reductions in violent crime, including historic lows in homicides and a 50% decrease in nonfatal shootings between 2022 and 2024. Both leaders have committed to establishing a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention that will partner with community organizations to involve residents in shaping safety policies. Bettison, who previously served as deputy mayor and first assistant chief before becoming chief when James White departed, has been actively advocating for state funding to support community violence intervention programs. # Key Takeaways

GenesisHOPE, a Detroit nonprofit focused on equity and affordable housing, is establishing the Common Ground Community Land Trust to address gentrification and displacement in neighborhoods like Islandview and the Villages of Detroit. The organization plans to acquire ten vacant lots from the Detroit Land Bank to potentially build permanently affordable single-family homes, where residents purchase houses but lease the land at minimal cost. A seven-member advisory board of community residents, called "the fellows," is currently developing governance documents and learning CLT procedures through consulting support from Burlington Associates and the Detroit Justice Center. This community-driven model allows residents to own homes affordably while maintaining democratic control over development decisions, with the nonprofit retaining land ownership indefinitely to preserve housing accessibility for future generations. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan Good Food Fund has launched its 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, featuring locally produced food items from small businesses throughout Michigan that have received financial support and technical assistance from the organization. This statewide initiative focuses on investing in food entrepreneurs who work to improve access to nutritious, affordable food while promoting economic equity, particularly for underrepresented business owners and communities of color. The guide showcases diverse products ranging from farm-raised meats to artisanal goods, organized by category to help shoppers find locally sourced holiday gifts. By connecting consumers directly with these mission-driven entrepreneurs, the guide aims to boost sales during the crucial holiday period while supporting Michigan's broader food economy and community development goals.