Birdie’s Bookmobile hopes to inspire the next generation of readers. Launched in 2022, the literacy organization provides hundreds of books to schools, after-school programs and nonprofits across Detroit. Since Birdie’s Bookmobile was born, it has distributed more than 16,000 books. One Detroit and BridgeDetroit contributor Eleanore Catolico has the story.
Read MoreA concrete crushing company started operating in Detroit’s Schoolcraft neighborhood a few years ago to the surprise of many people living nearby. Residents have raised concerns over air quality and living conditions from the concrete dust created from the site. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota and contributor Nicole Macdonald talk with residents about their concerns with heavy industry in the area.
Read MoreOvergrown weeds, empty bottles and discarded bags littered property around a Detroit Family Dollar store. This type of blight isn’t unusual for a number of the dollar stores across the city. One Detroit’s Will Glover talks with BridgeDetroit reporter Jena Brooker about the blight issues at dollar stores around the city, as well as steps city officials are taking.
Read MoreDetroit’s expansion of the ShotSpotter system has ignited a wave of controversy as citizens demand answers about the technology’s impact on their community and call for more transparency from both the Detroit Police Department and the California-based company, Sound Thinking. BridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett shares what residents are claiming.
Read More“American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson leads a roundtable with BridgeDetroit’s Nushrat Rahman, City of Detroit’s Donald Rencher, and Neighborhood Service Organization’s Linda Little. They talk about the current state of homelessness in the city, housing instability, affordable housing units, federal housing vouchers, and the end to a national moratorium on rental evictions.
Read MoreDetroit’s I-375 is the shortest highway in the country. When it was constructed, it led to the destruction of two thriving Black communities. One Detroit and BridgeDetroit team up to break down the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project in Detroit and whether the plans will benefit the community.
Read MoreDetroit Food Academy is revolutionizing the lives of young Detroiters by blending the art of cooking with life and leadership skills. BridgeDetroit’s Micah Walker learns about the work they do to prepare the next generation of young leaders.
Read MoreBringing together community and civil rights leaders, politicians, activists and residents from across Southeast Michigan, the Detroit Branch NAACP hosted a vibrant and momentous June Jubilee honoring the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, a pivotal march in the Civil Rights Movement. One Detroit brings you highlights from the events with contributor Orlando Bailey.
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American Black Journal teams up with BridgeDetroit for a virtual town hall commemorating the 60th anniversary of two historic events in the Civil Rights Movement: the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Read MoreDetroit plans to spend all of its $827 million in pandemic relief funding by the end of 2025, a year earlier than the U.S. treasury deadline to spend the money. So where will it all be spent? We dig into how and when the money will be spent, as well as how it will impact Detroiters’ daily lives.
Read MoreThe Detroit Branch NAACP plans to unveil a bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Hart Plaza during its June Jubilee events. We talked with the artist behind the sculpture about his piece and how it found its home in Detroit.
Read MoreBridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett outlines Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s proposed property tax changes. Plus, he shares the factors that are influencing many Detroiters to move out of the city and how the Detroit region will play a leading role in the state’s population growth efforts.
Read MoreBridgeDetroit reporter Micah Walker gets details on the Detroit Branch NAACP’s June Jubilee weekend of events in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, which includes the Freedom Walk Summit, a new Martin Luther King statue, the Freedom Walk, and the annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner.
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American Black Journal and BridgeDetroit team up to examine the barriers Black developers face breaking into the real estate industry and the solutions that are helping support Black development in Detroit.
Read MoreAmerican Black Journal and BridgeDetroit examine the changes in Detroit’s political power in Congress, and what impact the loss of African American representation may have on the city’s nearly 80% Black population.
Read MoreDetroit political consultant Adolph Mongo talks about the city’s Black political representation over the years, how it has changed and why.
Read MoreDetroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced and outlined his five-year, $2.45 billion capital plan for the city, which includes increased services for residents, the redevelopment of city-owned parks and properties, and upgrades to the city’s aging infrastructure.
Read MorePlans for the newly proposed $1.5 million “District Detroit” development downtown are facing scrutiny and skepticism from residents who live in the neighborhoods nearby.
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In partnership with “American Black Journal,” BridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett talks with Detroit residents about the difficulty of getting major problems fixed at their homes. They talk about the cost-prohibitive barriers homeowners face, like banks turning residents down for loans, and the eligibility requirements for Detroit’s home repair program.
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Stephen Henderson hosts a roundtable discussion exploring the impact home repair needs are having on residents and neighborhoods. He talks with city officials, the Eastside Community Network, and a BridgeDetroit reporter about the city’s home repair program, Renew Detroit, and the negative impacts that homes in disrepair have on property values and generational wealth.
Read MoreA lot happened in October in Detroit. One Detroit producer Will Glover sits down with BridgeDetroit reporter Bryce Huffman to talk about the latest news, including a $1 million lawsuit settlement with Detroit Will Breathe, plans for $57.6 million in flood recovery funds and mitigation efforts, and the first 3D printed home being built for Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood.
Read MoreForgotten Harvest CEO Kirk Mayes has announced he’s stepping down from his role at the Oak Park-based food rescue nonprofit at the end of 2022. Mayes talks with BridgeDetroit’s Orlando Bailey about his decision to step down and the impact he’s had at the organization since he started there in 2014. Plus, he shares what’s next for his future plans.
Read MoreThe City of Detroit has launched a two-year planning study that allows residents to weigh in on the impact of the proposed $200 million Joe Louis Greenway project. Producer Will Glover talks to BridgeDetroit reporter Bryce Huffman to learn more about what feedback city officials might receive on the greenway.
Read MoreSome of Michigan’s nearly 1.4 million student loan borrowers are rejoicing after the Biden administration announced a proposed plan to cancel up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for millions across the nation. One Detroit’s Will Glover talks with BridgeDetroit reporter Isabel Lohman about Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan and how it’ll impact Michigan’s economy and individual borrowers.
Read MoreOne Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota talks with BridgeDetroit’s Malachi Barrett about the $60 million tax abatement Detroit City Council narrowly approved, in a 5-4 vote, for Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock Detroit development at the former Hudson’s Department Store site downtown.
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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said he did not know a towing contractor was working with the FBI as a confidential informant when he shared the FBI informant’s identity with city officials.
Read MoreAs Michigan State Police continues its independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya, One Detroit’s Will Glover catches up with BridgeDetroit reporter Bryce Huffman, who’s been on the ground in Grand Rapids reporting on the city’s reaction to the incident, for an update on where the case stands.
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Video released Wednesday of the police shooting death of an African immigrant last week shows a Grand Rapids officer shooting Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head following a struggle.
Read MoreThe Detroit Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Michigan have a new weapon to help them close investigations and solve crimes: Detroit Rewards TV. One Detroit’s Will Glover sits down with BridgeDetroit reporter Bryce Huffman to talk about the possible positives and consequential problems that could come from the new program.
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The City of Detroit helped facilitate the destruction of Black Bottom, home to hundreds of Black...
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Host Stephen Henderson revisits portions from American Black Journal and BridgeDetroit’s reparations town hall with special guests Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, Lauren Hood, Andre Perry and Keith Williams. The group discuss what reparations are owed to Black Americans and what form they should take. Plus, Hood and Williams share information about a new Detroit task force for reparations.
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Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree is urging Detroiters at risk of foreclosure to get on payment plans, as a two-year moratorium on foreclosures of occupied homes comes to an end and the March 31 deadline for redemptions approaches.
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A voter fills out her ballot at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Detroit during the...
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The University of Michigan, University Musical School and The Philadelphia Orchestra team up to bring a unique ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ concert performance to the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. Then, explore the life and legacy of Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Museum of African American History. Plus, from “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City,” viewers take a nostalgic trip back to learn about the rise and fall of the Velvet Peanut Butter company. In closing, singer/songwriter Aaron Lewys performs his song “Stop Wasting My Time” for Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove.
Read MoreWhile 35% of Michigan’s children five years and under qualify for childcare subsidies, only...
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Homeowners in some Detroit neighborhoods can apply for a new city program to help protect their basements from future flooding. City officials announced the Basement Backup Protection Program on Monday. It’s an up to $15 million plan, with a pilot phase funded by $2.4 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief dollars.
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One Detroit’s Bill Kubota meets with Detroit artist Jonathan Harris to talk about his viral painting ‘Critical Race Theory’ and the conversations its sparking across the globe. Then, One Detroit’s Will Glover connects with BridgeDetroit reporter Nushrat Rahman to discuss the high childcare costs in Michigan and the financial assistance available to families. Plus, learn how diversity, equity and inclusion have progressed in the workplace since the death of George Floyd and remember the late newsman Bill Bonds, who would have turned 90 years old this month.
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American Black Journal and BridgeDetroit are teaming up to host a virtual town hall at 12 p.m. Feb. 16 about reparations for Black Americans. Join us as we take a detailed look at the history of reparations and discuss what Detroit’s new task force means for the idea. The esteemed panelists will share insights on the initial work being done on the ground floor in Detroit and more in a conversation moderated by American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson.
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At Grace in Action, the co-op movement started roughly 20 years ago when Mexican Industries, a Southwest Detroit-based auto parts maker, abruptly closed after workers voted to form a union. Nine hundred mostly Latino workers were laid off, and the economic impact on the community was immediate. That led Meghan Sobocienski, executive director of Grace in Action, to actively create new business models for immigrant workers in the community. She’s been thinking about employment and the future of work since then, and to her, it comes down to one simple idea: create worker-led, locally owned businesses.
Read MoreTake a look inside the life and legacy of the late Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Wright Museum of African American History. BridgeDetroit Engagement Director Orlando Bailey meets with the Wright Museum’s Director of Design and Fabrication Kevin Davidson to talk about Dr. Wright’s influence on himself and other African Americans living in Detroit, as well as the vision for creating and expanding the museum facility, which was once the largest African American historical museum in the world.
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This week, host Stephen Henderson investigates an independent study from MSU’s School of Criminal Justice that showed Black drivers were stopped by Michigan State Police at disproportionately high rates in 2020. Stephen examines the steps being taken to address these racial disparities. Plus, BridgeDetroit’s Engagement Director Orlando Bailey takes us inside the life and legacy of the late Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, with the museum’s Director of Design and Fabrication Kevin Davidson.
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A group of Republicans has sued the Michigan redistricting commission over its recently-approved congressional map, claiming the panel failed to draw districts with equal populations. The lawsuit, filed Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, also names Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as a defendant. Bridge Michigan’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán reports.
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Roughly one-third of children in Michigan under age 5 qualified for child care subsidies, but only 5% received those credits. Meanwhile, an estimated 44% of Michiganders live in “child care deserts” — places with a lack of licensed child care providers. The report finds significant gaps in need versus access to programs that provide food help, offset costs for child care and cash assistance among eligible families.
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In the 10 months since a statewide rent aid program launched to help tenants avoid eviction and catch up on payments, thousands of applications have poured in, demonstrating the vast and continuing need for rent assistance as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. Wayne County alone accounts for roughly one-third of the more than 173,000 applications that have come in, as of Friday, to the federally funded COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program, which launched last March. Detroiters make up 22% of those applying for rent help across Michigan.
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A contingent of 15 Detroit Black lawmakers and leaders announced Monday they will sue the Michigan redistricting commission over recently approved state legislative and congressional maps. In a media event in Detroit, the lawmakers — including six incumbents and two former state representatives — argued the maps dilute the power of Black residents in the city of Detroit and violate the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 law designed to allow minorities to elect candidates of their choosing.
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In a historic vote, the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission last week adopted its first congressional map, which will last 10 years. If voting patterns from the 2020 election hold, the map would favor Democrats in seven districts and Republicans in six.
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Unpack the seven memos released by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, who formerly kept the memos secret claiming attorney-client privilege to keep the information private. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that by doing so the commission violated the state’s constitution.
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As Michigan’s redistricting panel prepares to approve new legislative boundaries this month, some activists say proposed maps give rural areas outsized clout because of how inmate populations are counted. Even though the roughly 35,000 people serving sentences in Michigan prisons can’t vote, they are counted as residents of prisons where they are held for purposes of representation. Opponents call that “prison gerrymandering” because it inflates the population — and power — of smaller communities.
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The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state’s redistricting panel violated the state Constitution when it met behind closed doors to discuss secret memos used to draw the state’s new political boundaries. Several hours after the ruling, the commission released the memos around 11:30 p.m.
Read MoreSecrecy has swept through the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission after a majority of its members voted to keep notes from a closed meeting secret from the public. The commission already faces lawsuits, and could see more. One Detroit Associate Producer Will Glover gets to the bottom of the situation with Bridge Michigan reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán to hear about what’s happened so far and what to expect next.
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Every Black Detroiter who spent summers on the nostalgic Boblo island giggling on the carousel or swinging in the dance hall should thank Sarah Elizabeth Ray. After being denied a seat on one of the segregated Boblo boat in 1945 because she was Black, she fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. Her case paved the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which ruled segregation in public schools as unconstitutional.
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Michigan’s redistricting panel voted Thursday to keep secret two memos that helped members justify the reduction of majority-minority legislative districts. The districts are redrawn every decade, and the process has led to some of the most Republican gerrymandered maps in the nation.
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Detroit Public Schools Community District is going remote for three days in December. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the closures help show that students and educators are under duress as COVID outbreaks and staff shortages pile on top of nearly two years of virtual learning, quarantines, masking battles and COVID fears.
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In this country’s origin story, Black Americans were largely restricted from owning guns. Yet, in Detroit today, citizens are increasingly turning to gun ownership for a sense of protection and — sometimes — because of a constitutional right to carry. Residents have become self-reliant and are looking to arm others with gun safety lessons and information about the responsibility of ownership.
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The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is “almost done” reviewing forensic evidence from rape in sexual assaults.
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Black people are leaving the Blackest city in America, according to the latest census data. But why would Black residents leave an area en masse where history, culture and opportunity collide?
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From the use of facial recognition technology and Project Green Light cameras to the ShotSpotter...
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When they started building the wall behind Margaret Watson’s house in northwest Detroit, she knew the reason without having to ask.
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Thousands of Detroit residents, businesses, churches, nonprofits, libraries and others will likely need months to recover from the disastrous flooding caused by record rainfall two weeks ago and aging water infrastructure.
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Twenty-four hours after a water advisory had been placed on Detroit’s MorningSide, East English Village and Cornerstone Village neighborhoods, the City lifted the advisory, saying residents should have clean drinking water once they flushed their taps from the top of the house.
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Photo by Stephen McGee By Olivia Lewis When Cierra Mangal answered the phone at 2:45 a.m. Sunday...
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By starting time, early Saturday evening, more than 100 had gathered on the Delray block where a makeshift boxing ring had been set up in the street.
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In the fall of 2017, Detroit Public Schools Community District started the school year with about...
Read MoreOrlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit visits Second Ebenezer Church to talk with its senior pastor.
Read MoreWe’ll continue our yearlong series on The Black Church in Detroit with a look at how the church ministers beyond the walls of the building.
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Legal observers watching for civil rights violations and police brutality at last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests in Detroit say they were attacked by police.
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For Detroit high school students, applying to college in a pandemic brings new concerns and questions about “the right path.”
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The Knight Foundation is focused on Detroit’s North End, and longtime residents will lead the community’s plan for development.
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Detroit election workers say one indelible moment at the city’s ballot counting center gave them resolve during the weeks of challenges by Trump and his supporters.
Read MoreContributor Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit has an in-depth conversation with Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist about COVID-19’s impact on the state.
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An essay by American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers’ initial refusal to certify election results.
Read MoreOrlando Bailey spoke with social justice activist Tawana Petty and Bridge Detroit reporter Bryce Huffman about the current state of crimefighting in the city.
Read MoreA report from One Detroit’s Will Glover on the importance of diversity in the nation’s newsrooms.
Read MoreIn the ongoing series, “Do Black Lives Matter in America?,” we take a closer look at the relationship between Detroit police and the community, especially in light of the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.
Read MoreWhat is it like to be a journalist of color covering the black lives matter protests and other stories about racial injustice?
Read MoreIn the ongoing series, “Do Black Lives Matter in America?,” we have frank conversations about the way the news media has covered the Black Lives Matter protests, and we take a look at diversity in the nation’s newsrooms.
Read MoreOrlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit speaks with Tristan Taylor, organizer of the group “Detroit Will Breathe,” and longtime Detroit activist Carolyn Baker about the protests against police brutality and systemic racism.
Read MoreABJ is launching a 3-part series of shows produced in collaboration with the innovative, community-based news organization, BridgeDetroit, and focusing on the question: “Do Black Lives Matter in America?”
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As National Black Business Month wraps up, Black-owned businesses have been hit especially hard with shut downs related to the pandemic.
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Segregation, violence and intimidation shaped Detroit’s suburbs. Residents and officials say they want to leave the past behind.
Read MoreBy Bryce Huffman, Olivia Lewis and Orlando Bailey from BridgeDetroit | June 11, 2020 What up doe!...
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Throughout the Detroit protests, many young people have stepped in at key moments to advocate for systemic change and a radical difference in the policing of Black and brown communities.
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