News
Johnnie Turnage: A Visionary Tech Founder on a Mission to Empower Black Tech Entrepreneurs through Black Tech Saturdays
Johnnie Turnage is a true visionary tech founder who is taking his own experience navigating the inequitable tech industry and working to shift power toward Black tech founders. Turnage expressed that although there are numerous…
Empowering Communities: Inside the Detroit Justice Center’s Mission for Change
Detroit Justice Center (DJC) is more than just a law firm; it is a beacon of hope for the marginalized communities in Detroit. With its unwavering commitment to fighting for racial justice and promoting economic opportunity, DJC has worked tirelessly to create a more equitable and just Detroit for all. DJC is working to transform the justice system from the ground up by providing legal services to those who need it the most. They enact an innovative three-pronged approach: Defense,...
Empowering Students: The Impact of Student Advocacy’s Statewide Helpline Program
Education sets the foundation for a child’s future and helps them develop into well-informed individuals. However, not all students have access to quality public education–an obstacle the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan is working to overcome. As one of the few organizations that directly advocate for students in K-12, the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan works collaboratively with underserved students and their families to realize their rights to a quality public education and the...
Revolutionizing the Sewing Industry: Inside ISAIC’s Innovative Approach
The Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) is a non-profit that serves as a training institute and a usage case facility for piloting innovation. ISAIC supports the return of domestic manufacturing in an ethical, sustainable, and profitable way. In addition, the organization provides training to underserved communities, enabling them to become masters of the innovations the organization has piloted. This empowers trainees to obtain higher-skilled and high-wage careers. “Think of it as...
Uniting Detroit: The Power of Community in the Fight Against Community Violence
Councilwoman Mary Sheffield kicked off the 10th Annual Occupy The Corner event on June 16th on the corner of Chene & Robert Bradby Drive. This event focuses on serving communities suffering from gun violence. Its organizers offer essential support, resources, and hope to alleviate challenges that are often the precursor to crime. Food, refreshments, entertainment, and giveaways were offered as a way to foster positive engagement. Several organizations, including...
Outlier Media: Empowering Communities through News & Media Access
Over the last seven years, Outlier Media established itself as a unique nonprofit newsroom, earning its “Outlier” moniker and growing a diverse list of supporters. Rather than simply raising public awareness, the organization provides practical solutions to address the needs of Detroit residents in critical times. The work starts by equipping communities with trustworthy information. Sarah Alvarez, Outlier’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief, explains how Outlier Media separates itself from...
Michigan Startups Collaborate to Compete
Michigan Tech Week, designed to showcase and strengthen the state’s high-growth tech ecosystem, invited founders to join a pitch competition that was all about teamwork. “In a typical pitch competition, there’s one winner, and you’ve got all these other entrepreneurs, equally as deserving, walking away,” said Trista Van Tine, cofounder of the Michigan Founders Fund, which developed the competition. “Yes, they’ve gotten exposure, but nothing tangible to help them...
Radical Testimony at a Court Takeover
Inside a space where a judge can determine a person’s future, RE:CLAIM gathered artists, performers, and community members to imagine new possibilities. Designed to promote dialogue about the carceral system’s harmful effects on youth, RE:CLAIM (“Rooted Exhibition: Community, Love, Abundance, Intergenerational, Multiplicity”) was an eight-week art exhibition at the Washtenaw County Courthouse in downtown Ann Arbor. The program included three live events held in and...