“I never ran for office thinking that I was going to be rich. I already knew. How did I know? Because your dad, my dad, we weren’t poor as folks would like to say. Folks don’t like to use the word poor anymore. But we weren’t in poverty, or we weren’t unfortunate in a lot of ways, but we weren’t rich. We still had tough times.” From family councils and tech legacies to state politics and AI innovations, Fred Durhal III’s life is a masterclass in leadership forged through Detroit’s unique cultural and political terrain. Raised in a family that counted MLK allies and owned tech firms before Black tech was a trend, Durhal says, “Public service was never a choice — it was a calling.” He shares how music shaped his leadership style, the reality of being a Black state rep under constant scrutiny, and why he’s running for mayor: “I want to rebuild Detroit through the strength of our families.” This Detroit is Different interview dives into roots, representation, and the relentless hope that fuels his vision.
Raised by Revolutionaries, Built for the Future: Fred Durhal III Is Running Detroit His Way
“I never ran for office thinking that I was going to be rich. I already knew. How did I know?
Raised by Revolutionaries, Built for the Future: Fred Durhal III Is Running Detroit His Way
Detroit’s Rock & Soul Rebel: Steffanie Christi’an on Music, Motherhood & Making It
“I sang before I could talk,” says Steffanie Christi’an, capturing the essence of a voice born in rhythm and raised
Detroit’s Rock & Soul Rebel: Steffanie Christi’an on Music, Motherhood & Making It
My Family Taught Me to Code: How Bryan Campbell Hacked Life and Built His Own Lane
“My grandmother taught me how to program when I was seven,” Bryan Campbell shares, setting the tone for a story
My Family Taught Me to Code: How Bryan Campbell Hacked Life and Built His Own Lane
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“I sang before I could talk,” says Steffanie Christi’an, capturing the essence of a voice born in rhythm and raised on soul. In this powerful Detroit is Different interview, Steffanie weaves a narrative of musical lineage rooted in Southfield, church choirs, and impromptu jam sessions with her grandfather who taught her guitar and blues. She reflects on her time at Aisha Shule, calling it “one of the most enlightening and enriching experiences in my life,” and opens up about the real grind behind artistry—from acapella basement recordings to demo sessions in New York. Her journey, blessed by mentors like Proof and molded by family legacy, affirms the beauty of persistence. “I always wanted to be Beyoncé before Beyoncé,” she laughs, before revealing how redefining success keeps her creating across genres, from rock and roll to house music with Inner City. As she puts it, “Rock and roll is just the blues sped up,” and Steffanie Christi’an’s story is a soundtrack of resilience, reinvention, and unapologetic Black womanhood in music.
“My grandmother taught me how to program when I was seven,” Bryan Campbell shares, setting the tone for a story that stretches from East Side Detroit roots to Silicon Valley boardrooms. In this powerful Detroit is Different interview, Bryan opens up about hacking school systems as a teenager, building websites for Michigan State before they even knew what email was, and becoming a key engineer behind ad systems that generated billions at Google. With family ties to tech pioneers and civil rights activism, Bryan’s journey includes personal battles—divorce, depression, and alcohol abuse—during his tenure at tech giants like Google and Amazon. Yet his story transforms when he returns to Detroit and builds his own firm, Pec Tech, from the ground up. “I didn’t walk away from Amazon; I walked toward healing,” Bryan says, reflecting on faith, failure, and finding purpose beyond corporate success.
“An abandoned house is not an abandoned house unless I see it as that.” In this soul-stirring Detroit is Different interview, Kim Sherobbi reflects on her lifelong commitment to community, tracing her purpose from childhood fashion shows on Bethune Street to founding the Birwood House as a space of radical love and collective leadership. Guided by a lineage of powerful Black women like her grandmother Lula White—”block club president for real”—and shaped by organizers like Ron Scott and the Boggs Center, Sherobbi affirms, “We can figure out how to go through this journey no matter what.” Her story illustrates how deeply community, family, and grief interweave into our purpose: “Community is big… people came to us and loved on us.” Through organizing block parties, teaching physical education with intention, and nurturing youth through programs like Community Lens, Kim lives the ethos that supporting others in finding their power is where transformation begins.
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Marriage Perfects Our Love
"The gift of marriage is realizing that love is perfected through understanding and patience. It`s about appreciating your partner`s strengths and working together for a stronger bond."
Detroit is Different episode 436 with Jasahn Larsosa
Building Love, Building Legacy: Jasahn Larsosa on the Power of Black Marriage
#MarriageJourney #LoveAndGrowth #PartnerAppreciation #DetroitIsDifferent
Marriage Perfects Our Love
"The gift of marriage is realizing that love is perfected through understanding and patience. It`s about appreciating your partner`s strengths and working together for a stronger bond."
Detroit is Different episode 436 with Jasahn Larsosa
Building Love, Building Legacy: Jasahn Larsosa on the Power of Black Marriage
#MarriageJourney #LoveAndGrowth #PartnerAppreciation #DetroitIsDifferent
Sacrificing for the Village True Leadership Defined
"Leadership isn`t just about caring for your own family; it`s about the sacrifice you make for the entire village. We failed if the streets aren`t safe for every child." - Insights from Fred Durhal III. Discover what true community leadership looks like and how we can build a brighter future for all generations to come.
Detroit is Different episode 444 with Fred Durhal III
Raised by Revolutionaries, Built for the Future: Fred Durhal III Is Running Detroit His Way
#CommunityLeadership #DetroitStrong #Fred Durhal III #2025DetroitMayoralElection #DetroitMayor
Sacrificing for the Village True Leadership Defined
"Leadership isn`t just about caring for your own family; it`s about the sacrifice you make for the entire village. We failed if the streets aren`t safe for every child." - Insights from Fred Durhal III. Discover what true community leadership looks like and how we can build a brighter future for all generations to come.
Detroit is Different episode 444 with Fred Durhal III
Raised by Revolutionaries, Built for the Future: Fred Durhal III Is Running Detroit His Way
#CommunityLeadership #DetroitStrong #Fred Durhal III #2025DetroitMayoralElection #DetroitMayor
Busy People Developing Future Leaders through the Lens
"Have you ever heard a busy person? If you wanna get something done, you deal with a busy person." Explore how the Community Lens initiative is empowering young people to develop their leadership skills by engaging with their communities. Discover more insights from my interview with Kim Sherobbi on Detroit is Different.
Detroit is Different episode 441 with Kim Sherobbi
Community is the Curriculum: Kim Sherobbi on Legacy, Leadership, and Love
#LeadershipDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #FutureLeaders #DetroitIsDifferent
Busy People Developing Future Leaders through the Lens
"Have you ever heard a busy person? If you wanna get something done, you deal with a busy person." Explore how the Community Lens initiative is empowering young people to develop their leadership skills by engaging with their communities. Discover more insights from my interview with Kim Sherobbi on Detroit is Different.
Detroit is Different episode 441 with Kim Sherobbi
Community is the Curriculum: Kim Sherobbi on Legacy, Leadership, and Love
#LeadershipDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #FutureLeaders #DetroitIsDifferent
Highland Park—LET`S LIGHT IT UP
The Streetlight Flashlight Block Party is taking over Louise St (between 2nd & 3rd) on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 8 PM.
We’re celebrating community power, clean energy, and Black joy with:
Live Funkadelic/Parliament musicians
Free BBQ and cookout vibes
Group Dance sessions
Community Yoga
Hundreds of solar flashlights lighting the block
It’s not just a party—it’s a stand for energy democracy. Come shine with us, Highland Park.
Location: Highland Park, MI 48203
More info: info@detroitisdifferent.com
Presented by: Soulardarity + Detroit is Different
#FlashlightPartyHP #BlackJoy #EnergyDemocracy #HighlandParkEvents #Soulardarity #DetroitIsDifferent
Highland Park—LET`S LIGHT IT UP
The Streetlight Flashlight Block Party is taking over Louise St (between 2nd & 3rd) on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 8 PM.
We’re celebrating community power, clean energy, and Black joy with:
Live Funkadelic/Parliament musicians
Free BBQ and cookout vibes
Group Dance sessions
Community Yoga
Hundreds of solar flashlights lighting the block
It’s not just a party—it’s a stand for energy democracy. Come shine with us, Highland Park.
Location: Highland Park, MI 48203
More info: info@detroitisdifferent.com
Presented by: Soulardarity + Detroit is Different
#FlashlightPartyHP #BlackJoy #EnergyDemocracy #HighlandParkEvents #Soulardarity #DetroitIsDifferent
Family Ties to the Levins
"When my Grandmother remarried, she married a gentleman by the name of Orange Jenkins." Explore the intricate connections between family ties and political legacy in Detroit as narrated by Kristian Hill. Discover how the journey of the Levin family left an indelible mark on the city`s cultural and social landscape.
From Mumford to Movement: Kristian Hill on Techno, Legacy, and Telling Detroit’s Truth
Detroit is Different episode 434 with Kristian Hill
#DetroitHistory #FamilyLegacy #CulturalConnections #PoliticalTies
Family Ties to the Levins
"When my Grandmother remarried, she married a gentleman by the name of Orange Jenkins." Explore the intricate connections between family ties and political legacy in Detroit as narrated by Kristian Hill. Discover how the journey of the Levin family left an indelible mark on the city`s cultural and social landscape.
From Mumford to Movement: Kristian Hill on Techno, Legacy, and Telling Detroit’s Truth
Detroit is Different episode 434 with Kristian Hill
#DetroitHistory #FamilyLegacy #CulturalConnections #PoliticalTies
Unity & Liberation the Stand for Oneness
"Making sure that we are one by any means necessary." Dive into a compelling story of unity and liberation as experienced by Piranhahead in Detroit recording Mollywop`s `Stand Up!` album. Discover how a gathering of like-minded individuals transformed the Rust Belt into a scene of cultural awakening and empowerment.
Frequency of Black Excellence: Piranhahead’s Soundscape of Detroit
Detroit is Different episode 431 with Piranhahead
#Unity #Liberation #CulturalAwakening #DetroitVoices
Unity & Liberation the Stand for Oneness
"Making sure that we are one by any means necessary." Dive into a compelling story of unity and liberation as experienced by Piranhahead in Detroit recording Mollywop`s `Stand Up!` album. Discover how a gathering of like-minded individuals transformed the Rust Belt into a scene of cultural awakening and empowerment.
Frequency of Black Excellence: Piranhahead’s Soundscape of Detroit
Detroit is Different episode 431 with Piranhahead
#Unity #Liberation #CulturalAwakening #DetroitVoices
Police Brutality in 90s New York, a Personal Story
"At the subway station, 125th in Lennox. And bro, that changed my whole game about New York." Discover the impactful story of resilience in Kristian Hill`s journey from New York to Los Angeles following a life-altering encounter with police brutality. Tune into the latest Detroit is Different interview to hear the full account of navigating personal challenges in an unforgiving urban landscape.
From Mumford to Movement: Kristian Hill on Techno, Legacy, and Telling Detroit’s Truth
Detroit is Different episode 434 with Kristian Hill
#PoliceBrutality #NewYorkHistory #PersonalStories #ResilienceNarratives
Police Brutality in 90s New York, a Personal Story
"At the subway station, 125th in Lennox. And bro, that changed my whole game about New York." Discover the impactful story of resilience in Kristian Hill`s journey from New York to Los Angeles following a life-altering encounter with police brutality. Tune into the latest Detroit is Different interview to hear the full account of navigating personal challenges in an unforgiving urban landscape.
From Mumford to Movement: Kristian Hill on Techno, Legacy, and Telling Detroit’s Truth
Detroit is Different episode 434 with Kristian Hill
#PoliceBrutality #NewYorkHistory #PersonalStories #ResilienceNarratives
Get ready for a front-row seat to the stories behind the stars — the mothers who molded greatness. In this exclusive Detroit is Different trailer, meet the women whose love, grit, and guidance helped shape NFL legends and cultural icons. Featuring MaBus (Jerome Bettis), MaSpice (Spice Adams), Mama Mia (Khalid Hill), and Tracie Robinson (Allen Robinson II), this emotional and uplifting preview teases an unforgettable panel moderated by Detroit’s own Coco and Rev. Dr. Mayowa Reynolds. From the front porches of the D to the bright lights of the big leagues, these mamas drop gems, laughter, and truths you won’t hear anywhere else. Watch the full conversation only on Detroit is Different — hit YouTube and subscribe now!
Get ready for a front-row seat to the stories behind the stars — the mothers who molded greatness. In this exclusive Detroit is Different trailer, meet the women whose love, grit, and guidance helped shape NFL legends and cultural icons. Featuring MaBus (Jerome Bettis), MaSpice (Spice Adams), Mama Mia (Khalid Hill), and Tracie Robinson (Allen Robinson II), this emotional and uplifting preview teases an unforgettable panel moderated by Detroit’s own Coco and Rev. Dr. Mayowa Reynolds. From the front porches of the D to the bright lights of the big leagues, these mamas drop gems, laughter, and truths you won’t hear anywhere else. Watch the full conversation only on Detroit is Different — hit YouTube and subscribe now!