January 2023

Gaining an understanding of Detroit culture has grounded Jeremiah Staes for a lifetime. Living a life in a majority Black populated and politically influenced city gives Jeremiah a different perspective on Metro Detroit. A Mother that passed at a young age and a Father that was a visual artist added to Jeremiah’s connection to the city. Raised in the culture of Detroit’s artisan class of the 80s and 90s impacted his belief in arts, his need for culture, and his love for the city. We discuss the start of Daily Detroit and how independent media is Different than traditional media. From years of experience working in TV news, he knows the depth of understanding that most Detroit news needs. The lens of race and class color all Detroit issues, and exploring them are imperative. In this interview, we talk about content. Why giving voice to Detroit stories is essential too. Check out the full Detroit is Different feature of Daily Detroit founder Jeremiah Staes.

The Sweet Spot of the Avenue of Fashions is Good Cakes and Bakes. April Anderson loved baking sweets and witnessing people fall in love with her gift. After college, career, grad school, and marriage, she makes the entrepreneurial leap. Her story is about learning to develop quality sweets and business systems and enjoying the process. April’s understanding of where she fits into her business is explored here. Many gems are shared about money, time, family, and balancing the self.

December 30, 2022 Author Yusef Bunchy Shakur of Community Movement Builders delivered his second annual State of Black Detroit. The address was moderated by Khary Frazier of Detroit is Different. The State of Black Detroit Address was live at the Mama Akua Community House. The address explored: Family & Relationships; Education & Youth; Health & Aging; Housing & Public Spaces; Leadership & Legacy; Non-Profit Organizations & Community Groups; and Business & Entrepreneurship.

Mission, vision, and purpose are associated with organizational development. Racheal Allen has spent a lifetime re-entering herself around these concepts. Racheal’s journey from Southern California to Detroit Eastside’s Sojourner Truth homes is a start to a grand understanding of the Detroit Community. Racheal is a Margrove graduate and now works on the campus of Marygrove, bringing to life the business dreams of others. In this interview, her experience as a daughter, mother, manager, salesperson, wife, and creative are expressed in love. Learn so much more behind the mind of a woman advocating empowering Black women entrepreneurs through Operation School.

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a platform where we can teach and learn with each other in ways that allow us to investigate ourselves and our communities. This creates pathways toward solving problems collectively rather than waiting for others to solve them. The Disco Tech allowed families to engage with electronics, the internet, the community, media, and public policy inside their community. At Alkebu-Lan Village on Detroit’s Eastside, attendants had the bonus of delicious vegan pizza from its Food Detroit and roller skating to enjoy their time. Detroit is Different was there to gather perspective from a series of attendants creatively offering this dynamic event.