“We can’t just walk up in people’s neighborhoods and not come the right way—it’s not going to end well for you.” In this Detroit is Different conversation, Marlin Williams—Founder of Intentional Technology and the force behind Sisters Code—shows why tech decisions are really decisions about people, power, and legacy. From Alabama roots to growing up on Commonwealth and Six Mile/Outer Drive, Marlin traces how Legacy Black Culture travels: migration, church, cousins, and the “nice to be nice” relationship code. She remembers entrepreneurship before the label—Amway, pots-and-pans parties my parents held—and says the real lesson was making folks feel “like they’re the only person in the room.” Then she takes us into Cass Tech, FAMU freedom, Wayne State, and Compuware’s 13-week programming gauntlet—“seven languages in 13 weeks”—that launched her into building systems behind banking and auto. Marlin reflects on helping move Compuware downtown with community-minded intent, and how Sisters Code was born onstage when she saw people “getting left out.” Today, her mission is simple: be intentional—“make sure your work gets all you need”—so our organizations save time, money, and protect our peace for the future. Detroit’s past built it; our choices build tomorrow.

“You can be aware without being exposed.” That’s the kind of Detroit-grown wisdom Andre Ebron drops in this powerful studio conversation—equal parts laughter, truth-telling, and strategy for building environments where Black people can breathe and become. Andre traces his roots from Marion, Alabama through the Great Migration, the Boblo childhood memories, and landing in Detroit in 2004—“June 2004… I was there” at the Pistons championship rally—before pouring 21 years into youth, schools, nonprofits, and equity work. He breaks down why “poverty provides infrastructure for disaster,” and why mentorship can’t be performative: “Children don’t need another failed relationship in their life.” You’ll hear stories from classrooms where he refused to be the “heavy,” choosing restoration instead—“before you challenge, express concern and care”—and a reminder that legacy is built in choices: “If you have a chance to exit, exit because your life is worth it.” This episode connects Detroit’s past—migration, blocks, schools, survival—to our future: liberation-minded leadership that protects our kids, honors our elders, and grows Legacy Black Culture into a more intentional tomorrow.

“The Office of the Ombudsman was created to restore public trust and give the people a voice.” With those words, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, M.Ed., steps into her role as Detroit’s new City Ombudsman grounded in history, purpose, and lived experience. Established in 1974 in the aftermath of the 1967 uprising, the Office of the Ombudsman exists to serve as an independent advocate for residents and Detroit-based businesses navigating challenges with city departments. From water and sewerage concerns to property taxes, licensing, public works, and housing issues, the Ombudsman’s office is empowered by the City Charter with investigative and subpoena authority to ensure fairness, accountability, and justice. Drawing on decades of service as a city staffer, educator, legislator, school board candidate, and community leader, Gay-Dagnogo brings a people-centered approach focused on education, access, and systemic problem-solving. Her vision prioritizes meeting Detroiters where they are—both inside City Hall and out in neighborhoods—so residents understand their rights, the responsibilities of city departments, and how to resolve issues that impact their quality of life. Under her leadership, the Ombudsman’s office is positioned as a true champion for Detroiters, strengthening trust, transparency, and community well-being across the city.

“‘We said pledges about remembering our ancestors… loving Black (at Aisha Shule)” In this episode, Dr. Tierra Bills—Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Public Policy at UCLA—returns home through memory, tracing her family’s East Side roots and the African-centered foundation of Aisha Shule, where “as the daughter of one of the Walimu… I had to set the tone.” She honors Mama Easter’s “big presence” and the rituals that taught students their history “did not start with slavery,” then shows how that cultural grounding carried her from FAMU to UC Berkeley and into transportation engineering. Bills breaks down “mobility as a system,” asking not just how we travel, but “how easy can I get to my desired destinations?” and what happens when data, scooters, robots, and roadwork reshape daily life. From 696 detours to the I-375/Black Bottom rebuild, she insists engineers must measure real community impacts: “80% of the businesses will be shut down,” “your travel time has ballooned,” and “those who are bearing the worst impacts are those who are also most vulnerable.” It’s a Detroit legacy lesson—culture as preparation, and policy as repair—and an invitation to show up at public meetings.