Article and Photos by Kahn Santori

Over 1,000 patrons attended the 3rd annual “Collard Green Cook Off” on Saturday, July 26 at the Samaritan Center’s Wellness Center Gym on Detroit’s east side. The culinary contest featured Chef Bee of Sisters on Roll, Kenyatta Brown of Delectable Goods, Chef Moe Vito of A Thoughtful Plate LLC, Josmine Evans of Indigo Culinary Co., Lavon Jones of Unique Eats, Chef Terri of Trendy Celebrations, and Chef Kisha of Ms. Kisha’s Kitchen in a winner take all cook-off.

The event was produced and organized by Khary Frazier, the founder of Detroit is Different media content and cultural events group. He started the event after a conversation with his grandmother nudged him into thinking of a way to combine creativity and urban farming. The event partner is the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund of which all greens in the Cook-Off are grown on DBFLF farms. The growers are Mr. Willie of WJP Farms; Mama Jerry of Oakland Ave Farms; Donnie Jones of Occupy Yourself; Mama Tree of Treetop Farms; and Romondo of Urban Youth Agriculture.

“The inception of that idea actually started in the 2010s. I didn’t bring it to life till I was doing our ‘a lot of studio’ project which was bringing to life a production studio and a soundstage studio in the urban garden that we had,” says Frazier. “I was giving away a lot of collard greens, hosting podcast discussions, and a lot of people were performing and that combination for year 1 and 2, 2021 and 2022. For year 2023 I said, ‘We want to close with the Collard Green Cook-off.’”

“To actually dream is crazy… you gotta have something wrong with you to really do something you’ve never seen done before.” In this soul-stirring Detroit is Different conversation, Khary Frazier sits down with Desmond “Clever” Lester—media innovator, promoter, and community connector whose journey from Joy Rd to Oak Park and the airwaves of Detroit radio has shaped a legacy of creativity and resilience. Clever shares powerful reflections about Black Detroit’s deep Southern roots, his family’s move from Nashville in 1959, and the vibrant culture of neighborhoods that felt like home, not “the hood.” From interning at WJLB under Chris Kelly to launching Clever Vision and co-creating events that brought a new wave of comedy and culture to the D, Lester opens up about his calling as a storyteller and his commitment to showing love to the community—like giving up prom money to help after his house burned down. “The barbershop used to be our church,” he says, explaining the origin of The Fellowship—a monthly men’s gathering rooted in integrity and brotherhood. Packed with humor, Detroit history, real game about promotion and production, and heart-wrenching stories like his father’s Olympic boxing dreams cut short, this episode is a tribute to the past and a call for Black Detroiters to honor, heal, and build the future together. “Perception is reality,” Lester says—so listen close, and see legacy in motion.

“We love some collard greens. Black folks love collard greens.” – Khary Frazier. In this deeply flavorful episode of Detroit is Different, the mic flips as host and producer Amber Ewing interviews Khary Frazier—founder of Detroit is Different and creator of the Collard Green Cook-Off—about the cultural power and future of this beloved community gathering. From Chandler Park to ancestral Vicksburg, Mississippi, Khary roots the cook-off in Black agricultural legacy, experiential marketing, and family storytelling: “The collard green traveled with us during the Middle Passage. That’s our culture in every leaf.” They explore how a dish once dismissed by colonizers now brings together urban farmers, soul food chefs, and thousands of Detroiters in celebration. With over 480 pounds of greens, a live show, and a judging panel featuring Detroit legends like Howie Bell, Coco, and Orlando Bailey, the 2025 Cook-Off is more than food—it’s a movement. The conversation dives into creativity (yes, collard green sushi), cultural pride, regional expansion, and the power of turning “slop” into sacred. This episode embodies what it means to honor Legacy Black Detroit—by nourishing body, memory, and future through community.

“Detroit gives me free concerts, the architecture, the river — I told my friends, ‘Detroit got this.’” In this rich and inspiring episode of Detroit is Different, Cheryl Ajamu joins Khary Frazier to share her journey from Memphis to the woman behind the revival of the Detroit Football Classic. Cheryl is the Owner & Executive Producer for the 2025 Detroit Football Classic August 30, 1pm at Ford Field, Central State University vs Kentucky State University. Cheryl recounts arriving in Detroit in 1996 and falling in love with the city’s cultural soul—its historic architecture, its cooler summers, and its abundance of free concerts: “95 is much better than a hundred.” From ad sales at BET Detroit to helping promote the city’s neo-soul underground through Urban Organic, she describes how she “lived on both sides of the equation”—connecting Black creatives with major brands while keeping community at the center. But this story isn’t just about the past; it’s a roadmap for the future. Cheryl discusses ownership, empowerment, and strategy as she brings back the Classic—not as a nostalgic tribute, but as a declaration of Black cultural and economic power in Detroit. “I own this,” she says proudly, marking her place in a space traditionally dominated by men. This episode weaves Detroit’s historical Black pride—from Paradise Valley to Motown to the architecture she once explored alone—into a call for intentional cultural preservation, community building, and ownership. Cheryl’s story is a powerful reminder that Detroit’s legacy isn’t just history—it’s still in the making.