“When we first started this, we were up against a powerful current—guys just around the corner selling dope, others robbing folks. Meanwhile, we were giving out book bags and feeding people. And slowly they began putting the dope away, putting their guns down, and coming over—not because we preached at them, but because we showed them love,” Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur. In less than 30 minutes, this powerful interview between Khary Frazier of Detroit is Different and Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur, Executive Director of the Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities, reveals how two decades of love, resistance, and vision have transformed Detroit’s Zone 8 through the Ava Joe and Durron Festival & Backpack Giveaway. With over 30,000 backpacks distributed, a crack house turned community hub, and the memory of elders guiding the way, this story is a blueprint for building a just and beloved community. It’s raw, real, and rooted in the grit, dignity, and joy of Black Detroit. Watch this and be inspired to plant seeds and pour water where you stand.

“You gotta lead with your curiosity if you want to build a platform.” That’s just one of the gems Denzell Turner drops in this in-depth Detroit is Different episode hosted by Khary Frazier. Denzell—founder of the Black Fridays Podcast—shares his journey from growing up on Ashbury Park, surrounded by four generations under one roof, to crafting media that speaks directly to Black Detroit’s present and future. The conversation digs deep into how Turner’s experiences at Cass Tech, U of M, and the Midnight Golf Program shaped not only his understanding of business and marketing but his mission to amplify Detroit’s underrepresented voices. “I had to figure out how to put the Denzell spin on it,” he says, recalling his inspiration from Earn Your Leisure. With a studio of his own, a new podcasting course, and nearly a million impressions across his content, Denzell is part of a new wave of Legacy Detroiters transforming the creative economy. This episode is a full-circle moment—documenting a Detroit story generations deep, with a future rooted in cultural storytelling and community power.

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.