Introduction - page 15

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.

Self Determination and collective responsibility are pillars in the principles of Kwanzaa, but also ethics of life. Dwan Dandridge’s work with Black Leaders Detroit challenges Black people to delve deeper into our resources to resource our organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Dwan’s story of arriving in this space is a mix of commitment to community, development of a business, and passion for supporting Black people. Dwan’s dynamic journey to founding and leading Black Leaders Detroit began from his testimony in learning best practices to build infrastructures that can empower others and support families. We talk about George Washington, San Antonio, School to Prison Pipeline, and even Detroit is Different’s original guest Malik Yakini. Dive deep into the mind of an authentic and collaborative thinker in Dwan Dandridges’ Detroit is Different feature. 

Community leadership in Detroit looks in many ways. Jeff Jones is stepping into an uncommon community leadership position a community resident leading a community development corporation. Hope Village Revitalization is the community development corporation Jeff Jones now leads as President/CEO. He has spent his whole life walking around, talking with, and enjoying the residents of the HVR community. Formerly the organization’s board president, he now proudly assumes the role of President and CEO. Jeff’s passion for the community and what can be done is abundant. Witnessing the changes that have impacted the quality of life for HVR residents and the welcoming of more renters into a traditional home ownership area are concepts Jeff understands and intimately knows. Jeff shares what to expect from HVR in the future with personality, honesty, and enthusiasm.

Ph.D. studies are immersive. Dr. Carl Taylor stands as a native Detroiter that’s traveled the world as a professor, writer, and researcher. To many across Detroit, he is an ally to brothers like Yusef Bunchy Shakur. As Yusef is moving closer to completing his Ph.D., his relationship and bond with Dr. Taylor have strengthened. This Detroit is Different was a special feature welcoming you as a guest to a conversation shared about the ways the community has changed. The concept of the Third City and the Third Hood are highlighted. This discussion is a preview of the State of Black Detroit Address hosted on Friday, December 30, 2022, at the Mama Akua Community House.

Marvin Elliot is the owner of the Green House, where the Means Logistical Park is being built around his residency. Marvin shares his story of how a development imposed upon his neighborhood has ruined his quality of life. This was a powerful one-on-one discussion of how corporations violently engage communities like Highland Park and Detroit.