Capturing the culture that makes Detroit what it is.

What is a Lot of Studio

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“We need to do something outside.” This is what Detroit is Different founder Khary Frazier will tell you when you ask about his big plans for the summer. Khary’s got a point — it’s the summer of 2021, and we’ve spent the past 14 months living, loving, struggling, recovering, fighting, healing, learning, grieving through a pandemic, and many of us may have spent a lot of that time indoors.

For you, maybe that’s meant looking into a computer screen, driving around in a car, lying in bed, sitting at a desk. For parents: homeschooling your kids through the online school. For kids: trying to be virtual students and classmates. For essential workers: going into work at risk. For creatives: being cut off from in-person collaborations. For caregivers of all kinds: providing for your loved ones while providing for yourself and your own wellness. For all of us: being separated from friends and family, and isolated from people and places that we love was difficult for many of us all …

At Detroit is Different, we’re emerging from this claustrophobic, isolating time with an eagerness to laugh, an urgency to do and create, and most of all, with a lot to say.

Here’s where Khary’s big summer plans come in. Starting on June 10th and running through the end of August, Detroit is Different will launch its first annual summer event series: a Lot of Studio. Located in the grassy lot just a few steps away from Detroit is Different incubator space, a Lot of Studio will give a new outdoor and in-person occasion for members of the community to enjoy each other’s company and creativity, breathe in the summer breeze, and of course, say what they want to say.

Structured like a live podcast and led by influential Detroiters as podcast hosts and featuring performances by Detroit-based artists, each event will be an oasis of creative expression and discussion. Of course, just as Detroit is Different is an incubator for Black culture and creativity, each a Lot of Studio itself will be a communal creation by and for Black Detroiters.

Each event will be what Khary calls a group podcast — hosts, guests, and audience will share in the podcast and performance experience together. Audience members are encouraged to contribute to what will be an open, fluid, and spontaneous conversation — so spontaneous that Khary doesn’t really know what each show will look like, and that’s what’s so exciting.

“It’ll be shocking,” he says. “We’ll be surprised where we end up. It’ll be about going with the flow and vibe of where people are and seeing what happens.” Every show will be different from the next, and probably different from what it was at the beginning.

Come to laugh, to speak, to eat, to listen, to learn, to teach. Come to take home vegetables from the Detroit is Different garden, maybe even catch the beginnings of summer sunsets behind the stage, and celebrate Detroit as the Black mecca that it is.

Thursday evenings, from June till August. Free and open to all. We’ll see you there!

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Anthony Adams and Why he thinks a Black City needs Black Leadership

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Anthony Adams experienced the height of Black excellence in Detroit. The politics, culture, arts, sports, business, law, and style making Detroit an international hub for Black Genius. Adams moved here in 1981 leaving Georgetown Law and soon worked under the Coleman Young administration. Hear all about the planning and development for commercial flights for City Airport, his work with the Mayor Kilpatrick Administration, and Urban Development in private practice. Also learn the catalyst and platform he wants for Detroit. Why Adams thinks race is always an American issue to be addressed head-on and Detroit’s value.

As a bonus in this interview, Anthony Adams describes the brilliance of Coleman Young’s negotiation skills for taxing Non-Resident Detroiters. He also gives the basic linear connection of how the agreed-upon lowering of the tax for more State revenue sharing was a dishonored deal by the State of Michigan. This is how the State of Michigan was in wrong for the Detroit bankruptcy because the State of Michigan owed Detroit MILLIONS of dollars from an unhonored deal of which Kevyn Orr (Jones Day) and Jennifer Granholm never explored. Learn why in this interview from Anthony Adams.

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Making of Manger on McNichols

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The Story of the album that took a decade to create featuring Jazz, Hip-hop, Soul, Gospel, and Detroit. Boldy James and Sterling Toles masterpiece Manger on McNichols is told in these in-depth interviews. Producer Sterling Toles shares the story of meeting Boldy James and crafting an orchestra arrangement around the heartfelt story of what led him into street life. The Manger on McNichols album is already acknowledged as one of the most dynamic and creative works of 2020. Introduce yourself to the collaborative brotherhood that created this expression of Detroit Life.

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Attorney Amale Knox on Listening creating Opportunity

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Amale Knox assists with getting people much needed Social Security benefits. There are many people unable to work facing disabilities physically and mentally. Attorney Knox is a resource for these people. She shares her journey into this work and why she stays dedicated to the work. She also opens up about attending Cass Tech and U of M. A lifetime learner and listener Attorney Knox opens up about her motivations. Listen to her path from the Eastside of Detroit through her career today.

M Squared the Emcee AKA Madison the Student

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Madison is also known as M Squared and performs Hip-hop. Her love for performance grew from performing for her family. Today she charts on Spotify with a mix of songs about being confident, growing up, and her style. Madison shares her perspective on balancing school and performance. Also, she speaks about her work with Mosaic Youth Theater. Madison also talks about how COVID-19 impacted her school year and how as a 12-year-old she handled it all. The discussion is also a deeper talk about the role of hip-hop and women for a young woman growing up like Madison.

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Monda Mims of Twice Ah Child Reborn Nursery

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Monda Mims is a true creative. Living blocks away from Detroit is Different incubator Monda is making lifelike infant dolls selling across the nation and world. What began as an interest has become a business. Today people call, request, and ask for Monda to make dolls in memory of their lost children, grown children, and for those who can’t have children themselves. Monda’s creativity began in fashion as a teenager customizing her clothes with cuts, glitter, and airbrush. When her family wondered why Monda was building a grander vision. This is also a discussion on building a business while working and engaging a customer base. Her experience as a stylist for years is explored as to how to grow business. This is a fun and eye-opening discussion into a world of arts I knew nothing of.

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Miguel of Sno-Hut

Miguel was born in Mississippi and as a child made his way to Detroit. Growing in Detroit in the late

Miguel of Sno-Hut

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Miguel was born in Mississippi and as a child made his way to Detroit. Growing in Detroit in the late 1970s and 80s he navigated a new reality in the world of the Urban metropolis through the landscape of the phenomenon which crack cocaine swept Black communities nationwide. Incarcerated his senior year of Central High School Miguel never graduated but learned valuable business lessons that he applies to his properties and Sno-Cone business today. This discussion opens up the relationship between opportunity, street business, and legit business and how learning from each have strengthened Miguel.

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Bayan Founas of Writing 4 Freedom

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Bayan Founas is an educator. The Writing 4 Freedom Teen Summer Camp is a vision independently funded and started by Bayan and community support. The Camp takes place at Nandi’s Knowledge Café every Thursday from July 4 pm – 7 pm and is free for all participants. Bayan’s commitment to creativity and camp is her connection to enjoying Summers in the mosque sharing camps with friends and family. This interview explores her interest, passion, and works in social justice and poetry. She shares how being a teacher in Harper Woods was the gateway to her creative voice in spoken word poetry. This is an interview that delves into history deep as well.

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