Detroit is Different

  • Latest episode: “Detroit is the Mecca for Pan-African Thought and Action: Baba Mike Anderson on New Afrika”
  • Latest episode: “From Road Rallies to Public Service: Mallory McMorrow’s Michigan Story”
  • Latest episode: “Freedom Fighter is in My Blood: Jenell Mansfield”

  • Latest episode: “Detroit is the Mecca for Pan-African Thought and Action: Baba Mike Anderson on New Afrika”
  • Latest episode: “From Road Rallies to Public Service: Mallory McMorrow’s Michigan Story”
  • Latest episode: “Freedom Fighter is in My Blood: Jenell Mansfield”

“If you don’t impact your environment, your environment’s going to impact you.” That’s how Glenn Wilson, President and CEO of Communities First Inc., sets the tone in this powerful Detroit is Different episode. What started as a casual connection in New Orleans blossoms into a deeply honest conversation about housing, healing, and hope. Glenn shares the raw journey from surviving a childhood house fire in Flint to leading a multi-state nonprofit developing thousands of affordable housing units. From reflections on faith—”Statistically, I shouldn’t be here”—to breaking down what “capital stack” really means in community development, this interview is a must-listen. With tales of hot plates on broken stoves, bird nests in rooftops, and turning trauma into mission, Glenn reminds us: “The very things we take for granted are the very things people pray for.” This is about more than real estate—this is about legacy, trust, and doing the work. “It’s not about being a gatekeeper. It’s about being a gate opener.”