Large groups of teenagers have been gathering in downtown Detroit organized on TikTok and Snapchat. It’s part of a national trend being called “teen takeovers.” Most of the kids were just hanging out. But some of these gatherings turned chaotic. There have been brawls, vandalism, and an attempted robbery on Woodward. On April 11, a gun was fired, though no one was hurt.

Two of the 16-year-olds who organized the first gathering sat next to Mayor Mary Sheffield at a press conference last week. Daveion Page said he did it because he was bored. Danasha’ Tidwell said the violence that followed was “harmful and very unacceptable.”

Where can Detroit kids go to be safe and have fun? And, what’s the responsibility of a city to help grow and develop young people? 

Jerjuan Howard is the first director of Detroit’s new Office of Youth Affairs. He’s also an Army veteran, founder of the Umoja Debate League, and the owner of a new bookstore on Puritan Avenue. He spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

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This summer, up to 200 Detroit high school students will have the chance to turn their creativity into a paycheck.

Through the Summer Arts Employment Training program, also known as SAET, young people ages 14 to 17 will receive hands-on arts training, while gaining real-world job experience. 

The program is led by Heritage Works in partnership with Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), along with Grow Detroit’s Young Talent and over 10 arts groups across the city.

Program leaders say the goal is simple: to create pathways to success. The program runs from late June through mid-August with funding support from the State of Michigan and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent.

Nafeesah Symonette is the co-founder and executive director of DEYA.  Alvin “AJ” Lockett is the founder of Que Blackout Youth Theater. Both joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about summer jobs and having a space for teens to learn and grow.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Strokes start off today’s set fresh off their tour announcement with an upcoming stop at Pine Knob Music Theatre. From there, the playlist leans into indie and alternative tracks with Tame Impala, Pixies, Sonic Youth, R.E.M., and U2, alongside Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Clinic. 

The mix moves from Prince & The Revolution, Mount Kimbie, and Commodo into jazz, soul, and electronic sounds from BADBADNOTGOOD, KAYTRANADA, and Donald Byrd. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 14, 2026 

• “Reptilia” – The Strokes 

• “Going Shopping” – The Strokes 

• “Elephant” – Tame Impala 

• “Tame” – Pixies 

• “Incinerate” – Sonic Youth 

• “Mister Moonlight” – Clinic 

• “Almost Cut My Hair” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 

• “Ffunny Ffriends” – Unknown Mortal Orchestra 

• “Old Myth Dying” – Wendy Eisenberg 

• “Sunday Bloody Sunday” – U2 

• “Radio Free Europe” – R.E.M. 

• “She’s Always in My Hair (New Mix)” – Prince & The Revolution 

• “A Figure in the Surf” – Mount Kimbie 

• “Deep Harbour (feat. Alfa Mist)” – Commodo 

• “Messenger” – Daniel Villarreal 

• “Midnight Rendezvous” – Casiopea 

• “The Time Curve Preludes: No. 2 —” – Katia & Marielle Labèque 

• “Caroline” – Arlo Parks 

• “Lavender (feat. KAYTRANADA)” – BADBADNOTGOOD 

• “Get a Move On!” – Mr. Scruff 

• “Inside You” – Eddie Henderson 

• “Somewhere Good” – Tara Clerkin Trio 

• “Desire” – Cleo Sol 

• “Far Cry” – Resavoir 

• “Uirapurú” – Fabiano do Nascimento & Vittor Santos e Orquestra 

• “Mother’s Arms” – Ni Maxine 

• “Japan Greatly (feat. Reek0 and S.I)” – IZCO 

• “Harlem River Drive” – Bobbi Humphrey 

• “Lansana’s Priestess” – Donald Byrd 

• “Better Than Ever” – Liz Cooper 

• “Jeannie Becomes a Mom” – Caroline Rose 

• “Beige 70 (Domenique Dumont Bilingual Remix)” – Cola Boyy 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.