The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, or ACCESS, has recently launched a new caregiver respite care program called EXHALE. It’s funded through a $300,000 grant for three years.

Amne Darwish-Talab is the director of Social Services at ACCESS, and she oversees EXHALE. She says the new program supports caregivers through bi-monthly gatherings, connecting to resources and recreational outings.

“We want to do all this with the aim of the program by having caregivers of all backgrounds join fellow caregivers twice a month for connection and support from health providers and other experts,” she shares.

Talab says the program aims to break stigma and stereotypes around caregiving in a culturally sensitive environment. She says in the Arab American culture, caregiving is a family obligation. 

“There’s a stigma around having a non-family member taking care of the elderly in the family, or this also extends to the notion of even placing an elderly in a facility such as a nursing home or rehab or any type of living where they’re going to be living away from the family,” she says. 

Talab says many times family members get burned out and need extra support, but people are hesitant to ask for help for fear of judgement. The EXHALE program aims to overcome stigma by connecting people to culturally appropriate supplemental resources and assistance as needed.

“Society is changing, and the duties of the children or grandchildren or daughters-in-law, or whoever it may be, or siblings, has changed, because the lifestyles have changed, and now most of the family members are working. And sometimes they’re forced to reach out for assistance for their caregiving,” she explains. 

Through the EXHALE program, caregivers receive an annual stipend.

The grant was awarded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. ACCESS partnered with the Senior Alliance for this support group.

For more information, visit bit.ly/ExhaleProgram.

Several Syrian Americans gathered in Dearborn on Sunday to celebrate the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

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Syria has been in a civil war for over 13 years, with over half a million people killed and thousands displaced. The Associated Press reports that the fall came after a 10-day offensive by rebel groups who took over cities like Damascus.

Many of the more than 1,000 Syrian Americans who gathered in Dearborn on Sunday said they have been afraid to travel back to Syria for years, CBS News reports.

President Joe Biden called Assad’s fall a “fundamental act of justice,” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” adding that rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions.

Russia media say Assad has fled to Moscow with his family and received asylum from his longtime ally.

The leader of Syria’s biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is now poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaida commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N.

In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the Umayyad Mosque and described Assad’s fall as “a victory to the Islamic nation.”

Associated Press writers AbdulRahman Shaheen, Sarah El Deeb and Abby Sewell contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024:

• State Sen. Stephanie Chang is hosting a workshop from 12:30-3 p.m. this Saturday offering free legal assistance for people applying for U.S. citizenship.
• Detroit residents are invited to learn about the development progress of the 22-acre Rogell Park site at a community meeting set for 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Detroit Service Learning Academy. Reserve your spot at bit.ly/rogell.
• D’Artillery in Hamtramck is hosting its annual Global Holiday Market from 2-6 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 15, featuring handmade gifts from local women artisans.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging has released new findings about the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren and the link between mental health and loneliness.

Kate Bauer is an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She spoke with WDET about the survey’s results and the changing roles grandparents are playing in their grandchildren’s lives.

Listen: Survey finds grandparents are most common child care providers in US

“Grandparents today [are] younger than ever before. They’re healthier than ever before, and they’re really involved in their grandchildren’s lives in lots of different ways,” Bauer said.

The survey looks at the different ways grandparents and grandkids connect. Bauer says grandparents are providing more care for their grandkids than any other form of child care, largely in part due to child care services closures during COVID.

“One of the first findings is that we identified that individuals with grandchildren and those who saw their grandchildren more often were less likely to say that they felt isolated and they reported stronger mental health,” she said.

Bauer says child care is expensive in Michigan and across the U.S. and grandparents are filling a critical need as child care providers — sometimes as their primary caregivers, especially in Southeastern Michigan and Detroit.

“Twenty percent of all grandparents with grandchildren under 18 are providing regular child care for their grandchildren, and 8% are providing daily or near-daily child care,” she said.

Bauer says it’s important to support grandparents and the changing nature of the roles they play in their grandkids’s lives — noting that it’s also important to not overly burden older adults.

“[We] want to make sure that we are supporting those grandparents right, and that it’s not an undue burden on them, that they’re taking care of their own needs, and maybe, you know, especially with grandparents who may have a spouse, they’re also watching after,” she said.

Studies found that 6% of Black and Hispanic grandparents live with their grandchildren.

Bauer says positive impacts of grandparents taking care of grandchildren include positive mental health and cognitive health. However, grandparents who watch their grandkids for 40 hours or more a week need more support and may be overburdened.

“There is one study from a few years ago that once those burdens of grandparent caregiving become too excessive, that grandparents’ risk of cardiovascular disease increases,” she said.

Finding a middle ground is ideal.

“I think there are policies and supports in the community that we can provide families to make sure that grandparents are providing the level of care that works for them, and it’s not an excessive burden,” she said.

The Wayne State College of Nursing has trained about 600 individuals in Mental Health First Aid protocols through a $1.5 million grant.

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The trainees took classes from 2022-2024. College of Nursing Professor Dr. Cynthera McNeill says the courses were part of a larger effort to break the stigma around mental health, including in communities where there’s a shortage of mental health professionals.

“Rather than just show up and collect research data, we were given the opportunity to provide education and skills that enable community members to take action and serve as a bridge between those dealing with mental health troubles and the services they need,” McNeill said.

The trainees work with community-based organizations to educate others. In August, the college won another $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health to focus on reducing barriers to colorectal cancer screening and opioid drug overdose prevention — which McNeil says will also include mental health first aid courses.  

The trainings are being held in collaboration with African American and Middle Eastern North African (MENA) community organizations to provide culturally competent care. 

Other headlines for Monday, Dec. 2, 2024:

• A bill introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives would require commercial health insurance plans to cover long-term treatment for brain injuries from diseases, strokes, and falls.
• Several community health centers in Detroit will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this week to assist with Medicare enrollment before the enrollment period ends Dec. 7.
• The city of Detroit’s District 4 will host a charter-mandated community meeting on from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, to share updates and resources from city departments. The meeting will take place both on Zoom and in person at the Detroit Burns Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 10125 E Warren Ave., Detroit.
• It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging people to get the flu vaccine before the holiday season.
• It’s also Older Driver Safety Awareness week. The Michigan Department of State provides resources to keep drivers educated and safe, regardless of their age.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Overdose deaths in Michigan decreased last year by nearly 6%, with 2,826 deaths recorded compared to 2,998 deaths in 2022, according to state data.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports that overdose deaths have fallen five times faster than the national average since 2021.

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Dearborn Health Department Director Ali Abazeed says the prevalence of overdose-reversing medication like naloxone has played a big role in those reductions. The Health Department alone dispensed 8,000 units of Narcan in the past two years through a vending machine at the Dearborn train station.

“We made it so that people know where it’s at, how to get it,” he said. “…and then paired it with instructional videos — both in Arabic and in English — to show what you should do if you come across someone who’s experiencing an overdose.”

Abazeed says one goal is to reduce the stigma and shame associated with drug overdoses. 

Steve Norris, director of Overdose Prevention and Recovery Support at the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, spoke with The Metro Producer Sam Corey this week about how similar intervention programs are helping reduce opioid deaths throughout metro Detroit.

“(I)f you look at the highest rate of incidents, our two major areas of concern are Pontiac and Waterford Township,” said Norris. “So those are where we’re really seeing significant numbers and reduction, and that’s where we’ve put a lot of our emphasis.”

Public health measures like Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which distributes the life-saving drug to community groups for free in high-risk areas, have also played a part in reducing opioid-related deaths. Other harm-reduction measures include increasing access to fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, allowing drug users to test for these dangerous substances and reduce their risk of accidental overdose.

Still, while the latest trends in overdose deaths are promising, the racial gaps continue. Based on 2023 provisional data from MDHHS, Black residents are 2.8 times more likely to die of an overdose than white residents, with American Indian/Alaska Native residents 2.2 times more likely.

MDHHS says the agency is taking a “data-driven approach” to ensure substance use disorder funding reaches communities with the highest need.

WDET’s John Filbrandt contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Monday, Nov. 25, 2024:

• The National Poll on Healthy Aging released a new study on how grandparents are impacted by their grandkids, and found they can improve mental health and reduce loneliness.
• The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has unveiled a new air monitoring dashboard called MiAir, providing Michigan residents with real-time air quality data and historical trends.
• The Detroit City Council heard public comments Monday on a measure to prevent the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a new “bootcamp” for women entrepreneurs in Dearborn; the death of Michigan State University’s first Black president; local halal food drives for Thanksgiving and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Dearborn launches ‘Business Bootcamp’ for women 

Applications are now open for a new eight-week boot camp for female
entrepreneurs in Dearborn. The City of Dearborn’s Dearborn WORKS
and the Arab American Women’s Business Council (AAWBC) created the program, which offers professional development, financial literacy courses, and networking opportunities. Participants will also receive $3,500 in seed funding upon completion. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor. People can register and find out more at Dearborn.gov/BusinessResources by Dec. 1.

MSU’s first Black president dies

Former Michigan State University President Clifton Wharton Jr. has died. Wharton Jr., the university’s first Black president, led MSU for most of the 1970s. As president, he oversaw the creation of the MSU Foundation and established an anti-discrimination judicial board. He was also the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company, leading the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund from 1986 to 1993. Wharton was 98.

Dearborn adding full-time therapist to police department

The Dearborn Police Department and the Arab Community Center for
Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) are teaming up to add a
full-time therapist to the police department for mental health calls.
The therapist will provide psychological evaluations during crisis
interventions and connect people with resources. More information about the position can be found on ACCESS’ website.

Detroit awarded $1.3M to expand lead hazard control

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services awarded $7
million in community grants to communities around the state for lead control services for Medicaid recipients. The city of Detroit received nearly $1.3 million as part of the funding, which will go toward lead inspections, risk assessment, and permanent removal of lead from eligible homes. The money can also be used to remove soil lead hazards, abatement work and pre-2014 faucets and fixtures that contribute to lead hazard 

DDOT hiring drivers and mechanics

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hiring drivers and
mechanics. Pay begins at $15/hour with transportation equipment operators making over $18/hour after 12 months on the job. General auto mechanics will make $24.92 an hour. To apply, visit detroitmi.gov/ddot.  

Islamic Center hosting turkey drive

The Islamic Center of Detroit is hosting a Food & Turkey
Distribution event offering halal turkeys from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. ID is required, and it will be based on a first come first serve policy. ICD is located at 14350 Tireman St., Detroit.

Detroit Friendship House offering Thanksgiving meal kit

The Detroit Friendship House in Hamtramck is also offering halal turkeys in its Thanksgiving Meal Kit food drive from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 26, until supplies last. The in-person event takes place at 9450 Conant St., Hamtramck.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Imam Mustapha Elturk is the president of the Islamic Organization of North America in Warren, Michigan.

He’s also the co-chair of the Imams Council of Michigan. He said he’s content with the election results.

“I was content with the results, not because I like the Republicans or I like the Democrats, but because it’s God’s will, literally,” he said. “I try to let our community understand that no matter who the people vote for, it is in God’s wisdom, we have to accept and be content with the results, even if they did not turn out to our favor.”

Elturk says he encouraged people to get out the vote, regardless of which candidate people chose. But he said the ultimate results are up to God.

“I would remind them that no matter who wins the race, it is God Almighty who chose the outcome,” he said.

He also expressed the need for people to come together in unity, despite political differences.

“I know our community is split into Democrats, Republicans, and many voted for third party… political differences is OK, is healthy, but that should not, you know, all these differences should not lead us to division,” he said.

Elturk said people have to work with local and national leaders, holding them accountable for their positions in power.

He also encourages people to run for office and volunteer locally.

“[An] election is one way of civic engagement, but to unite and work together for the good, greater good of our larger community by volunteering and that what’s going to bring the community together, not only politically, but also engaged, engaged socially, doing something together for the community,” he said.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is expected to announce whether he will make another run for the city’s top job this week.

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Duggan has helped guide the city as it emerged from the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy in U.S history. And this year, Duggan reached one of his long-sought goals — that Detroit’s population had grown after decades of decline.

Many observers believe the three-term mayor could launch a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026, though it’s unclear how much name recognition Duggan has beyond Detroit. 

—Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter, WDET

 Other headlines from Monday, Nov. 11, 2024:

• President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations is causing concern among Michigan’s immigrant communities.
• The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is providing a $1 million grant to help build 60 new units of affordable housing on vacant land in Detroit’ Corktown neighborhood.
• Hamtramck voters approved a $2.7 million non-homestead millage for the Hamtramck Public Schools District.
• Stellantis is laying off 400 workers at a logistics facility in Detroit. The Detroit Free Press reports the automaker notified the affected employees last week. The company also announced plans to eliminate a shift at a Jeep factory in Toledo early next year, cutting more than 1,000 union jobs. Stellantis is under pressure to cut costs due to falling sales and profits. The United Auto Workers criticized the layoffs, accusing corporate leaders of mismanagement. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Several organizations will come together next week to celebrate more than 300 schools that have taken steps to prepare for sudden cardiac emergencies by earning a MI HEARTSafe designation.

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Nearly 1,000 schools have earned the recognition since the inception of the program in 2013. This year, a record-breaking 312 schools are being recognized for their work during the 2023-2024 school year, with 158 schools receiving the award for the first time — marking the most designations in the program’s history.

The recognition is awarded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Education (MDE), American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young (MAP-SCDY).  

This year, House Bills 5527 and 5528 were passed to create comprehensive emergency response requirements for schools. That includes a written cardiac emergency response plan for the school day, afterschool activities and sports, accessible inspected automated external defibrillators or AEDs, cardiac response drills, and pre-participation screenings.  

A virtual training in January will teach schools how to get MI HEARTSafe recognition. Find out more information at Migrc.org/miheartsafe.  

Other headlines for Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024:

• The Michigan chapter of the Arab American Civil Rights League and the INSAF Project is hosting a virtual training at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 for attorneys and law students who assist Lebanese-American families trying to leave Lebanon.
• Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit is collecting donations for its Community Friends Day to support homeless animals. The organization says it needs to raise about $900 per animal for the almost 2500 dogs and cats they care for each year.
• Votes are still being counted in races for Michigan’s statewide education boards. View the latest election results at wdet.org/electionresults.
• A new report from the University of Michigan’s Youth Policy Lab shows rates of depression and anxiety among 8th to 12th graders in Detroit dropped below pre-pandemic levels.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

There are several nonpartisan organizations and groups that will be offering free transportation to the polls on Election Day in metro Detroit and around the state.

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Among them are APIA Vote MI, which has teamed up with Lyft to provide free rides with the goal of helping to increase voter turnout in the region.

Executive Director Rebeka Islam says lack of transportation can prevent people from voting. 

“We hope that by providing one reliable and free transportation, we can increase voter turnout, especially, again, amongst our committees who might otherwise face logistic challenges or feel like you know, it’s not important to vote,” Islam said. “We want to make sure that we empower our community, that every vote counts.”

Other organizations offering free rides to the polls on Tuesday include:

• Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Rides are available to and from polling locations on Election Day (November 5). Request a ride by calling (888) 328-4283 or email contact@oakland-service.com. Rides are wheelchair accessible.

• Detroit Bus Company – Rides are available on Sunday, November 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Election Day (November 5) after 9 a.m. Request a ride by calling (313) 444-2871 or filling out this form.

• Detroit Downriver APRI – Rides are available from Saturday, October 26 through Election Day (November 5). Request a ride by filling out this form. We encourage you to fill out the form one day in advance.

• Voter Transportation Project – Rides are available now through Election Day (November 5). Call or text “Detroit” to (866) 759-8683 to book a free Lyft ride.

• Warriors on Wheels – Rides are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Thursday, October 31 through Sunday, November 3 and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 5). Request a ride by calling (313) 552-2916 or filling out this form. Rides are wheelchair accessible.

For a complete list of discounted or free rides around the state, visit MichiganVoting.org/rides. 

Other headlines for Monday, Nov. 4, 2024:

• The Justice Department says it will dispatch election monitors to check for compliance with federal voting rights laws in Warren, Ann Arbor, Hamtramck, Detroit and Flint for the general election Tuesday.
• Real Estate firm Bedrock is bringing Cosm, a new experiential entertainment venue, to Downtown Detroit.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Tonight on the Detroit Evening Report, we cover Detroit Future City’s upcoming Equity Forum; Detroit’s new (and only) freestanding birthing center opening its doors and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

DFC Equity Forum Wednesday

Detroit Future City is hosting its fifth annual Equity Forum with Detroit Public Television on Wednesday. A panel of local and national leaders will discuss advancing economic equity, with a focus on strategies for Detroiters to access high-quality jobs. Detroit Future City’s CEO Anika Goss will give opening remarks and Jelani Cobb, the dean of Columbia University’s Journalism School and a New Yorker staff writer, will also share some thoughts. The panel will be moderated by Stephen Henderson, host of WDET’s current affairs program Created Equal.  The forum will take place from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Wayne County Community College Northwest Campus, 8200 W Outer Dr., Detroit.

Southwest Detroit celebrates Día de los Muertos

The restaurant La Jalisciense Supermercado y Taqueria in southwest Detroit is hosting the second annual Día de los Muertos festival next week, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, to honor and remember departed family members. The four-day festival will feature an interactive cemetery exhibit and theatrical performances. Community members are invited to bring pictures of loved ones for a community ofrenda or alter. The festivities will feature over 20 local vendors, cultural workshops, folklore dance performances and more. 

Report shows drop in breast cancer mortality

A new American Cancer Society report finds there has been a 44% drop in breast cancer mortality rates since 1989. However, rates for American Indian and Alaska Native women have remained consistent over the past three decades. There’s also a slow increase of more women under 50 getting breast cancer. Asian American Pacific Islander women of any age are seeing a steadier growth — about 2.5-2.7% per year — of diagnoses.  

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among U.S. women after skin cancer. This year, an estimated 310,000 new cases will be diagnosed in women and 2,700 men, with over 42,000 women and 530 men dying from the disease. Black women have a 38% higher cancer mortality rate than white women, although they have a 5% lower incidence of getting the disease.  

Birth Detroit holds grand opening

The nonprofit Birth Detroit recently hosted a ribbon-cutting for its new Birth Center at 8575 Heritage Place in Detroit. Birth Detroit is a Black women-led network of midwives who support pregnant women by reducing the cost of birth and providing safer alternative birthing options to women of color. The center — Detroit’s first freestanding birthing center — also provides culturally relevant maternal care. The nonprofit crowdfunded $4 million for the project, which broke ground last year. Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield also awarded Birth Detroit the Spirit of Detroit award.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Tonight on the Detroit Evening Report, we cover a local event commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day; city officials in Hamtramck considering the use of police drones and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Belle Isle Prayer Walk

A solidarity prayer walk and potluck took place at Belle Isle for Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday. The day is meant to honor the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous communities. The Prayer Walk for the Water event started off in Ralph Wilson Gateway, with stops along the path to pray and reflect. Michigan is home to about 240,000 Native Americans, with 12 federally recognized tribes. 

Hamtramck considers drone use by police

The Hamtramck Police Department wants to get a drone to help solve crimes. Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri says the measure was brought before the city council, but was not approved initially. 

A poll was posted on the police department’s Facebook page, asking people if they thought a drone would be beneficial for the police department. About 300 people responded – 80% voting yes.

Altaheri says the measure will be reintroduced to the city council at its next meeting.

Ohio man arrested for Hamtramck threats

An Ohio man was arrested after allegedly making threats against immigrants in Hamtramck. The man told fellow churchgoers in Toledo that he planned to harm people in Hamtramck last Saturday.

Chief Altaheri says there were extra police on hand in the city during the Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival and Night Bazaar activities in the city that day.

The Toledo Police Department informed the Hamtramck Police Department, who both monitored the situation along with the FBI. The man, identified as 69-year-old William Darocha, then drove to Michigan and was arrested in Taylor and is facing charges of Making Terroristic Threats.

Metro Detroit Out of the Darkness walk

The local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting a community walk on Belle Isle this weekend. The Metro Detroit Out of the Darkness Walk aims to raise awareness about those impacted by suicide for a day of support.

The community walk takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Belle Isle. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m.

New Detroit hosting racial equity conference

The racial justice organization New Detroit is hosting the “Just Lead: Advancing Racial Equity Moving Forward Together” conference on Thursday, Oct. 17 at The Icon in Detroit. The conference has themes of health care, Detroit parks, and philanthropy. Awards will also be given to leaders for advancing racial equity.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell is running for reelection in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District.

The Democratic incumbent currently serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and House Committee on Natural Resources, and formerly served as a U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District from 2015-2023. Prior to that, she worked in the auto industry for three decades, and served on the Wayne State University Board of Governors from 2007-2014.

Dingell says as someone who’s been in politics for nearly a decade, she wants to continue bringing diverse perspectives to the table to get things done.

“I want to be out there and listening and hearing what’s on your mind and making sure that your voices are heard,” she said. “I believe in the importance of building coalitions and trying to find the common ground at that table, and I also believe in solving problems.”

Listen: U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell on the economy, gun control and election security

Her Republican challenger, retired Ford employee Heather Smiley, says she hopes to bring a fresh perspective to Congress by curbing government spending, protecting voter integrity and preserving the borders.

“I’m not happy with the direction that the country is heading in,” Smiley said. “Our civil rights have been infringed upon. The economy is not doing well, and our national sovereignty is really at risk.”

Smiley says she is a first-generation American from a legal immigrant who was the first to attend college in her family. She says she worked multiple jobs and took out loans to pay for college, including working as a press operator and an automotive parts supplier.

“I can enable the government to function more efficiently, to improve and reduce costs, and I can restore the opportunities that we’ve historically had so that people can truly live the American dream, rather than worry about how they’re going to pay their bills or put food on the table for their family,” she said.

Listen: Republican Heather Smiley on bringing jobs to Michigan, voter integrity

Jobs and the economy

Dingell says the No. 1 issue on people’s minds is the economy, adding that she’s working with Congress to bring down everyday costs for working families.

“People are struggling to make ends meet,” she said. “I’m always at Kroger on Sunday mornings, and people come to meet me there now and they say, ‘Look at my grocery cart. I used to be able to buy a lot more.'”

Smiley says lots of people are losing their jobs, and she wants to prioritize bringing jobs back to Michigan.

“The companies are not willing to invest in their businesses, quite frankly, because a lot of the work is going overseas,” she said. “Mexico now looks like what Michigan used to look like. It’s a mecca for industry, both in terms of the automotive industry [and] all of the suppliers.”

However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that U.S. employers added an estimated 254,000 jobs in September, and after rising for most of 2024, the unemployment rate dropped for a second straight month from 4.2% in August to 4.1% in September.

She also noted that government spending is on the rise, saying that she’d like to reduce spending using her skills as a Ford employee who managed budgets.

“At Ford Motor Company where I worked, just one example of a project that I initiated and led, I saved the company over $290 million, and year-over-year, I saved the company $10 million just by working smarter,” she said.

Smiley says her experience as someone who has worked her way from the bottom up makes her a better candidate for her district.

“I have a lifetime of experiences working in the proverbial trenches, and I can leverage and apply my common sense and direct knowledge of how things work, both domestically and using my international business experience,” she said.

Gun safety

While school shootings are on the rise in the U.S., Dingell says she believes in gun control laws that protect people.

“I think we need to support and make sure [gun legislation] is being implemented that has comprehensive background checks. People who shouldn’t have guns shouldn’t have access to them,” said Dingell.

Dingell says assault weapons should also be banned, and safe storage of firearms should be mandated.

“Our children need to be able to go to school and not worry if someone is going to shoot them, what would happen to them. We need to be addressing the mental health issues associated with that,” she said.

Dingell says along with the economy, child care and senior care are pressing issues.

Voter integrity

During her campaign, Smiley has alleged that voter integrity in the U.S. is being jeopardized by illegal immigrants who are being encouraged to sign up to vote.

CNN fact-checked this claim, saying that it is unlikely non-citizens are registering to vote.

“The penalties are high, and the payoff is low,” Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the UCLA School of Law, told CNN. “If you aren’t a citizen and you vote, and you’re caught, you can face deportation and criminal penalties. And your chances of affecting an election outcome are small. It’s very unlikely someone would purposely choose to vote as a noncitizen.”

While Dingell says comprehensive immigration is needed, she says numerous studies have debunked the claim that non-citizens are voting.

“We have very strong systems in this country, in each state, to keep non-American citizens from voting, and no one has found [evidence of that],” she said. “[There have been] independent studies on both sides [that show no] problem related to that,” she said.

Dingell also suggested that measures to address border security have been blocked by Republicans.

“Democrats have been pushing for a lot more investment in Homeland Security for hiring additional border patrol agents to investigate and disrupt the transnational criminal organizations and the drug traffickers and Republicans keep blocking it,” she said.

The general election is taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.

Hamtramck Historical Museum soft launched an exhibit on the Bengali diaspora last month with a nakshi kantha hand embroidery workshop. It’s a type of quilt that’s embroidered by Bengali or Bangladeshi people in the Indian subcontinent.

Fiber artist Fatema Haque says that although the Bangladeshi community has been in metro Detroit for decades, this is the first time a full-fledged exhibit of this type will be featured at the museum.

“It doesn’t have a large presence of Bangladeshis, even though Bangladeshis have been in the metro Detroit area since, well, going back as far as 1971 when Bangladesh became a country. But even before that, when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan, and then before that, India,” she said.

Haque says the workshop was one way to show different types of art that’s representative of the Bangladeshi diaspora.

“And given that this craft is a huge part of family life as well as community life in Bangladesh, it’s something that’s prevalent in pretty much every household in a variety of ways, so we thought it would be a good way for people to learn about Bangladeshis and something that is such a integral part of their life,” she said.

Haque says the exhibit will feature stories of the Bangladeshi diaspora in metro Detroit, focusing on Hamtramck where the museum is located.

“We are hoping to represent both Bangladeshi culture in terms of religion, art, activism as well as entrepreneurship, and show the ways in which people are connected to this particular land,” she said.

She says that will include businesses and the mural on Carpenter between Hamtramck and Detroit.

Haque says anthropologist Rumana Rahman reached out to the museum to curate this exhibit, which is run by volunteers.

“I came up on her radar because I had a portrait exhibit of Bangladeshi Americans in the last year, and I did some oral history interviews. And so once I heard that she was working on this, I was so excited to get involved, and I joined the committee, and we’ve been working on it since January, actually.”

Haque says this is just the beginning.

“Our goal with this exhibit is that it’s not going to be an end all exhibit… it should be a living exhibit that people can continuously contribute to and keep growing, because our history is a living history,” she said.

Haque says she hopes people come to the exhibit to learn about neighboring communities.

“Get to know your neighbors and get to know other folks who live around you, so if you’re not Bangladeshi, it might be worth it because your neighbors are Bangladeshi, and you can learn something really cool about their land,” she said.

She says it’s also an opportunity to allow Bangladeshi Americans to see themselves represented in a meaningful way.

“There’s so many Bangladeshis who are in this community. And I’m wondering, like, how often do we see ourselves represented in places like museums, right? How often is our history documented? And so our hope is that people feel a stronger sense of belonging by seeing themselves in this space,” she said.

Haque says she hopes second and third generation Bangladeshi Americans also have a chance to explore Bangladeshi history, art or activism.

“I really hope that they also feel inspired and proud and gain a sense of self through this exhibit, like I can be proud to be Bangladeshi in this space,” she said.

The exhibit’s full launch is slated for November 2. Find more information at hamtramckhistory.com.

On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover local events commemorating the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel; vandalism at the Jewish Federation of Detroit offices  and more.

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Metro Detroiters commemorate Oct. 7

Members of the local Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities are marking the one year anniversary since the Hamas-led attack on Israel – killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. 

Since then more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s military response, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and many more have died as hostilities between Israel and Lebanon have escalated in recent weeks. Communities in metro Detroit have been deeply impacted by these conflicts, and found ways to mark the anniversary today.  

The Michigan Board of Rabbis is hosting a One Year Commemoration today from 7-8 p.m., with location details available upon registration. Several other events took place throughout the day to commemorate the anniversary, according to the Jewish Detroit Community Calendar. A candlelight vigil is also scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Dearborn at Ford Woods Park hosted by Palestinian and Yemeni organizations. 

Additionally, the organization ISRAEL21c has compiled a list of online memorial events for those unable to attend a commemorative event in person.

Jewish Federation building vandalized

The Jewish Federation of Detroit offices in Bloomfield Township were vandalized early Monday morning. 

David Kurzmann, senior director of Community Affairs for the Federation, called the incident not just an attack on the organization but an attack on the community. 

“This is the organization that that really convenes the community that has the privilege of serving so, so many. And I think for everybody, this feels like a very personal attack on us today,” he said.

The building was tagged with antisemitic insults as well as the words “Free Palestine” and “Intifada,” a reference to the armed uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. 

Bloomfield Township police say they are investigating the incident along with federal authorities.  

Community members throughout metro Detroit have also reported finding antisemitic flyers on driveways in residential neighborhoods, including in West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Shelby Township, Northville and Waterford.

In a statement on Monday, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said investigators suspect the hateful, antisemitic flyers were coming from “outsiders.” The incidents remain under investigation.

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET. WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed.

Detroit seeks feedback on historic preservation plan

The city of Detroit is hosting two Zoom meetings at 5 p.m. Oct. 17 and 21 to get feedback from residents about the Citywide Historic Preservation Plan. The Planning and Development Department is hiring a consultant to work with the city on this plan to create a historic district designation. For more information, email historicplan@detroitmi.gov.

State celebrates first year of free family planning program

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says over 20,000 people signed up for the Plan First! Program in the program’s first year. The program covers a broad range of services, from office visits and access to contraceptives to natural family planning methods for those who want to prevent pregnancy and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. It works by allowing Michigan residents who do not qualify for traditional Medicaid to apply for a limited Medicaid benefit for family planning services. 

Registration open for Detroit Youth Rugby

Registration is now open for the Detroit Parks and Recreation Athletics Division’s Youth Rugby Program. Held in collaboration with the Detroit Rugby Football Club, he four-week program takes place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Nov. 5 at the Adams Butzel Complex Gym, 10500 Lyndon St., Detroit. There’s a $10 fee to sign up. Visit dprdathletics.com for more information.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

There are nearly four million Muslims in the United States, including about 240,000 in Michigan. In the 2020 presidential election, American Muslims were a big part of why Joe Biden won Michigan by just 155,000 votes.

This year some say they feel politically homeless, not understood or welcomed by either Republicans or Democrats.

Hamza Ashfaq, a recent medical school graduate, says this presidential campaign has been challenging because neither candidate fully reflects his values or political priorities.

“Everybody’s going to play the lesser of the two evils vote. In the end, it’s, you know, not going to be good for us either way,” Ashfaq said.

Michigan was at the epicenter of the uncommitted national movement that protested President Biden during the Democratic primaries.

This idea that neither party reflects their moral values came up again and again in interviews with Muslims in Detroit.

Palestinian American Mahmoud Muheisen, 24, is a recent graduate of Wayne State University.

He has never voted in a U.S. election before — but feels obligated to vote this year.

“The people, they share my faith. They share my name. They share my blood. I think it would be inhumane to just dismiss it, especially as a Palestinian Muslim American,” he said.

Muheisen says he plans to vote for the Green Party’s candidate, Jill Stein.

Youssef Chouhoud is an associate professor of political science at Christopher Newport University who studies voting trends of American Muslims. He says Gaza is at the top of mind for many American Muslims.

“American Muslims care about the economy. American Muslims care about climate change, and they care about health care access and immigration policy. But certainly, one of, if not the top, if not — for some American Muslims, the only issue that they care about is the crisis in Gaza,” he said.

Chouhoud says this sense of political homelessness weighs heavily on American Muslims, “and something that is going to probably continue from now until they go into the voting booth.”

Farah Khan is the co-chair of Michigan’s Abandon Harris campaign.

The campaign is trying to encourage Muslims in Michigan to vote for a third-party candidate.

“Do not vote for these two despicable candidates who are running for presidency,” Khan said. “I don’t know what kind of world we live in now because these are the people we have to look up to for our leaders. It’s really sad.”

According to a national survey conducted for the Council on American Islamic Relations, about 30% of American Muslims nationwide support Kamala Harris. Another 30% back Stein. Eleven percent said they plan to vote for Donald Trump, and nearly 17% said they are still undecided.

Imam Mikail Stewart-Saadiq is former chair of the Imams Council of Michigan. He taught at the Al-Ikhlas Training Academy for 20 years.

The registered Democrat says he’s willing to give Harris a chance.

“She is not Trump, nor is she Biden. So in my opinion, you know, I would like to see what she can do,” he said.

Stewart-Saadiq says this is a moment to move forward and build on the political work of previous generations.

“And having to fight your way through politics and fight your way through political revolution, you know, of all those games, I’m not willing to spit in the face of my ancestors,” he said.

Detroit voter Munira Salim says she’s still undecided on who to vote for in the weeks before the election.

“When it comes to the pro-peace vote, when it comes to the Muslim vote and even when it comes to the Black vote, like, there’s no one representation,” she said.

Like Salim, many Muslims are waiting to see if there are any changes in the Biden-Harris administration’s Gaza policy before they cast their votes in November.

On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover a vigil held in Dearborn over the weekend to mourn those killed in Israeli strikes in South Lebanon; recent U.S. EPA funding awarded to four Michigan tribes to implement climate action plans and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

A community in mourning

Over 1,000 people from metro Detroit’s Lebanese community gathered outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn on Sunday for a candlelight vigil mourning civilians killed in recent Israeli strikes in South Lebanon. Dearborn is home to one of the largest Lebanese communities in the U.S. — many from South Lebanon where the conflict has escalated. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost every day since the war in Gaza began. The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people in Israel and Lebanon, and according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, more than 700 people have been killed in Lebanon in the past week.

Israel says it will continue to strike Hezbollah until it is safe for Israelis displaced from border communities to return to their homes. Hezbollah has promised to keep firing rockets into Israel until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.

Tribes receive $38M for energy projects 

Four Michigan tribes have been awarded $38 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement climate action plans. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants will support projects focused on reducing costs, improving infrastructure and cutting air pollution. These initiatives include solar installations, energy efficiency upgrades, electrification improvements, recycling programs and electric vehicle infrastructure — all aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  

Neighborhood Wellness Centers get funding boost

The state of Michigan has dedicated $17 million in this fiscal year’s budget to help support preventative health centers in Detroit and Flint.

The Neighborhood Wellness Centers were established in 2020 to offer free COVID testing, as well as free blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol screenings to residents in need.

Of the 22 wellness centers in Michigan, eight are located in Detroit. The Open Door Church of God in Christ on Seven Mile is one of them. Assistant Pastor Michael Dorsey says the centers offer a safe space for residents to seek medical attention. 

“We all have people in our family that have health issues and they may not trust going to the doctor, they may not have the resources or have a primary care physician, but by attending the Wellness Center, you can now receive the proper screening and attention free of charge that can put you in a better position,” Dorsey said.

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET  

Panel discussion to highlight Asian stigmas 

APIA Vote Michigan is hosting a virtual community conversation on civic engagement at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. The event, titled “Courageous Conversations,” will feature a panel of guests to discuss stigmas within the Asian community and how to break barriers to increase civic participation.  

Hamtramck to host Night Bazaar

The Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority and Discover Hamtramck are hosting a new inaugural event, Hamtramck Night Bazaar, from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Pope Park, featuring a food truck, henna, and local art. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The Hamtramck Historical Museum is getting a new exhibit based on the Bengali diaspora, focusing on communities in Hamtramck. 

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The museum had a soft launch on Saturday to get people excited about a full exhibit. 

Rumana Rahman is an anthropologist who serves on the committee for the new exhibition. She says the museum can capture more Bengali representation in a city with a large Bangladeshi community. 

“We want to really capture the diversity of our Bangladeshi heritage, our linguistic diversity, or textile diversity,” said Rahman. “So, yeah, I’m just really excited when I kind of feel like this is sort of the beginning. We’re just kind of scratching the surface.”

Rahman says the exhibit will feature rickshaw art, textile art, and sports like cricket. It will also incorporate different spiritual traditions of Bangladesh from the Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu communities.  

The exhibit’s launch is slated for Oct. 29.

Other headlines for Monday, Sept. 23, 2024:

• Salina Intermedia School in Dearborn is hosting “Pollution Has No Boundaries: Where Do We Go From Here?” — a conversation about climate change with journalists, community activists and artists — from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30. 
• Northwest Detroiters are invited to a community roundtable at Simanek Park from 6-7 p.m. Sept. 26 to share feedback on the city’s park design and improvement plans.
• The Detroit Police Department is looking for individuals ages 15-24 to join the Youth Advisory Panel by the Sept. 30 deadline. Participants will serve as resources for the Board of Police Commissioners, help with civilian oversight and get educational, civic and networking opportunities. Youth should be in high school or college.
• The Detroit Public Library main branch is hosting a free youth public safety town hall from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 to discuss students’ concerns and thoughts on violence at home, in schools and traveling between home and school.
• The city of Detroit is hosting a Healthy Home Resource Day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 28 to share information about HOPE application assistance, water affordability plans, foreclosure prevention and more. The resource fair will take place at the Northwest Activity Center, 18100 Meyers St., Detroit.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Frontier International Academy is hosting a safety training session for parents this week, following ongoing concerns from community members about road safety.

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Guest speakers will be Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri and Wayne County Undersheriff Mike Jaafar. Many residents have expressed anxiety after multiple incidents of children being hit by cars in Hamtramck.

In July, a 3-year-old girl died after being hit by a Hamtramck school bus. That same day, another child was struck by a car in a separate incident, CBS Detroit reports. A third child was struck in August, suffering only minor injuries.

The training will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Frontier International Academy, 13200 Conant St., Detroit. 

Other headlines for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024:

• Hamtramck residents will vote on a $2.75 million millage renewal this November. The funds go toward a 10-year plan for operating costs for the Hamtramck Public School District.
• The Kalasho Education & Youth Services held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new MIND Garden on Friday in Warren. The organization has served the Chaldean community — specifically immigrant and refugee communities — in mental health, education, and legal services for the past 23 years.
• Anthropologist and Legacy Keepers Movement Founder Zarinah El-Amin is hosting a free masterclass for older adults and their family members who want to learn how to write their life story.
• The Detroit + Dearborn Community Block Party is set to take place on Miller Road and Tireman Avenue from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, featuring free food, activities, games and vendor resource tables.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.