The Empowerment Plan has been in service to metro Detroit’s homeless population since 2012. 

Empowerment Plan employs people living in shelters. They manufacture coats made from sleeping bags that they distribute to people in need. That includes people in Detroit, across the nation, and in dozens of other countries. 

Veronika Scott is the founder of Empowerment Plan. She talks about her struggles with poverty and homelessness as a kid. She remembers driving around with her mother, getting sent in circles from one caseworker in Detroit to another in Pontiac. 

Years later, a class at College for Creative Studies called “Designing to Fill a Need” led her where she is today—and that’s helping people experiencing homelessness.

This year, Empowerment Plan hand made its 100,000th sleeping bag coat. 

Veronika, founder of Empowerment Plan joins host Tia Graham on The Metro to talk more about reaching this milestone and what’s next for organization.

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For some of our listeners, arts and culture from kindergarten through high school were guaranteed and expected. Woodshop, cooking classes and, of course, art classes were a part of the curriculum. 

As the decades have gone by, less money to schools means less resources. Oftentimes the first things cut from the budget are the arts. But educators who work within the K-12 school system say the arts are essential to a well-rounded education.

Meghan Collins is Museum Educator for K-12 and Family Programs at the MSU Broad Art Museum. She is also an Assistant Professor of Art Education in MSU’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design. 

In 2024, she was named the 2025 Museum Educator of the Year by the Michigan Art Education Association. 

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Empty office spaces and buildings continue to be an issue for owners the COVID-19 pandemic. Rent is too high for small businesses and entrepreneurs to fill in the gap. 

Bamboo is a co-working space seeks to fill the need of office space without the large commitments required when renting a whole building. Bamboo has flexible options to obtain office space and common areas for any business-related needs. 

Bamboo now has five locations across Michigan, including one of its newest locations in Midtown. 

Amanda Lewen says Bamboo started as a grassroots idea from a group of friends. She spoke with The Metro’s Tia Graham about Bamboo and the current state of Michigan’s small business ecosystem.

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Double Up Food Bucks is a statewide program through the Fair Food Network. It matches SNAP benefits used to buy fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables at participating grocers and farmers markets.

Back in November, SNAP benefit recipients were on edge, wondering if money would be available to feed themselves and their families.

The program extended its offerings in November, introducing Double up benefits, like Double Up bonus bucks offering $40 vouchers for fresh fruits and veggies. Those incentives are ending Dec. 31.

Rachel Hoh is director of Double Up Food Bucks. They spoke to me about the program and its significance to shoppers and local grocers. 

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The winter months are often marked by the holidays and the new year. Yet, it’s often lost on most people that domestic violence incidents trend up during this time of year. 

The warning signs for domestic violence intensify during this time of year. So, what are the signs and how can we as community members step in to protect survivors of domestic violence?

Co-Executive Director of the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence Cheree Thomas joined Tia Graham on The Metro to talk more about domestic violence during the winter months. 

Tia also spoke with Anne Mantha, the Chief Philanthropy Officer at HAVEN Oakland, a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Oakland County. 

If you or a loved one is looking for support, call 855-VOICES4

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Detroit’s fine arts community is growing and producing more internationally known creatives. And with so much talent, artists and organizers continue to find creative ways to raise their visibility. 

DEROIT SALON is a new initiative produced by the woman-led organization Salonnière that puts Detroit artists in front of global audiences, curators and museums by touring exhibitions that carry their pieces.

The collective’s first show was in Paris at Art Basel, where they installed three different exhibitions. Each one highlighted a different area of life in Detroit.

Juana is the Artistic Director and Chief Curator for DETROIT SALON. KESSWA is a vocalist, producer and filmmaker who musically curated the exhibitions in Paris. 

Juana Williams and KESSWA joined Tia Graham in the studio to discuss DETROIT SALON’S efforts.

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Coup D’état is a one of two local shops in Michigan to be chosen for New York Times list of 50 Best Clothing Stores in America. The article states Coup D’etat is inspirational and distinctive in its approach to customers and its community. 

Located on Detroit’s east side, its nestled in a growing community of new and legacy Detroit residents. The store has embedded itself with local movers and shakers, making sure to be present and open to support local makers.

In 2025, Coup D’état held an art exhibition honoring the legacy of Detroit photographer Bill Rauhauser, highlighting the work he did capturing everyday life in Detroit through the 20th century.

Angela Wisenski-Cobbina is the owner and founder of Coup D’état. She wanted to make sure the boutique was than luxury shop, she wanted it to be inclusive for all people at all price points.

Angela spoke with The Metro’s Tia Graham about opening the space in 2019 and the journey so far.

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As one of metro Detroit’s premiere dance companies, Eisenhower Dance Detroit provides local choreographers and directors opportunities to showcase their work. It also gives dancers a space to work and develop their craft in an industry that is extremely competitive. 

The dance company is now working with world renowned dance choreographer Maxine Doyle. 

Doyle is best known as co-director and choreographer of Sleep No More, the groundbreaking immersive production that redefined site-specific performance in New York and London.  Doyle has showcased across the globe, in countries like England, Germany, Switzerland and now the US in Detroit. 

“Beyond” will debut at the Detroit Film Theatre in April of 2026.  “I Am Not Myself,” commissioned by Doyle, will be a featured. 

Maxine Doyle and Artistic Director of Eisenhower Dance Detroit Stephanie Pizzo joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to speak about the power of dance. 

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The city of Trenton is hosting its first ever Noel Nights. The three-week event aims to bolster its local businesses and highlight extracurricular activities.

This is the first year Trenton has a Downtown Development Authority Director.  Angelia Pusino is a lifelong resident of Trenton and the city’s first Director of Downtown Development Authority.

The Metro’s Tia Graham spoke with Angelia about the three week long event, family friendly activities and what makes Trenton a tight-knit community. 

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

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History and its depictions of beauty are often shaped by those in charge. For centuries, the European archetypes of beauty and desirability have dominated the narrative. 

Venus is the Roman name for the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Images of her— often created and adapted in favor of the male gaze—have been the prevailing image of beauty and love. 

But what happens when Venus imagines herself as something else? What would it look like to have her represent a Black woman? Or simply a whole complete person?

Cydney Camp is a Detroit-based artist who unpacks and deconstructs inherited images. In her latest exhibit, she explores what it means to be a goddess that isn’t perceived as an object.

“Venus Undone” is Cydney’s solo exhibition at M Contemporary Art in Ferndale. It runs through Dec. 6, inviting audiences to rethink how we define beauty and female autonomy. 

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A hundred years ago, the world was changing and ushering in new ways of living, The first transatlantic phone call from London to New York. Ford Motor Company became the one of the first companies to implement the 40-hour work week. And The National Hockey League approved a new franchise team in Detroit. The Red Wings is one of the original six member leagues.

The team has won 11 Stanley cup titles, which is the most out of all United States based NHL teams. 

Helene St. James has been covering The Red Wings for The Detroit Free Press since 1996. She’s the author of multiple books on the wings including The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings: A Curated History of Hockeytown.

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The Detroit Red Wings have a long, gritty history that mirrors the city it calls home. To celebrate and commiserate the last 100 years, a new exhibition is on display at the Detroit Historical Museum. 

Detroit Red Wings at 100 will have a unique array of artifacts on display that capture the franchise from 1926 to today. The exhibition will be on display through 2026.

Jeremy Dimick is the lead curator at Detroit Historical Museum. Marcel Parent is the Director of Curation & Collections at Ilitch Holdings. Both joined The Metro to talk more about the exhibit and Detroit Red Wings history. 

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Movies are a window into a different world. They can take us from our lived reality and submerge us into the point of view of a people or a time that may be different from our own. But, if the mainstream lens through which stories are told only focuses on a handful of perspectives, how do we uplift and nurture the stories from communities that have are often left out? 

Detroit Narrative Agency is a local organization that makes a point to highlight compelling storytelling from people of color.

Through its Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship, Detroit Narrative Agency selects four filmmakers to receive mentorship, funding, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities to support the creation of a short film. 

In Sequence — A Premiere Showcase of the Detroit Narrative Agency ’24-25 Fellowship Films debuted at Senate theater. 

Ashley Calhoun is Interim executive director of Detroit Narrative Agency and Lindsay Robillard is a Director of Development at Detroit Mercy and a volunteer with Senate Theater. They joined the show to talk more about supporting Metro Detroit’s film community. 

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Covenant House Michigan has been serving the state’s homeless youth population for nearly 30 years. 

For the past 12 years, the organization has hosted “Sleep Out Detroit”. The annual event is a part of an annual movement held across the globe. It’s also during National Youth Homelessness Month.  

On November 20, more than 100 people will camp out to financially support and bring awareness to youth homelessness.

CEO Megan Dunn and Detroit-based artist and public speaker Phillip Simpson joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about “Sleep Out Detroit” and the importance of spreading awareness.

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From design to fashion, all art can act as a vehicle for larger themes impacting society. Some art makes you laugh and puts you in whimsical mood, while some are built on justice.

Local experimental theater A Host of People prides itself in being a collective that brings justice to the forefront, making sure all people see themselves on stage.  The theater company explores a range of topics in their productions, including how American politics intersect with personal lives. 

Recently, A Host of People got a permanent location on Detroit’s West Side, further cementing its mission in a city that has no issue fighting back against injustice.  

Sherrine Azab is the co-director of A Host of People. She spoke with The Metro’s Tia Graham about the move and using theater to speak justice to power. 

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