The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is considering eliminating virtual public comment and the option to provide comment via phone during meetings. If the motion is approved, public comment will be restricted to in person only.

District 1 Commissioner Henriette Ivey proposed the idea at last week’s meeting. She told BridgeDetroit in an interview that the goal is not to stifle anyone’s voice, but to build relationships with residents face-to-face.

Organizations Detroit Disability Power, Riverwise Magazine and Warriors on Wheels are speaking out against the motion. They say it would silence the voices of people with disabilities, seniors, and working families. The  board will vote on the motion at the the board’s next meeting on Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026

Sensory-Friendly Concert: Dance Party

Detroit Disability Power is teaming up with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present the Sensory-Friendly Concert: Dance Party. The free concert welcomes teens and adults with neurodivergent, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

Cancel Monday Band will play for the 45-minute concert. The concert will feature a limited audience size for reduced crowds, low lighting throughout the concert, flexible seating, noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, and a quiet break room.

The concert will be held at The CUBE on 3711 Woodward on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2:00 p.m. For tickets visit DSO.org and look on under the events page. 

Afterschool arts

The national nonprofit ProjectArt is offering free afterschool arts programs in Detroit for K-12 students. The program partners with professional artists and libraries. Registration is open for the 2026-2027 school year. ProjectArt has served hundreds of children in Detroit since 2016 in partnership with Detroit Public Library.  

In Detroit, students will work with Stephanie Mae Howells, Chloe River, Irene Perez, Amber Abboud, and Olivia Eshe Holt.  

Registration is open for September. Classes begin at the end of the month. Visit projectart.org/detroit to enroll. 

Birth Detroit celebration

Birth Detroit, Detroit’s first freestanding birth center, is hosting a celebration to share the impact of five years of service. People will learn about Birth Detroit’s impact report and future plans.  

The event will take place on Sept.18 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Whiskey Factory—1000 Maple St. in Detroit. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Arts funding has been on and off the chopping block. At the same time, art and culture organizations are facing financial and political pressure from the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, funding for the National Endowment for the Arts held steady this year at $207 million. This comes after the administration threatened to eliminate the agency altogether. 

Mary Anne Carter is the Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts. It’s the second time she’s been in this role both serving under President Donald Trump.

Carter joined The Metro to talk about her tour in Michigan as part of an America 250 tour.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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For the last month Americans have been watching soccer with the World Cup being played on U.S. soil for the first time in more than 30 years.  The final game is this weekend.

As people from around the globe visit, the tournament has highlighted a sharing of cultures. Not only as people show off their own communities in support of their national teams, but also as tourists try American cuisine.

Videos on social media have shown people from Europe coming over and being impressed by the food. That raises the question of what makes the culinary landscape in the U.S., a country founded by immigrants, so different.

Chef Nick Sanchez is an immigrant who serves as the director of the Patchwork Culinary Project. He joins The Metro to discuss the impact of immigrants and refugees on the country’s culinary landscape.

“They bring their food and culture and their flavors with them,” Sanchez say. “Those flavors eventually become our daily meal staples.”

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Hear the full conversation using the media player.

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Whether you’re looking to celebrate the arts, tour historical sites, or spend time with family – this week’s Metro Events Guide has you covered.

Upcoming events (June 25-30)

Henry Ford: America 250 Years in the Making- The Jackson Family Home

Henry Ford Museum
 June 18- Dec 31
$30-39

On June 25, the Henry Ford Museum will begin its America 250 Years in the Making events. From visiting the home of the Jacksons, to touring historic planes, museumgoers will have new exhibitions to explore until December 31. The first event, a tour of the Jackson Home, will begin on June 25, and will include historical sites of the civil rights movement. 

5th Annual Wayne County High School Art Exhibition

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)
June 26- July 19
$20 adults, $10 senior/ college student (w/ valid ID), $8 youth, free for DIA Members

Since June 18, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has showcased art from local high schoolers for its 5th year. From textile work to paintings, each student’s art is displayed and viewed by visitors from Metro Detroit. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students with a valid ID, $8 for youths aged 6-17, and free for DIA members. 

Toy Story Movie Marathon

Commerce Township Community Library
Friday, June 26 | 10:15 a.m- 4:50 p.m.
Free

On June 26, the Commerce Township Community Library will host a Toy Story movie marathon to celebrate its newest film and 31st anniversary of the franchise. There will be crafts available during the viewing. Admission is free, but registration is required.

Clark Park Culture and Arts Festival

Clark Park Coalition
Saturday, June 27| 1-4 p.m.
Free

On June 27, the Clark Park Coalition of Detroit will host the Culture & Arts Festival. From 1 to 4 p.m., there will be art, music, and various activities from local residents. Admission is free. 

Family Friendly Disney Karaoke

Ann Arbor District Library
Tuesday, June 30 | 12-1 p.m.
Free

On June 30, the Ann Arbor District Library will host a family friendly karaoke event. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a selection of old and new Disney songs for all to enjoy. Admission is free. 

Restaurants in Detroit are now eligible to receive a Michelin star rating. That’s 20 years after the Michelin Group awarded its first star to restaurants in the United States.

The designation was born from the French tire company’s efforts over a century ago to recommend places for drivers to stop. It has since become an authority on where to eat worldwide.

Detroit is one of six cities being scouted to identify Michelin Star caliber restaurants for the American Great Lakes guide that is expected to publish in 2027. Currently, Chicago is the only Midwestern city with a restaurant that has secured a Michelin star.

Detroit Free Press dining and restaurant critic Lyndsay Green joined The Metro to explain what the Michelin star designation means, why Detroit is being considered, and if a metro Detroit food spot has a real shot at receiving a star rating.

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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.

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