Detroit Month of Design is celebrating its 14th annual showcase of immersive design.  

In this case, the word “design” is meant to be used in the broadest sense — we’re talking fashion, mobility and technology. More than 100 events will take place across the city in September, which will include tours and workshops.  

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The showcase will be hosted by Design Core Detroit, an organization that supports design-driven businesses to help grow Detroit’s economy. 

Kiana Wenzell, co-executive director of Design Core Detroit, and Detroit photographer Elonte Davis joined The Metro on Friday to discuss Detroit Month of Design and what attendees can expect.

“Design Core Detroit is about growth, growing the creatives that are here. We want to see Elonte and his business grow. We’re about attraction. We want to attract more talent, creative talent and visitors to our city using platforms like the festival to do that,” Wenzell said. “And we want to retain talent. We don’t want Elonte to move, we love him. We want to see him thrive and survive in our city. So the festival is about connecting creatives with each other, helping to introduce them to new audiences and opportunities, and highlighting the reason why Detroit was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.”

Use the media player above to listen to the full interview with Wenzell and Davis.

More headlines from The Metro on Aug. 23, 2024:

• Detroit’s North End neighborhood is filled with history and community — a lot of it due to the work of the Vanguard Community Development Corporation. The group is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a party on Sept. 7. at The Henry Ford Health Detroit Piston’s Performance Center. Vanguard Chairwoman Leslie Graham Andrews joined the show to discuss the organization’s work.
• A new report on children from the Michigan League for Public Policy revealed a mixed bag when it comes to measures of child well-being. To discuss the report’s findings, Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton joined the show.
• Outlier Media Civic Life Reporter Laura Herberg and Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade joined the show as part of The Metro‘s Detroit Documenters public meetings roundup each Friday.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Communities across metro Detroit host a variety of events to engage residents throughout the year. Another one of those celebrations is happening this weekend with the Hazel Park Art Fair.

The work from over 100 artists will be on display and for sale.  

Like previous years, there will be a host of family-friendly activities, with a few stops for beer lovers in attendance as well.  

Lily Ristau, secretary of the Hazel Park Arts Council, joined The Metro on Monday to share more about this year’s Hazel Park Art Fair.

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Ristau says the event is “truly a labor of love.”

“We’re all volunteers who put it on because we just love the community and want to see, you know, the artists in our community shine and also giving Hazel Parkers and the surrounding area, you know, just a fun, free, family-friendly event this weekend,” she said. “We have art in all of its forms, which I think is so fun.” 

The Hazel Park Art Fair is taking place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in Green Acres Park, Hazel Park. For more information visit hpart.org.

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Ristau.

More headlines from The Metro on Aug. 19, 2024:

• The city of Detroit announced Friday efforts to improve public transit with construction underway at the Coolidge Terminal. To discuss the construction that’s happening and the city’s plan for that project, Interim Director of the Detroit Department of Transportation Michael Staley joined the show.
• Michigan does not have enough housing. In fact, 41% of Michigan local officials report a shortage of single-family homes in their communities – up by 23% since 2017, according to a University of Michigan report. And now some have been trying to solve the problem. On Mackinac Island this past summer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she wanted to build or rehab 115,000 housing units by 2026. And in the spring, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority was granted the ability to use state funds to increase housing. On the latest episode of MichMash, Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow sat down with the agency’s director Amy Hovey to learn more.
• It’s a presidential election year and that means it’s another opportunity for candidates to stump for their positions and to make the case for what kind of society they want to create. The Metro has been talking with both liberals and conservatives from around the tri-county area to better understand the issues they feel are most pressing to residents. Producer Sam Corey sat down with Head of the Oakland County GOP Vance Patrick to discuss issues on voters’ minds.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.