The Zekelman Holocaust Center has a horse chestnut tree grown from a sapling of the tree Anne Frank could see from the annex where her family hid from the Nazis.
The ‘Anne Frank Tree’ is mentioned in the Diary of a Young Girl written by the 12 year old before she was killed in the concentration and extermination camp at Bergen-Belsen.
The Zekelman’s Jamie Miskowski spoke with WDET’s Sascha Raiyn about the tree as a living testament to the story of the Holocaust.
“She wrote about it several times in her diary. About how seeing it gave her hope, a sense of connection to the outside world,” said Miskowski. The tree is an example of spiritual resilience—where someone living through the worst of times still sees something positive in the world.
The original tree outside of the Anne Frank house began to get sick in the early 2000s, and the Zekelman applied to raise one of its saplings to keep its legacy alive. It was one of around a dozen initial recipients.
Having a living artifact poses new challenges with caretaking, but it also resonates strongly with guests and staff as a symbol of Anne and other Holocaust victims’ lasting legacy.
“I also like to think about it as a symbol of the over 4,000 Holocaust survivors who came to Michigan after the war,” said Miskowski, “who themselves put down roots and built new lives, new families, new legacies, careers that outlive them, and found ways to thrive right here in our community.”
The Zekelman Holocaust Center plans to add a multimedia exhibit about the tree to the Anne Frank Gallery in 2027.
– WDET’S Natalie Albrecht contributed to this story.
This story was edited on June 30, 2026 to correct the concentration camp where Anne Frank died and the photo credit.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Celebrate Juneteenth along the Detroit riverfront with an afternoon of music, storytelling, art and community reflection. The free event explores Detroit’s history, culture and resilience through African drumming and dance, poetry, spoken word performances and conversations with local artists and community members.
Attendees can also browse the Michigan Black Business Alliance Vendor Market, enjoy arts and crafts activities, take guided tours of the Stories of Us exhibit and purchase food and beverages from local vendors.
Celebrate Juneteenth at Detroit’s original Juneteenth Parade & Celebration, now in its fourth year. The community event features a parade and festivities honoring Black history, culture and freedom in the heart of Midtown.
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2080 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit Friday, June 19 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free
Celebrate Juneteenth with a day of history, culture and community at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The annual event features family-friendly activities, educational programs, live performances and interactive experiences that honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrate the contributions of Black communities.
Highlights include crafts and games, a community quilting workshop, book giveaways, film screenings, cooking demonstrations, cultural presentations and a closing concert by Mollywop! Visitors can also take part in discussions focused on history, health, food and freedom.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit Friday, June 19 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15
Join Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO) for a Juneteenth celebration featuring a community parade, live music and family-friendly activities. The event includes performances by local artists, including Big Chuck and InspiHER, along with free food, giveaways and youth-focused activities.
Parade begins at Livernois and Grand River and ends at Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield Bridge Center Library, 9928 Grand River Ave., Detroit Friday, June 19 | Starting at 10 a.m. Free
Support local entrepreneurs and sample a variety of homemade foods at the Juneteenth Market & Cottage Food Tasting Fair. Hosted by the Brightmoor Artisans Collective, the event showcases Black-owned businesses, local food makers and community vendors in a family-friendly outdoor market setting.
Brightmoor Artisans Collective, 22735 Fenkell Ave., Detroit Friday, June 19 | 3 p.m. Free
Celebrate Juneteenth with an evening of live music, comedy, food and community at the 4th Annual Juneteenth Music Festival Detroit. The outdoor event commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Texas more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The festival features performances by G-Note-7, The James Shelton Band, comedian Josh Adams, JD Green, Quest Mcody, Galaxy the Poet and other local artists. Food is included with admission.
Boston-Edison Historic District Friday, June 19 | 5-11 p.m. $35
Celebrate Juneteenth at this annual community gathering in Oakland County. The family-friendly event features live music, dancing, food, networking opportunities and activities for children, all designed to create the feel of a traditional family reunion while honoring Black culture and community.
Goldengate Park, 18890 Rainbow Drive, Lathrup Village Saturday, June 20 | Noon Free
Have you ever wondered which communities in Metro Detroit are part of the Downriver area, and how it got that name?
Listener Scott Troia of Ann Arbor wonders.
“I was curious about where the term ‘Downriver’ originated from: Who, when, why they started using it. Is it a geographic boundary, or is it cultural? Who identifies as being from Downriver?”
WDET’s Pat Batcheller does. He was born and raised in Trenton and has lived in Southgate with his wife Amy since 1999. Pat’s happy to answer Scott’s question.
What does “Downriver” mean?
Elizabeth Park sits along the Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan.
As the name suggests, Downriver refers to those communities on the Detroit River as it flows down into Lake Erie. Humans have lived in the area for thousands of years. The term Downriver is more recent. It appears as two words in a 1917 magazine published by the city of Wyandotte. In 1963, Thomas J. Anderson wrote a book called “The History of Southgate and Downriver”—one word. Today, the term covers a lot more territory than just the riverfront.
Which communities make up Downriver?
That depends on who you ask. Lisa Wayne is the CEO of the Downriver Community Conference. The nonprofit helps people find jobs through the Michigan Works program. It also coordinates grants for its 20 member communities.
“We serve Allen Park, Brownstown, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Huron Township, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven and Wyandotte,” Wayne says.
The DCC started with 11 communities and includes Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Many consider those cities to be outside of the traditional definition of Downriver. Ron Hinrichs grew up in Dearborn but didn’t consider himself a Downriver resident.
“I remember someone asking me once, ‘where are you from?'” Hinrichs recalls. “And I said, ‘I’m from Dearborn.’ And they said, ‘oh, so you’re—you’re from Downriver.’ And I said, ‘I’m not from Downriver, I’m from Dearborn.'”
Hinrichs leads the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber, which promotes the Downriver area. He says if you ask ten people where Downriver is, you’ll get ten different answers.
Where does Downriver end?
Downriver does not have defined borders, but most descriptions stop at the Huron River separating Wayne and Monroe counties. That would make Rockwood part of Downriver, but not its next-door neighbor, South Rockwood, a village in Monroe County’s Berlin Township. Stephanie Hawkins is the president of the Berlin Charter Township Historical Society. She says if you ask South Rockwood residents, they’ll say they feel closer to Downriver than Monroe.
“They mentioned that when they want to do something like go shopping, they go north because it is closer than driving all the way down to Monroe,” Hawkins says. “So, I think that’s why you’ll find that the folks who live in the village itself do identify with being Downriver.”
So do people in Taylor, which is not on the Detroit River. Karl Ziomek is Taylor’s communications director and a former journalist at the area’s paper of record, the News-Herald. He recalls newsroom arguments about how far west Downriver reaches.
“And there are a lot of people I think to this day who would believe that Taylor is even stretching it,” Ziomek says. “Certainly, Romulus does. It goes on the other side of Metro Airport, then people start going, ‘well wait a minute, is this really Downriver?”
Pearl Varner laughs at the suggestion that Romulus is part of Downriver because of its distance from the Detroit River. Her family has lived in Romulus for over a century. She runs the city’s historical museum. But Varner says if it brings more visitors to the museum and the downtown area, she’s fine with being considered Downriver.
“You want people to come and see what you’re doing, what your museum is like, what your city is like, what your people are like,” Varner says.
What are people like Downriver?
Ted Butkin is a lifelong Wyandotte resident.
Each community is unique, but they all share common roots. Many are descendants of European immigrants who worked in factories or started their own businesses. Some settled in Wyandotte, where Ted Butkin has lived his whole life.
“We had a German festival, a Polish festival, a Mexican festival and there was one other that were just huge because everyone was represented in this melting pot of Wyandotte,” Butkin says.
Wyandotte is the second oldest incorporated city in Wayne County, after Detroit. Joe Gruber is the city’s economic development director. He says its vibrant downtown attracts people from Downriver and beyond.
Joe Gruber is Wyandotte’s economic and downtown development director.
“All of the small business owners and entrepreneurs in our community are really, really engaged and hard working,” Gruber says. “We try to offer a lot of fun quality-of-life events and opportunities for families to come, especially those events that are free.”
Anthony Beitel moved to Wyandotte a couple of years ago. Before that, he had lived in Detroit and the northern suburbs. Beitel says he didn’t know much about Downriver before relocating with his partner, who is from the area. He says he loves how people support the local economy.
“They have this whole ‘Shop The Dotte’ initiative, which is all about promoting small businesses,” Beitel says. “And it’s just really great to see that sense of community and everybody kind of supporting each other and lifting each other up.”
Industry drove Downriver for decades, for better or worse
Small businesses have always been a vital part of the Downriver economy, but through much of the 20th century, heavy industry was the main source of jobs and tax revenue. It was also a major source of pollution, such as coal dust. Lisa Donovan lives in Brownstown Township but grew up in Wyandotte. She says sometimes when the wind blew, it turned houses black with ash.
“And they would have piles of coal next to the park in Wyandotte that’s on the waterfront, and you’d come home with ash on you.”
Because of that, Donovan says some people—mainly outsiders—saw Downriver as a dirty place to live. That reputation lingered long after downturns in the automotive and steel industries forced many factories to close. Business and civic leaders suggested dumping Downriver in favor of something they thought sounded more attractive—Metro Shores. But, unlike coal dust, that name didn’t stick.
People have pride in Downriver, even those who are new to the area
Michael Echols moved from Detroit to Ecorse a couple of years ago. Ecorse started as one of Wayne County’s original townships in 1827. Today, the cities of Ecorse, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Southgate, and Wyandotte comprise what used to be Ecorse Township.
Echols says Ecorse is a peaceful place.
“It’s a different variety of people down here, but it’s everybody getting on, and that’s the most beautiful part,” he says.
The river itself defines the region
John Hartig managed the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge for 14 years and has written several books about the Great Lakes.
Just a few hundred feet offshore from Ecorse is Mud Island, part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. John Hartig once managed the refuge, which includes Grosse Ile and the entire Michigan shore of Lake Erie. He says it took decades to repair the industrial damage to the environment and restore the river’s natural habitat.
“We’ve seen some dramatic improvements in water quality,” he says. “Bald eagles are back, and peregrine falcons, osprey, lake whitefish, lake sturgeon, river otter and beaver are back.”
Downriver has its own culture
Hartig says the river’s revival is changing perceptions of Downriver, its people, and its culture. Linda Francetich is trying to do the same. 15 years ago, she started a website called Discover Downriver to promote the area’s cultural activities, such as festivals and concerts. Francetich says the area might not have the vibe of Royal Oak or Birmingham, but that’s OK.
“Everyone has their own regional culture,” she says. “But I think Downriver has a very unique culture because of how close everybody is and how supportive everybody is.”
Francetich says Downriver has a lot of musical talent, including bands such as 50 Amp Fuse and the Transit Brothers. Chris French plays trumpet for the Transit Brothers and the Downriver Community Band. He also owns a family law firm and organizes yearly concerts to benefit Downriver veterans. French says the region has a lot to offer, including a variety of real estate.
“You want a farm, we have farms,” he says. “We’ve got water everywhere, so you can buy a house on the water.”
Some of the most impressive homes on the water are on Grosse Ile, which sits in the middle of the Detroit River. Tony Krukowski is the vice president of the Grosse Ile Historical Museum. He says the island’s scenery is a big draw.
“People just love to drive around the island, especially around East River Road and West River Road to take in the natural scene,” he says.
Two bridges connect Grosse Ile to the rest of Downriver. Listener Scott Troia, who asked the question, says he understands the area better now that we’ve connected the dots for him.
“What are the boundaries of it and do people from different communities actually self-identify with being part of Downriver that might be on some of those fringe cities? You very much covered those topics, really.”
Thanks, Scott. It’s why we’re here.
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The goal of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program is to help ensure school-age children continue to receive healthy meals during the months when they are not in school.
The state says families who enroll will receive $120 for each eligible child during the summer. Some families are automatically eligible, while others will need to apply.
Sun Bucks benefits can be used at any retailer that accepts EBT. For more information, visit Michigan.gov and search for “Sun Bucks.”
Additional headlines for June 17, 2026
Flood watch in effect for Metro Detroit
Much of Metro Detroit is under a flood watch this afternoon through late tonight.
The advisory includes Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Storms are expected tonight, bringing the threat of gusty winds and heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service says 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible within a three-hour period. That could cause flash flooding in rivers and streams and affect residents living in low-lying areas.
Heavy rains increase risk of beach closures
This week’s heavy rains are making temporary beach closures more likely in some areas.
Stormy weather can lead to high levels of E. coli bacteria in Michigan lakes, creating unsafe swimming conditions. Tom Barnes, environmental health division director at the Macomb County Health Department, says heavy rainfall can wash contaminants into the water.
“If you have a big rainy event and you have lots of goose feces on the beach, that’ll wash it into the water. That will definitely result in a higher E. coli count.”
Barnes says swimming in water with high E. coli levels can cause health problems.
Spot Lite and UFO Bar to close
Detroit’s nightlife scene is about to lose two well-known establishments.
The owners of Spot Lite and UFO Bar announced on Instagram Tuesday that the venues will close later this month.
Spot Lite’s last night of operation will be Saturday, June 28. UFO Bar will open its doors for the final time on Monday, June 30.
Detroit to host PWHL draft
Detroit will host another historic hockey event tonight.
The Fox Theatre will be the site of the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. The league chose Detroit for the event after strong fan support helped break attendance records in back-to-back seasons.
Jayna Hefford, the league’s executive vice president of hockey operations, says the PWHL has helped grow women’s hockey by giving athletes a professional stage on which to compete.
“My generation would have loved this. We didn’t get a chance to have it, but I’m so happy that they get to have it. And then when we look at the next generation of young girls that are going to watch this and not know a world where there isn’t professional women’s hockey.”
Detroit’s PWHL team is one of four expansion teams signing players before league play begins this fall.
CBC ends ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ era
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known as CBC, has announced it will no longer broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada.”
The network has aired the Saturday night NHL games since 1952. The change comes after the public broadcaster could not reach a deal with Rogers Sportsnet, which has held the broadcast rights since 2013.
The move may make it more difficult for some Detroit-area viewers to tune in to Saturday night hockey. Generations of Detroiters have watched NHL games on CBC Windsor 9.
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The Detroit City Council has approved an extended curfew for the Detroit fireworks display on Monday, June 22.
Under the measure, minors will not be allowed downtown without parental supervision from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.
Councilmember Denzel McCampbell voted against the curfew. He said he does not believe curfews are effective because incidents still occurred during last year’s fireworks curfew.
“That’s what I’m bringing forth here is not an aspect of, do you care about public safety, do you want folks to be safe or not. My question before this council is, is this effective to achieve that goal or not? And in my view, it is not, because the data shows us that.”
McCampbell said the extended curfew sends the message that Detroit’s youth are not welcome downtown.
The discussion comes as city officials continue to address concerns about large gatherings of young people at so-called “teen takeover” events, a trend that has spread through social media.
Dearborn Heights police said a group of teens attempted to stage a teen takeover during the city’s Spirit Festival on Saturday. The Detroit News reported that city officials said arrests were made and several people were detained. Officials said multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the response.
Additional headlines for June 16, 2026
Mary Sheffield endorses Jocelyn Benson for governor
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Michigan’s race for governor.
Benson has lived in Detroit for more than a decade. Sheffield said that connection to the city was one factor in her decision to endorse the candidate.
“Every time I’ve called Jocelyn Benson, she has been accessible, she has been honest, she has been a hard worker, and she has always shown her commitment and her passion and her love for the city of Detroit.”
Sheffield said she and Benson share a goal of reforming Detroit’s property tax structure, which they believe is limiting opportunities for new housing development.
Benson has been leading Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in recent polling. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his Democratic bid for governor and is now running as an independent candidate.
Detroit City FC stadium opening delayed until 2028
The opening of AlumniFi Field, Detroit City Football Club’s planned stadium in Corktown, has been pushed back to spring 2028.
The venue was originally expected to open in 2027, but DCFC CEO Sean Mann said that timeline proved too aggressive.
Despite the delay, Mann said work is continuing at the site.
“We’ve already taken down the old Southwest Detroit Hospital, and it just came to a point of making sure that we have a timeline where we can confidently deliver a stadium.”
Mann said a groundbreaking ceremony for AlumniFi Field will take place next month.
Detroit City FC will continue playing its home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck until the new stadium is completed.
Wayne State to host Juneteenth celebration
Wayne State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence will hold its Juneteenth Celebration on June 17.
This year’s theme highlights the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The event will feature the premiere of the yearlong Campus Genealogy Project documentary.
Food vendors and community organizations will also be on site. The celebration runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Industry Innovation Center, 461 Burroughs St. in Detroit.
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The Jews of Color Initiative is hosting a national listening tour across the U.S., with a stop in Detroit next week. The organization aims to increase awareness of regional experiences and foster conversations about racial equity within the Jewish community.
CEO Ilana Kaufman says the tour is an effort to center the voices and experiences of Jews of Color while also hearing from community members and understanding local needs.
“Detroit is one of those smaller communities for us where we know that the community has a sense of connection, an ability to transcend or at least set aside conflict in service of not only interracial and cross-racial relationships, but also relationships across faiths.”
The Detroit session will take place from 6-8 p.m. June 25. More information is available through the Jews of Color Initiative.
MDHHS highlights violence data dashboard, free gun locks
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is promoting resources during Gun Violence Awareness Month, including its Injury and Violence Dashboard, which provides data on violence trends across the state.
According to MDHHS, gun violence injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States among people ages 1 to 44. They are also the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel says the dashboards help communities, leaders and policymakers identify where additional work is needed to improve public safety.
The state also offers free gun locks at more than 100 locations across Michigan through Project ChildSafe, a program supported by the Michigan State Police.
Detroit skilled trades task force meeting scheduled
The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force meeting this week to connect residents with employment opportunities and tuition-free apprenticeship programs.
The meeting will take place from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Adam Butzel Complex in Detroit. Residents can also participate via Zoom.
The City of Detroit is hosting a meeting for retirees to share information and gather feedback from residents.
The City of Detroit Retirees Task Force hybrid meeting will take place from 1-3 p.m. June 18 at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center and on Zoom. The meeting is hosted by Councilmember-at-Large Mary Waters and Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/82953432101
State, federal agencies invest $10 million in Detroit River restoration
State and federal agencies have announced $10 million in funding to support restoration efforts in the Detroit River.
EGLE Director Phil Roos says the Detroit River is an important natural resource and restoring it remains a priority.
The Detroit River was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 because of industrial pollution, untreated wastewater and stormwater runoff. EGLE and the EPA have been working to address contamination in the river since 2012.
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Sit back, move, celebrate or any combination of the three—we’ve got you covered in this week’s events guide. With metro Detroit as a backdrop, enter the enchanting setting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with some 90s tunes, groove into a new mode of yoga, and cheer on international soccer teams in the heart of downtown.
And, in a uniquely-Michigan event, honor 160 years of Vernor’s ginger ale in the Eastern Market.
Join Detroit City FC at Campus Martius Park to root on Team USA as they face Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the match begins at 9 p.m. Food and beverage will be available for purchase on site. This event is free for all ages and registration is required. Another watch party will be held on June 19 at 3 p.m. as USA takes on Australia. For more information and to register for entry, visit the Detroit City FCwebsite.
This is the final weekend for the Midland Center for the Arts’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Based on Shakespeare’s work of the same name, the performance will include ’90s music and “moonlit mischief.” The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission starts at $22.50.
Welcome the newest historic structure to the Greenfield Village. The Jackson Home was brought in from Selma, Alabama and will showcase the courageous family and community that came together during the Civil Rights Movement. The home hosted Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders as they strategized how to win over the rights owed to them. At this opening event, there will be a Black-owned business market to browse, 40+ double dutch, Southern cuisine, live music, panels, demonstrations and more. Reservations are required if you hope to tour the inside of the home. This event is free for members and included in admission price.
Support the care and rescue work of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit at this bustling, tail-wagging event! From noon to 8 p.m., bring your family, friends, and furry companions by for shopping, adopting and plenty of activities. Fun events throughout the day include bingo, raffles, a cornhole tournament, and more. Plus, there’s a Kid Zone for young ones to run and play too. If you want to adopt one of the pets available on site, adoption fees are waived for the day.
Vernor’s is celebrating 160 years with a daylong celebration on Riopelle Street in Eastern Market. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. with a full brunch menu from Marrow in the Market featuring Vernor’s specials. The event will also feature live music, games, and a street-wide toast made at 3:30 p.m. to celebrate Vernor’s 160th anniversary. This event is free to the public.
Silent-disco meets zen movement in this signature event. Exercise to the beat and release some stress while meeting new people in downtown Detroit. Headphones for the guided session are provided, but don’t forget to bring your own water and yoga mat. There’s a meet and greet at 7 p.m., with the session itself running from 7:30-9 p.m.
Support local journalism.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
The United Auto Workers has endorsed Jocelyn Benson for governor and Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate in Michigan’s 2026 elections.
In a statement, the UAW said it supports El-Sayed because it wants “a fighter” in Washington, D.C. During an interview with ABC News Live this week, El-Sayed discussed the importance of unions like the UAW.
“The best way to protect people’s wages is to allow them to form unions. I want to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the PRO Act to make sure you have the voting rights and that you can form a union anywhere and in any sector in American life.” The UAW also said the 2026 gubernatorial race is critical and that Benson has demonstrated she would stand with working-class Michiganders.
The endorsements come after former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan entered the governor’s race as an independent candidate and following last week’s Mackinac Policy Conference, where El-Sayed and fellow Democratic Senate candidates Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens participated in a debate.
Additional headlines for June 5, 2026
Dearborn opens third PEACE Park in Southend
Dearborn has opened its third PEACE Park in the city’s Southend neighborhood.
PEACE stands for Park Equity and Access for Civic Engagement. The parks are part of the PEACE Project, a nearly $30 million grant-funded effort to invest in the city’s green infrastructure.
PEACE Park South includes a community basketball court, two pickleball courts, a garden walk and other amenities. During a town hall meeting in April, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud discussed additional efforts to expand green space throughout the city.
“Every year, we choose six to nine schools where we’re planting rain gardens and trees in various schools.”
The new park is now open for residents to enjoy.
Tigers host Mariners in weekend series
The Detroit Tigers host the Seattle Mariners this weekend for a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Detroit enters the series looking to gain ground in the American League Central amid trade speculation ahead of the deadline. First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
Detroit City FC takes on Lexington SC in USL Jägermeister Cup
Detroit City FC will face Lexington SC in Group D action of the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.
Michigan State researcher helps prepare World Cup playing surfaces
Michigan State University professor Trey Rogers is helping prepare playing surfaces for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Rogers helped pioneer indoor natural grass systems for the 1994 World Cup. For next year’s tournament, he and his team are developing methods to ensure the safe transportation and installation of turf at host stadiums.
According to Bridge Michigan, Michigan State and the University of Tennessee are also supplying turfgrass through a FIFA-funded project.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11 and concludes July 19.
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Focus: Hope was founded in 1968 as a way to bring Black and white Detroiters together in the aftermath of the 1967 rebellion. The organization has grown and changed in the last six decades, but still faces challenges.
Portia Roberson is the President and CEO of Focus: Hope. She spoke with WDET’s Jerome Vaughn at the Mackinac Policy Conference last week.
Roberson says changes in federal funding priorities have made it harder for the non-profit to achieve its goals. The organization had its federal funding slashed for Head Start. She says those funding cuts endangered early learning opportunities for more than 200 families.
At the same time, Roberson says the Focus: Hope food program is growing because more people across the state are dealing with food insecurity. The non-profit is feeding between 45,000 and 50,000 Michigan seniors every month.
Support local journalism.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
In the latest episode of CuriosiD, WDET’s Russ McNamara examined why so many fire stations in Detroit have koi ponds. Now he’s taking a closer look at the koi pond on Belle Isle – or at least trying to.
The pond sits between the aquarium and the conservatory, and with some HVAC work going on, experts at the aquarium are worried about dust and debris getting into the water.
Curator of the Belle Isle Aquarium, Dr. Paul Shuert, posing in front of tanks full of koi.
Paul Shuert, curator of the Belle Isle Aquarium, said the main danger of debris comes from the koi’s eating habits.
“They eat just about anything, they’ll graze on leaves that fall in into the pond, stuff that grows in the bottom,” Shuert said.
For now, the koi are stored in the basement of the aquarium. Shuert added that the koi have been on the island and were once housed at the now-defunct zoo.
“They were even on the island when the aquarium was closed for seven years,” Shuert said. “They were still here and cared for.”
Weathering the seasons
There was a time when the koi did not live in the pond year-round as they do now, according to Shuert. In October, he said people would help bring the fish to the basement to keep them safe during the winter because they weren’t sure it would stay filled with water.
“Once we got the pond fixed, we stopped bringing them in because we didn’t want to handle them. It’s not good to handle fish anytime,” Shuert said.
The annual moving of the fish became a tradition known as the Koi Festival, and Shuert said each fish had to be caught one at a time.
Koi swimming in tanks in the basement of the Belle Isle Aquarium
“We drain the pond, so we get down to maybe six inches of water, where we can chase them, and we scoop them up one at a time until we get all the water out and all the fish out,” Shuert said.
During winter, Shuert said the koi go into “almost a hibernation stage” where they shut down their metabolism and wait out the cold weather.
“When the water gets about 50 degrees, they become active again. And then we start feeding them, and they just love it out there all summer long,” Shuert said.
Looking forward to a homecoming
However, the koi will spend this summer in the basement due to new air conditioning being installed in the aquarium. Meagan Elliot, president and CEO of the Belle Isle Conservancy said the project costs $10 million and will be the first major update to the aquarium in 75 years.
President and CEO of the Belle Isle Conservancy, Meagan Elliot, poses in the basement of the park’s aquarium
“These are beloved assets, but they are over 120 years old, and take a lot of care and particular detail when it comes to their restoration,” Elliot said.
As for the koi, Elliot said they will be returned to their home in the pond before the end of this year.
“We’d like to do some sort of a celebration,” Elliot said, “kind of similar to the historic Koi Festival that celebrates returning the koi back to the pond.”
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Metro Detroit’s Downriver area is where heavy industry meets nature, creating a complicated dynamic between the economy and the environment.
Steel mills and other factories that once lined the Detroit River employed thousands of people from River Rouge south to Rockwood. Workers enjoyed the benefits of well-paying manufacturing jobs that bolstered the middle class. But they also recognized the environmental threats those factories posed to the land, the water, and the air around them.
Labor unions and other groups fought to protect the Downriver area’s natural resources and the recreational opportunities they provided.
Michigan State University labor historian Lisa M. Fine has studied the working class’s relationship with the communities where they live. She studied those bonds and wrote a book about them. It’s called “Downriver Detroit: The Working Class, the Environment, and the Bonds of Place.”
WDET’s Pat Batcheller, a Downriver native, spoke with Fine about her research. Here’s a transcript of their conversation, lightly edited for clarity.
Listen: New book explores how working class shaped Downriver
Pat Batcheller: Why did you write the book?
Lisa Fine: I cast out to find a place where I could test my theories that working class people cared about not only the natural world around them, but also the community, the region, the place in which they lived. My first scholarly exploration was Pointe Mouillee, the game reserve down there. And it was to my great delight and surprise to find a site Downriver that the people of the region and beyond wanted to preserve once it became available for sale to the state, so that everybody publicly can hunt there for ducks or whatever else they wanted to hunt for.
And to me, that just seemed like a great validation in some ways, or sort of an invitation in many ways, to explore this throughout the entire region. I wanted to uncover the ways in which working class people living in a particular region expressed their identities and their actions through the things that define them by that region.
PB: And what do you think connects people to Downriver?
LF: Since I’m a historian, the first thing that I’ll say is I think it’s history. So for many people, like Native American communities or immigrants, it’s the ways in which the region has become their home, the ways they’ve been able to make a living there, to establish families and communities, and to create a working-class way of life. There’s such a powerful nostalgia that I uncovered.
These things were threatened during the 1960s and 70s because of the kind of employment, because of the kind of life that people could build, because of the place itself. It’s not a place that you would normally associate with natural beauty. But in fact, the people that live there do love the waterfront, and they do love the terrain and the spaces there. People connected to that as well.
PB: You mentioned Pointe Mouillee, which is only a few miles down the river from what used to be heavy industry. You still have Great Lakes Steel in Ecorse. But a couple of steel plants dried up. DTE Energy tore down its coal-fired power plant in Trenton not that long ago. You’ve got this balance that you have to strike between preserving the natural features and at the same time maintaining the tax base, the job base. How difficult was that for people to balance?
LF: It was a constant negotiation. Pointe Mouillee was originally an elite hunting ground owned by industrialists from all over the northeast. But then when it was being sold, there was a groundswell to make this available as a public space, which is incredible. Federal, local and state funds became available to do that.
But there were also other developments later such as the creation of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which was an incredible effort to preserve spaces up and down the river and even down to Lake Erie. All of those were negotiations that were affected by historical circumstances, availability of resources, public input, and sometimes pushback around it.
One of the labor leaders that I feature in my book, Harry Lester , said, “you have to have jobs. They have to work.” And so, the responsibility to make that balance or to engage in that negotiation should not rest solely on the working people. We’re not going to give up the desire to have a Detroit River that we could use, that we could fish in, that we could swim in one day. This responsibility should be shared by local, state and federal officials.
Lisa M. Fine’s book explores economic and environmental history of Downriver.
PB: You mentioned in your book the role that unions played in those negotiations. Why was that important?
LF: It signaled at least at the beginning of the environmental movement in the United States. Working class people, through their labor unions, were going to be lobbying for and engaging in activities on behalf of the environment. Unions recognized this: what good is bargaining for more spending money and more free time if the places that they want to spend their money and engage in their outdoor activities are unacceptable, trashed or polluted?
PB: What did you learn about the people who call Downriver home?
LF: I learned that they were both similar to places all around the country and also completely unique, which I know sounds contradictory. But for me, that’s the importance of the study.
On the one hand, very few communities of working-class people live in an environment like this. They don’t live beside a boundary water and a river with all the concentration of industry. But on the other hand, there are so many downrivers and downwinds and downstreams all across the United States.
Working class people who live in those communities never sign on to the fouling of their environments and never sign on to be pushed out of their communities. Those kinds of things are not unique. And yet the ways that the people of Downriver responded, with this powerful nostalgia, this commitment to improving their resources and their desire to stay I found very compelling.
Lisa M. Fine is a labor historian at Michigan State University.
PB: How important is the river itself to the region’s identity?
LF: It’s all about the water. I’ve visited many times down there and it does dominate the landscape, certainly among the communities that are right on it. People from the very beginning lived near there because of those waters. Industry came there because of those waters. It’s the magnet that brought both of these constituencies together—industry and people. It’s sort of the font of all activities in Downriver. And it’s not just the Detroit River; it’s all the different tributaries emptying into Lake Erie. It’s a very defining, important, feature of this. It’s the thing that makes Downriver what it is.
PB: Why is the bond to this place so strong?
LF: I think it’s history. I think it’s legacy. I think it’s the kind of life that working class people were able to create there. I think it’s the proximity to the resources, natural resources that they had access to, and that they created access to.
I mean, these were things that weren’t just handed to they, they worked to do this. And once that era of deindustrialization, or as I refer to in the book, the ‘Downriver disaster’ happened, all of these things were challenged so profoundly.
I think the importance of this comes to the forefront and they realize that they’re losing more than just a job. They’re losing a way of life that they had participated in creating.
And there are certainly people who left. I quoted some people who actually did leave because of the pollution and some of the challenges of living in Downriver. Nevertheless, once this is challenged, it is a very difficult obstacle to overcome because of the loss of the tax base when firms and companies left, and something that they had personally felt that they had been participating in creating.
PB: What was the “Downriver disaster?”
LF: It was the departure of jobs, companies, corporations, and plants. These were good union jobs that allowed them to support their families and to live close to a middle-class kind of life where they can engage in the different kinds of outdoors activities, if that’s what they were interested in. It didn’t just threaten their livelihood, but it threatened an entire way of life and communities as a whole. Plants just picked up and left or went out of business. It changed the whole character of the region.
One scholar that I quote believed that it was a collective trauma. They thought, “oh, this is just a downturn. It’ll come back.” And then over time, people began to realize maybe it wasn’t. And we have to think of a different plan for the future. It was a disaster for many of the communities and certainly for the families that live there.
PB: How has Downriver managed to survive these kinds of economic and industrial upheavals?
LF: There certainly was some outmigration. There certainly was a shift to different types of employment. There have been, as I talk about at the end of my book, different ways of thinking about the future of Downriver. Ironically, using the deindustrialization as a way to promote Downriver as a place of physical beauty and a place where people can come to take advantage of that has been one arena. The creation of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has been one way to do that. But there is still some industry, and that’s continuing. There have been some efforts to promote it as a good place for people to live.
Again, there’s been a lot of different strategies here. I’m not sure that there’s one silver bullet or perfect course of action. but people have been staying and trying to make Downriver a ‘go’ even through the difficulties that have happened.
PB: People don’t necessarily consider Monroe as part of Downriver because it’s not on the river, it’s on Lake Erie. Why did you include Monroe in your book?
LF: I thought about that a lot because I knew the different characterizations of Downriver and the different towns and cities that have been included in it. It was purely to tell the story that I wanted to tell.
First of all, steel is an important industry, and some of the earliest steel strikes took place in Monroe in the 1930s, which I do recount. They’re part of that steel industry history.
I also didn’t want to leave out the Fermi atomic power plant story. It’s just north of Monroe, but a lot of the opposition and a lot of the activism around it comes from the Monroe area. So again, that would have been, I think, a little artificial to leave out.
And then finally, one of my favorite organizations that I feature in the chapter on water is the Lake Erie Cleanup Committee. It emerged out of the little beach communities north of Monroe and recognized that the pollution that they experienced at Sterling State Park was a result of what was going on upstream. So, it was impossible to separate that out.
And that brought on all of the efforts to try to clean up the Detroit River, even though it was originally a clean up Lake Erie committee. A whole bunch of individuals came together— sportsmen, environmental groups, conservationists. So to me, it seemed artificial to separate out all those efforts just because they happen to be a little further down and on Lake Erie.
I hope that some of the stories that I told explain why I thought it belonged there.
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Women-led organizations marched on Washington to be heard during their historic efforts to achieve social, political and economic equality. Yet, not all women were included in the conversation. Many of the early women’s suffrage groups excluded Black women and women of color.
Discrimination in the movement led to the formation of Black-led organizations like the Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs (DAWC).
Founded in 1921 at Ferry and Brush at the height of the women’s suffrage movement, the DAWC made it their mission to fight for their own version of equality—one that included both gender and racial parity.
So what happened to the DAWC, its founders, and its mission?
This year, in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, the organization is centering its selections around the theme of equality—protecting and preserving spaces that have advanced the idea that all people are created equal.
The DAWC earned a place on this year’s list. Executive Director Candace Calloway joins the show to share what the designation means, and why its essential to preserve this historic space.
Repairs are needed at the Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs building.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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From Animal Crossing at the aquarium to Indian cultural performances at the DIA and patriotic classics at Orchestra Hall, here are a few events happening around southeast Michigan this week.
From May 7th to July 23rd, the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium will host the 2025 Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be photo ops, character standees, meet-and-greets, and exclusive merchandise. Admission starts at $19.
This summer, RebelNell will host a Design Your Own Jewelry Experience. For 30 minutes, customers will have the opportunity to create their own unique pieces jewelry. The cost is $20 for each session.
From May 29 to May 31, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will host a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. There will be performances of classic American songs, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “Over the Rainbow”, and more. Ticket prices begin at $19.95.
On Saturday, May 30, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will host the Indian Cultural Journey. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests will experience traditional Indian music, dance, storytelling and art. Additionally, guests are encouraged to wear traditional attire. Admission is free.
On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, Midland Center for the Arts will host their annual Summer Art Fair. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests can visit art booths, buy food and experience live music from local bands. Admission is free.
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Detroit’s population has grown by several thousand residents over the past three years. MoveDetroit is one organization that hopes to continue this trend.
According to their website, MoveDetroit is “a historic, city-wide effort to grow Detroit’s population, build shared prosperity, foster thriving communities, and create even brighter futures for all Detroiters.”
Previous Chief Growth Officer for the state of Michigan and current President of MoveDetroit Hilary Doe spoke to WDET about what has been driving Detroit’s population increase.
Listen: Hilary Doe on what makes Detroit a great place to live
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Doe: Detroit has so much going for it, but we’re seeing more and more folks choose to stay. First and foremost, I think that’s really important to mention. When people think about growth, they just think about folks moving in. What it starts with is the folks that are in Detroit choosing to stay and build their futures there. But we’re also seeing more area young people choosing to come to Detroit. That tends to be because we have more job opportunities.
We have a fast-growing startup ecosystem, one of the fastest in the world here in Detroit. It also means that we have more walkable, transit-rich communities in the city, and more and more of those, and really great housing opportunities. So, where there’s a housing crisis across the country, Detroit actually has relatively more accessible and affordable housing options.
McNamara: Where is that?
Doe: Where in the city? For Detroiters and for Michiganders, everything can feel expensive, for sure. But if you’re from Texas, or if you’re from other parts of the country, Michigan’s housing is just relatively more affordable.
McNamara: Alright, so, and is it popping up in certain neighborhoods? Because we hear typically about Midtown, News Center, downtown.
Doe: There’s been a lot of focus on downtown, and downtown helps us from a retail perspective, lots of walkability, but all different kinds of neighborhoods are really seeing a lot of wonderful investment and growth. The East Village area, for example, where the Shepherd has been getting a lot of coverage, has tons of new builds, actually single-family homes. We’re talking $300,000 kind of builds, but also the Corktown area has seen a lot of investment, as you mentioned, [and] small neighborhoods too.
Northwest Goldberg, if folks haven’t been there, you should head out. Communities really taking it upon themselves to make place-based investments, and there’s tons of wonderful activity and new builds, as well as renovation happening out there.
McNamara: Okay, so where do you come in? Where does MoveDetroit come in?
Doe: We launched in early April alongside the mayor and over 50 organizations, from the private sector to our community partners, and the intention is really to do the research as well as to launch programs and pilots to help ensure we’re doing whatever it takes to get folks to choose to stay or choose to move.
We launched a program called Make Detroit Home, for example, that offers support for folks that are choosing to stay in the form of down payments or investments in their business, as well as cohort programming, relocation support, those kinds of things, and that’s just the first program of many.
McNamara: There’s more to a neighborhood than just housing. What are you doing to support grocery stores, corner shops, barber shops?
Doe: All kinds of things. The mayor, for example, launched a program to turn folks out to different retail establishments around the city, and to support more folks who are starting stores across the city. MoveDetroit will be their marketing and amplification partner, but there’s a lot more to do as well. Education is a critical part. We need great schools around the city, and we need to continue investing in those. We’ll work with our partners on MoveDetroit to help with that as well.
McNamara: So, what are you doing at a place like this?
Doe: We’re going to meet with lots of folks here this week actually, to talk about entrepreneurship, increasing investment in our small business owners and our entrepreneurs. Like I mentioned, we need more jobs and higher median incomes in the city, and frankly, across the state. So, we have lots of new business starts. We want to keep those folks when they’re about to hire the first 100 employees. We don’t want to see capital flight, that means we need more capital to invest in Detroiters. So, we’re going to be chatting with lots of folks about that here.
McNamara: Detroit’s typically been a blue-collar town. Everybody wants tech jobs, but is there a kind of an underground specialty that Detroit hasn’t really tapped into yet when it comes to creating new jobs?
Doe: When we talk about more investment in small businesses and venture, we’re also for sure talking about investing in our blue collar heritage, because one of the things we’re great at is making things. And so when we talk about these new businesses, often it’s, ‘I have an innovation, an invention, and it’s the distinctive competency, and I’m creating a product, and I need to make it, so I’m going to do it here instead of doing it anywhere else in the country.’ We’re actually seeing folks from across the country with a new business come to Detroit in order to build it.
So, these kinds of jobs are really diverse. It’s not just a typical kind of app, we’re talking about also making things.
McNamara: So, what is it about Detroit that might attract somebody instead of just living in Oak Park or living in Chesterfield Township, something like that?
Doe: I think Detroit has this unique blend of the three things folks are looking for. They’re looking for great opportunities, great places, and welcoming communities. That’s what we found. We talked to over 20,000 Michiganders, asked them what they love and what’s between them and building their future here, and those were the three things that came to mind.
So, that means you need great economic opportunities, you need great walkable, transit-rich, amenity-rich communities, and you need welcoming community. I think Detroit does have those things in spades, and I also think Detroiters are willing to fight to make their communities even better. That’s exactly what’s required.
We know that we can get better in a variety of places, but we also have a really wonderful place to start.
McNamara: As the state’s chief growth officer, you get to see how the state of Michigan interacts with the city of Detroit, and vice versa. What could have been done better?
Doe: I think that there’s a lot that we can always get better at, but there was also a lot of good coordination, frankly. One of the things I think Michiganders are pretty good at, relative to the rest of the country—I had the chance to live in New York City, to live in Chicago, to live in California, I’m what they call a boomerang. We have a number of those here in Michigan. Honestly, we’re probably better at coordination than the average place.
It doesn’t always feel that way. I know when partisanship can feel quite heightened, but generally, between our small towns, between our counties and our communities and our state, there is—I’d argue—relatively good coordination, and especially in recent decades between Detroit and the state. I think folks recognize that as Detroit goes, so goes the state. We’ll continue to really work to make it clear what those connections are, but I think we’re doing all right.
McNamara: But you want an urbanized future, and so much of Michigan is rural, outside of southeast Michigan, Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw.
Doe: We recognize that Traverse City, for example, is incredibly beautiful, and the opportunity that it affords folks is just different… than the opportunity that Detroit affords folks. There’s a place for everybody, and the growth plan for Traverse City, or the UP, or Saginaw, it just looks different than what it looks like for Detroit. And so we really need programs that allow communities to invest in talent retention and attraction that’s unique to their place. In some places that will look like conservation, it’ll look like single family builds, in other places it’ll look like density… Detroit just has a different path than some of these other locations.
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The Mackinac Policy Conference is officially underway. The annual event brings together politicians, policymakers and journalists to discuss issues affecting the state and Metro Detroit.
The theme of this year’s conference is “A Quest for Common Ground.” Key speakers include Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Dozens of other speakers are also on the agenda.
A debate between the three Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate takes place Thursday afternoon. The conference can be streamed live at detroitpbs.org.
Detroit receives rating upgrades
The city of Detroit has received two upgrades to its financial rating.
Moody’s raised Detroit from Baa1 to A3, while S&P moved the city’s credit rating from BBB to BBB+.
Detroit officials say it is the first time the city has been in the A range since 1999. Mayor Mary Sheffield says the upgrades reflect the city’s strong financial practices. Detroit has now had 11 consecutive years of balanced budgets.
Small businesses asked to leave Millender Center
Big changes are planned for the Millender Center in downtown Detroit this summer.
The Detroit Free Press reports that small businesses in the building are being told they need to move out by August. Bedrock owns the building.
The Free Press reports that the IHOP restaurant will remain, along with the building’s 338 apartments. The Millender Center opened in 1985.
Gas prices fall
Gas prices in Metro Detroit have fallen in the days since the Memorial Day weekend.
The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded is now $4.57. That’s down 17 cents per gallon from this time last week.
AAA says it expects gas prices across the country to remain elevated as consumer demand stays high. Gas prices are also being affected by continuing tensions in the Middle East.
The U.S. launched strikes against Iran over the weekend, placing prospects for a peace agreement in jeopardy.
Sheffield appoints director of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has appointed a new director of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity.
Jade E. Mathis will lead the department. Sheffield says the department plays an important role in making sure all Detroiters have access to city services and opportunities.
Sheffield also named Megan Moslimani deputy director of the department.
Roads closed for Grand Prix prep
Several downtown Detroit roads are closed as the city prepares for this weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix.
Woodward Avenue is closed between Larned and State streets. Randolph Street is closed between Larned and Jefferson Avenue, along with several other road closures in the downtown core.
Drivers should expect detours and extra travel time in the area. Race events begin Friday and continue through Sunday.
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Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race to become Michigan’s next governor.
Duggan wrote in a letter posted to his campaign website that unified anger over the war in Iran and rising gas prices made it difficult to continue his pitch for unified and bipartisan leadership. He also said he was unable to build “serious national fundraising support.”
Duggan entered the race as an independent. A recent poll by the Detroit Regional Chamber showed him polling in third place.
Additional headlines for May 21, 2026
Police commissioner criticizes response to teen takeovers
Teen takeovers are taking place across the country, and one in Detroit ended in the shooting of a 14-year-old boy Sunday.
City officials have responded with stricter curfews and community outreach. But one police commissioner says that approach is not working.
District 3 Police Commissioner Darius Morris is criticizing Mayor Mary Sheffield’s approach to the teen takeovers in downtown Detroit.
After the first teen gathering in April, Sheffield held a news conference with organizers, touting a partnership with the teens to find more appropriate recreational activities.
Morris says when he spoke with organizers of more recent takeovers, he discovered Sheffield’s plan had an unexpected result.
“So I contacted him. I said, ‘Hey, what’s up with what are you doing involved in this? I taught you better than that. Why are you engaged in this?’ And he said, ‘Well, we’re doing it because we’re trying to get exposure and we’re trying to meet the mayor and do a TikTok video like the first group of people did,’” Morris said.
Morris says city officials and police are being forced to do the job parents should be doing, and he wants to see parents take more responsibility for the whereabouts of their children.
Federal judge closes Detroit bankruptcy case
A federal judge has closed Detroit’s bankruptcy case, ending almost 13 years of court supervision.
The ruling comes as the city makes final payments to unsecured creditors totaling about $10 million.
Detroit filed for Chapter 9 protection in 2013. The process allowed the city to shed about $7 billion in debt and restructure another $3 billion.
Mayor Mary Sheffield thanked the city’s financial and legal teams, as well as retirees who went about 10 years without pension payments. The city resumed those payments four years ago.
Traffic pattern changes underway at Belle Isle
Visitors to Belle Isle will notice traffic pattern changes underway. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced traffic pattern changes and a new two-way bike lane on the island. The changes were recommended in the 2025 Belle Isle Park multimodal mobility plan.
Central Avenue will transition to two-way traffic from Picnic Way to Portage Way.
Central Avenue’s scenic route through the flatwoods will flip from eastbound to westbound to help ease traffic congestion near the beach area.
A new dedicated two-way bicycle track will loop around the perimeter of the island, allowing cyclists to circle the entire island without crossing vehicle traffic lanes.
Construction on the changes has already started. The project is expected to be completed by the first week of June.
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The Bengali Mental Health Movement launched online as an anonymous online platform in 2018 to address mental health in Bengali and Bangladeshi communities.
Michigan is home to a significantly large population of Bangladeshis.
Tazin Banu and Riya Ahmed work with the New York based nonprofit to expand mental health conversations in communities that struggle with stigma and cultural sensitivities.
Banu is the founder, and Ahmed is the co-founder of BMHM.
“When we started off, we were, you know, just a group of volunteers doing grassroots work, and then we realized we needed more sustainable infrastructure.”
Tazin Banu is the founder of Bengali Mental Health Movement.
The group created transliterated and translated documents during the pandemic.
“We want to take these mental health concepts and information and make it again accessible to our community,” Banu says.
One of their programs is Alaap, a therapeutic peer-led group, to create safe spaces to have discussions about mental health.
“We wanted to give individuals a safe space where they felt comfortable to at least communicate some parts of their journey,” Ahmed says.
Riya Ahmed is the co-founder of the Bengali Mental Health Movement, a nonprofit which aims to provide accessible resources to Bengali and Bangladeshi communities.
Alaap means conversations, referring to the need for more conversations around mental health.
The nonprofit has a wide reach, including a directory which has providers from all across the world.
“It was great to see that there are communities and professionals all over the place that, like, again, just like wanted to be a part of part of BMHM in some way,” Banu shares.
Ahmed says it’s a validating experience to be a part of this large network.
“When you do work like mental health, and in a community that might not be so encouraging to have these conversations or be on in the supporting field, it’s very validating when you see the encouragement from all over. Right, it’s really nice to see how far the reach is, and how much it might be helping individuals that might have not seen this in their own community,” Ahmed says.
The group hopes to expand services, resources and put out a community needs assessment.
They also hope to launch a self-care initiative called Joton: Aided and Embodied Self-Care Workshops soon. It’s a monthly free workshop to remove barriers to self care.
Ahmed says they also hope to expand language services to include younger and older generations.
“Language would help, when it comes to older generation, so that is the expansion. That would be wonderful to have that in Bangla,” she says.
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Sherry Miller is a mental health clinician with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. She has a dual role in Highland Park as part of the co-response team and the mobile clinic.
“We go out into the community, to schools, to churches, events, wherever we are invited to bring mental health awareness to kind of decrease the stigma. We can do brief therapy right there on the spot, assess individuals’ mood… and get them connected with services,” she says.
In her role with co-response, she works with the police department as a mental health counselor who aids in mental health emergencies.
“So if there’s a mental health call… they’ll dispatch me through the radio. Either I’ll meet them there, [or] I’ll follow them there and kind of assess the situation and what’s going on with that individual,” she explains.
She says Highland Park residents were instrumental in getting a partnership going between DWIHN and crisis intervention.
Miller says since her start in late December, there have been about 70 mental health phone calls. In her role, Miller assesses the situation and tries to de-escalate.
She says there are several police officers within the Highland Park Police Department who are also trained to respond to mental health calls.
“It may go a different route, versus somebody being talked to by somebody that’s trained to de-escalate, to calm them down… I think that makes a difference,” she shares.
Miller says she attends city meetings to connect with community members to understand their needs, bring them resources and show them how to sign up for services.
Autism Awareness comes to Highland Park
Highland Park hosted its first Autism Awareness event last month
Miller says she speaks with parents who are concerned about getting help for their kids. They struggle with things like behavioral issues, receiving special education services at school and understanding autism.
Miller says more needs to be done to support parents. Having more advocacy events could help parents get access to testing and find new ways to improve the lives of their children, she says.
People took part in an advocacy walk during the Autism Awareness event in Highland Park in April.
The event featured an advocacy walk, resource vendors, and presentations. There were also giveaways, music and workshops. Miller noted the importance of the event for connecting with parents and “talking to the educators that kind of know what to do, what to look for.”
Miller has also created a resource book for residents.
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Get some unique thrifty items at vintage pop-ups or travel back in time at the tracks with Greenfield Village. Plus, Detroit’s cinematic and musical skill is on display at a screening of “Sons of Detroit” and more.
On Friday, May 15, KeyBank is hosting Zoo Brew at the Detroit Zoo. There will be naturalistic habitats, over 100 beverage selections, and live music. Admission ranges from $35-$95, and the event will be held from 6:30 pm to 10 pm. For more information, visit the Detroit Zoo website.
On May 15, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will host ten-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician Arturo Sandoval. In addition to his performance, the DSO will open its Paradise Lounge for food and cocktails. Admission starts at $21. For more information, visit the Detroit Symphony Orchestra website.
Little Mama’s Vintage, Retro Image, Overtime Print Shop
May 16
Free
Little Mama’s Vintage celebrates Vintage Store Day with a pop up! The event will highlight three independent vintage stores, as well as a new Dearborn refillery, a local matcha brewer, and a DJ. Admission is free, and the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Little Mama’s Vintage Instagram page.
$37 admission, with discounts for seniors and children
Greenfield Village is offering a train-lovers dream day, with hands on activities and demonstrations centered around the railroad tracks. Guests will be able to sit in a train from the late 1800s, watch a crane at work, push a discovery railcar and help maneuver the grand turntable outside the roundhouse to shift the tracks onto a new path. In addition to the mechanical, the Village green will have timeless lawn games and entertainment. This event is for all ages, and is free with the cost of admission. Arrive early to catch your train!
From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Salvation Army store in Rochester Hills is offering shoppers vintage sports wear, collectibles and more— oh, and there will be a chance to meet Detroit Lions Defensive End Myles Adams from 9-11 a.m.! The first 100 shoppers will recieve an autographed photo from him. There will also be a raffle for thrift store credit. Proceeds will fund substance abuse rehabilitation and other services at the ARC Detroit.
The City Institute hosts a Detroit In Context: Downtown Walking Tour. The 2 mile tour will cover Campus Martius Park and Spirit Plaza, as well as the Guardian Building and Spirit of Detroit. There will be discussions of the city’s history and the impact of innovative residents. The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, May 17, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is showing “Sons of Detroit.” Described as a “part love letter, part detective story,” the film follows the reunion of two cousins through memoirs, performances, and journalism. And we can’t forget, music by Detroit legend Waajeed. General admission tickets are $11.50 and $9.50 for seniors, students, and DIA members. The screening starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the DIA website.
Outlier Media and the historic Senate Theater are teaming up for a trivia night all about Michigan movies. Outlier’s Briana Rice and BridgeDetroit’s Bryce Hoffman will be hosting the event, which will run from 6:30-9 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets sales support the Senate Theater and Outlier Media. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to show off your knowledge of local film history and learn something new. Plus, there’s a prize for the winning teams.
Support local journalism.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
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