More than one hundred people came out to unveil an honorary street sign for the late Imam Abdullah Bey El-Amin on Woodrow Wilson Street this Saturday. On that street sits the Muslim Center, which El-Amin cofounded and where he served as an imam. 

 El-Amin was the first executive director of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan working alongside interfaith leaders. 

His daughter Zarinah El-Amin says she’s blown away by the reception. 

“I would have never even imagined that my father would have a street named after him in a big city like Detroit, but for his community members, right, that came together and saw fit that he had this honor, they did this.” 

El-Amin served as the Neighborhood City Hall Manager between 1994-2001 under then Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. 

Detroit City Councilman Coleman Young Junior says El-Amin’s work outlasted him. “If you were homeless, he would help you get a house. If you were drug addicted, he’d help you get treatment.” 

The honorary street name is at the corner of Woodrow Wilson and Davison Street.

Additional headlines for Monday, Aug. 31

Detroit Month of Design      

This week kicks off the 16th annual Detroit Month of Design.

Kiana Wenzell is the co-executive director of Design Core Detroit and the director of Detroit Month of Design. This year’s theme is “Design Moves the Future.”

“Whether you’re moving forward, moving backwards, or just dancing and moving your body and getting the energy moving, let’s put our ideas into motion if we want to move this city in this region forward,” says Wenzell.

The month of design will feature 100 events in 30 days throughout the city featuring Detroit artists and creatives throughout September.

ISNA Detroit

The Islamic Society of North America is hosting its 63rd convention in Detroit during Labor Day weekend. It’s one of the largest annual gatherings of American Muslims in the U.S.

Topics include patience, perseverance, and God consciousness, civic duty and preserving stories of American Muslims as part of the 250th birthday of America.

Azhar Azeez is the CEO of ISNA.“We have invited more than 150 speakers who will not only address spiritual and theological topics, but they will also address contemporary challenges that the American Muslim community is facing, whether it is Islamophobia, whether it is anti-Muslim hate rhetoric, whether it is issues related to religious freedom, we will be addressing all these important topics.”

The program includes a knowledge retreat, a Detroit Food Truck Fest and a bazaar. There will also be a mini auto show, a family walk and a showcase of 20 Michigan nonprofits.

The Convention will take place Sept. 4-7 at the Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit. Visit isna.net to learn more.  

Interfaith Buddhism Odyssey 

The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting an opportunity for people to learn more about Buddhism. People can learn about mindfulness and have conversations about Buddhism. They can also take a tour of a temple, learn about traditions and share a meal.

The next Interfaith Odysseys will be hosted in Sept. 23 from 6-8 p.m. at the Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center in Warren, Michigan. 

Tickets are $35 for individuals and $50 for a family of two or more.  

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

The U.S. Justice Department wants Wayne County to hand over ballots from the 2024 election. Justice officials claim the county surrounding Detroit has a “history of fraud convictions and other allegations.” 

Michigan officials say the few examples of fraud cited by the Justice Department out of millions of votes cast were not connected to the 2024 election. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson—who is running for governor as a Democrat—says she believes President Trump is trying to manufacture fear among voters. 

Michigan’s Republican-controlled state senate also found no evidence of widespread or systemic fraud in the 2020 election.

-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

Additional headlines for Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Detroit representatives co-sponsor water access, affordability bills

Detroit-area representatives are among those co-sponsoring water access and affordability bills in the U.S. House. If passed, he bills would create an Environmental Protection Agency program that provides access to clean water for low-income households. 

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell is one of the sponsors of the legislation. She says clean, accessible, affordable drinking water is a basic human right. The bills would also prohibit water shutoffs and give equal protection for renters and homeowners. 

These bills are similar to ones Dingell and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib got passed in 2021, though funding was allowed to run out in the Republican-controlled House. 

-Reporting by Russ McNamara

Dearborn invests in new developments

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says the city and its private sector partners are investing $180 million in a wide variety of developments, including new housing. Hammoud says the city has already reviewed and approved some concept plans and is speeding up the permitting process.

Volunteers needed for Cinco De Mayo Fiesta

Raíces Detroit is looking for volunteers for its Cinco de Mayo Fiesta and Parade. Volunteers will serve in a variety of roles, including event set-up and breakdown, assistance with parade staging, vendor support and more.

The Fiesta will be Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. The parade will be held on Sunday.

To volunteer, contact Raíces Detroit at 313-404-0850. 

Interfaith Odysseys explores Islam

The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit invites the community to explore Islam as a part of its Interfaith Odysseys program in May. Attendees will visit the Islamic Center of America – the largest mosque in the United States. The event includes a tour of the mosque, an introduction to Islam and a warm meal.

Guests will also view the “Art, Faith and Sacred Space” exhibit of work by Lebanese-born artist Haroutioun Isack Bastajian. Interfaith Odysseys are designed for all members of the family.

Joyce Foundation seeks to fund artists

The Joyce Foundation is offering artists across the Great Lakes a chance at a hundred thousand dollars in unrestricted funds for community-focused projects.

Artists in Michigan can nominate themselves through May 4. The Joyce Awards artists in the visual, performing, film, literary and media arts exploring issues of racial equity and engaging communities through collaboration. 

For more information and to apply, visit www.joycefdn.org/grants.  

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