On this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with interdisciplinary artist and founder of Amplify Outside, Ian Solomon to discuss recreation as liberation and how he plans to further amplify this message as the newest addition to the Authentically Detroit Podcast Network!

Ian John Solomon is an interdisciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. After receiving his B.A. in broadcast journalism from Walter Cronkite School and a stint as a congressional reporter in D.C., he found his love for community activism and storytelling required a more expansive platform. Deeply motivated by environment, Ian uses land as foundation and guidance for artistic expression and questioning.

Ian has exhibited and won awards across the Midwest, including being a 2023 Summer Fellow at Ox-Bow School of Art, 2024 Playground Detroit Fellow and 2024 Cranbrook Art Museum Purchase Award Nominee. Ian has received two Emmy nominations, an Emmy Award and a First Place award from the Society of Professional Journalists as host of a PBS-Great Lakes Now series’ Ian Outside’. Beyond his artistic practice Ian founded Amplify Outside, a Detroit based organization Amplifying Black outdoor recreation.

To learn more about Ian Solomon and his work, click here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY: MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS 'SQUANDERED' LEGISLATIVE TRIFECTA

BENSON: TRIPS TO SELMA'S EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE 'CREATED MY WHOLE LIFE'

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On this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Hitha Healing House Founder and Executive Director, Kayana Sessoms and Executive Director of Brilliant Detroit, Tarsha Gale to discuss how their partnership is helping Detroit moms and their families.

In February, Brilliant Detroit unveiled a new partnership with Hitha Healing House that will allow the nonprofit to continue its programming, including its signature maternal wellness program, Nurturing Roots via Brilliant Detroit’s Central Hub following a December fire that rendered Hitha Healing House’s programming space unusable. The Hitha Healing House provides holistic maternal wellness services grounded in cultural healing traditions and trauma informed care.

Through the partnership, Hitha Healing House’s Nurturing Roots program will offer mothers up to ten paid wellness sessions following birth, including nutrition counseling, massage therapy, lactation support, chiropractic care and emotional wellness services at Brilliant Detroit.

To learn more about the partnership between Hitha Healing House and Brilliant Detroit, click here. 

Detroit By The Numbers with Alex B. Hill:

• $500 million Property assessment valuation announced by the Sheffield administration. Read more on Detroitography!
• 254,700 occurrences of eBird observations within the City of Detroit boundaries (including Belle Isle). From the eBird Observation Dataset.
• 23% - Jobs in City pay 23% more than state average (UM RSQE - research seminar in quantitative economics)
• 6,500 Respondents to the Detroit Rise Higher community survey from Mayor Mary Sheffield, if you haven’t yet check it out and provide your input.

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On this episode, Donna and Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs sat down for a live book talk at Wayne State University for their Black History Month program. 

Anna, a two-time New York Times best-selling author, whose work explores the intersection of history, sociology and gender, is best known for her book The Three Mothers, which examines the lives and influence of the mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin.

Together, they honor these three mothers and discuss how their ideas, labor, and love shaped American history. They also connect their work to Detroit’s legacy, the erasure of women throughout history, and how Black women can reclaim their narratives in the present day.

To learn more about Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs and her work, click here. 

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On this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Dexter Sullivan, founder of the Black Legacy Advancement Coalition (BLAC) to discuss how they’re building Black power and continuing Detroit’s legacy as a Black city. 

The roots of BLAC began to take form in the heart of its founder, Dexter Sullivan, in the early 2000s. Then, in 2020, the world stopped as black residents were impacted at a disproportionate rate. Under the conditions of lockdown, we could no longer numb ourselves with the routine obligations of life and career. Instead, we were forced to reckon with the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual ramifications of actively witnessing black lives destroyed without the responsible parties being held accountable. 

As a coalition, they are driven by passion, healing and legacy-creation. While they strive toward a bold and powerful vision, they are clear that their efforts will require a commitment that spans decades and, perhaps, generations. Still, they are committed to creating a world that builds on the legacy of our ancestors who fought and died for centuries in an effort to secure our civil liberties and equity.

To learn more about Black Legacy Advancement Coalition (BLAC) and their work, click here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

TERMINATION THREAT OVER DETROIT IMMIGRATION ARREST ANGERS MICHIGAN CONSERVATIVES

INTERNAL POLLING SHOWS BENSON LEADS JAMES AND DUGGAN IN RACE FOR MICHIGAN GOVERNOR

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On this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Co-Executive Directors of the Black Bottom Archives, Marcia Black and Lex Draper Garcia Bey, to discuss how they’re working to uncover and restore our stories as Black Detroiters.

At the heart of Black Bottom Archive’s work are the people (and their descendants) who lived, worked, and built lives in Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. Their stories, resilience, and cultural contributions served as an inspiration for their organization. From entrepreneurs and artists to families and community leaders, these individuals embody the rich Black heritage they strive to preserve and celebrate.

To learn more about Black Bottom Archives and their work, click here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

BLACK MAYORS BACK BENSON FOR MICHIGAN GOVERNOR

MIKE DUGGAN SAYS 'THE PAIN WHEN ICE IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS VERY REAL

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On this episode, Donna and Sam spoke with Stephanie Wright Griggs and Brian Taylor Sullivan about preserving Black history, the legacy of Dr. Charles H. Wright, and The Mountaintop, written by Katori Hall and currently directed by Brian Marable at the Detroit Public Theatre.

Healthcare Administration and African American history are the paths by which Stephanie has given a lifetime of public service. Her passion for both runs deep. She organically entered the path of preserving African American history in childhood as her father founded Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. 

Brian Sullivan Taylor is a SAG-AFTRA actor, director, and acting coach from Southfield, Michigan. He has experience across film, television, theatre, commercial, print, and voiceover. brian is the founder of the award-winning Detroit Drama Studio, where he trains actors using the Ivana Chubbuck Technique. Brian is honored to portray Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on The Mountaintop. 

To learn more about Detroit Public Theatre and purchase tickets to The Mountaintop, click here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

HOLLIER DROPS SECRETARY OF STATE BID TO LAUNCH EASTSIDE STATE SENATE CAMPAIGN

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On this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Urenia Johnson and Adelina Robinson to discuss their newly formed collaboration, Thriveworks Coalition and how they’re amplifying access to essential services for families through a unified, holistic approach.

Founded by leaders from diverse nonprofit backgrounds, Thriveworks brings together organizations Corporate Development Institute (CDI) and Purposed Hands to create a “one-stop shop” for legal, financial, educational and family support.

Founded by Attorney Urenia Ricks-Johnson, Corporate Development Institute (CDI) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering underserved communities through financial literacy, youth mentorship and legal advocacy. 

Founded by Adelina Robinson, Purposed Hands is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to assisting low-income families in Westland, Detroit and surrounding areas. 

To learn more about CDI, Purposed Hands, and Thriveworks Coalition, click here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

'NATIONAL SHUTDOWN' IN DETROIT: CASS TECH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WALK OUT TO PROTEST ICE

DATA CENTERS, DIRTY DIRT AND DUGGAN VS. DEMOCRATS

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In this episode, Donna and Sam had a virtual sit down with Alex B. Hill for Detroit By The Numbers and Kirsten Elliott, the CEO and President of Community Housing Network. Together, they trace a clear line from protest and media narratives to the daily math of housing: water debt, fixed incomes, PSH funding, and what “affordable” actually costs.

Community Housing Network empowers people to live in affordable homes to help build thriving communities. They envision a future where everyone can achieve stability, dignity, and opportunity. They aim to create thriving communities with affordable homes, connect individuals and families to essential resources, and foster a supportive workplace for their employees. 

Their work is rooted in the idea that decent, affordable, and stable housing is a necessary foundation for a healthy, successful life. 

For more information on Community Housing Network and their work, click here. 

FOR DETROIT BY THE NUMBERS WITH ALEX B. HILL:

• 4 District-wide school closures for snow or cold weather this month (DPSCD)
• 1,827 Households signed up for 5,000 spots in the Lifeline H2O water assistance program. (Outlier/DWSD)
• 50% Detroit Seniors spend 30%or more of income on housing costs (The Conversation)
• 6%  Census estimates show Detroit’s population at ~637 k with a high citizenship rate (~96.7 %) and a relatively small foreign-born share (~5.9 %) — below the average of 13% for other large cities. (Census)

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On this episode, Donna welcomes new co-host Sam Robinson to Authentically Detroit! They’re joined by Graig Donnelly and Aaron Abney of the newly launched Community Owner’s Representative Initiative (CORI) to discuss how they’re building Detroit’s capacity for equitable real estate.

The Community Owner’s Representative Initiative (CORI) is building Detroit's capacity for equitable real estate development, poised to model a new way forward to deliver impact through technical assistance while training leaders in the field.CORI is a long-term partnership between proxy and CDAD driven by the belief that we all deserve access to beautiful, uplifting spaces — because good design is not a luxury, it is a decision.   

They believe that while the current ecosystem of funding, training, and coalition-building has strengthened the capacity of organizations to expand their programming and overall footprint in their communities. We need a systems-level approach to develop and preserve the real estate projects that neighborhoods need to thrive, not just projects that the private market will support.

For more information on CORI and to apply to the Quick + Equitable Fund, click here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

"GENERATIONAL CHANGE HAPPENING": MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS CROSS PATHS AT SHEFFIELD INAUGURATION

GILCHRIST ENDS GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN, LAUNCHES SECRETARY OF STATE BID

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On this episode, Donna and Orlando reflect on their evolution since starting the podcast in 2019 as Orlando bids farewell to Authentically Detroit. Together they look at how time sharpens politics and encourage Detroiters to keep showing up and building power where it matters.

They also sat down with the Co-Founder and Executive Director of 482Forward to discuss how their work helps Detroiters to become fully engaged participants in efforts to change Detroit for the better. 482Forward grew out of trial by fire. Many of the founding organizations had previous relationships and shared work in Detroit, but came together for a special purpose– to create the 482Forward network. 

Molly Sweeney and Jamila Martin, founding co-directors, convened a roundtable of community-based partners at Excellent Schools Detroit who were interested in engaging in education organizing in their neighborhoods.

Together, they are creating a Detroit where every student graduates ready to become a fully engaged participant in the world, equipped with the character and the capacity to negotiate her environment and change it for the better.

Sign up to gather signatures and join Love Beats Greed actions here. 

FOR HOT TAKES:

JAMES TATE SELECTED AS DETROIT COUNCIL PRESIDENT 

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