The Latinx community in Grand Rapids has over 100 years of history. Delia Fernández-Jones’ new book, “Making the MexiRican City: Migration, Placemaking, and Activism in Grand Rapids, Michigan,” explores that history and community in depth.
GUEST:
Delia Fernández-Jones, author of "Making the MexiRican City: Migration, Placemaking, and Activism in Grand Rapids, Michigan;" professor of history at Michigan State University
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How Grand Rapids Became a 'MexiRican' City

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.
To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org.
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News

Tiff Massey is an interdisciplinary artist whose work focuses on ideas of community and adornment. She makes everything from custom, wearable jewelry to large scale architectural sculptures. Her work contends with race and class, while evoking the history of West African and Black American culture. Massey's solo exhibit, "7 Mile + Livernois ," opens at the Detroit Institute of Arts May 5th.
GUEST:
Tiff Massey, interdisciplinary Detroit-based artist
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The Art of Adornment

"Diarra From Detroit" follows Diarra Brickland, a Detroit school teacher, as she attempts to track down a Tinder date who ghosted her. Diarra Kilpatrick, a Detroiter herself, writes, stars is, and executive produces the new BET+ series. She joined Stateside to discuss the real-life moments that inspired her writing, and what it takes to balance many themes and genres in one story.
GUEST ON THIS EPISODE:


Diarra Kilpatrick, writer, lead actress, executive producer, "Diarra From Detroit"


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Diarra From Detroit

In 2009, an assistant Wayne County prosecutor made a horrifying discovery: more than 11-thousand untested rape kits sitting in an abandoned Detroit Police warehouse. The repercussions of that find are still being felt today.
GUEST:
Sarah Cwiek, reporter for Michigan Public
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The Impact  of Detroit's Rape Kit Backlog

After 14 years of organizing and building, the Detroit People’s Food Co-op will open its doors on Wednesday, May 1st, with a grand opening celebration to follow on Saturday, May 18th. 
The co-op was fathered by the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Malik Yakini, who co-founded the group, currently serves as its executive director.
"Part of what we're working on is really not just addressing access, but addressing the questions of who shapes the food system, who owns it, who benefits from it,” Yakini said. “And really, we're trying to make a shift in power from the corporate side of things, controlling things to actually having a food system that is shaped by control by and serves people.”
 
GUESTS:

Akil Talley, general manager, the Detroit People’s Food Co-op
Malik Yakini, co-founder and executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network
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The Detroit People's Food Co-Op

For many years, Michigan was considered a national political bellwether. 
There are so many factors in play this year. We’ve talked in recent days about how the arrival of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Michigan ballot last week as a candidate with the Natural Law Party might shift primary results. So, is Michigan going to be any kind of predictor of trends in national election results in 2024? In this episode, Michigan State University political science professor Matt Grossman helped us look ahead to what will matter this November. 
GUEST: 
Matt Grossman, professor of political science, Michigan State University
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If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.
Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Grand Rapids Became a 'MexiRican' City

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