On Hand

The next few years will be big ones for Detroit. 

In the last ten years, there’s been a national reawakening to Detroit’s possibilities. The incumbent mayor, Mike Duggan is moving on, and the city will have a very public conversation about the way forward, as his successor is chosen. 

And leadership will come in other forms, as well. 

One of the city’s non-profits, the Institute for AfroUrbanism, has come up with a series of grants supporting research into the infinite possibilities of Black futures. 

Today, a look at how the institute is empowering visionary leaders with innovative ideas for equity, opportunity, and transformation in the city.

GUEST: 

Lauren Hood, founder and executive director of the Insitute for AfroUrbanism

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Ducks are one of the first animals little kids learn about--rubber duckies anybody? But if you head to your local river or lake during the winter, the waterfowl you find there might be a bit...weirder than the kind you see during warmer seasons. Today's episode is all about those weird winter ducks and the people who love them.

GUEST: 

April Campbell, doctor and birding enthusiast 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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The new Congress is being sworn-in today in Washington D.C. That means there are some current members set to retire, including Michigan’s long-time Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee. He’s been serving as a U.S. Representative for over a decade, and representing Michigan’s 8th district since 2003. His successor, Kristen McDonald Rivet, will take office with the 119th Congress on Jan. 3rd.

Michigan Public’s Zoe Clark spoke with the outgoing Representative from Flint about his dozen years in office.

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One of the most-streamed films online is the original Star Wars: A New Hope. You can watch it in a bunch of different languages. Now, that includes Anishinaabemowin. That means Ojibwe people in Michigan and all over North America can see an absolute classic in their language. We talked to one of the actors involved in the Anishinaabemowin dubbing of the film about the project and what it meant to see one of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters in a language that many of his ancestors were once forbidden from speaking. 

GUEST:

Niigaanii-Animikii Inini Kalvin Hartwig, filmmaker and voice actor 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country after a surprise offensive launched by opposition groups, ending the 50-year rule of the Assad family.  For many Syrians living outside of the country, it's opened up the possibility of returning home, or visiting loved ones who stayed. 

We met one Syrian immigrant who built a life with his family here in Michigan after fleeing Syria over a decade ago. He reflected on his time in Syria, and his hopes for the nation's future. 

GUESTS:

• Adam Yahya Rayes, data reporter, Michigan Public
• Basel Alyasin, vice president, American Syrian Arab Cultural Association 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. 

 

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 Joe Cedillo was released Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from the Muskegon Correctional Facility after spending 38 years behind bars for a crime he committed when he was 18 years old. 

Cedillo’s case marks a significant milestone as the first in Kent County to regain his freedom following a state supreme court ruling that declared unconstitutional automatic life sentences without parole for people 18 years old and younger.

We had the chance to meet him on the day of his release.

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. 

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University of Michigan gymnast Frederick Richard sits down for a conversation about the summer in Paris for the Olympics, growing men's gymnastics at the collegiate level at home, and building his brand on social media.

GUEST:

Frederick Richard, UM gymnast and Olympian

 

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Nothing quite beats snuggling up under a handmade quilt on a cold winter day. But for the members of the Great Lakes African American Quilters’ Network, quilts are more than just a way to stay warm. They are works of art, connecting their makers to a shared culture and to each other. 

Stateside producer April Van Buren went to the guild’s most recent meeting to learn more about this unique community of crafters. 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

 

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This year, acclaimed contemporary artist and Kalamazoo native Kaphar made the leap into narrative filmmaking. His semi-autobiographical film is titled Exhibiting Forgiveness. 

The film follows painter Terrell, played by André Holland, as he wrestles with generational trauma and navigates his relationship with his estranged father, played by John Earl Jelks, who has reappeared in his life unexpectedly.

The Detroit Institute of Arts will screen the film Dec. 11-15.

GUEST:

Titus Kaphar, contemporary artist, producer, writer, and director of Exhibiting Forgiveness

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. 

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Author and journalist Tracie McMillan discusses her family's harrowing time navigating the American healthcare system after her mother was diagnosed with MS and then suffered a traumatic brain injury. 

GUEST:

Tracie McMillan, journalist and author of "The White Bonus"

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