For many people — especially younger generations — recreational reading has become less common in recent years.

According to data from the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey of high schoolers, the amount of 12th grade students who read six or more books for fun have dropped steeply from the 1970s through 2022, while the number of students who haven't read any books for fun increased significantly.

Today on The Metro, we were joined by Everett Pine and WDET's own Jeff Milo from the Ferndale Area District Library to share the many ways to help encourage a love of reading among younger generations. They also spoke about the library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, which kicks off this Saturday, June 7, with a Kickoff Party and Sign-Up Spree from noon to 4 p.m.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

For many faithful folks in Detroit, Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. is a familiar name and face. As the senior pastor at Triumph Church, he’s known for his powerful sermons and community outreach. The church has over 35,000 members, according to its website. 

But now he’s on the political stage running for mayor of Detroit, and this is an arena where he’s not as well known.

Kinloch is the only candidate in the mayoral race who has not held an elected position. But he views that as one of his strengths, and believes residents are tired of career politicians leading the city.

He says his campaign's message is rooted in service, leadership and intentional change, which he hopes will set him apart from other candidates.

Metro producer Cary Junior II spoke with Kinloch at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference about how his experience leading Triumph Church will inform his priorities as mayor.

The conference is aimed to bring together business leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders to discuss key issues affecting Michigan’s economy, politics, and future.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Finding enriching child care options can often be a challenge for parents during the summer months, especially for those looking for programs specifically geared toward the arts.

For the past 12 years, Wayne State University's "Keys2Life Performing Arts Summer Camp" has provided that outlet to metro Detroit students ages 11-13.

The six-week day camp program, led by Detroit youth nonprofit The Yunion, offers a diverse range of performing arts experiences, led by top Detroit artists, mentors and certified teachers. 

Camp Director Darell Campbell Jr. joined The Metro on Tuesday to share more about what this year's program will entail.

Registration is now open for the day camp, which runs 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 3o through Aug. 8. on the campus of Wayne State University. For more information, including rates, visit theyunion.org/camp.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Physical exercise is essential to a healthy routine. And it becomes even more important as we grow older and our bodies naturally slow down. According to the CDC, adults over the age of 65 should engage in moderately intense aerobic exercises like a brisk walk or more vigorous exercises like running or jogging.

While this sounds simple, finding the motivation to exercise can be challenging. Our next guest provides these kinds of opportunities for seniors who need the extra help socializing and staying active.

Bridging Communities is a grassroots non-profit that connects people to resources and programs that promote senior independence, housing stability and healthy communities. It strives to help seniors age in place by providing access to resources that address their basic needs. 

This Sunday the organization hosts its 15th annual golf outing for senior citizens, which encourages seniors to get more active using the sport. 

 Today on The Metro we talk with Katrice Perry, the Executive Director of Bridging Communities. She joined us to discuss the golfing event and the other services her organization has to offer to the elderly community.

While the Detroit Documenters are providing easier access to information on local government, they’re not the only ones. 

Dan Arking is a lawyer for the City of Detroit, but during the pandemic, he created the website Soap Box Detroit. It’s a one-stop shop for so much information about Detroit’s local government. 

In our segments with the Documenters, we frequently unpack the actions of local commissions, committees, and task forces. But in what ways do they all differ? 

Arking sat down with Producer Jack Filbrandt and Detroit Documenter Coordinator Noah Kincade to help us cut through the bureaucracy.

Pawchella is an upcoming festival back for its second year on June 7 and 8. The festival helps MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center raise funds to care for thousands of animals at their facility each year. They strive to bring second chances to our furry friends. Every ticket sold helps provide a safe home and essential care for a furry friend in need.

Joining us on The Metro is Nova Zorock, the events and communications manager for Metro Detroit Animals to talk about the event. 

The Detroit Institute of Arts is a world-renowned museum. But, but how many pieces in its collection are made by a Detroiter? Tiff Massey's "Baby Bling" will soon be acquired by the DIA. Salvador Salort-Pons, the museum's Director, told the Metro that the DIA is acquiring “Baby Bling” from Massey and adding it to the museum’s permanent collection. 

"We are acquiring "Baby Bling," and I'm very excited about this, and this will be on view in, I hope [...] our contemporary wing, and I hope it will be part of the reinstallation," says Salvador Salor-Pons

Lots of people traveled and spent their weekends at the DIA over the past year. Tiff Massey’s "7 Mile + Livernois"  wasn’t just an exhibit, it was an event for the culture. The exhibit represented Black Detroit in some of its rawest forms.

In 2015, the DIA responded to some critics who thought the DIA and other art institutions could do better to serve Detroit and Metro Detroit. In response, it created a Talent and Diversity subcommittee and later in 2020, created its inclusion, diversity and access or IDEA strategy. 

Recent exhibitions like Massey's "7 Mile + Livernois" suggest the strategy to make the DIA a more inclusive and representative space is working.

Museum Director Salvador Salort-Pons and exhibition curator Katie Pfol joined The Metro to discuss how the exhibition’s success marks a turning point for the Museum.

Salvador shared that the museum's year-long showcase of the tiff Massey exhibit was just the tip of the iceberg.

The Detroit Institute of Arts plans to reinstall its contemporary African American galleries to a more prominent location in the museum in October. The new location will be adjacent to the renowned Diego Rivera court.

The 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference became all about how to increase Michigan’s population.

After that conference, politicians, demographers and economists were theorizing about how to increase the state population. Last December, newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that Michigan increased its population by about 57,000. And last month, we got word that Detroit also increased its population by 6,800 residents. 

What should we make of these numbers? Are they too small to celebrate? Or, is the state and its largest city on a path to continue the trend?

Metro Producer Sam Corey spoke with Citizens Research Council President Eric Lupher at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference last week to learn more.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the White House are looking at pardoning the two men convicted in the 2020 plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the men convicted in the kidnapping plot were victims of “a railroad job.”

Whitmer shared her reaction to the news with WDET’s Russ McNamara at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday, saying she’s not happy that the justice department — and the president — are even considering pardons.

He joined The Metro to talk more about their conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The Skillman Foundation is one of Detroit’s most influential philanthropic organizations, using millions of dollars to shape education policy and priorities in the city.

As Detroit’s public schools struggle with chronic underfunding, low literacy rates, and crumbling infrastructure, Skillman’s decisions hold real weight for educators, parents and children.

Angelique Power, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation, joined The Metro during the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference to talk about how the foundation is leveraging its wealth and influence to truly change the trajectory for Detroit kids.

Power said while people across Michigan want something better for Detroit youth, the education systems in the city are "complicated."

"History matters in terms of the things that have happened to Detroit," she said. "Whether it is things that policy has done, things that philanthropy sometimes have done, often it happened to Detroiters, or for Detroiters, but not with Detroiters."

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.