The Metro

The Brightmoor community in the city of Detroit has had its battles, from blight to vacant lots, the community has found a way to remain resilient through the years.

The Brightmoor Music Series began in 2019 and wasn’t an instant hit. After a few weeks of word-of-mouth testimonies from community members, there was a demand for another one the next year. 

Now, the event continues to thrive at Etheldra Mae Williams Park. Located on Burgess between Lyndon and Acacia Streets in Detroit, the once blighted 11 acre grassland is now renovated and beautiful.

“Puttin on the Ritz” is a celebration of the 100th birthday of the park's namesake, Etheldra Mae Williams. The park transformed into a 1920's speakeasy, along with classic cars and vendors.

Michael Williams is a manager of the William Park Alliance and organizes the Brightmoor Series. Flint native songstress Pia Broden-Williams is headlining the upcoming celebration. They joined The Metro to talk more about the music series and uplifting the Brightmoor community.

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

In July, ICE agents arrested and detained around a dozen Hmong refugees in Detroit, some have since been deported to Laos. Several are still in custody, including Lue Yang, a father of six, and president of the Hmong Family Association of Lansing, MI. 

Yang's potential deportation could stem from a decades-old conviction that the state expunged. 

"He has literally brought our Hmong community out and gave us a voice — that we do exist in the state of Michigan," said Ann Vue, Yang's wife, on the Metro.

Aisa Villarosa, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, says she is concerned about the "covert nature" of many of these arrests and deportations — and the people ICE is targeting.

"We are seeing folks who are anchors of their communities, beloved family members, stripped from their families, often after decades of living peacefully in their communities," Villarosa said.

State Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) and State Sen. Stephanie Chang issued an open letter to ICE field director Kevin Raycraft, urging for the release of detained community members.

Guests: Ann Vue, wife of Lue Yang; Aisa Villarosa, attorney with Asian Law Caucus; and Michigan State Sen. Stephanie Chang. 

Detroit and Windsor's economies are intimately connected. On a typical day, thousands of trucks cross the Detroit River with parts that may cross back again several times before a single car rolls off the line. 

But that rhythm is off; new tariffs and shifting border rules have fueled uncertainty. 

Marta Leardi-Anderso, executive director of the Cross-Border Institute at the University of Windsor, joined The Metro to unpack the mechanics and the human impact of President Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods.

Picture this: you’re on Mackinac Island having a grand old time at the Grand Hotel, and then boom, a mystery is a foot.

Someone has been murdered during the Mackinac Policy Conference and treachery begins—and if you’re familiar with Mackinac Island, you know you're not leaving unless it's by boat or ferry.  

That’s the premise of a new book called "The Grand Secret" that depicts schemes, betrayal, and, of course, a high profile murder. It's a murder mystery, but "The Grand Secret" also highlights the beauty of Michigan and its landmarks. 

"The Grand Secret" is the work of author Ed McKenna. The Downriver native and Michigan State Graduate has been writing for more than 20 years. 

The father of two joined The Metro to talk more about "The Grand Secret" and why writing matters.

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

A new set of bipartisan bills aims to close the medical decision-making gap in Michigan, allowing next of kin to make critical decisions when needed.

State Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) is co-sponsoring the legislation along with Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township) to close the medical decision-making gap in Michigan.

Rep. Thompson joined the Metro to discuss the details of the bill, and her personal experience which highlights Michigan's need for a next-of-kin law in the state.

Local leaders recently cut a seven-year pipeline from classroom to commission. The Wayne County Youth Council was a bridge that connected young people to the civic process. 

At the Wayne County Commission meeting on July 17, the Wayne County Commission voted to eliminate the Youth Council. 

The Wayne County Commission is the top legislative branch in the county. Some young people say this decision is silencing their voice and ending a vital way to learn about politics and policy.

Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke with Detroit Documenters Amanda Absher and Lynelle Herndon to learn what the commissioners and community members had to say about this decision. 

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

When women actors in Hollywood called out other actors and executives who committed some form of sexual violence against them, the whole world took notice. Survivors were finally being heard and it sparked the #MeToo era, in which accusations of sexual misconduct were heard more than ever before.

In Michigan, decades of abuse by sports doctor Larry Nassar came to light around the same time. A few years ago, the University of Michigan agreed to a settlement worth $490 million, with over one thousand people saying they were sexually assaulted by the late physician Robert Anderson.     

According to a 2018 survey by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. 

It’s also important to note that many survivors are harmed by someone they know, someone close to them. In the US, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey.

So how far have we come when it comes to having conversations about domestic violence and abuse to prevent it from happening? And what kind of support does a survivor need to work through their trauma? 

Kalimah Johnson is the Founder, CEO and Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness (SASHA) Center, which provides services for sexual assault recovery, prevention, and educational agency. Kalimah is also a consultant on relationship safety and management.

We spoke with Kalimah about the SASHA center and the importance of the language we use when talking about sexual violence, specifically against Black women. We also learned about the upcoming fifth edition of a back-to-school program hosted by the SASHA center.

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

Bryce Detroit is a poet, an artist, a social justice organizer and a musician. And with so many titles on his name, it's hard to pinpoint what creative endeavor he may be working on at that particular moment, but it's ALWAYS safe to say he’s doing it for the culture…he’s doing it for Detroit. 

On Tuesday, the White House called for a “comprehensive internal review” of eight Smithsonian museums. They want institutions to celebrate American exceptionalism instead of discussing race and America's racial history, and to avoid negatively discussing the president. 

Already, one Smithsonian museum changed its exhibit about President Donald Trump. It omitted that the president made false statements challenging his 2020 election loss, as well as a statement that said Trump delivered a speech encouraging lawless action at the Capitol. 

The current administration says it wants our museums to end partisanship and to “restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” But many worry that, instead, the president is stoking an already-heated culture war and limiting free speech.

How should these museums respond to political pressure? How should American museums react to criticism and make appropriate changes? And, what is their role in critiquing and celebrating American life?

Devon Akmon is the Director of Michigan State University Museum and is a core faculty member in MSU’s Arts, Cultural Management & Museum Studies program.

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

For years, pharmaceutical companies have pushed drugs onto people and doctors, increasing addiction rates and overdose deaths in Michigan and across the country.

Last month, a national settlement with Purdue Pharma created new funds for drug treatment in Michigan. The state is expected to receive $154 million over 15 years. The new funds will go to a larger pot of money from additional national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. 

The money comes at a really pivotal time. That’s because Michigan is set to lose over $90 million from cuts to federal grants for substance use disorder programs according to the Michigan Health and Human Services Department. 

Where will the state’s new opioid money go? And, what do we need to do to both prevent addiction deaths in the short run, and prevent addiction entirely in the long run?

Founder of The Recovery Collective in West Bloomfield Steve Norris joined Robyn Vincent to discuss.

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