Authentically Detroit

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with Vaulted Youth Voices participant, Kenneth Russell and the curator for Umoja Fine Arts to discuss the Youth Artist Workshop, an initiative dedicated to celebrating African American creativity.  Kenneth Russell is a young artist and sophomore at Southeastern High School who has been learning to combine his artistic background with civic engagement through t...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with Sam Robinson, independent journalist and founder of Detroit one million, to discuss Michigan’s Democratic Convention plus the Mayoral and City Council races! The trio discussed Sam’s insights about the convention and the implications for Detroit’s residents and leadership. Together, they explore the future of Detroit’s governance and how it will impact th...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with journalist Aaron Mondry and the President and CEO of The Operations School or “OSchool,” Racheal Allen.  Launched in 2019 by serial entrepreneur and nonprofit executive Racheal Allen, OSchool serves more than 1,200 students per year free of charge, helping them get their businesses legal, branded, operational, noticed, profitable, and ready to scale.  All...

This week, Donna and Orlando took an opportunity to catch up with each other on current events local and nationwide! Detroit's current political landscape is buzzing with anticipation as the mayoral race heats up, with key candidates vying for the position amid pressing social issues and community needs.  This discussion highlights the desire for compassionate leadership and deeper engagement...

Authentically Detroit presents a special interview with Detroit-born director and writer, Lawrence Lamont! Lawrence Lamont got his start shooting music videos for Grammy-Nominated Artist, Big Sean. Previously Lawrence directed multiple episodes of HBOMax's Rap Sh!t Season 1 and 2, produced by HOORAE Productions. He also completed a pilot for HBOMax and shot the Detroit Pistons branding campai...

This week, Donna was joined by guest host Dwan Dandridge and Marc Alexander, the founder of Lite Tuition. Together, they discuss the transformative potential of economic solidarity and the strategic navigation of social circles to overcome systemic obstacles. Marc’s story is a testament to the collaborative spirit that can drive significant social change. In 2009, Marc Alexander was a senior at Ke...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with Sarah Alvarez, the founder and editor-at-large of Outlier Media, to discuss their groundbreaking SMS System. Sarah Alvarez, the visionary force behind Outlier Media, believes the best local reporting is a service that responds directly to community needs and reduces harm. In 2016, Outlier Media began as a “Txt Outlier” a texting service delivering critica...

This week, Donna and guest host Chase Cantrell sat down with the founders of Detroit Mulch, Brooke & Casey Oberg plus multi-talented artist, Megan Kashat. Brooke and Casey started Detroit Mulch with the mission of recycling trees as sustainably and efficiently as possible, while creating local jobs in the process! Together, they’re transforming Detroit’s landscape in an innovative and eco-frie...

This week, Donna and Orlando held the final book club meeting of 2024 with celebrated poet, author, and cultural arts curator, jessica Care moore to discuss her impactful work, “We Want Our Bodies Back.”  An award-winning poet, recording artist, book publisher, activist, cultural arts curator, and filmmaker, jessica is executive producer and founder of Black WOMEN Rock! - Daughters of Betty, a 20-...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Founder of Be Well Beautiful People Demarra West to talk about her story of overcoming trauma and building a supportive community for those who need it most! Be Well Beautiful People is a 501c3 organization with a deep-seated commitment to bridging significant gaps in accessible healing and liberation support while disrupting systems that cause harm....

This week, Orlando sat down with the Executive Director of SHARE Detroit , Janette Phillips and the Executive Director of Black Artists Archive, Dr. Kelli Morgan to discuss innovative strategies for nonprofit fundraising and fostering a nurturing environment where Black artists can thrive.  The mission at Black Artists Archive is to dismantle conventional art history by highlighting the experience...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Founder and Executive Director of What About Us Inc., Tammara Howard and, a rising star in Detroit’s music scene, Niko Noir Together, they unpacked the emotional aftermath of the 2024 Election while navigating how love and hope can sustain us in uncertain times. Community organizing takes center stage as they dissect varying political narratives and t...

On the eve of the 2024 Election Day, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Executive Director of Building Community Value (BCV), Chase Cantrell. BCV is a Detroit-based non-profit organization dedicated to equipping residents with tools to shape their neighborhoods. They recently announced the launch of their first-ever online course, “Real Estate Development: Building Value in Your Community.” Hoste...

This week Guest Host Chase Cantrell joined Orlando to discuss politics in Detroit, Michigan, and at a National level. Together, the duo shined a light on critical issues impacting women's health, particularly breast cancer patients. Jenna Wright, co-president of the Shades of Pink Foundation shared insights about the patient journey and the foundation's mission to ease the financial burd...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Executive Director of Umoja Debate League, Jerjuan Howard to discuss his trip to Ghana with 15 Detroit students! Umoja Debate League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses debate as the vehicle to teach Detroit youth ages 11-18 transferable life skills, such as critical thinking, confidence, conflict resolution, increased literacy, and self-e...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with Aisha J. Morrell Ferguson, Chief Development Officer at COTS Detroit and the founders of Black Tech Saturdays Alexa and Johnnie Turnage Alexa and Johnnie Turnage are visionary leaders dedicated to reshaping the landscape of technology and fostering inclusivity. As the co-founders of Black Tech Saturdays, they have pioneered a groundbreaking movement aimed...

This week Donna and Orlando sat down with Bernadette Atuahene of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, to discuss their recent win, getting homes worth under $40,000 removed from the foreclosure list! Founded in 2017, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice is a collective of several long-standing Detroit grassroots organizations formed to accomplish three goals: Stop unconstitutional property ta...

In July, Donna and Orlando became the first podcast to ever grace the African World Festival! Bryce Detroit joined the duo on stage to discuss his ‘ Hood Closed to Gentrifiers ’ campaign in light of events and news stories coming out of the city. They also spoke with Kevin Davidson, Director of Design and Fabrication for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to learn more about...

This week Donna and Orlando sat down with Researcher and Policy Advocate, Amber Hendley to discuss her fight to reclaim her grandfather’s church! Amber is an accomplished researcher and policy advocate, known for her work in fair lending, wealth creation, and financial systems reform, particularly focusing on Black outcomes. During her childhood, Amber and her mother resided in Detroit alongside h...

This week Donna and Orlando sat down with Interdisciplinary Artist, Halima Cassells and Founder of Sidewalk Detroit, Ryan Meyers-Johnson! Together, they discussed a collaborative art installation at Eliza Howell Park that teaches people about the impact of microplastics on the environment and the importance of sustainable practices for keeping our earth clean. Sidewalk Detroit is an organization w...

This week Donna and Orlando sat down with the Author of the Natural Hair Dictionary, Mo Williams. Mo Williams, founder of Such a Natural, a Black-owned hair salon in Metro Detroit, authored and published the world’s first ever Natural Hair Dictionary® , a new book that defines exactly what natural hair and hairstyles are. As a sequential reference guide, The Natural Hair Dictionary’s: Natural Hair...

This week, the organizers of the Afro Nation Festival plus a group of Detroiters who worked together to create an equitable development framework joined Authentically Detroit! Donna and Orlando sat down with Smade - Co-founder of Afro Nation Festival, Josh Koram - Festival organizer/Lead Talent Booker, and Essosa - Festival organizer/ Communications and Social Manager. Together they discussed this...

Last week Authentically Detroit pulled up to Next Chapter Books for a book club discussion! Donna and Orlando were joined by a live audience inside of the family-owned bookstore on Detroit’s east side. Tananarive Due is an award-winning author who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award,...

The Business of Food in Detroit with Marcus Reliford Jr. and W.E. Da’Cruz This week Donna and Orlando traveled to the Eastern Market for a live podcast featuring Business Strategist, Marcus Reliford Jr. and CEO of The Mushroom Angel Company, W.E. Da’Cruz. The conversation titled, ‘From Incubation to Acceleration: Stories of Scaling a Food Business,’ is part of a larger series where industry vetera...

This week Donna and Orlando returned to the studio after a brief hiatus to catch up on everything that’s happened in the city and their lives! The dynamic duo covers everything from the Ford Fireworks debacle, the Riverfront Conservatory Scandal, to the growing housing crisis in the city.  They also introduce the Detroit Playlist Live, a monthly music series co-produced by Authentically Detroit an...