Authentically Detroit

Authentically Detroit is back! Donna and Orlando are back in the studio with Kirk Mayes, CEO of Forgotten Harvest. The trio discuss Detroit’s recent power outages, DTE’s proposed rate hike, and the failure of leadership during the ongoing climate crisis. This week’s episode highlights the beauty of the African diaspora. In discussing his Jamaican ancestry, Kirk opens up about the connection he’s m...

Authentically Detroit is taking a two week hiatus! But before we go… Donna and Orlando return with the two queens, Brenda Butler & Edythe Ford, AKA Queen & Slim. The four of them recap the final results of Michigan’s primary election and discuss what matters most moving forward.   The general election takes place on November 8th. Hot Takes Links: A NEW BLACK-WOMAN LED BUSINESS IS FLASH FRE...

Donna and Orlando are back at it again this week with Branden Snyder of Detroit Action. This special episode streamed live on Tuesday night as the election results rolled in. Other guests include:  Brenda Butler, Edythe Ford, Daivon Reeder, Graig Donnelley, and Miguel Pope Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

The Michigan Primary Election for the 13th Congressional District is next week!  In honor of the election and to round out the primary candidate series, Donna and Orlando spoke with activist, radio host, and democratic candidate Sam Riddle. Check out the interview to find out more about his progressive platform which seeks to target poverty, racism, and environmental destruction.  The primary elec...

With election season right around the corner, Authentically Detroit and Detroit Action joined forces in the 13th Congressional District Candidate Economic Justice Forum. We invited all candidates to a two-part forum where they had the opportunity to explain their ideas around policy.  On this episode, Donna and Orlando sit down with Co-Executive Directors of Detroit Action, Branden Snyder and Jenn...

Hosted by Authentically Detroit and Detroit Action Candidates: John Conyers, Sherry Gay-Dgango, Michael Griffe, Adam Hollier, and Portia Roberson *Invitations were extended to all 10 candidates* Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Hosted by Authentically Detroit and Detroit Action Candidates: Sam Riddle and Martell Bivings *Invitations were extended to all 10 candidates* Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Having a place that validates your existence is essential to community building. In order to prepare ourselves for a mutually beneficial future, we must come together and acknowledge the cyclical nature of our world.   That’s the philosophy of art lover, public space activator, and event curator Njia Kai.  On this episode Donna, Orlando, and Njia discuss Charles H. Wright African World Festival’s...

Amazing things can happen when Black philanthropic professionals across sectors come together to make intentional investments in Black led ideas and projects. Shoutout to Baba Malik Yakini of The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFS) and the work they've been doing for years! This episode, Donna and Orlando sit down with two of Detroit's most respected philanthropic leade...

Mothering Justice F ounder and Executive Director, Danielle Atkinson joins Orlando in the studio to talk about the reversal of Roe V. Wade by the United States Supreme Court and what that could mean for Black women in Detroit. Danielle also chairs the work and policy agenda of Mothering Justice.  Be sure to listen and share with a neighbor and friend.  Hot Takes Story: ABORTION RULING HEIGHTENS FE...

Donna and Orlando attended the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference on the beautiful Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan. The theme this year was, "The Business Community's Changing Civic Role in Polarizing Times." The Mackinac Policy Conference is attended by Michigan's political and corporate power brokers along with executives from nonprofits and phila...

Donna and Orlando attended the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference on the beautiful Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan.  The Mackinac Policy Conference is attended by Michigan's political and corporate power brokers along with executives from nonprofits and philanthropy as well as journalists.  This episode Orlando is joined by special guest cohost, Stephen Henderson....

Our Candidate series continues! We're working to bring candidates for the 13th Congressional seat to our listeners to ask the questions that no one else is asking! John Conyers joined Orlando and Donna to discuss his candidacy, why he's qualified to represent you, and what he hopes to do if voters send him to D.C.! Listen and share with friends, especially if they live in the 13th distri...

Our monthly series with The Vault Teen Center and Eastside Community Network continues with a discussion about gun violence affecting young lives in Detroit and the nation. The young people interviewed Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib about the realities of they face as young Detroiters.  The Vaulted Youth Voices monthly series is sponsored by the Skillman Foundation. Young people are learning Detroit...

Our Candidate series continues! We're working to bring candidates for the 13th Congressional seat to our listeners to ask the questions that no one else is asking! Sherry Gay-Dagnogo joined Orlando and Donna to discuss her candidacy, her track in the Michigan state legislature and what she hopes to do if voters send her to D.C.! Listen and share with friends, especially if they live in the 13...

Our Candidate series continues! The 13th Congressional race has caught our eye and we're working to bring all 9 candidates to our listeners asking the questions that no one else is asking! Portia Roberson joined Donna and Orlando to discuss her candidacy, her track record in the community and what she hopes to do if voters send her to D.C.! Listen and share with friends, especially if they li...

Our Candidate series has returned! The 13th Congressional race has caught our eye and we're  working to bring all 9 candidates to our listeners asking the questions that no one else is asking.  State Senator Adam Hollier joined Donna and Orlando to discuss his candidacy, his record and what he hopes to do if voters send him to D.C. He also responded to campaign finance misuse allegations by a...

Our monthly series with The Vault Teen Center and Eastside Community Network continues with a discussion about Detroit's Project Greenlight program and the no snitch culture in many neighborhoods in Detroit. Special shoutout and thanks to Kayla, Johnathan and Nashae for showing up as their authentic selves for this conversation.  The Vaulted Youth Voices monthly series is sponsored by the Ski...

Councilwoman Latisha Johnson joins Donna and Orlando to talk about the amended budget that City Council sent to Mayor Mike Duggan that appropriates $2 million dollars for a comprehensive masterplan update.  Noah Urban from Data Driven Detroit (D3) also joins the pair to talk about data democracy in Detroit and the new worker owned cooperative model that D3 is under.  Support the show Follow us on...

TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY! CLICK HERE TO ACCESS IT.  Donna Givens Davidson is back with us from bereavement leave! We are so happy to have voice back on the mic! We've missed her so much.  Detroit artist, storyteller, singer and comedian, Satori Shakoor joined Donna and Orlando in the WDET studios in Midtown Detroit. Satori talked about her journey as an artist from being a kid who loved orche...

SURPRISE! Two episodes in one week! Detroit's Planning Director, Antoine Bryant sat down with Orlando for a one-on-one. The two had a lengthy discussion about the Strategic Neighborhood Fund and a comprehensive master plan update. They also discussed housing policy and home repair, infrastructure investment, flooding, and the split rate property tax proposal in front of City Council.  Support...

TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY PLEASE! CLICK HERE TO ACCESS IT! Anika Goss of Detroit Future City (DFC) and Jeanette Pierce from the new City Institute joined Orlando for a conversation about the new DFC Report, "Buying In: Opportunities For Increasing Homeownership in Detroit Through Mortgage Lending" and City Institute's launch on April 21st! The conversation is a beautiful tapestry of...

TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY PLEASE! CLICK HERE TO ACCESS IT!  Attorney Tonya Myers Phillips from the Right-To-Counsel Coalition sat down with Orlando to talk about the proposed right-to-counsel ordinance that the Detroit City Council will be taking up in the coming weeks that will benefit low income people.  *DISCLAIMER: During the recording of this podcast episode, it was reported that the Detroit C...

TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY HERE ! HOT TAKES STORIES https://www.bridgedetroit.com/can-detroit-erase-residential-blight-in-four-years/ https://www.bridgedetroit.com/wayne-county-extends-payment-plan-deadline-for-properties-at-risk-of-foreclosure/ Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

In a new monthly series sponsored by the Skillman Foundation, Authentically Detroit is partnering with the Eastside Community Network and the Vault Teen Center to bring you "Vaulted Youth Voices," where young people who are learning Detroit History, podcast producing, and the power of narrative will curate an episode of our podcast! The ultimate goal is to have the young people create an...