Authentically Detroit

On this episode, Donna welcomes new co-host Sam Robinson to Authentically Detroit! They’re joined by Graig Donnelly and Aaron Abney of the newly launched Community Owner’s Representative Initiative (CORI) to discuss how they’re building Detroit’s capacity for equitable real estate. The Community Owner’s Representative Initiative (CORI) is building Detroit's capacity for equitable real estate...

On this episode, Donna and Orlando reflect on their evolution since starting the podcast in 2019 as Orlando bids farewell to Authentically Detroit. Together they look at how time sharpens politics and encourage Detroiters to keep showing up and building power where it matters. They also sat down with the Co-Founder and Executive Director of 482Forward to discuss how their work helps Detroiters to...

On this episode Orlando sat down with legendary public relations executive, Georgella Muirhead and Vice President of 98Forward, Antonice Strickland to discuss how Georgella’s career shaped Detroit's communications landscape and paved the way for the next generation of leadership at 98Forward. After nearly five decades of shaping Detroit’s civic, corporate, and community narratives, Georgella...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this final episode of the year, they conf...

On this episode Donna and Orlando sat down with Sidewalk Detroit Program Director, Augusta Morrison and Earth Futures Fellow, Billy Mark to discuss the Echoes Soundmaps project and how they’re advancing public life through the lens of arts, culture, collaborative design and deep engagement with residents.  Sidewalk Detroit exists to advance public life and strong social infrastructure through the...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they trace Detroit’s housin...

On this episode Donna and Orlando sat down with the newly appointed and first CEO and Executive Director of Detroit Promise, Onjila Odeneal, to discuss how they’re opening the doors of higher education to Detroit’s youth. Onjila’s hiring marks a historic moment as Detroit Promise enters a new chapter. Detroit Promise provides every eligible Detroit high school graduate with a tuition-free path to...

On this episode Donna and Orlando sat down with Aaron Marsh and Noah Stricker of LifeBUILDERS Detroit to discuss how they’re pouring into a community on the city’s east side. Established in 2005 with the mission to bring life and hope to the east side of Detroit, LifeBUILDERS seeks to restore a community that had suffered the devastating effects of disinvestment for nearly 20 years. They seek to h...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they trace how a demolition...

On this episode Donna sat down with the newly elected Denzel McCampbell plus Jasahn Larosa and Iris Taylor of the Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (SEMPQIC).  Together, they explore a father-centered approach to maternal and infant health and the policy changes that make it possible, as well as Detroit’s new council voice on housing, transit, environmental justice, an...

On this episode Donna and Orlando discuss Detroit’s historic election where the city elected Mary Sheffield as its 76th mayor along with a progressive bloc which aims to reshape Detroit’s future.  After months of forums and one-on-ones with candidates, they share why this landslide felt inevitable and why it has to translate into results at the neighborhood level. Early voting helped lift turnout...

On this episode Donna and Orlando sat down with community organizer, Branden Snyder, to discuss the Working Families Party and how people can stay involved in the political process beyond election day.  They also unpack the media narratives swirling around the mayoral race, why they matter for young Black leadership in Detroit, and the government shutdown’s impact on EBT and food security across M...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they weigh Detroit’s debate...

This week, in collaboration with the Eastern Market, Donna and Orlando hosted a live podcast edition of Happy Hour in the Market. This special event brings together food business owners, farmers, and producers for fresh bites, and dj vibes. For the month of October they chose to highlight Faust Haus Roasting Company and In The Mix Detroit. Founded in 2021, Faust Haus Roasting Company started as a...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they dig into the contrast...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they honor Carolyn Cheeks K...

On this episode, Detroit City Council candidates Denzel McCampbell, Tyrone Carter, and Gabriela Santiago-Romero sat down with Donna and Orlando to discuss what they can offer their respective districts if elected to Detroit’s City Council.  These three council contenders lay out clear plans for housing, transit, youth opportunity, immigrant safety, and how to check mayoral power while delivering r...

On this special Hot Takes only episode, Donna and Orlando sit down for a much needed discussion about some of the hottest headlines in the city.  A routine post‑show photo shouldn’t become a campaign endorsement—and since it did, they had to talk about the cost. Together, they take a candid look at how a political mailer misused their image, why consent and context matter, and what journalistic ne...

This week, Orlando sat down with Ederique Goudia of In The Business of Food and Imani Foster of In The Mix Detroit to discuss Detroit’s food system and their organizing efforts throughout the city! Ederique “E” Goudia is a native of Louisiana who brings a bit of Creole flavor and southern hospitality to Detroit, Michigan! With over twenty years of experience in the restaurant industry, she founded...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they discuss President Trum...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. On this episode, Adam Hollier joins Donna an...

This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with David Daley, investigative journalist and author of Anti-Democratic: Inside the Far Right's 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections. In 1981, a young lawyer, fresh out of Harvard law school, joined the Reagan administration’s Department of Justice, taking up a cause that had been fomenting in Republican circles for over a decade by that point. Fro...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. In this episode, they discuss how corporate...

This week, Donna sat down with the Founder and Executive Director of What About Us Inc., Tammara Howard, and two of the leaders behind Detroit's Inaugural CDO Expo, Chandra McMillion and Quincy Jones.  Tammara Howard, founder of What About Us Inc. , has had a 55-year journey on Belvidere Street, where she's created a grassroots organization serving Detroit's Gratiot Woods neighborho...

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson! Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season. On this episode, Imani Foster of 482Forward...