Authentically Detroit

This week Authentically Detroit hosted a special live podcast, featuring the team behind CSforDetroit! Kalisha Davis, Tawana Petty, and Dr. Chanel Beebe joined Donna and Orlando to discuss a newly launched program, committed to ensuring that historically marginalized students have sustainable access to high quality Computer Science learning that is culturally responsive and student-centered. Power...

This week Authentically Detroit welcomed CEO’s Cheryl P. Johnson and Kim Janey of COTS Detroit and EMPath! Donna and Orlando spoke with Cheryl and Kim about their new practice, Mobility Mentoring! This research-backed, trauma-informed approach seeks to help families achieve economic mobility. This new certification marks the next step in a years-long partnership between the two organizations, whic...

This week Authentically Detroit welcomed Peter Blackmer, Lloyd Simpson, and Antonio Cosme of Voices from the Grassroot! Donna and Orlando spoke with the trio about the upcoming project, which  highlights longtime Black Detroiters and grassroots organizers perspectives on revitalizing the city. The project, started in 2018, seeks to reckon with the lack of representation that leads to a distorted n...

This week Authentically Detroit welcomed Malachi Barrett and Nushrat Rahman of Bridge Detroit and Photographer Sarahbeth Maney. Orlando, Malachi, Nushrat, and Sarahbeth discussed stories highlighting the housing crisis Detroiters face. One story that stood out is that of Tonya Hogan, a Detroiter who ended up losing her home following the unexpected death of her husband. Tonya represents an increas...

This week Authentically Detroit welcomed Dr. Kamaria Washington, a physical therapist dedicated to healing Black people through a holistic, full-body approach.  Donna and Orlando first met Dr. K during the inaugural cohort of the Authentically Detroit podcasting class. Her work providing pelvic floor therapy to Black mothers offers a little-known relief to the pain and discomfort associated with p...

This week Authentically Detroit welcomed former auto-worker, longtime community and labor activist, and board member at the Boggs Center, Richard Feldman.  Together they discussed the historic “Stand Up Strike,” started by the United Auto Workers (UAW). This strike is the culmination of a workers movement that has taken over the United States. As a former auto-worker at one of the striking UAW pla...

This week Authentically Detroit welcomed Camille Johnson, Director of Development and Communications at the Eastside Community Network (ECN) and Armond Harris, Owner of Jabs Gym. Donna and Orlando discuss the UAW strike and its implications for Michigan’s financial future. Later on, Camille joins the duo to discuss the 35th annual Eastside Extravaganza taking place this Friday, September 22nd from...

This week Authentically Detroit finally returned from hiatus! Donna and Orlando joined each other inside of the DEEP Network’s podcast studio to catch up on what’s been happening in both of their lives lately.  The two of them discuss the attack on the Stoudamire Wellness Hub and how the Eastside Community Network plans to rebuild and strengthen the community as a result. They also open up about s...

This week on Authentically Detroit, Donna and Orlando sat down with Glenn Wilson and Renee Kent of Communities First, Inc. to discuss their work to build a more sustainable Flint! Founded by Glenn and Essence Wilson, Communities First, Inc. has grown extensively since its inception in 2010. As Flint natives, who are passionate about their hometown, their mission is to build healthy, vibrant commun...

This week, Authentically Detroit introduces Something Relevant, the inaugural podcast on the Detroit Eastside Engaged Podcast (DEEP) Network! Donna and Orlando sit down with Daivon Reeder, co-host and creator of the Something Relevant Podcast to discuss the vision behind the show. Vaulted Youth Voices participants Faith and Alex also join the conversation, discussing some of the latest headlines i...

This week, Authentically Detroit sat down with David Alade, Co-Founder and CEO of Century Partners.  Donna, Orlando, and David talk about the housing affordability crisis in Detroit and how we can address it. As CEO of Century Partners, David is committed to community, legacy, and purpose with a dedication to building a culture of sustainable excellence.  Last week, his article in Crain’s Detroit,...

This week, Authentically Detroit sat down with Dr. Christal Lawson, the Founder and Owner of CLE Strategic Solutions, LLC.    Following the unexpected passing of both Reverend JoAnn Watson and Brenda Hill, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about self-care and protecting your spirit during times of grief. Dr. Lawson has been helping individuals, families, and youth heal from their grief an...

This week, Authentically Detroit sat down with Kevin Davidson, the Director of Design and Fabrication at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.   Donna and Orlando spoke with Kevin about the 40th annual African World Festival, taking place in Downtown Detroit at Hart Plaza, July 14-16th. As a 40-year employee, Kevin has had the opportunity to experience every festival since its...

This week, Authentically Detroit sat down with the Attorney General of Minnesota, Keith Ellison.  Donna and Orlando spoke with Keith about the recent Supreme Court decisions and his new book, Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence. As Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith led the decision to bring charges against George Floyd’s murderer, Derek Chauvin. Keith also explains some of the b...

This week, Authentically Detroit sat down with Doctoral Candidate, Aya Waller-Bey  Orlando spoke with Aya about her research and work around the impact of trauma narratives in college admissions. As a doctoral candidate, her dissertation research examines how Black students make how Black students make sense of narratives constructed in college personal statements and how Black students respond to...

Last week, Authentically Detroit took over the Mackinac Policy Conference! Donna and Orlando conducted interviews on-site at the conference with some of the state and city’s most influential power brokers. This series is broken up into three parts and as always features candid conversations centering residents’ perspectives on the policies that most impact us! Part One: Garland Gilchrist, Lt. Gov....

Last week, Authentically Detroit took over the Mackinac Policy Conference! Donna and Orlando conducted interviews on-site at the conference with some of the state and city’s most influential power brokers. This series is broken up into three parts and as always features candid conversations centering residents’ perspectives on the policies that most impact us! Part One: Garland Gilchrist, Lt. Gov....

Last week, Authentically Detroit took over the Mackinac Policy Conference! Donna and Orlando conducted interviews on-site at the conference with some of the state and city’s most influential power brokers. This series is broken up into three parts and as always features candid conversations centering residents’ perspectives on the policies that most impact us! Part One: Garland Gilchrist, Lt. Gov....

This week, Authentically Detroit sat down with Founder and CEO of Rebirth, Cheetara Heath Donna and Orlando spoke with Cheetara about the Non-Profit Organization and her mission to break generational barriers by means of housing and supportive services. A single mother of 5 and formerly unhoused person, Cheetara knows what it means to overcome adversity. Since beginning Rebirth in 2018, she’s purc...

This week, Authentically Detroit is talking about the city’s new down payment assistance program.   At the end of March, Detroit announced the launch of a down payment assistance program aimed at lower-income earners who may be able to afford a monthly mortgage payment but don’t have enough savings for a down payment. Donna and Orlando spoke with David Palmer of DC Palmer LLC about the research an...

Authentically Detroit discusses closing the racial wealth gap in the city and beyond.  On this episode, Donna and Orlando speak with Michelle Matthews and Elizabeth Luther of Capital Impact. The four of them discuss Capital Impact’s decision to work more closely with people actually from our city to help close the racial wealth gap. Their Equitable Development Initiative seeks to help local real e...

Donna and Orlando gathered the youth together for a discussion centering their perspectives on different types of violence in the community. The group’s roundtable talk covers metal detectors inside of schools, gun violence, violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community, and more.  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Authentically Detroit covers the wave of violence seemingly taking over the city and more.  On this episode, Donna and Orlando discuss environmental justice, reparations, and gun violence. Over the last week, there were multiple instances of simple disagreements escalating to gun violence. In one instance, a Detroit man shot two teens and two adults after his food was incorrectly delivered to thei...

The gang's all here again! Orlando returns this week along with journalists Aaron Mondry and Jena Brooker.  Donna and Orlando speak with them about the trucking problem plaguing east siders in Detroit. Aaron and Jena’s investigation found that almost one truck passes through the neighborhood adjacent to the Stellantis auto plant per minute, daily. This poses a serious air quality issue and re...

This week, Authentically Detroit talks about what’s been on everyone’s mind recently - power outages.  Donna and Jackson Koeppel, Founder and Executive Director of Souladarity, sat down for a discussion about outages and energy justice. The duo outlines issues of affordability and infrastructure as well as DTE’s business model, which drives the issues. Finally, they go over the ways the team at So...