Authentically 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! 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...

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist is the chair of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, who is released a report today with 14 recommendations to curb disparate health outcomes on racialized communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has laid bare the systemic inequities that has existed in the state fo Michigan. Gilchrist is the first Black Lieutenant G...

40 year Wright Museum veteran Kevin Davidson joined Donna and Orlando to talk about the legacy of Dr. Wright (Detroit's Baby Deliverer, Lover of Art & History), his relationship with him and the ever expanding Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Kevin who happens to be Donna's hubby who also serves as the Director of Fabrication and Design at The Wright was recently...

Black History Month continues as Donna and Orlando honor three women who have dedicated their lives in service to their neighbors and the Eastside.  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Happy Black History Month! We kick off Black History Month with a conversation with Dwan Dandridge of Black Leaders Detroit about their new zero interest loan product for Black businesses in Detroit and their grant-a-day program to local Detroit-based nonprofits all February long.  Visit www.blackleadersdetroit.org to learn more!  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 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 goal is to eventually have the young people create and...

Kirk Mayes , CEO of Forgotten Harvest sits down for a one-on-one with Orlando to talk about what feeds his addictive love for Detroit, the missional purpose of Forgotten Harvest, the late Marlowe Stoudamire, and what he wants to do next! Be sure to share with a friend!  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Regina Ann Campbell, president and CEO of BUILD Institute joins Donna and Orlando to talk about making Detroit the leader in "inclusive entrepreneurship." It was a phenomenal discussion.     Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Welcome back! This episode Donna and Orlando welcome back Yusef Bunchy Shakur along with Philadelphia city-builder, Michael O'Bryan to talk about the tendency to conflate trauma with culture as well as the romanticism we carry for experiences that are often times traumatizing to us. We also talked about reimagining public safety! Listen and share with a friend!  Support the show Follow us on...

Donna and Orlando welcomes back State Senator Adam Hollier, State Representative Tenisha Yancey and state Capitol reporter for Bridge Michigan, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán.  In 2018, Michigan voters elected to transfer the power of drawing the state’s congressional and legislative districts from the political majority in the state legislature to an independent citizens redistricting commission. The me...

A group of 12 Black Detroiters went on an excursion of search of Black Thriving   in Paris, France.  Lauren Hood is the founder and executive director of the Institute of Afro-Urbanism and the curator of the trip! Allen Penniman is a city planner and designer in Detroit who went on the excursion.  Orlando is out this week but Donna has all bases covered.  Support the show Follow us on Instagram ,...

We close out 2021 in a space of grace and gratefulness with Detroit's Godmother, THEE GAIL PERRY-MASON!  Happy Holidays, Everyone!  See you in 2022. Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

This week Donna and Orlando had the opportunity to interview one of their greatest mentors in community development, Maggie DeSantis. Maggie was one of the founders of Warren/Conner Development Coalition now known as Eastside Community Network. She served as the President/CEO for 30+ years and was succeeded by Donna in 2016. The organization still serves as breeding ground for amazing talent that...