Detroit is Different

From the Eastside to Renaissance High School Sarida Scott is deeply rooted in Legacy Detroit. She joins Detroit is Different to open up about her story and her family story. Learn the relationship between education, family, and love that built her vision. Sarida tells her story in activism and empowering activists. We also discuss how development is imposed on communities using resources allocated...

The renaissance and revitalization of Metro-Detroit is a story being told by corporate media. The story of how a city rose from the ashes of bankruptcy under the visionary leadership of Mayor Mike Duggan and business leader Dan Gilbert is a story that reaches media outlets worldwide. The media has exhaustive stories of how risk-taking visionaries like John Hantz and Chris Lambert utilize the barre...

Devon grew up a basketball junkie in Dearborn, MI. His love for sports led to a passion for Sports Marketing. Today he works with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce to empower small businesses. The NeighborHUB Grant was awarded to Detroit is Different to support our 2022 a Lot of Studio project. The grant helps businesses and non-profits in Detroit fulfill projects and programs in underserve...

Halima Afi joined Detroit is Different to share information about an upcoming public meeting on December 19, 2022 for the Wayne County Arts Institute Authority.   The DIA currently receives $25-$30 Million dollars per year in public funding through the Tri-county millage. Over the next ten years, the DIA will receive an estimated $330M!   In the current service contract, only $1.3M/yr of this fund...

Greg McKenzie celebrates Kwanzaa by living and honoring the Nguzo Saba daily. 2022 tasked Greg with the mission of building the World’s Largest Kwanzaa Kinara for Detroit. In this interview, he shares the project management of what it took and how he made it happen. I also provide more context to Kwanzaa and its role in the Black community. Detroit’s annual celebration will be honored at King Solo...

‘Free Game’ is what we call valuable information that can be applied to life. Kofi Kenyatta joined me to share ideas and ‘Free Game’ from the lens of UpTogether. UpTogether is a national organization with hundreds of thousands of members that focuses on empowering the community. UpTogether is an organization that listens to the community and follows the lead of the grassroots leaders in our neighb...

Theo Pride from the Detroit People’s Platform joined Detroit is Different again to give an overview of Detroit’s Multi-Billion dollar budget. Did you know how much money Detroit has to spend beyond the general fund on Detroit? Do you know Detroit has hundreds of millions allocated to home and building demolition? Pride breaks down how money can be reallocated to keep Detroit homeowners in homes. T...

Boniswa Brock is a fifth-generation educator. The tradition of education her family leads is institution building. Boniswa’s passion for science began early, questioning life and discovering nature. What began as questions have led to a career empowering young people with the gift of discovery. Mama Boniswa was one of my many beloved teachers at the African-Centered School Aisha Shule. She shares...

Rae is a creative that dives in and out of many disciplines. Rae is a Detroit Eastsider that lived throughout the Eastside as a child. In this interview, Rae opens up about family and how from Georgia to Detroit’s Eastside was a gateway for her roots. Experience the balance of family and life and why it impacts last generations. Rae shares her work with the Better Detroit Youth Movement and why it...

E Block Radio is one of the many media offerings by Quincy Q Lewis. What started as fun between friends has become a staple in Detroit podcasting. Lewis has experience in journalism that goes back to Black Enterprise and being mentored by the late great Mr. Earl Graves. Lewis shares his journey from Martin Luther King Jr. Sr high school football to journalism today. Eastern Michigan University, Ch...

Charles Wilson joins Detroit is DIfferent to discuss the Detroit Department of Transportation bus system in the 1980s and 1990s. Wilson shares how as a Vietnam vet, he navigated beyond that to sustain his family. He shares stories from famous routes like Fenkell, Woodward, Dexter, and Gratiot. Wilson also opens up about how Detroit's poor busing route system kept many passengers from arriving to w...

In 1987 the Detroit Wholistic Center launched on Dexter and Clairmount. Dr. Jesse Brown opens up about how he saw a need for natural healing in our community. For over 30 years, alkaline water, treatments beyond mucous and PH, and so much more were all knowledge provided by Dr. Brown. In this interview, learn more about his methods in healing and natural life. Today he leads the Wholistic Training...

Vision, faith, and community anchor Angelique Peterson Mayberry. Detroit Public School Community District Board president (running for her second term currently) has worked tirelessly to ensure DPSCD is ready to fulfill students' dreams. Her work to empower students, teachers, parents, administrators, and community groups grew from the work ethic that committed her to Ford Motor Company and UAW. M...

Stanford University undergraduate in education led a Bay area grad to Michigan State University and the mitten state. Marini C Lee is enthusiastic and driven to connect best with Black students. For years her passion built Summer, After School, and Weekend teaching efforts throughout Black communities. This Saturday, she kicks off another with the Literacy Lounge that will take place at Harmony Ca...

Engineering is a discipline often misunderstood. Engineering is creative problem-solving. Design, bio-medical, civil, and social engineers are common disciplines where engineering is applied. Detroit is an American oasis of many engineers from across the world. Corina Malone’s education in Bio-Medical Engineering has led her on a path leading to Premier Care Physical Therapy today. In her Detroit...

John Cloud is an emcee that has witnessed and participated in the origins of Detroit Hip-hop. His time in Home Grown, performing across the nation and region, shaped his understanding of performance. Currently, he is crafting the ‘Black Cloud’ album with producer Joe Black. The project is recorded at the Detroit is Different incubator and captures the essence of late 90’s & 2000’s hip-hop with...

Brandi Young is the STEM student that added the A for STEAM. A Cass Tech graduate and proud Eastside Detroiter, her path to supported success began from parents instilling the values of hard work. Today Young leads the Lux Collection birthed from her work with Navy B Rae Photography. After graduating from Oakland University, she began work in project management in technology. Her artistic calling...

Oakland University brought together a friendship circle that is now a business group. Lux Collection offers a unique glamour experience for clients seeking an inclusive photography experience to capture photography that expresses personality, character, and style. Shay Bailey adds the touch of makeup to the glamour experience matching clients' personalities with her artistry. Bailey grew up embrac...

Enhanced Fitness is more than a business name for DeShanda Edwards it’s a lifestyle. The lifelong Detroiter applied her passion for exercise and supplements and started a business. Today 2715 Puritan Ave Detroit MI 48238 Mon – Fri 10 am – 6 pm (9 am – 6 pm Sat) are the welcoming hours for your to experience Project-Enhanced Fitness. DeShanda offers a health solution in the heart of a Detroit commu...

Detroit is Different supporter Kim Sherobbi invited me to co-host a discussion held at Marygrove College Sunday, July 24. Jazz icon Stanley Clarke performed and spoke in support of his son Frank for the How We Will Change conference hosted in Detroit this past weekend. I hosted this discussion with my podcast network partner in creativity Piper Carter. Stephanie Rearick also performed her interact...

From the East Coast to Metro Detroit was the journey for a young Erin Bevel. Today the Howard University professor and law school graduate is driven by family and towards Black Liberation. Black Farmers Land Fund, Detroit Black Food Security Network, and Mollywop are creative, cultural, and professional works for Erin, but family is first. In this interview, we explore her work in Washington DC in...

Building Community Value is beyond conceptual for Chase Cantrell. The visionary leader of the organization has taken his talent and skill set and applied this ethic. The Building Community Value Detroit organization has been providing lessons in property development for Detroiters for years now. Chase's journey as an Attorney in real estate law, U of M student in the Prop 2 fight, and Renaissance...

Hastings Street is a work that Plowshares Theater Company is in the best position to present. July 21 – 31 at Detroit’s Music Hall the company re-launches post-COVID-19 welcoming audiences to a very special show. The show captures the story of the center of Detroit’s historic Black Bottom community. The musical captures the essence of Jazz, song, Soul, and much more. In this Detroit is Different f...

Beauty is a philosophy in Western studies. Aesthetics make up the study of what Western scientists have written and expressed as the standard of beauty. The challenge in this philosophy is that the objectivity of beauty is dependent upon background, taste, and culture. In America, the standard of beauty for people outside of Western civilizations arch is prominent and abundant. Alyssa Space is a c...

Independent films from Detroit have taken the industry by storm. The narratives of street life are being captured in live-action with the minds of Detroit’s historic Hip-hop scene at the helm. Filmmaker Kwende "Steet Lord Rook" Ried, joined Detroit is Different to talk about his new feature ‘Chedda Boys’ premiering next Friday, June 24 at Bel Air Luxury Cinema (tickets on Eventbrite). We talk abou...