This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Founder and Executive Director of What About Us Inc., Tammara Howard and, a rising star in Detroit’s music scene, Niko Noir

Together, they unpacked the emotional aftermath of the 2024 Election while navigating how love and hope can sustain us in uncertain times. Community organizing takes center stage as they dissect varying political narratives and the quest for power among minority communities.

What About Us, Inc. (WAU) is a resident-led, grass-roots organization founded in 2015 and is dedicated to building neighborhood connectedness and capacity to lift up the voices of residents who feel marginalized. Founder and executive director, Tammara Howard, is committed to strengthening the physical, mental, and emotional health of Detroit youth and their parents through the services of WAU. Tammara shared her remarkable journey of transforming neglected spaces into beacons of hope, emphasizing inclusivity for disabled individuals and the LGBTQ community.

Niko Noir is an artist, performer, songwriter, vocal producer and producer hailing from Detroit’s east side. Niko offered insights into the challenges faced by independent artists in a competitive music scene. Her tales of community love and appreciation emphasize the enduring power of family and collaboration.

Click here to learn more about What About Us, Inc., and keep up with Niko Noir’s musical journey here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

DEMOCRATS OVERESTIMATED DETROIT TURNOUT. WHAT HAPPENED?

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On the eve of the 2024 Election Day, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Executive Director of Building Community Value (BCV), Chase Cantrell.

BCV is a Detroit-based non-profit organization dedicated to equipping residents with tools to shape their neighborhoods.

They recently announced the launch of their first-ever online course, “Real Estate Development: Building Value in Your Community.” Hosted on Coursera, the course aims to teach aspiring real estate developers the fundamentals of real estate development, including development stages, team building, project feasibility, social impact, and financial modeling.

This innovative online course, developed in close collaboration with the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), marks a significant shift for BCV. Traditionally focused on in-person training for residents of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, the online course is now accessible to learners worldwide, fostering real estate and community development skills on a scale far beyond SE Michigan.

To learn more about Building Community Values’ online course, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

DETROIT STRENGTHENS SECURITY AT SITES WHERE BALLOTS ARE COUNTED

LATE RESULTS, VOTING MACHINES, AND MORE: DEBUNKING MICHIGAN'S ELECTION MISINFORMATION

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This week Guest Host Chase Cantrell joined Orlando to discuss politics in Detroit, Michigan, and at a National level.

Together, the duo shined a light on critical issues impacting women's health, particularly breast cancer patients. Jenna Wright, co-president of the Shades of Pink Foundation shared insights about the patient journey and the foundation's mission to ease the financial burden for those affected and its goal to raise a million dollars by 2025.

Finally, they turned the focus to Detroit's vibrant political landscape. Navigating the buzz around early voting and potential candidates for the upcoming mayoral race. Analyzing the shifting political scene, they cover everything from the dynamics within city council, to the speculation on Mayor Duggan's re-election plans.

To learn more about Chase Cantrell and his work, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

HOW A 'PINK TAX' ON WOMEN CAN HURT THEIR HEALTH, ESPECIALLY FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

SHADES OF PINK FOUNDATION IS DIVING HEADFIRST INTO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH THIS OCTOBER

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This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Executive Director of Umoja Debate League, Jerjuan Howard to discuss his trip to Ghana with 15 Detroit students!

Umoja Debate League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses debate as the vehicle to teach Detroit youth ages 11-18 transferable life skills, such as critical thinking, confidence, conflict resolution, increased literacy, and self-expression.

In August, they proudly announced the successful conclusion of their 2024 trip to Ghana. Fifteen students from Henry Ford High School, Cass Tech High School, and Bates Academy, winners of our 2024 Championship Debate Tournament and Zip Code Improvement Speech Competition, engaged in an enriching eight-day cultural immersion experience.

This journey was an opportunity for students to connect with their lost heritage, broaden their global perspective, and build lasting memories. The experience enriched their understanding of African history and culture and strengthened their commitment to community leadership and Pan-African principles.

To learn more about Umoja Debate League, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

BRIAN AND ALEXA COLE LAUNCH NEW BOOK, THE WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE, FEATURING FOREWORD BY NYT BEST-SELLING AUTHORS KEVONSTAGE AND MRSKEVONSTAGE

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This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with Aisha J. Morrell Ferguson, Chief Development Officer at COTS Detroit and the founders of Black Tech Saturdays Alexa and Johnnie Turnage

Alexa and Johnnie Turnage are visionary leaders dedicated to reshaping the landscape of technology and fostering inclusivity. As the co-founders of Black Tech Saturdays, they have pioneered a groundbreaking movement aimed at empowering underrepresented communities within the tech industry.

Alexa's passion for technology and equality, combined with Johnnie's grassroots activism and entrepreneurial spirit, culminate in a powerful force for change. Together, they spearhead initiatives that offer educational workshops, mentorship programs, and networking events, creating pathways for aspiring Black professionals.

Their collaborative efforts exemplify a commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a more diverse and equitable tech ecosystem.

To learn more about Black Tech Saturdays, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

MICHIGAN HUMANE'S ANIMAL CARDS ARE ABOUT MORE THAN ADOPTION

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This week Donna and Orlando sat down with Bernadette Atuahene of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, to discuss their recent win, getting homes worth under $40,000 removed from the foreclosure list!

Founded in 2017, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice is a collective of several long-standing Detroit grassroots organizations formed to accomplish three goals:

1. Stop unconstitutional property tax assessments
2. Compensate Detroit residents who overpaid or have already lost their homes because of illegally inflated property taxes
3. Suspend pending property tax foreclosures until it is confirmed that the delinquent taxpayers were not unconstitutionally assessed

Bernadette Atuahene is a property law scholar focusing on land stolen from people in the African Diaspora. She is the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants who grew up in Los Angeles and attended UCLA for college. She then earned her JD from Yale and her MPA from Harvard.

To learn more about Bernadette and her work, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

FACT-CHECK: TLAIB DID NOT SAY NESSEL CHARGED PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS BECAUSE SHE'S JEWISH

DETROITER MAY LOSE HER HOME OVER SUCCESSION DISPUTE, SHE'S NOT ALONE

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In July, Donna and Orlando became the first podcast to ever grace the African World Festival!

Bryce Detroit joined the duo on stage to discuss his ‘Hood Closed to Gentrifiers’ campaign in light of events and news stories coming out of the city.

They also spoke with Kevin Davidson, Director of Design and Fabrication for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to learn more about the history of the museum and the festival

To learn more about the African World Festival, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

WRIGHT MUSEUM ART EXHIBITION 'DOUBLE ID' HIGHLIGHTS STRUGGLES OF BLACK MEN

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This week Donna and Orlando sat down with Researcher and Policy Advocate, Amber Hendley to discuss her fight to reclaim her grandfather’s church!

Amber is an accomplished researcher and policy advocate, known for her work in fair lending, wealth creation, and financial systems reform, particularly focusing on Black outcomes.

During her childhood, Amber and her mother resided in Detroit alongside her grandfather, Gary M. Douglas, Jr., the inaugural and only Black pastor in the history of the Abyssinia Interdenominational Church, where they actively participated in the life of the church.

For the past four years, she’s been actively engaged in Detroit with the intention to reconnect with former church members and have meetings with local developers, leaders, lenders, and city officials to gain insight into the needs of the area from the perspective of its native residents.

To learn more about Abyssinia Interdenominational Church, click here!

FOR HOT TAKES:

DETROIT JUDGE WHO HAD TEEN HANDCUFFED FOR SLEEPING TEMPORARILY REMOVED FROM DOCKET

DETROIT RELEASES 5-YEAR PLAN TO IMPROVE HOMELESSNESS

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