Features

Development News The Lincoln Park Farmers Market 2021 season begins Sunday, June 6.

After a tough 2020, Lincoln Park Farmers Market to bring back weekly markets in 2021

“We’re seeing more people and more new people wanting to be vendors this year. I think with the pandemic, people are getting interested in growing their own food and starting new businesses,” says Leslie Lynch-Wilson.

Feature Story Michigan Congressional Districts. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Metro Detroit nonprofits aim to get community voices into redistricting process

The process of redrawing Michigan's electoral districts will look very different this year after Michigan voters approved the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, a bipartisan body that will draw Michigan's electoral maps instead of the state legislature. The decisions will rely heavily on public input – and a coalition of Metro Detroit activists is working to ensure that area residents have their say.

Development News While it’s too early to say exactly when, co-owner Rick LeAnnais estimates a July opening.

‘A record store is a destination store’: Dearborn Music to open second shop in downtown Farmington

Dearborn Music will be opening its new location in the old Dressbarn store in Farmington this summer. While it’s too early to say exactly when, co-owner Rick LeAnnais estimates a July opening.

Feature Story Markita Moore and bike on Livernois Photo by David Lewinski.

Metro Detroit's bike infrastructure is growing. Here’s how.

For Markita Moore, bicycling around during the pandemic has taken some getting used to. But the challenges of COVID-19 haven't stopped her from taking her LeMond Versailles road bike out for a spin whenever she gets the chance. 

Feature Story Northend bandits. Photo by David Lewinski.

On bicycle clubs and the social fabric of Detroit life

As more Detroiters get vaccinated (and temperatures are expected to start hitting the 90-degree mark as early as this week), bike season is kicking off again, this time with more interested bikers, and a renewed purpose of having fun and supporting communities that have endured so much in the past year. 

Development News This new Ferndale business was inspired by the Barbara Ward quote, “We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the Earth as its other creatures do.”

Home and body goods store, a ‘refillery and zero waste shop,’ opens in Ferndale

This new Ferndale business was inspired by the Barbara Ward quote, “We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the Earth as its other creatures do.”

Development News “It just makes sense for us to support initiatives like the Macomb Science Olympiad – initiatives that work to grow STEM-based talent to fill the jobs of tomorrow,” says Sterling Heights Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner.

Sterling Heights Velocity Center to welcome Macomb Science Olympiad this weekend

“It just makes sense for us to support initiatives like the Macomb Science Olympiad – initiatives that work to grow STEM-based talent to fill the jobs of tomorrow,” says Sterling Heights Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner.

Feature Story Weir House, Provencal. May 2018

Looking Back: Once known for cherries, the Grosse Pointes work to preserve their historic character

Though it has some of the most beautiful historic homes in the country, preservation efforts in the Grosse Pointes are diverse, promoting the history of both its extravagant mansions and its clapboard farmhouses.

Feature Story Photo courtesy Black Bottom Garden Center.

Black-owned cooperative startups in the North End model opportunity for more equitable Detroit

Three new cooperative businesses are taking shape in the North End neighborhood, all owned and operated by Black Detroiters, mostly women living and working in the community.

Feature Story A section of the Bay to Bridge trail in Port Huron.

Great Lakes Way project aims to unify greenways and water trails along Michigan's southeast coast

A new effort is underway to establish a world-class land and water trail running along Michigan's lower eastern coast.  

Feature Story Haraz Coffee opened in April 2021.

Coffee is ‘a culture that unites people’: Haraz Coffee opens in Dearborn

“In Yemen, coffee was discovered there. It’s important to me that we want to revive that culture and history of the original Arabica coffee,” says Hamzah Nasser. “We want to support the farmers back in Yemen and back in Haraz, where they have the best coffee.”

Development News St. Mary's Macedonian Church members were all smiles as they graced the stage at the Sterling Heights Cultural Exchange in 2020.

Application window open for Cultural Exchange in Sterling Heights

“The evening is really a great chance for people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds to celebrate their similarities more than their differences,” says Carmen Williams.

Development News Social distancing in effect at the Farmington Farmers Market

Farmington farmers market ready to open 2021 season after a record-breaking 2020

“I think people are ready to experience the sights, sounds, and local color of Saturday life in a Michigan small town,” Walt Gajewski says. “The market provides an aspect of community life that people really want to get back to.”

Feature Story Courtesy photo

Southfield's Drifter Vans brings #vanlife spirit to Metro Detroit

With more than 9.7 million posts on Instagram, the #vanlife hashtag shows the popularity of converting cargo vehicles into campers was on the rise even before COVID-19. 

Feature Story Stephen Merriweather (left) and Sharnita Johnson . Photo by Nick hagen.

For this Detroit developer, building generational wealth fuels her dreams

For Sharnita Johnson and her brother Stephen Merriweather, renovating the property their father purchased in Detroit's Hope Village neighborhood is a mission that honors not only his legacy but provides a future for their family’s next generation.   

Feature Story A large contingents of canvasback duck make themselves at home on Lake St. Clair.

Already a hotspot for birdwatching, Macomb County plans to fly further with a new birding trail

Macomb County is a great place to observe a startling variety of birds. And a joint project with St. Clair County promises to make birdwatching even easier there.

Development News Rendering of proposed downtown Wixom trail segment.

The Michigan Air Line Trail is open to the public and awaiting approval for more trail construction

This Oakland County rail trail is getting some new enhancements. And a new section of greenway could be in the works too.

Development News Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski says additional police officers and a social worker position proposed in the city's latest budget will "bolster community policing efforts".

Sterling Heights' budget proposes first full-time social worker, 7 additional police officers

The latest $230 million budget proposal for Sterling Heights includes the city's first full-time social worker, and the addition of seven police officers. 

Development News There are more than 100 nonprofits in the SHARE Detroit directory; the organization hopes to reach more than 250 by summer.

New online platform makes volunteering and donating to metro Detroit nonprofits easier

“Local nonprofit organizations depend on donations of time and money to operate and, yet, it’s especially challenging for donors and volunteers to connect with causes they care about and identify how to contribute to nonprofit organizations right in their own neighborhoods. SHARE Detroit changes all that,” says Janette Phillips, founding executive director of SHARE Detroit.

Development News Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor joined a live Zoom session to share a "day in his life" with teen residents.

Sterling Heights receives Tree City USA award, honors Arbor Day

Sterling Heights recently earned a Tree City USA Award for its celebration of Arbor Day and commitment to effective community forestry.

 
Nonprofit leaders across southeast Michigan are contributing their thoughts via journal entries on how COVID-19 is affecting their organization. 
This series is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Co.ACT. Click here to read the journal entries.