Featured Stories

One person's trash is another's art project: 25 years of Arts & Scraps

Clare Pfeifer Tuesday, October 07, 2014

For 25 years, Arts & Scraps has been helping kids in Detroit transform tons of donated materials into art.

Arts, Building Communities, Detroit, Volunteerism

Detroit kids become environmental citizens through place-based learning

Amy Kuras Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Kids at Neinas Elementary in Southwest Detroit are shaping the future of their community well before they're old enough to vote thanks to place-based educational opportunities in their school.

Building Communities, Detroit, Education and training, Great Lakes Stewardship

The Culture of Co-Working: A Model D Speaker Series event

Model D Staff Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Model D and Southeast Michigan Startup will host a panel discussion about the emerging culture of Detroit's co-working spaces on October 22, 2014.

Building Communities, Detroit, Entrepreneurs, Speaker Series

Downtown Detroit

List Youth brigade from Hamtramck Free School working on posters

There's a thin line between art and life at the Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival

Walter Wasacz Tuesday, October 07, 2014

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the fifth annual Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival pops up in galleries, storefronts, and lots across the 2.1-square-mile city and adjacent Detroit neighborhoods.

Arts, Building Communities, Detroit, Lifestyle, Performing Arts, Placemaking, Sense of Place

Hamtramck

Winners of 2014 Knight Arts Challenge revealed

Walter Wasacz Monday, October 06, 2014

In its second year, the Knight Arts Challenge awards 58 winners a total of $2.48 million for their ideas for moving Detroit forward through the arts.

Arts, Building Communities, Detroit, Fundraising, Performing Arts

A group of local craft beer enthusiasts are brewing with Detroit-grown hops

David Sands Thursday, October 02, 2014

Detroit's Black Bottom Brew Club makes beer according to a centuries-old German purity standard using hops grown right here in the city.

Building Communities, Detroit, Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Place-based education motivates students by connecting learning to community

Nina Ignaczak Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Michigan schools have an engagement crisis, but place-based education is one way of turning that around by making learning relevant to communities.

Great Lakes Stewardship, Public Policy

A conversation with Tom Brennan, Detroit's green building guru

Aaron Mondry Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Last week, we explored Detroit's emerging green building culture. Here's an in-depth transcript of our conversation with Tom Brennan, co-founder of the Green Garage and a leader in Detroit's green building scene.

Architecture, Detroit, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green, Redevelopment, Sustainability, Urban Leadership

Midtown

A brief introduction to Detroit's civic tech ecosystem

Kat Hartman Tuesday, September 30, 2014

As Detroit finally enters the 21st century, here are our thoughts on how Detroit’s emerging tech ecosystem can produce more and better civic- and community- minded projects.

Building Communities, Detroit, Public Policy, Social innovation, Transformational change

Your guide to fall colors in the city

Matthew Lewis Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Michigan is a superb place to watch the leaves change colors with the seasons -- that's a given. But you don't have to leave Detroit to experience the beauty of a Michigan autumn.

Detroit, Lifestyle, Sense of Place, Tours

Thirteen doable ideas for cities from first ever Urban Innovation Exchange

Walter Wasacz Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Last week, a group of innovators behind small scale, place-based projects around the country convened in Detroit and talked about what works in their cities.

Arts, Building Communities, Detroit, Entrepreneurs, Placemaking, Redevelopment, Speaker Series, Transformational change, Urban Leadership

The Whole Foods effect: How local food businesses are benefiting from a national grocery chain

Aaron Mondry Tuesday, September 23, 2014

A little more than a year after high-end national grocery chain Whole Foods landed in Detroit, local food companies are reaping the benefits.

Detroit, Entrepreneurs, Food and Drink, Food Economy, Job Creation, Shop Local, Small Business

Midtown

A green building culture is emerging in Detroit

Aaron Mondry Tuesday, September 23, 2014

What do a small business incubator, a loft building, a homeless shelter, and a municipal building all have in common? They're all saving energy and money in Detroit thanks to green practices.

Architecture, Blue/Green Infrastructure, Detroit, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green, Redevelopment, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Transformational change

A peek inside Beth Olem, the cemetery that was swallowed by a GM plant

Alissa Shelton, Amy Elliott Bragg, Matthew Lewis Tuesday, September 23, 2014

One of Michigan's oldest Jewish cemeteries is hidden on the grounds of GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant. It's only open six hours every year, so lucky for you, we took some pictures.

Advanced Manufacturing, Detroit, Sense of Place

Hamtramck

Detroit techno saved Berliners from boredom. Now it's time we take a few lessons from Berlin.

Walter Wasacz Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Walter Wasacz recently traveled to Berlin, where many hold Detroit and its music in high esteem. He brought back these reflections on what we can learn from our friends across the pond.

Arts, Building Communities, Detroit, Entrepreneurs, Lifestyle, Move to Detroit, Music, Performing Arts, Placemaking, Sense of Place, Transformational change