At 53, Tack-Yong Kim could almost pass for one of the students or 30-something regulars who filter in and out of the busy lunchtime crowd at Slows Bar BQ on Michigan Avenue. Soft spoken and gentle in demeanor, Kim’s appearance is still boyish and youthful, except for the dark blazer and glasses that give him […]
Rebecca “Bucky” Willis has a vision for Lindale Gardens, the neighborhood where she was born and her parents operated a mission out of their home, hosting Bible studies and feeding breakfast to children. For Willis, it’s in her blood to love her neighbors – and her neighborhood. Together, they are building a community that shows […]
Around Brightmoor, they called him “J Bone.” Jason Williams, the friendly, playful youngest son of long-time Detroit neighborhood activist Ora Williams, was known for his love of this community, the only one he ever called home. Since his shocking, accidental death last year at age 34, J Bone’s mother and several peers he considered family […]
New navigators emerge daily amidst explosive development opportunities that now characterize Detroit. But, there are few more formidable than Thomas Group Consulting Principals Buzz and Terence Thomas. Respected by corporate and community stakeholders alike, these native Detroiters are garnering increased recognition for their capacity to chart the course of community-minded development efforts throughout Detroit. With […]
Detroit might be the ultimate Rorschach test. Everyone sees something a little different, depending on his or her angle. When Aaron Foley looks at Detroit, he sees a city that “black history defined.” A thirtysomething writer living in Detroit, Foley is a Michigan State University graduate who has contributed to such publications as Jalopnik Detroit, […]
First, Nadir Ali found a house of his own in Detroit. Then he started a decal business to share his love of the city. And then he met the woman of his dreams to share all of the above. Now he’s surging ahead with marketing. Ali, 31, is a man of much determination. The child […]
The woman on the phone was apologizing to me. “We’ve always been part of Neighborhoods Day but folks are scared because all of the publicity over these block party shootings,” she told me. “They voted not to have a block party this year. I feel really bad about it but I can’t change their minds.” […]
A head of lettuce is a high-cost, low- value commodity. From the moment it’s planted, it requires intensive care, says Gary Wozniak, president and CEO of RecoveryPark. The company grows specialty produce and works to provide sustainable jobs for those facing employment barriers because of addiction or imprisonment. “If there were a plant hospital, it […]
When Ethan Dunn became president of the newly established Woodward Village neighborhood this month, he brought with him a lifetime of memories and a hope for a reality television series to bring national attention to his turf. “This is a neighborhood with a whole lot of charm and beauty,” says Dunn, 34, a partner with […]