The Detroit People’s Food Co-op is seeking more residents to buy into the neighborhood grocery store.

The co-op is running out of money. They launched a campaign looking for 500 new owners and are asking customers to spend $10 when they come in.

The co-op opened in 2024 to fill a gap. The city had almost no Black owned grocery stores. The goal was for Detroiters to own their food system, not just to shop within it.

However, the people who this store was built for may not be able to afford it. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 34% of Detroiters liven in poverty. The co-op says it is bringing in close to $3 million a year. Before it opened, It projected about $80,000 a week— which is more than $4 million.  

Additional Headlines for Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026

Mayor Mary Sheffield makes effort to ensure a full Count Day

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is partnering with school districts to make sure students are in their seats for Count Day. The city has launched a series of radio, newspaper, and social media ads. 

Fall count day is used to measure the in-school attendance of students—that number dictates how much money the school district receives from the state.  

Sheffield says she wants families, parents and students in the city to understand the importance of showing up for Count Day.  

“We oftentimes talk about schools being underfunded or Detroit kids not getting the quality education that they deserve. One way that we can control that is by making sure our kids are in school, that they’re accounted for, and that we get the funding that is allocated to us for books, for teachers, for facility improvements.”

This year’s Count Day is on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  

First of its kind Jim Crow museum to open at Ferris State University

Ferris State University will now feature more than 30,000 artifacts from the Jim Crow era in its new museum space.  

David Pilgrim founded the museum. He says the new building expands what can be taught about that period in American history.  

“In our old space, we did have room to show how African Americans pushed back against oppression with activism, with achievements and quite frankly, with just living everyday lives of dignity.”

The new building also includes a reading room, seminar space, and recording studio for visitors who want to share their own Jim Crow stories and how it affects them.  

Intergenerational Wisdom Exchange Program (WiSE) bridges generational divide at Wayne State Univeristy

A new 10-week program is pairing older Black adults from Detroit with Wayne State University students to improve social connection and digital literacy. 

Dr. Rodlescia Sneed, WiSE’s program director and an assistant professor in Wayne State’s Institute of Gerontology and Department of Psychology, says social connections are important for health and well-being. Many need technology to maintain a social connection. 

“It was our goal to increase social connection and reduce loneliness among older adults, while also improving their technology skills, so that we could make improvements that impact their health and well-being.”

Sneed says the program focuses on developing one-on-one connections to reduce barriers for older adults to learn digital literacy. 

The first half of the program is focusing on sharing life stories of Detroiters. The second half of the program is learning digital literacy. 

For more information on the program, you can contact Sneed at sneedrod@wayne.edu.

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Detroit’s Inspector General is opening an investigation into Police Chief Todd Bettison over his personal intervention in a case involving Mayor Mary Sheffield. 

In July, activist Jahdante Smith posted photos of Mayor Sheffield and an ex-boyfriend on social media. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison called Smith on Aug. 5 to request he take the photos down. He refused. 

Two weeks later, Smith was approached by officers on the street and handcuffed allegedly for unrelated reasons. He was released, but the officers obtained a warrant for alleged unrelated charges to seize his phone. Now, the Detroit Free Press reports that the city’s Inspector General is looking into Bettison’s actions. The inspector general handles public corruption cases. 

Additional headlines for Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026

Citizen Detroit DPSCD Meet Your Candidates

The group Citizen Detroit is hosting a Meet Your Candidates events on Oct. 1. Candidates for the Detroit Public School Community District School Board will participate in a speed-dating dinner and dialogue event. There are more than 30 candidates and only 5 open seats for the board.

The event will take place at IBEW Local 58 on 1358 Abbot Street in Detroit from 5-8:30 p.m. To RSVP, search “Citizen Detroit DPSCD Meet Your Candidates” on Eventbrite. Admission is free, but registration is required. RSVP by Sept. 28.

Citizen Detroit is also posting candidate interviews on their YouTube Channel and on citizendetroit.org. Videos will go live on Friday. 

Harris visits Michigan, supporting El-Sayed

Former Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Michigan next week to campaign with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Harris endorsed El-Sayed after his primary win in August, but this will be her first public appearance with him.

During her visit Tuesday, they’ll attend a roundtable on Black maternal health.

During the primary campaign, El-Sayed faced criticism for urging Democrats to vote uncommitted in Michigan’s presidential primary in 2024. He eventually endorsed Harris for president. 

Whistle kit crafting

The nonprofits Rising Voices and Detroit Asian Collective are hosting the Warning Whistle Kit Making Night. Participants will assemble multilingual warning whistle kits while learning how to protect residents rights and how to document interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The event will be held tonight from 6 – 7 p.m. Address will be given upon registration. 

Gas prices

Gasoline prices have risen more than 70 cents a gallon in the last 10 days. AAA says Michigan drivers are paying an average of $4.75 cents a gallon for regular unleaded this morning. It was $4.02 on Sept. 7.and $4.54 a gallon yesterday.

The average price of diesel fuel statewide is 20 cents higher than it was yesterday, rising to a record of $6.54 cents a gallon. 

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The City of Detroit will spend more than $2 million to expand after-school programs. The funding will allow the nonprofit Get On and Learn or GOAL Line to add programs at four recreation centers and three library branches for all public, charter, and home school students in the city.  

Sheffield says the expansion brings the city one step closer to her goal to have an after-school program within a 2 mile radius of every school in the city.  “So with the support of the city, the state, philanthropic funds, we’re going to keep fighting every day to ensure that every child in this city and every zip code has access to after-school programming. “

The program provides sports, tutoring, and more, plus transportation to participating locations.  

Additional headlines for Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026

Rabbis critique Michigan Democrats, El-Sayed’s stance on Israel

Some liberal rabbis are calling on Michigan Democrats and the party’s U.S. Senate nominee to be more welcoming to Jews. 

Non-negotiable Michigan is asking Abdul El-Sayed and state party leaders to be more forceful about supporting Jewish safety, self-determination and sovereignty in Israel. 

Southfield Rabbi Aaron Starr says he’s concerned about how often Israel is criticized compared to other nations. “We can’t help but hear, when the only Jewish state in the entire world, a tiny fraction, a tiny sliver of the Middle East, let alone the whole population, when it is singled out, as opposed to all the bad actors in this world, we can’t help but hear antisemitism.”

El-Sayed has been working to make amends with Jewish Democrats who voted against him during the primary—often saying he cares about Jewish safety like that of his own daughter 

His Republican opponent, former Congressman Mike Rogers, has been courting support from Jewish voters.

Wayne State receives NIH grant to study air pollution

The National Institutes of Health awards almost $4 million to two Wayne State University researchers. Doctors Marianna Sadagurski and J. Richard Pilsner will use the money to study the impact air pollution in Detroit has on aging and cognitive health. 

Sadagurski’s preliminary research shows exposure to a mix of chemicals in the air impairs cognitive function and causes chronic inflammation. 

Emergency preparedness

Detroit residents can learn basic medical response, disaster preparedness and other critical emergency skills at a training the city is hosting next week. The Community Emergency Response Team Volunteer Training runs from September 17-19 and 26. The free training includes training on using defibrillators, caring for injuries like wounds and fractures, and other life saving skills.

Class times vary by day. Participants must complete all four sessions to receive certification. They take place at Detroit Emergency Management and Homeland Security at 13331 Lyndon. Register at detroitmi.gov/emhs or call 313-596-1742.

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A new cell phone policy in schools takes affect this year.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti in a recent letter sent to parents this week announced cell phone use is not allowed from the entry bell to the dismissal bell. Individual schools will communicate their policy for phones, whether it is to collect and return devices daily or instruct students to turn them off and put them away. The letter says parents who want to reach out to their children during the day should call the school directly.  

Governor Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year signed a law banning the use of cell phones during instructional time. The law addresses research that shows phones are the biggest sources of distraction in classrooms and when student put their phones down, their grades improve. 

There are also concerns about the effects of constant phone use on students’ attention spans, mental health, and social relationships. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026

Survey finds kids eat unhealthy breakfasts 

A survey by the University of Michigan’s C.S Mott Children’s Hospital finds most kids eat breakfast before school. But as it may not be a nutritious meal. The hospital says a healthy breakfast consists of a lean protein, high fiber content and a healthy source of fat.  

Mott’s Poll Co-Director and pediatrician Susan Woolford says parents report three top barriers to healthy eating they face daily.  

“First of all, 44% said that their child is a picky eater, and then just over a third mentioned that their child is a little bit grumpy or slow in the morning, and then about a third said that time was a barrier.” 

Woolford suggests preparing breakfast ahead of time to ensure the meal is nutritious and there is time to eat it.  

She also suggests parents with picky eaters let the children help choose healthy options for their meal.  

Mayor Sheffield announces plan to bring rentable housing into compliance

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield wants to bring thousands more rental units up to code. The goal is to increase the compliance rate for single- and double-family units from 14% to 25% within a year.

Most of Detroit’s rental properties are 1 or 2 family units. Sheffield says the city will help small-scale landlords get their compliance certificates.

Six months ago, the mayor launched an effort to bring 65 senior apartment buildings up to code by now. The city has surpassed that goal, issuing 88 compliance certificates.

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The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has appointed 25-year-old youth advocate Jeremiah Steen to serve on the board for the rest of the year. 

Steen is filling the vacancy for Board Member Dr. Iris Taylor, who died in July at the age of 74. 

Taylor served in several roles, most recently as the Board Treasurer and former president. 

Steen is the founder of the Steen Foundation, a youth-oriented social group that promotes inquisitive thinking, helping teens advance community through creativity. He was formerly a member of the Skillman Foundation’s inaugural President’s Youth Council. He was the first youth board member. 

School Board President LaTrice McClendon says the board is proud to welcome Steen who will serve until Dec.31.

Additional headlines for Monday, Aug. 24, 2026

Arab American Chamber of Commerce fires executive director

The American Arab Chamber of Commerce has fired its Executive Director Bilal Hammoud on allegations of missing funds according to a statement released Friday. The chamber says it has retained an attorney to investigate.  

The Detroit News reports the investigation is due to $1 million in missing funds. Hammoud also served as the CEO of Tejara, a nonprofit business incubator powered by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. 

This comes after the previous executive director Fay Beydoun allegedly diverted a $20 million grant by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation intended for the chamber to Global International Link, another company she created. She is now facing 16 felony charges. 

Bilal Hammoud has not yet publicly commented on the incident. 

MDHHS changes baby formula distributed by WIC

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is changing infant formula distributed by the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Beginning Nov. 1, Michigan will begin carrying Mead Johnson Enfamil products. WIC is ending its contract with Abbott Similac products.

WIC provides supplemental nutrition for pregnant and postpartum women. About 187,000 people participate in WIC each month. 

For more information about baby formula changes, visit michigan.gov/wic.  

Annual block party  

The Detroit Health Department is hosting its fifth annual Block Party.  The event will feature free food and beverages, health screenings and back-to-school vaccinations. There will also be a safe space walk-n-rally at 11 a.m.

The event takes place Sept. 12 from noon to 4 p.m. on 100 Mack Ave., between John R and Mack and Erskine Streets. 

Mural in Eastern Market tells story of healthcare in the U.S.

A new mural at the Eastern Market by artist Oshun Williams depicts the rising cost of healthcare. It’s part of the “One Nation, Overcharged” campaign, a national grassroots movement seeking a healthcare system which puts people over profits. The mural was unveiled over the weekend on Saturday.  

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