Nearly 2 million Muslims will make the greater pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, next week.

Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk is President of the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA). He says this year, Hajj is different due to the ongoing war between Iran, the United States and Israel. 

“Many of our congregations are asking, ‘is it safe to go this year?’ It is very safe,” he says.

Elturk says the U.S. bases are far away from the holy cites in Mecca and Medina. 

“Saudi Arabia really does a great job in terms of safety and security. I’ve been going there for a dozen years, and I see it with my own eyes to make sure that the pilgrims are safe and secure,” he shares.

He says the systems have also changed from people booking Hajj travel through an agency to using the Nusuk app, which can be confusing for users.

“Then they offer you the packages. They ask me if I’m going or taking a group. I have not taken a group in the last few years since they launched the Nusuk… ” It’s different,” he reflects.

He says about a half dozen people are going to Hajj from his congregation this year, but he expects that more people are going from nearby suburbs of Detroit.

Elturk says, although he’s not going to Hajj this year, he provides spiritual guidance for his congregants if asked.

“I have had throughout the years, since some from our community who have gone there call me on the phone, say ‘we just finished this. I don’t know what should I do next, or I did this, is this correct?’ And I try to guide them over the phone sometimes at 3 o’clock in the morning because of the time differences,” he explains.

Hajj takes place during the eighth through 13th of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, following a lunar calendar. Pilgrims do specific tasks while they are in Hajj, what Elturk describes as an opportunity for repentance.

“Hajj is all about repentance, and the Prophet said, peace be upon him, ‘whoever performs Hajj, his or her pilgrimage is accepted, returns as the day he or she was born—in other words, sinless,'” he shares.

Pilgrims will perform Hajj from May 25-30.

About 2 million Muslims will perform Hajj, the greater pilgrimage in Saudia Arabia this month. But the U.S. Embassy of Saudia Arabia is asking pilgrims to reconsider their trip due to the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.

Juber Ahmed, a pharmacist, and his mom Shamima Akther live in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

In January, Ahmed found out he and his mom’s applications to perform Hajj were accepted after months of waiting. He dropped to his knees and performed a prayer of gratitude.

“Honestly, that feeling I still can’t find the words to express. I was in tears, did sajdah as-sukr, and then I hugged my mom, and both of us just were in tears,” he expresses.

Akter is 63 years old. She’s looking forward to going this year while she’s still physically able to make the rigorous journey.

“Alhamdulillah, I’ve been waiting for a long time to go to Hajj with my oldest son. It’s Allah’s will,” she exclaims. 

It’s a dream she’s had for more than 30 years, since her kids were little.

Ahmed and Akther are among a few thousand pilgrims from the United States who will perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Wahid Elfeky is a part of the Aleman Groups USA travel agency in New York, which has been around for 30 years. He says that until 2019, as many as 16,000 people from the United States would make the Hajj each year.

But Saudi Arabia has instituted quotas to prevent overcrowding. He says now the number is closer to 5,000 people. 

Embassy warns travelers, but pilgrimage continues

In April, the U.S. Embassy of Saudi Arabia issued an alert, asking American pilgrims to reconsider going to Hajj due to the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.

Ahmed sat his mom down and asked her if she wanted to postpone the trip. Akther says she feels a strong conviction to go this year. 

“I told my son, ‘I will go alone. Don’t go, you have two kids.’ My son said, ‘what are you saying, I am going to take you,'” she shares. 

Ahmed says he is still going.

“I know it’s a risk, but I also know that this chance may not come back around,” he says.

Performing the pilgrimage at least once is mandatory for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the costs of travel.

Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk is the co-chair of the Imams Council of Michigan. He says several people have asked him whether they should still go. He assures them it’s safe and encourages them to go, noting the U.S. military installations in Saudi Arabia are far from the holy sites.

“Definitely there’s nothing going on there in terms of war or missiles or anything of that sort,” he shares.

Faith over fear

In Washington D.C., Sana Imam is preparing to make the hajj later this month. The health policy and communications professional is going with her husband.

“I’m still planning to go because the level of spiritual transformation that is possible to experience at Hajj might not be possible anywhere else for a lot of Muslims,” she explains.

For most Muslims, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Imam says she’s focusing her attention on preparing for the trip.

“I’ve been doing like, 30 minutes on the Stairmaster machine every time I go to the gym, just because Hajj involves miles on foot every day. Spiritually, I’ve been trying to slow down my prayers instead of rushing through them,” she says.

Although she’s concerned about the ongoing war, Imam says she’s leaning on her faith to get through this time of uncertainty.

Hajj is performed between the eighth and the 13th of the Islamic month Dhu al-Hijjah—that’s May 25- May 30. For many American Muslims, the opportunity to go to Hajj outweighs their fear of not going to perform one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam.

The Bengali Mental Health Movement launched online as an anonymous online platform in 2018 to address mental health in Bengali and Bangladeshi communities.

Michigan is home to a significantly large population of Bangladeshis.

Tazin Banu and Riya Ahmed work with the New York based nonprofit to expand mental health conversations in communities that struggle with stigma and cultural sensitivities.

Banu is the founder, and Ahmed is the co-founder of BMHM.

“When we started off, we were, you know, just a group of volunteers doing grassroots work, and then we realized we needed more sustainable infrastructure.”

The group created transliterated and translated documents during the pandemic. 

“We want to take these mental health concepts and information and make it again accessible to our community,” Banu says.

One of their programs is Alaap, a therapeutic peer-led group, to create safe spaces to have discussions about mental health. 

“We wanted to give individuals a safe space where they felt comfortable to at least communicate some parts of their journey,” Ahmed says.

Alaap means conversations, referring to the need for more conversations around mental health.

The nonprofit has a wide reach, including a directory which has providers from all across the world. 

“It was great to see that there are communities and professionals all over the place that, like, again, just like wanted to be a part of part of BMHM in some way,” Banu shares.

Ahmed says it’s a validating experience to be a part of this large network.

“When you do work like mental health, and in a community that might not be so encouraging to have these conversations or be on in the supporting field, it’s very validating when you see the encouragement from all over. Right, it’s really nice to see how far the reach is, and how much it might be helping individuals that might have not seen this in their own community,” Ahmed says.

The group hopes to expand services, resources and put out a community needs assessment. 

They also hope to launch a self-care initiative called Joton: Aided and Embodied Self-Care Workshops soon. It’s a monthly free workshop to remove barriers to self care.

Ahmed says they also hope to expand language services to include younger and older generations.

“Language would help, when it comes to older generation, so that is the expansion. That would be wonderful to have that in Bangla,” she says.

Hamtramck is hosting an Eid gathering next weekend for Eid Al-Adha. There will be rides, food and shopping vendors. Organized by community leaders. The festival will take place from May 28-31 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Keyworth Stadium.  

Additional headlines for Monday, May 18

Skilled trades meeting

The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force meeting. The meeting is for those who are interested in building in Detroit. People can also learn more about how to apply for tuition free apprenticeship programs. The meeting will be held on May 20 from 4-6 p.m. at the Farwell Recreation Center. That’s located at 2711 Outer Drive E, Detroit, MI 48234.  

D’Artillery fashion show 

The Hamtramck based studio D’Artillery is hosting a fashion show. The Behind the Seams showcase is a celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month. The women-only event features clothes and accessories made by women in the sewing training program.

The fashion showcase will be Saturday June 13 from 5-8 p.m. at 9528 Joseph Campau, in Hamtramck. 

Dearborn spring cleaning 

The City of Dearborn is launching its Spring Sweep. This is a joint effort by the city and residents to clean their properties. The city will be doing inspections on tall grass and overgrowth, trash and unauthorized storage or placement of items on lawns. Residents are asked to clean their properties from leaf accumulation or debris.

The city says violations are not tickets, but residents must inform the city when corrections have been made. The city’s code enforcement is refining its process. For more information visit Dearborn.gov/Property. 

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Sherry Miller is a mental health clinician with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. She has a dual role in Highland Park as part of the co-response team and the mobile clinic.

“We go out into the community, to schools, to churches, events, wherever we are invited to bring mental health awareness to kind of decrease the stigma. We can do brief therapy right there on the spot, assess individuals’ mood… and get them connected with services,” she says.

In her role with co-response, she works with the police department as a mental health counselor who aids in mental health emergencies.

“So if there’s a mental health call… they’ll dispatch me through the radio. Either I’ll meet them there, [or] I’ll follow them there and kind of assess the situation and what’s going on with that individual,” she explains.

She says Highland Park residents were instrumental in getting a partnership going between DWIHN and crisis intervention. 

Miller says since her start in late December, there have been about 70 mental health phone calls. In her role, Miller assesses the situation and tries to de-escalate. 

She says there are several police officers within the Highland Park Police Department who are also trained to respond to mental health calls. 

“It may go a different route, versus somebody being talked to by somebody that’s trained to de-escalate, to calm them down… I think that makes a difference,” she shares.

Miller says she attends city meetings to connect with community members to understand their needs, bring them resources and show them how to sign up for services.

Autism Awareness comes to Highland Park

Last month, Sherry Miller organized the city’s first Autism Awareness & Acceptance event.

Miller says she speaks with parents who are concerned about getting help for their kids. They struggle with things like behavioral issues, receiving special education services at school and understanding autism.

Miller says more needs to be done to support parents. Having more advocacy events could help parents get access to testing and find new ways to improve the lives of their children, she says.

The event featured an advocacy walk, resource vendors, and presentations. There were also giveaways, music and workshops. Miller noted the importance of the event for connecting with parents and “talking to the educators that kind of know what to do, what to look for.”

Miller has also created a resource book for residents.

While the city of Highland Park may be known as the birthplace of the automotive assembly line, it’s also home to one of the first mosques built from the ground up in the U.S.

Imams Hussein Karoub and Khalil Bazzi led the construction of Highland Park’s Moslem Mosque. They selected a location near the Ford assembly line plant in Highland Park and opened the mosque in 1921.

The mechanical contractor John E Green Company now owns the building.

Sally Howell is a professor of history at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. She says Syrian immigrants, “mostly from what is today, Lebanon,” built the mosque.

She says immigrants were attracted to the Ford plant’s wages of $5 per day, which was around twice the average industrial wage at the time. 

She says Arab Americans had organizations and political associations leading up to mosque opening. Howell says people from the Middle East, South Asia, and Eastern Europe worshipped there. It only stayed open for about a year.

“Part of the congregation, by 1921 had already started moving to Dearborn, because Henry Ford was already building and starting to open the Ford Rouge assembly,” she says.

However, Highland Park had a growing African American Muslim population.

Imam Hamidullah Daniel Mujahid was born in Highland Park in 1953.

He says many Muslims practiced their faith in private during the 1950s and 1960s. About 50 Muslim families—people from the Middle Eastern, followers of the Ahmadiyya movement from South Asia, and people from the Nation of Islam—lived in the city.

“At this given point in time, the only outward practicing group was the group that was called the Nation of Islam, that was the Black African American community,” he says.

Mujahid says people wanted to fit in with the majority of the Christian population. They also didn’t want to get targeted.

Researcher Akil Fahd says another predominantly African American mosque, Masjid As-Salaam, opened around 1971. It was an incubator for other mosques.

“A lot of the other communities that were Sunni Muslim, that did not come out of the Nation of Islam, they kind of spread out from Masjid As-Salam,” he shares.

A lasting community

Masjidun-Nur opened in 1977 on Pilgrim Street. It has an extension building, the Markaz Al-Tabligh, on Hamilton Avenue for larger gatherings and special occasions such as Eid prayers.

Fahd says it’s part of the Tablighi community, a global Islamic missionary movement focused on spiritual renewal, prayer and following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Fatimah Rashad is a labor and delivery nurse and mom of four. Her parents moved from New Jersey to Highland Park in 1991.

“My father actually wanted to move here because it’s a bigger Muslim community, and they heard about the Islamic schools,” she says.

Rashad says the community was warm and welcoming. About 20 families lived there.

Khalil MuMinun is an assistant imam at Masjid Wali Muhammad. He says the Muslim community in Highland Park offered an alternative lifestyle.

“They played a significant role in you know keeping the drug epidemic from taking over the entire neighborhood by creating a space where the standard was virtue and having good manners with your neighbors,” he explains.

While today just a few Muslim families remain in Highland Park, Muslim communities played a vital role in developing the city since the early 1900s.  

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) is offering scholarships to high school seniors. The third annual DWIHN Mental Health Youth Ambassador Scholarship is for students in Wayne County who show resilience and a commitment toward their future higher education goals.

Five scholarships will be awarded to support students who have overcome personal or family challenges. Students must live in Wayne County, graduate in 2026 and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students must also demonstrate resilience or perseverance and plan to pursue higher education in college, trade school or through continuing education credits. The money can be used toward tuition, books or transportation.  

Students have until May 29 to apply. For more information visit www.dwihn.org or email WCYouthUnited@dwihn.org. 

Additional headlines for Monday, May 11, 2026

Hamtramck Community and Economic Development summer internship

The City of Hamtramck is looking for summer interns to assist the Summer Youth Employment program. The paid internships are for youth 14-24 years old to take part in the city’s Community and Economic Development team.

Students will get hands on experience in public service, event planning and community engagement. They will also learn more about local government and small businesses. Internships begin in June and end by September. Applications are due by May 29.

To apply visit hamtramckcity.gov/employment-opportunities. Contact ced@hamtramckcity.gov for more information.  

May is Foster Care Month

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently hosted a roundtable for Foster Care Month. The event’s goal was to raise awareness around support services available for foster care families. The state has over 10,000 kids in foster care.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel says “Every child deserves to feel safe and supported.” The health department works with local agencies, courts and community partners to provide safe environments for kids. However there is also an emphasis on uniting families whenever possible.

Programs like the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative, Transitional Placement Program, Community Reintegration Homes and the Foster Care Navigator Program hope to help children and families.

The health department says they are also looking for more foster care parents. To learn more, visit michigan.gov/hopeforahome.  

Michigan film trivia night

The Outlier Collective is hosting a trivia night next week. Outlier Media is teaming up with the Senate Theater to bring people a special Michigan film-themed trivia night. Outlier Media’s Briana Rice and BridgeDetroit’s Bryce Huffman will be hosting. They will ask questions about Michigan’s film history.

The event takes place May 19 from 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person. Trivia night will be hosted at the Senate Theatre in Detroit. Visit outliermedia.org/our-events/ to get tickets.  

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Dearborn Public Schools has a new superintendent. After several rounds of interviews, the school board chose Mike Esseily to lead the district on Monday. 

Esseily served as the Executive Director of Special Populations, overlooking special education, English language programs and mental health programs in the district. He previously worked as the Director of Special Education. He was also a special education teacher and served as an assistant principal.  

Dearborn Public Schools has 20,000 students and 2,700 staff according to the school district’s website.  

The search began after former superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko was hired as the State Superintendent. Mike Esseily is the first Arab American Muslim superintendent in the district. If he signs the contract, his new role begins on July 1, 2026.  

Additional headlines for Thursday, May 7, 2026

Detroit Healthy Homes resource fair

The City of Detroit is hosting a Healthy Homes resource fair. The resource and foreclosure prevention event will also offer HOPE Application Assistance, Payment Plans and a chance to talk with staff from the Department of Water and Sewerage, the Wayne County Treasurer’s office with Eric Sabree, the Property Assessment Board of Review, and the Department of Neighborhoods.

The event takes place on Saturday at the Islamic Center of Detroit from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. That’s 14350 Tireman Ave., Detroit, MI. Lyft services will also be provided if needed. Call 866-313-2520 to schedule a ride.  

Michigan aging poll

The Michigan Poll on Aging finds that many Michigan residents 50 and up find the state a favorable place to live as they age. The latest survey says 82% of older adults in Michigan say that it’s an “excellent, very good or a good place to live as they age.” However, half of older adults say cost of living, housing and transportation are barriers.

The survey also finds that despite opportunities, there are several challenges to create quality life for older adults. About 84% of Michigan residents say they believe older adults receive quality healthcare. Older adults who live in Southeast Michigan say its easy to find healthcare.  

Detroit Compost Week

A Detroit-based coalition is sharing the results of a 4-month pilot study on food waste solutions. That’s ahead of Compost Awareness Week, beginning May 8.

The Detroit Community Composting Collective Project (DCCCP) is a partnership between several organizations to bring residents, farmers and organizers together to tackle food waste. The pilot was launched last April to train 100 Detroiters in community composting. The coalition partnered with six local farms.  

The coalition says Detroit throws away 251 million pounds of food waste each year. The coalition’s work hopes to reduce food waste in landfills.  

An event will be held at the Detroit Food Commons Friday, May 8 from 6-9 p.m. to share the results from the pilot program and discuss ways for community-led solutions.  

Mosquito season awareness

Michigan’s health department is encouraging people to be aware of mosquitoes and ticks. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) says people should take precautions to protect themselves and pets. The agencies suggest that people remove standing water in pools, trim tall grass and keep lawns mowed to reduce mosquito and tick habitats. 

They also recommend stacking firewood neatly and in dry areas. 

People can also use repellent on exposed skin to protect themselves against mosquito bites, keep pesticides away from children and pets and bathe after spending time outdoors to find any ticks. Officials also advise people to wash their clothes with hot water to kill ticks. For more information visit Michigan.gov.  

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This past weekend, Spirit Airlines shut down and ceased all operations after decades in business.

When Spirit travelers entered the Evans Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, or DTW, for their scheduled flights, they were met with an operational update from the airline. Screens on ticket and check-in kiosks read:

“We regret to inform you that Spirit Airlines has ceased global operations. All Spirit flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.”

The airline carried more than 1.7 million passengers in 2025 alone. The full impact of the Spirit Airlines shutdown is not yet clear.

Additional headlines for May 4, 2026

Detroit pitch competition

6 Mile Soup is hosting a pitch competition for business owners.

The Community Choice competition takes place this evening and features businesses on West McNichols Road.

Attendees will get free samples from restaurants and cast their votes for their favorite businesses. Three businesses will win cash prizes: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.

The event takes place today, May 4, at Sips on Six, located at 7512 W. McNichols Road in Detroit. Doors open at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced at 8 p.m. The event is free.

Detroit Friendship House gardening event

The Hamtramck-based food pantry Detroit Friendship House is hosting a gardening event.

It is part of an effort to upcycle and recycle goods to create a sustainable garden for the food pantry.

Keep Growing Detroit will lead a Gardening 101 workshop as part of the event and provide free seed packets for households receiving SNAP benefits.

People will also be able to paint planters with Solstice Art. Participants can bring seeds and seedlings to swap with neighbors. They can also take home herbs for their own gardens.

There will also be a native edible plants exhibit by Detroit Friendship House’s Women’s Empowerment Group.

The Community Garden Event takes place May 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Detroit Friendship House, 9540 Conant in Hamtramck.

Learn more.

Arab American Film Festival begins Tuesday

The Arab American National Museum’s 21st Arab Film Festival kicks off Tuesday.

This year’s theme is “Remember. (Re)imagine.”

The festival will feature drama, comedy and documentary films about the Arab world and Arab American filmmakers.

Films from Michigan and across the U.S. will be shown with English subtitles in person and online.

The film “Palestine 36” will be shown May 5 and 6 at the Arab American National Museum.

The festival runs May 5-10. Cinema Lamont is a partner.

Learn more.

Men’s mental health panel planned in Detroit

The City of Detroit and the Board of Police Commissioners are hosting a mental health panel.

The Men’s Mental Health Awareness Panel is being hosted by District 2 Police Commissioner Lavish T. Williams.

Guests include several prominent African American speakers. There will also be a special guest appearance by the Mumford High School marching band.

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network will provide information, resources and suicide prevention training on-site.

The panel will take place May 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road in Detroit.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The City of Detroit’s District 6 is hosting a meeting Wednesday about its lighting expansion program. This comes after Mayor Mary Sheffield signed an executive order to improve lighting in city neighborhoods.

The city says the Public Lighting Authority will install thousands of lights to improve public safety. The City of Detroit and the PLA are hosting community meetings to get feedback from residents. A community engagement plan and schedule will be developed and presented for approval by the City Council. 

This week’s meeting will be April 29 from 6-8 p.m at the Clemente Recreation Center located at 2631 Bagley Street. 

Additional headlines for Monday, April 17, 2026

Dearborn Heights safety workshops

The city of Dearborn Heights is also hosting workshops about safety in the city. The goal is to gather input from the community about road safety and safety trends. The city also wants to learn more about high-risk areas in order to develop safety improvements. 

Community meetings will take place tonight, April 27 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Richard Young Rec. Center 5400 McKinley St. The next one is Wednesday, April 29 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Canfield Community Center 1801 N. Beech Daly Rd. 

People can take a survey online to share their input. Visit dearbornheightsmi.gov to learn more. 

Warren hosts Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration

The City of Warren is hosting its third annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration.

Ayasha Bahar is the Administrative Coordinator for Warren Mayor Lori Stone. 

She says the third annual event was created to showcase Asian cultures in Warren, which make up about 13% of the city’s population. “[That’s] is a significant amount… Warren really stands out as having one of the larger Asian communities in Michigan, and it’s, it’s been on the rise and growing over time.” 

Bahar says the celebration will feature henna artists and performances from different cultures including Filipino, Thai, Laos, Vietnamese, Bangladeshi, Indian and Chinese. She says its a way for people to learn about different cultures and come together. 

The celebration takes place at the Warren Community Center on Saturday, May 2 from 1-4 p.m. That’s 5460 Arden Ave., Warren, MI 48092. 

Hamtramck Health Hike

The Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition is hosting its 17th annual 5k run. The Hamtramck Health Hike will be led by Hamtramck Fire Marshall Michael Young. It starts off at Zussman Park in front of the Hamtramck City Hall.

The free event will also provide giveaways to the first 400 people who register.  The event takes place between 9:30 a.m. and noon on May 16. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Three finalists have been chosen in the search for Dearborn Public Schools superintendent. The finalists were chosen during a special meeting over the weekend. Thomas Ahart, Mike Esseily and Moussa Hamka will move forward to the next round of interviews with district officials and stakeholders this week. 

A meet and greet will be held on April 22 from 7:20-8:45 p.m. for community members to meet the candidates at the Administrative Building. Finalists will be interviewed by the Board of Education on April 23. A final decision will be made on May 4 during a special meeting. 

The superintendent search was initiated when Former Superintendent Glenn Maleyko stepped down to become the State Superintendent.  

People can follow updates at the district’s YouTube page @DearbornPublicSchoolsVideo or at dearbornschools.org.

Additional headlines for Monday, April 20, 2026

Night of Innovation, Bet on Dearborn Expo

The Night of Innovation event cohosted by the City of Dearborn’s Economic Development Department and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce is a shark tank style pitch competition for prizes. The top prize wins $25,000. That takes place on May 12 from 5-8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

The following day, the Bet on Dearborn Expo returns for a third year. The expo brings entrepreneurs, business resources, community services and networking together. The event takes place on May 13 from 4-8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.  

Visit betondearborn.com for more information and to register for free. 

Dream of Detroit training

The nonprofit Dream of Detroit is hosting a community organizing training. The training will teach leaders principles of community organizing based on faith, storytelling and collective power. 

The training takes place May 2 from 1-6 p.m. and Sunday May 3. RSVP at dreamofdetroit.org. 

ICE impacts immigrant families—even if they’re here legally  

A recent study shows that some immigrant families in Michigan remain in constant fear because of the Trump administration’s ICE raids. 

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) found the crackdown has disrupted the lives of immigrants regardless of legal status. Researchers say children and parents are missing doctors’ appointments and other routine activities over concerns that ICE could arrest them.

Elizabeth Gonzalez is an organizer with the Congress of Communities in Southwest Detroit. She says ICE agents showing up at schools and childcare centers affects kids needing educational opportunities. “We depend on our Head Start centers and our Head Start programs. Unfortunately, enrollment has dropped due to parents and children being scared of ice surrounding centers and schools.” 

But Gonzalez has a message for the community: “Estamos unidos para proteger a nuestros niños. We are united to protect our children.” 

CLASP recommends that lawmakers restore prohibitions against ICE agents operating at schools, houses of worship and hospitals. 

– Reporting by Russ McNamara

Bill Kubota inducted into Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame

Senior Producer at Detroit PBS Bill Kubota was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame this weekend for his contributions to journalism in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. 

Kubota is known for his work for Detroit Public Television’s weekly public affairs program One Detroit. Detroit PBS says Kubota dedicated his life’s work to working in Detroit since the 1980s as a trailblazer in video journalism. He’s also worked as a producer with several national news outlets.

Kubota’s work encompasses overlooked stories, from civil rights to environmental justice and the formerly incarcerated. Kubota is the treasurer for the Michigan chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

A 48-year-old Hamtramck man has been arraigned and charged with kidnapping and assaulting a 16-year-old Hamtramck student on Monday. CBS News reports Donald James Joseph Arthur Fields is being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail. 

The student was kidnapped at gunpoint from a bus stop and forced into a white van. Other students were able to track her location through her social media and alert police. The teen also managed to call the police herself.  

The kidnapper took the student to a local gas station, where the student mouthed “help” to the attendant who intervened and walked the kidnapper outside. Police arrested Fields within 30 minutes of the kidnapping. 

Hamtramck Police Chief Hussein Farhat says this was an isolated incident. A probable cause conference is slated for Fields on April 30. 

Additional headlines for Thursday, April 16

Attorney General Dana Nessel files against Consumers Energy

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed testimony against the state’s largest energy provider.

Nessel urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to cut 61% of a $240 million request from Consumers Energy for another rate hike. This comes after the commission already approved a $157 million rate hike for Consumers Energy in December.

Nessel says Consumers Energy allegedly inflated their costs and customers ultimately take a hit. If approved, customers would save $146 million in future costs.  

Consumers Energy provides electricity and natural gas to about 2 million people in Michigan.  

Coalition for Property Tax Justice says overassesments continue in Detroit

The Coalition for Property Tax Justice continues to fight with the City of Detroit over its property assessments. Overassessments by the city have led to thousands of foreclosures. 

Coalition founder Professor Bernadette Atuahene says a recent study shows overassessments of lower-priced homes are still happening. 

“A report released this year shows that 50% of the homes worth 70,000 and under are still being assessed in violation of the Michigan State Constitution, which quite clearly says no property should be assessed at more than 50% of its market value.” 

City Assessor Alvin Hornh tells WDET his office has adjusted its Economic Condition Factors to get a better idea of what is happening in a particular neighborhood. 

A recent report by the International Association of Assessing Officers showed the city complied with state law. 

– Reporting Russ McNamara   

U-M president elect diagnosed with cancer

The University of Michigan Regents announced U of M president-elect Kent Syverud has brain cancer and will not be able to serve as the school’s next president. 

Syverud issued a written statement saying in part that he is “ready to meet this challenge.” 

Syverud was selected as U of M’s next president in January. He was scheduled to start next month. Board Chairman Mark Bernstein says the university will begin a new presidential search soon. He says Domenico Grasso will continue to serve as the university’s interim president as the school searches for a new leader. 

– MPRN   

Flood watch 

A flood watch is in effect for much of southeastern Michigan until midnight.

Kyle Klein is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s White Lake office. He says the risk of flooding comes after several days of above-average rainfall, leaving the ground heavily saturated. 

“Most of the area in the past 10 days has seen between 1.5 – 4.5 in of rain. And then we’ve picked up anywhere from an inch to basically 2.5 inches in places.”  

Klein says while storms aren’t expected to be as heavy as the round that passed through the region Tuesday night, they may still bring additional inches of rainfall. That could result in water backing up onto roads and into basements. 

– Reporting by Alex McLenon

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A 16-year-old student was kidnapped from a bus stop in Hamtramck at gunpoint this morning. Classmates tracked the student through their social media and cell phone.

Hamtramck Police located the student and made an arrest. Hamtramck Police Chief Hussein Farhat said that the incident happened at 7:08 a.m. He said a weapon was recovered.

Hamtramck School Board President Abdulmalik Algahaim says there will be additional measures for safety and security during pick-up and drop-off. The police department will also increase security measures. 

The kidnapper was caught within 30 minutes of the incident. 

Additional headlines for Monday, April 13, 2026

Joe Louis Greenway community meetings

Community meetings are being held regarding expansion of the Woodmere part of the Joe Louis Greenway. The next virtual meetings are April 21 and April 29.

The General Services Department is holding the meetings to discuss the designs and construction on Woodmere Street for a bike and walking connection between Fort Street and Vernor Highway.

The project has been funded through a $10 million grant and is expected to be completed in 2027. 

Outlier Earth Day event

The Outlier Media collective is hosting an Earth Day seed packing social this month. The hands-on volunteer event is in partnership with Keep Growing Detroit’s Garden Resource Program.

There will be free non-alcoholic beverages by the Gardenside Brewery and refreshments by Vámonos. The seed packing event takes place April 22nd from noon-2 p.m at Vámonos. 

Healthy Homes

The City of Detroit is hosting another Healthy Homes resource event. The next one takes place Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Services will include HOPE application assistance, health screenings and more.

People can schedule a Lyft service to attend by calling 866-313-2520. 

Black & Arab Solidarity Lab

The Black and Arab Solidarity Lab + Political Discussion is an event co-hosted by Arab Americans for Progress, Dream of Detroit, Detroit Action and MI Working Family Party.

Guest speakers include Abraham Aiyash, former MI State Representative and House Majority Leader and Tomena Rawls, the Statutory Vice chair of the 12th Congressional District Democrats. 

The discussion will be held on April 25 at 11 a.m. 

Arab and Chaldean American Panel at WSU

The Arab American Women’s Business Council is hosting a panel this week. The networking mixer will host women leaders who will share insights on navigating the professional world as Arab and Chaldean women.

The event takes place on April 15 at Wayne State University Student Center, Room 775 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

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On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we speak to Elon Geffrard, Birth Detroit Co-founder and Perinatal Support and Education Director. 

We discuss how doulas, midwives, and birthing centers are providing alternative support services for women to give birth in Detroit. That leads to better health outcomes, including fewer infant and maternal mortalities in communities of color.

Listen to the episode using the media player above. 

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield recently appointed Ali Abazeed as the city’s new Chief Public Health Officer, saying he would be a part of creating a “health in all policies” approach to government.

“We’re really excited to get up and going and also to continue the good work that the department has done over the years, but also to upgrade the software of what public health can look like in the city of Detroit,” he shares. 

Abazeed previously created and led the city of Dearborn’s health department. He also worked as a public health advisor at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

Past policies shape today’s health issues

He says health is impacted by housing quality and environment. He hopes to work with the department’s staff of 280 people to create better health outcomes for Detroiters.

“The challenges that Detroit faces from a health perspective, those aren’t inevitable…  they’re created by decades, if not centuries of decisions made by man, policies that have been excluding people from opportunities,” he says.

Abazeed says the city focuses on a harm reduction approach by working with all city departments to connect the dots for people who live in the city. He says part of that will include having more health department officials out in the city.

“90% of your life expectancy happens in the communities where you live, learn, work, worship, play…  then it requires us to take that 90% collaborative approach across everything that we do at the city,” he says. 

Abazeed says Detroiters face health burdens like asthma, which he says require a multifaceted response. 

He says everyone is entitled to good health. 

“Understanding who has been disqualified, who has been sort of pushed to the side, and whether that’s… in Washington or Dearborn and now in Detroit, I think the work is relatively the same, even if it does take on a little bit of a different scale,” he says. 

Yemeni nationals living in the United States who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have until April 13 to self deport or seek other legal residency through asylum or work visas.

In February the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—who was fired last week—announced the end of TPS for Yemen.

The designation was first granted in September 2015 due to war in the country. Noem said conditions have improved, no longer warranting TPS. About 1,400 Yemeni nationals had TPS status as of last year according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

People who wish to self deport are encouraged to use the Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure. That includes a complimentary plane ticket and $2,600.

People who do not leave or find alternative legal residency could be deported and banned from future immigration to the U.S.  

Additional headlines from Monday, April 6, 2026

Detroit Ride to Rise

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launched the Ride to Rise program Monday. It allows all students living in Detroit to ride city buses for free. 

The program is aimed at reducing absenteeism, as well as providing transportation for students to get to after school activities such as tutoring, enrichment programs, and more. 

Sheffield says the program also brings more money back to the district. 

“It’s about $700,000 a year that they currently spend on bus fare for students. Bus passes, that money, again, will be redirected back into the school system. The school board and the superintendent will decide what…they use that money for,” she says. “We have been advocating for it to go back to after school programming.” 

The 6-month pilot allows any student to show their school ID to get on a D-DOT bus for free. That includes students who attend charter, private, and other city schools.  

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley 

Pay gap widens

A new report shows Michigan’s gender pay gap widened in 2024. Women who worked full-time earned 79 cents for every dollar a man earned. That’s three cents less than the year before, as men’s wages grew faster. 

Sarah Javaid from the National Women’s Law Center lists other factors.  

“The bigger picture is that women are being impacted by caregiving duties, they’re impacted by state policies. Unpaid leave paid sick time. They’re impacted by what education and training they can receive, and they’re also impacted even way earlier than they enter the workforce.”

Javaid says supporting childcare, banning employers from asking about salary history, and increasing education access would help close the gender pay gap.  

-Reporting by Colin Jackson   

Michigan job data

Last year’s partial federal government shutdown made it hard for Michigan to collect statewide job data. The state’s last unemployment rate was 5% in January. Michigan lost jobs last year as more people left the workforce. 

The revised annual report shows unemployment remained essentially flat last year. Michigan showed a net loss of about 2,300 hundred jobs.

The Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information Director Wayne Rourke says Michigan’s workforce declined by 1.6% percent over the course of 2025. He says that’s largely due to older people retiring and exiting the workforce.

The new monthly federal jobs report for March showed the nation added jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked down.  

-Reporting by Rick Pluta   

Arab American Heritage Month

Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared April as Arab American and Chaldean-American Heritage Month.

Dearborn, Michigan is home to the largest concentration of Arab Americans per capita in the U.S.  

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