Cornerstone Schools is celebrating innovation and creativity with the unveiling of Michigans first Verizon Innovative Learning Labs at Adams-Young Middle School on Detroits west side.

Watch the story in the video player below: Cornerstone Schools unveils Michigans first Verizon Innovative Learning Labs in Detroit

School leaders, students and Verizon representatives gathered Wednesday to cut the ribbon on the new learning space, which is designed to give students hands-on access to emerging technologies, including augmented reality, 3-D printing and robotics.

Technology, it's a very good thing. It's the future right now, said Skylar Parrish, a student at Adams-Young Middle School.

The lab and its equipment were made possible through Verizon as part of an initiative aimed at expanding access to technology and innovation in local communities.

So that students really have limitless possibilities to become creators, thinkers, and innovators, said Brianna Fritz, head of government and community affairs for Verizon in Michigan.

Fritz said the program also helps introduce students to skills that can prepare them for high-paying jobs in the future.

Technology is always going to change. It's always going to evolve, and if you can find an opportunity to get paid to learn new things as part of your job, I think that's a win-win, Fritz said.

Principal Artina Tyus said the new lab is a major upgrade from the school's previous technology space.

It was really small with just like regular computers and not much technology integrated, Tyus said.

Tyus said interest in technology has grown significantly since the introduction of the Verizon lab.

Everyone wants to be in the tech team. Our tech team is now exceeding 30 students, Tyus said.

Students are already using the technology to learn skills such as coding and wiring.

The more you do it, the more you'll understand it just like normal schoolwork. The more study, the more you do, the more you learn, said Lorenzo Mullen, a student.

Cornerstone officials said Cornerstone Jefferson-Douglass Academy and Cornerstone Washington-Parks Academy were also selected to receive Verizon Innovative Learning Labs.

DETROIT (WXYZ) Detroit is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a new push to support survivors, including the creation of the city's first full-time position dedicated to domestic violence issues.

Mayor Mary Sheffield signed an executive order Thursday establishing new resources for residents and city employees impacted by domestic violence. The directive calls for domestic violence support resources to be posted in all city-owned buildings, the development of a comprehensive support plan for employees and the creation of a citywide training and awareness framework.

The announcement comes as city leaders and advocates work to address the impact of domestic violence across Detroit.

7 News Detroit reporter Demetrios Sanders has the story in the video below:

Detroit launches new domestic violence initiatives, names first full time city liaison

When discussing public safety priorities earlier this year, Sheffield said addressing domestic violence would be a key part of her crime reduction strategy.

Mena Davis, executive director of All Things Women Inc., said the organization receives frequent calls from women seeking to escape abusive situations.

"We probably get approximately 10-12 calls a day from women fleeing domestic violence, actively looking for a place to go," Davis said.

Davis said access to resources can often determine whether someone is able to leave an abusive environment.

"A lot of times I hear mothers say, 'I need to leave but I can't leave because the kids won't be able to get to and from school,' or 'I can't leave because I don't have a place for my pet. I can't leave because I don't have the financial resources,'" Davis said.

Sheffield said Detroit police data shows domestic violence continues to be a significant contributor to violent crime.

"The Detroit Police Department has indicated that approximately 35% of aggravated assaults were connected to domestic violence," Sheffield said.

The mayor said the city hopes the new initiatives will encourage residents to seek help when they need it.

"We want anyone who may be suffering or in danger or scared to speak up, whatever the situation may be, to know there is support here to help you," Sheffield said.

The city also introduced its first domestic violence liaison, Dr. Kyla Williams.

"Domestic violence does not discriminate, it impacts families and individuals across every neighborhood," Williams said.

Williams served with the Detroit Police Department for more than 26 years, including as sergeant of the department's Domestic Violence Unit. In her new role, she said she hopes to strengthen connections between service providers and those experiencing violence at home.

"I am hopeful that we will strengthen our partnership, improve our responses, and build a more informed, compassionate, and connected community," Williams said.

Sheffield said city officials are also exploring ways to expand shelter access for survivors.

"We just had a meeting today where we possibly have some funding or a mechanism to maybe bring an additional space here to Detroit," Sheffield said.

For survivor and Supreme Transitions Director Ericka Murria, the city's actions represent an important step forward.

"Survivors have fought simply to be seen, heard and believed. And today we are witnessing something incredibly meaningful," Murria said.

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Spirit of Detroit statue will be illuminated in purple throughout October in recognition of the annual awareness campaign.

More details are emerging about how the Kresge Foundation plans to invest in Detroit as it prepares to relocate its headquarters to the Marygrove campus in northwest Detroit.

Watch the story from Demetrios in the video player below: Kresge Foundation Reveals More Plans for Marygrove Campus, Neighborhood Investments

Just over a year after announcing plans to move to Marygrove and invest millions of dollars in the surrounding community, foundation leaders, campus officials and community partners are outlining projects aimed at improving both the campus and nearby neighborhoods.

Construction on the Kresge Foundation's new headquarters is expected to begin in spring 2027. The foundation plans to build a 70,000-square-foot facility on the Marygrove campus, returning to the city where it was founded more than a century ago.

"It's important because Detroit is our hometown. It's where the foundation was founded in 1924," said Wendy Jackson, managing director of Detroit programs for the Kresge Foundation.

Kresge Foundation Reveals More Plans for Marygrove Campus, Neighborhood Investments

The move represents a continuation of the foundation's long-term commitment to the city, Jackson said.

"It's an investment that we've been engaged in for almost a decade, and now we're able to double down on that investment as we move back into the city of Detroit," Jackson said.

Foundation leaders say the building is being designed as more than a traditional office space.

"There will be meeting space, a third space to hang out and grab a coffee," Jackson said. "So we're kind of looking at our building and new headquarters as more of a community hub."

Since announcing the headquarters project last year, the Kresge Foundation and Marygrove Conservancy have also developed plans for improvements across the campus. Those plans include a new playground, basketball court, pedestrian pathways and a campus quad intended to make the grounds more accessible and inviting.

"We have a beautiful campus, but it's not very pedestrian friendly today," said Tom Lewand, CEO of Marygrove Conservancy.

Lewand said the projects are designed to encourage greater community use of the campus.

"By creating pathways, by creating gardens, by creating play areas, we can provide opportunity for engagement for all ages. But not just to do it in isolation, to do it together in community," Lewand said.

The foundation is also investing $180 million in nearby neighborhoods as part of its broader commitment to the area.

According to Live6 Alliance, some of that funding helped support community organizations near the McNichols and Livernois corridor through grants and general operating support.

"They host meetings, host events for their community. So we were able to re-grant over 50,000 to 15 different groups," said Caitlin Murphy, executive director of Live6 Alliance.

One of those organizations, the Ella Fitzgerald Park Conservancy, said the funding will help sustain free neighborhood programming and events.

"So it means everything. Not just to me, but to all of us. And because of it, we meet, we greet, and we do better," said Darnetta Morris-Banks, president of the Ella Fitzgerald Park Conservancy.

The Kresge Foundation and Live6 Alliance are also supporting programs such as neighborhood home repairs.

Detroit city leaders on Monday highlighted what they called a safer summer, citing significant reductions in violent and property crime compared with the same period last year, including a sharp decline in the number of children killed by violence.

During an afternoon press conference, city officials said violent and property crime both decreased compared with this time last year. Among the most notable trends was an 89% drop in juvenile homicides during the summer months.

Watch the latest in the video player below: Detroit Officials Report Sharp Decline in Crime, Juvenile Homicides During Summer

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said the city entered the year after reaching historic homicide lows in 2025, but officials remained focused on addressing violence affecting young people.

"Even though we closed the year out in 2025 with historic homicide lows, we had far too many of our young people who had a violent summer," Bettison said.

The chief reflected on several high-profile cases from last summer, when nine young people were killed in Detroit.

"We saw little Samir at a park, shot at a park. Gang violence, individuals couldn't solve their beefs," Bettison said. "Little Rylee Love was in his home watching television, shot and killed with a stray bullet from a conflict with adults down the street."

According to city officials, juvenile homicides fell from nine victims last summer to one this year between June and August. Nonfatal shooting victims also declined by 22%.

Mayor Mary Sheffield said the improvements represent more than statistics.

"These are more than numbers. These are actual lives of our residents, young people who were able to make it home, neighborhoods that felt a safer summer," Sheffield said.

The mayor credited the city's Occupy the Summer initiative as one factor behind the decline. The program provided 10 weeks of activities for young people during the summer and drew participation from more than 15,000 youth.

"It is our way of saying we cannot police our way out of crime, but we invest in and support and provide opportunity for our young people," Sheffield said.

City leaders also pointed to community violence intervention groups, which they said help reduce conflicts before they escalate into crimes.

Teferi Brent, chief of the mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, said those organizations focus on prevention efforts before violence occurs.

"Before a disagreement becomes a shooting, before a young person becomes involved in violence, and before a neighborhood crisis becomes a police call," Brent said.

While officials celebrated the decline in violence, Sheffield emphasized that more work remains.

"We know that one life lost is far too many," she said.

The mayor said she plans to build on the success of Occupy the Summer and continue expanding the initiative in future years.

"We know at bare minimum we will have at least what we had this year and continue to find ways to expand this project year-round as well," Sheffield said.

DETROIT (WXYZ) Leaders of the Detroit Peoples Food Co-op, a Black-led, community-owned grocery store in Detroits North End, are asking the community for support as the store faces financial challenges that have affected sales and inventory.

The cooperative, which opened two years ago, provides fresh groceries to the neighborhood, including many locally produced items. While leaders say the store is not in danger of closing, recent disruptions have strained operations and made it harder to keep shelves stocked.

We're like a toddler; we've been open for 2 years, so any disruption to sales can create a domino effect, said Lenay Gilbert-Williams, president of Detroit Peoples Food Co-op.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' report in the video player below: Detroit Peoples Food Co-op Seeks Community Support Amid Financial Challenges

Gilbert-Williams said a combination of factors has affected business in recent months, including wildfire smoke that kept customers at home, a power outage and changing consumer spending habits.

Then we're constantly in a game of having to pull from reserves or our saving account to fill the gap that sales does not, Gilbert-Williams said.

The financial strain has directly impacted the co-ops ability to purchase inventory.

When sales are lower in any given week, that gives us less money to spend on inventory the following week, Gilbert-Williams said.

She added that fewer products on shelves can create another challenge by giving shoppers fewer options and limiting support for local suppliers.

This gives them less of a selection; this gives less of an opportunity to support the circular economy that we're creating, Gilbert-Williams said.

For many North End residents, the co-op fills a longstanding need for access to fresh food.

I've lived in the neighborhood for years over 50 years and it's always been difficult hard to find fresh fruits and vegetables, organic produce, said co-op member Marcia Pilliciotti.

And I find things here that I can't find in other stores in my neighborhood, she added.

To help stabilize the business, the co-op is hoping to raise at least $80,000 over the next month. Leaders say residents can help by donating online, purchasing a $200 lifetime membership, or shopping at the store.

It's very crucial, Gilbert-Williams said. The best way, when you come into the co-op, spend an extra $10. Tell people about the cooperative.

Shoppers say the stores impact goes beyond groceries.

They're helping us tremendously, and like I said, they're here for us, here for the community. So get here, said shopper Javon Lee.

Detroit is offering financial support to some of its most recognizable longtime businesses through the Detroit Legacy Business Project, a grant program designed to help establishments that have served the community for 30 or more years continue to thrive.

Watch the latest from Demetrios in the video player below: Detroit Legacy Business Project helps longtime businesses, round 4 deadline approaching

The program has delivered nearly $1 million to dozens of businesses since its launch, and a fourth round of funding with more than $300,000 available is open for applications until Monday, October 5.

Sweet Potato Sensations, a bakery in Detroit's Old Redford neighborhood, has been a city staple since 1987. Co-owner Espy Thomas said the business grew out of a family moment.

"My father loved candied yams and my mother doesn't like anything sweet on her dinner plate. So out of the love for my father, my mother created a sweet potato cookie to shut him up, and the rest is history," Thomas said.

Known for its items like sweet potato cheesecake and pies, Thomas said the shop offers customers more than just food.

"They can buy sweet potato pie from anywhere, right? But I think we give people family, we give people memories," Thomas said.

Last year, Sweet Potato Sensations received a $50,000 grant through the Detroit Legacy Business Project. The funding helped pay for new flooring, kitchen equipment, and other upgrades Thomas said would not have been possible otherwise.

"People want their food hot when they're picking it up and it can all hold in here at the appropriate temperature, so that was a big one," Thomas said.

Thomas said the outside investment has made a lasting difference for the business.

"When you have the funding and have the buy-in from somebody to take what you want to do to the next level, that helps you sustain longer," Thomas said.

Sean Gray, vice president of small business services for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, said businesses like Sweet Potato Sensations represent something larger for the city.

"These places really become a part of the fabric of how we exist in this city and our memories, so it's important to honor them," Gray said.

Gray said past grant recipients have used the money in a variety of ways.

"A lot of people are looking at roofing, security systems, we've had folks who invested in training," Gray said.

With the application deadline approaching, Gray encouraged residents to spread the word to business owners who may not know the opportunity exists.

"So many times those business owners are really locked in on revenue and the customer experience and they forget about something like this that maybe feels a little too good to be true," Gray said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.