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DER Weekends: Hoarding is common. A local woman wants help to be just as common

24 May 2025 at 12:00

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we hear a local woman’s story of discovering and trying to address her mother’s hoarding.

Brenda McGadney says her work as a social worker focused on gerontology did not prepare her to identify her mother as a hoarder or to address it.

Hoarding disorder affects about 3% of the population. Older adults and people who experience depression and anxiety are more susceptible to the condition than others.

McGadney told WDET’s Sascha Raiyn that she turned to family, clergy and community professionals for help. They weren’t prepared to help either. Now, McGadney is working to increase awareness about the disorder and to advocate for a Hoarders Task Force in Wayne County.

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.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post DER Weekends: Hoarding is common. A local woman wants help to be just as common appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro Events Guide: Movement side-parties and other art festivals

22 May 2025 at 23:57

This weekend is Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit, which means Hart Plaza will be packed with Techno fans and legendary DJs from around the world. In this guide, we’re highlighting some Movement-adjacent events going on around the city, plus some live concerts, ambient art and multimedia exhibitions for when you need a break from the bass.

Plus, juried art fairs and the return of your favorite backyard comedy show. Read on to learn more.

Movement side-parties

Techno Christmas 2 at The Old Miami | Friday, May 23 from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. — A Movement pre-party featuring music from Eddie Fowlkes, Milan Ariel Atkins, Nick Speed b2b Sheefy McFly and more. Admission is $10 or $5 if you come in Christmas attire.

Shigeto presents: Live and Direct at Spot Lite Detroit | Sunday, May 25 from 3–9 p.m. — A day party featuring all live sets spanning funk, jazz, beats and more. Performers include Charles Trees, Salar Ansari, Kenjiro, Pablo R. Ruiz and WDET’s own Shigeto (host of The New Music Show Saturdays at 8 p.m.). Admission is $40 online.

Move! at UFO Bar | Sunday, May 25 from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. — A full-day sonic celebration highlighting Black DJs and producers from all over the country, featuring open DJ workshops from 4–7 p.m., followed by drinks and dancing until 2 a.m. The lineup includes Mike Clark, Huey Mnemonic, Planet KaiA and more. Admission is $29 for the party and $5.50 for the workshops.

Movement Rewind on WDET | Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25 from midnight to 3 a.m. — A broadcast of past Movement performances from Huey Mnemonic, DJ Minx, Audion b2b Ryan Elliott, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale and Seth Troxler. We’ll also be playing Movement highlights during In The Groove on Monday, May 26 from noon to 3 p.m. Listen live at 101.9 FM, wdet.org/listen-live or the WDET app.

Dive deeper

Waltz of a Ghetto Fly at Wayne State University’s Elaine L. Jacob Gallery | Friday, May 23 through Saturday, Sep. 20 — An exhibition in the gallery’s lower level honoring Amp Fiddler, a prolific musician and producer who left a lasting impact on hip-hop in Detroit and around the world. There will be an opening reception on Friday, May 23 from 5–8 p.m., after which the exhibition will be accessible Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m., Fridays from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.

Those Who Keep Strange Hours at Wayne State University’s Elaine L. Jacob Gallery | Friday, May 23 through Saturday, Sep. 20 — An experimental multimedia exhibition in the gallery’s upper level featuring Detroit-affiliated artists and collectives whose work spans visual art and music, including pieces by John Ikera, Beverly Fresh, Jeff Mills, Pure Rave and Sterling Toles. There will be an opening reception on Friday, May 23 from 5–8 p.m., after which the exhibition will be accessible Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m., Fridays from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.

Urban Art Orchestra residency at Cliff Bell’s | Thursday, May 22 through Sunday, May 25 — A four-night celebration of Detroit music coordinated by Grammy-nominated bandleader De’Sean Jones. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each night. Cover is $35.

More art festivals

The Potluck Detroit at Talking Dolls Studio | Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26 — A free four-day art and music festival intended to create safe spaces for the community to heal together through art, music, poetry and food. Performers include Ideeyah, Tall Black Guy, Joel Fluent Greene and more.

Reset Fest 2025 at Batch Brewing Company in Corktown | Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 at noon — A free two-day festival featuring soothing, ambient music and visual art. Artists include John Beltran, Kevin Reynolds, Robert Guzman and more.

Kensington Metropark Art Fair in Milford | Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26 — A three-day art fair featuring 100 juried artists, a ten-ton sand sculpture, food, music and more. Admission is free with a Metropark pass.

Comedy

What’s So Funny About Detroit? at the Old Miami | Thursday, May 29 from 7–9:30 p.m. — WDET’s backyard comedy show returns for 2025 featuring comedians Josh Adams, Brett Mercer, Zech, Mary Spencer, Johnny Mocny and music from DJ Thornstryker. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the venue is 21+. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

Support local journalism.

WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

The post The Metro Events Guide: Movement side-parties and other art festivals appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Jalen Rose’s next play is championing education and community empowerment

21 May 2025 at 19:27

Jalen Rose is probably best known for what he’s done on the basketball court. He was one of the leaders of the University of Michigan’s Fab Five basketball team in the ’90s, and then went on to play for various teams in the NBA before becoming a broadcaster. 

But in addition to his many accolades in sports, Rose has been an advocate for educational equity — giving back to the city he grew up and started his career in. In 2011, he started the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy charter school in Detroit, which is now expanding to Royal Oak Township. 

Rose is also hosting an event in Detroit this week as a part of the “State of the People POWER Tour” — a national grassroots campaign to center Black voices and advance the Black community through service and strategic action. He joined The Metro to share more about the tour and his life in Detroit.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Jalen Rose’s next play is championing education and community empowerment appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

New study shows need to protect water from PFAS

21 May 2025 at 17:21

A new study highlights the importance of removing “forever chemicals” from drinking water.

What are PFAS?

PFAS are chemicals that take a long time to break down in the environment. They can also build up in the human body and cause a variety of health problems.

Researchers took blood samples from people living near a contaminated site in southwest Michigan. They compared PFAS levels in those who drank city water to people who have private wells.

Courtney Carignan is an environmental researcher at Michigan State University. She says PFAS turned up in people’s blood three years after officials cleaned up the water.

“We still saw higher levels of PFAS in the blood of our participants who drank higher levels of contaminated water compared to those who had much lower levels in their water,” she said.

Scientists have been evaluating the impacts of PFAS for years. Carignan says this study is the first of its kind.

“No other studies really have looked at exposure from other sources like paper mills,” she said. “There are a lot of other types of industries that have used PFAS in the past, or may still currently be using PFAS, and there just really aren’t a lot of studies looking at those kinds of communities and releases.”

EPA proposes looser restrictions

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to rescind Biden-era limits on four kinds of PFAS and delay enforcement of limits on two other kinds.

Carignan says that’s not the right approach.

“These interventions to reduce PFAS in drinking water are really important,” she said. “The higher the level is in the drinking water for these PFAS, the more kinds of health effects you would see in the population.”

State lawmakers propose testing

Michigan has its own PFAS standards and is taking steps to protect people.

State Sen. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) and Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) proposed bills to test children for PFAS. They are SB 298 and HB 4499.

Carignan says people can learn more at the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team website or PFAS Exchange.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post New study shows need to protect water from PFAS appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Documenters on how federal cuts to disaster preparedness programs would put Detroiters at risk

19 May 2025 at 22:19

The Detroit Documenters covered the Detroit Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for the first time last week.

The committee meets quarterly to discuss issues related to hazardous materials reporting and planning for emergencies. It’s made up of representatives from the Detroit police, fire and health departments as well as from various hazardous material storage facilities and private hospitals in the Detroit area that all work together to plan for emergency situations like industrial fires, explosions or other hazards.

At the meeting last Tuesday, Chris Jodoin, manager of emergency management at Henry Ford Health, warned that proposed cuts by the Trump administration to the Hospital Preparedness Program would negatively affect a variety of local emergency preparedness programs in Detroit.

Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke to Detroit Documenter Larae Baker and Coordinator Noah Kincade to learn more.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

–WDET Digital Editor Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Documenters on how federal cuts to disaster preparedness programs would put Detroiters at risk appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: EPA lifts emergency order on Flint drinking water

20 May 2025 at 20:45

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has lifted the emergency order on the city of Flint’s drinking water.

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

The EPA announced Monday that Flint’s water system is now in compliance with lead standards and has replaced over 97% of lead pipes carrying water to homes.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says it’s a major accomplishment.

“The EPA has been working closely with our state and local partners in Flint, Michigan for several years to restore safe drinking water. It’s been a long, arduous journey, but significant progress has been made over the last decade to revitalize their water infrastructure and ultimately achieve this goal,” Zeldin said. “It’s been more than nine years since the emergency order was placed in January 2016, after a switch in drinking water source caused the corrosion of pipes and leaching of lead into resident’s homes. 

–Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET News.

Other headlines for Tuesday, May 20, 2025:

  • The state has launched an initiative it hopes will make it easier for workers and employers to manage substance abuse recovery. The Michigan Recovery Friendly Workplace program provides education for managers, owners and human resources staff on policies, practices and issues related to substance use disorder. 
  • Detroit Champions of Hope and Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Association Mommy Ambassadors are inviting families to the “Capture Black Joy” event at 5 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the James E. Tate Community Center, 21511 W. McNichols Rd. Registration is open to the first 50 families with children under 7, and includes access to giveaways, community resources and a free family portrait.
  • Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: EPA lifts emergency order on Flint drinking water appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Honoring a legend: Detroit celebrates Amp Fiddler Day with street renaming

20 May 2025 at 18:07

Love poured out onto the corner of 7 Mile and Revere Street on Friday, May 16, as the city of Detroit honored one of its most gifted, generous and influential musical sons: Joseph “Amp” Fiddler.

In a ceremony filled with rhythm, reverence and raw emotion, the city officially unveiled Amp Fiddler Avenue, permanently inscribing his name on the very block where so much of his magic was made.

It was the centerpiece of the second annual Amp Fiddler Day, a now-official recognition established by the Detroit City Council to commemorate a life lived in the service of music, community and connection.

Progressive Underground Host Chris Campbell speaks at the unveiling of Amp Fiddler Avenue in Conant Gardens, Detroit, May 16, 2025.
Community members gather to celebrate the renaming of Revere Street in Detroit to Amp Fiddler Avenue, May 16, 2025.
Artist J.R. Strozier paints a portrait of Amp Fiddler during the Amp Fiddler Avenue unveiling on Friday, May 16, 2025.
A painting by local artist J.R. Strozier is displayed during the Amp Fiddler Day celebration on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (from left, Amp Fiddler's widow Tombi Stewart Fiddler, and Detroit Councilmember Coleman A. Young II at the Amp Fiddler Avenue unveiling, May 16, 2025.

I stood there on that familiar street, not just as the event’s host, but also as someone deeply connected to the man we honored. Amp was my friend. We were both raised in Conant Gardens, a neighborhood that has quietly birthed giants.

“To be part of this day wasn’t just professional. It was personal. It was a full-circle moment.”

–Chris Campbell, host, The Progressive Underground

He appeared on The Progressive Underground more than any other guest I’ve hosted in the show’s 13-year history — his spirit, warmth and fearless creativity made him not just a friend of the show, but by extension, a friend of WDET. To be part of this day wasn’t just professional. It was personal. It was a full-circle moment.

Amp was more than a master musician. He was a musical architect and a connector of generations. His fingerprints are on the sounds of Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, Maxwell, Seal and Tony Allen. He infused Detroit soul into every synth line and groove he touched, creating an unmistakable sonic signature that made him a legend’s legend. But his true genius may have been the space he created for others.

It was in his modest home studio on Revere Street where countless artists gathered — where conversations turned into collaborations, and where a young James Yancey, better known as J Dilla, was handed his first MPC and a passport to change the future of hip-hop and neo-soul.

On this day, dignitaries, artists, family members, community elders and students came together to lift up Amp’s name and legacy. Councilmember Scott Benson opened the ceremony by reading the formal city resolution that first established Amp Fiddler Day and affirmed the renaming of Revere Street to Amp Fiddler Avenue.

He was joined by Councilmember Coleman A. Young II, who offered personal reflections, and Detroit Entertainment Commission Chair John Collins, who honored Amp’s influence on the city’s creative economy.

Poetic tributes came from internationally-renowned poet/activist/actor Mike-E (Mike Ellison), while Michigan State University faculty members Julian Chambliss, Mark Sullivan, Terra Goforth, Natasha T. Miller and John Collins offered insight into Amp’s cultural legacy.

Written words were shared from T3 of Slum Village, Ma Dukes, the mother of J Dilla and RJ Rice of RJ’s Latest Arrival, acknowledging Amp’s impact on their personal and professional journeys, and how he helped nurture a global movement through music.

But it was Amp’s wife and creative partner, Tombi Stewart Fiddler, who delivered the day’s most powerful remarks. Through tears and deep composure, she spoke of Amp not only as a world-renowned musician, but as a man who led with love, whose humility and compassion uplifted everyone he encountered. She announced the continuation of his legacy through the Camp Amp Foundation and stewardship of his estate, ensuring his work and vision will continue to nurture the next generation.

The program ended with nationally-renowned songstress Monica Blaire leading the crowd in a joyful countdown as the veil was lifted from the new street sign, officially renaming Revere as Amp Fiddler Avenue. Cheers erupted, and Amp’s music floated through the air as a soundtrack to a moment long overdue.

In a city known for birthing genius and too often letting that genius go uncelebrated, Friday’s ceremony stood as a righteous act of recognition.

Amp Fiddler was more than a sound. He was a force. A neighbor. A mentor. A beacon. Detroit showed up to say: We see you. We remember you. We honor you.

And now, every time someone turns onto Amp Fiddler Avenue, they’ll be reminded that love, art and community live on, in the city Amp helped shape, and in all the souls he helped set free.

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The post Honoring a legend: Detroit celebrates Amp Fiddler Day with street renaming appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how health insurance access, community care impacts Bangladeshi women

17 May 2025 at 12:00

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we listen to the third story in WDET reporter Nargis Rahman’s series Shustho.

The four-part series explores the barriers Bangladeshi women face in accessing high quality health care, and efforts to bridge those gaps.

In this story, we visit the Health Unit on Davison Avenue (HUDA) — the largest free health clinic in Wayne County — to learn about the services it provides to members of the community without health insurance.

Stay tuned to DER Weekends throughout the month of May to hear the entire four-part series.

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.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how health insurance access, community care impacts Bangladeshi women appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

WDET earns 25 awards from Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit

15 May 2025 at 18:25

WDET took home 25 awards at the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter awards banquet Wednesday night, including four First Place honors.

Radio

Breaking/Spot News Reporting

First Place: Russ McNamara, ‘Uncommitted’ delegates hold DNC sit-in after refusal to allow Palestinian speaker at convention

Second Place: Alex McLenon, Trump talks auto industry, ruffles feathers with Detroit diss during Michigan campaign stop

Community/Local News Reporting

Second Place: Pat Batcheller, Grosse Ile voters could authorize a plan to buy one of the island’s two bridges

Third Place: Nargis Rahman, Muslims in metro Detroit celebrate Ramadan differently as war in Gaza rages

Fourth Place: Quinn Klinefelter, Michigan’s 10th Congressional race is a rematch of nation’s third-closest election

Education Reporting

First Place: Sascha Raiyn, Detroit Students Follow the Path of the Buffalo Soldiers in Yosemite

Second Place: Sascha Raiyn, A look at the university board races on the ballot in Michigan

Third Place: Nargis Rahman, Pro-Palestinian students, faculty share concerns at virtual WSU BOG meeting

Feature Reporting

Second Place: Tristan McFolley, Tickets to drive-through holiday lightshow at Eloise Asylum

Third Place: Rob Reinhart, CuriosiD: What happened to Detroit jazz venue Strata Concert Gallery?

Fourth Place: Amanda LeClaire, CuriosiD: Is the medicinal magic of Vernors a myth or reality?

General News Reporting

Second Place: Russ McNamara, Quinn Klinefelter, Nargis Rahman, Jenny Sherman – Democratic National Convention

Third Place: Nargis Rahman, Uncommitted delegates at DNC aim to put pressure on Harris’ Gaza policy

Fourth Place: Quinn Klinefelter, Detroit deploys new election security after 2020 chaos

Former WDET intern Nia Harris poses with WDET Senior News Editor and Morning Edition Host, Pat Batcheller at the SPJ Detroit Chapter's 2024 Award Ceremony and Banquet, May 14, 2025.
Former WDET intern Nia Harris poses with WDET Senior News Editor and Morning Edition Host, Pat Batcheller at the SPJ -Detroit Awards.
WDET staff took home 25 awards at the 2024 SPJ - Detroit Excellence in Journalism Awards.
WDET staff took home 25 awards at the 2024 SPJ - Detroit Excellence in Journalism Awards.
Essential Music host Ann Delisi with veteran Detroit news anchor Devin Scillian at the SPJ Detroit Chapter's 2024 Award Ceremony and Banquet, May 14, 2025.
Essential Music host Ann Delisi with veteran Detroit news anchor Devin Scillian at the SPJ - Detroit Chapter's 2024 Award Ceremony and Banquet, May 14, 2025.

News/Public Affairs Reporting

Second Place: Robyn Vincent, Tia Graham, Sam Corey, Cary Junior, David Leins – The Metro, Dec. 10, 2024

Third Place: Robyn Vincent, Tia Graham, Sam Corey, Cary Junior, Jack Filbrandt – The Metro, Nov. 18, 2024

Fourth Place: Cary Junior, Sam Corey, David Leins, Robyn Vincent, Tia Graham – The Metro, Dec. 9, 2024

Newscast

First Place: Pat Batcheller, WDET News 7:04 a.m. May 31, 2024

Second Place: Pat Batcheller, WDET News 5:04 a.m. Feb. 6, 2024

Third Place: Pat Batcheller, WDET News 5:04 a.m. June 6, 2024

Fourth Place: Pat Batcheller, WDET News 5:04 am July, 22, 2024

Sports Reporting

First Place: Alex McLenon, Downtown Detroit Grand Prix attracts new and old fans in second year

Second Place: Quinn Klinefelter, Detroit Lions first home playoff in 30 years vs. Stafford

Third Place: WDET News, NFL Draft

Digital

Digital Media Presentation

Third Place: Jenny Sherman, 2024 WDET Voter Guide

For the full list of SPJ Detroit’s Excellence in Journalism award winners, visit spjdetroit.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post WDET earns 25 awards from Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro Events Guide: Pre-Movement festivities, Flower Day at Eastern Market + more

15 May 2025 at 17:23

This week, we’ve got arts and culture events to get you in the Movement mindset ahead of the festival this Memorial Day weekend.

Plus, your chance to win tickets to the festival itself! Read on to learn more.

Music festivals

Cartoons & Stereo festival (put together by stoop lee) — Free skateboarding music festival with a pop-up skatepark, live music, a vintage clothing market, a 9-foot rim dunk contest and local food trucks. Performers include Zelooperz, Pink Siifu, stoop lee, Datsunn with LOCAL ORGANIC, Curtis Roach, Rob Apollo, Pia the Band, Shaii David and Leo Pastel. The event goes from 2-11 p.m.

Freak Press Ball — The Freak Press Ball returns to Spot Lite Detroit on Wednesday, May 21, for another star-studded performance from IANFINK.CPT. This 12-piece ensemble is led by keyboardist Ian Fink in collaboration with some of Detroit’s greatest performers and musicians, including Cecille, Salakastar, Jamiliah Minter, Salar Ansari, Sasha Kashperko, Dez Andrés, Marcus Elliot, Jake Shadik, Tim Shellabarger and Caleb Robinson, and WDET’s own Shigeto. The skilled and eclectic Saylem Celest will be on the decks alongside exciting young selector, Dej.y, followed by master producer and DJ Scott Grooves to close out the night. New Freak Press apparel, vinyl and other merchandise will be available for purchase as well as exclusive visual art by Scott Grooves. 

Movement prep

Amp Fiddler Ave. unveiling — The city of Detroit has partnered with the Amp Fiddler Estate to honor late Detroit musician and producer Amp Fiddler with his own street name. “Amp Fiddler Avenue” will officially be unveiled at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16 —  the second annual Amp Fiddler Day — at the corner of 7 Mile Road and Revere Street. The unveiling will be hosted by WDET’s own Chris Campbell.

Vibe & Dye: A Movement Festival Prep Party at Detroit Dye House — Detroit Dye House is hosting a special tie dye experience and pre-Movement party at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. The event will offer opportunities to make summer festival apparel with a special phosphorescent dye that glows under a black light, with live music from DJ Darren Shelton.

Record and book fair at Spot Lite — Spot Lite Detroit will host a curated day of vinyl, books, local vendors, coffee and cocktails from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. The event is free to attend.

WDET x Movement — WDET is again partnering with Paxahau as an official media partner for Movement, returning to Detroit’s Hart Plaza for three days of electronic music over Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. Want a chance to win VIP passes to this year’s festival? Make a donation to WDET from noon on Friday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 21 and you’ll be entered into the drawing! Learn more at wdet.org/movement.

Comic Con

Motor City Comic Con — Michigan’s largest comic convention returns to the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi this weekend, May 16-18, featuring appearances from notable actors and celebrities including Bill Nye, Angela Kinsey, Rainn Wilson, Jeremy Renner, Sean Astin and more. 

Bowie tribute

Blackstar Symphony at the DSO — David Bowie’s final album, “Blackstar,” will be reimagined on Detroit’s Orchestra Hall stage Thursday, May 22, for Blackstar Symphony — a celebration of and tribute to the late artist. Performed with the original “Blackstar” band, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will bring the critically-acclaimed album to life alongside other Bowie classics like “Space Oddity,” “Life on Mars,” and “Heroes.” Tickets available at dso.org.

Outdoor activities

Labyrinth walk at Gabriel Richard Park — Set your intentions and join Detroit Zen Center for a guided walk through the labyrinth at Gabriel Richard Park from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. The event is part of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. Register at detroitriverfront.org.

Movie night at the park — Enjoy the family classic “Inside Out” while spending time outdoors along the Detroit Riverfront at Milliken State Park next week. The free event, sponsored by Huron-Clinton Metroparks, kicks off at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. More info at detroitriverfront.org.

River Rouge cleanup — The city of Farmington Hills is hosting its largest annual volunteer cleanup event at Heritage Park on Saturday, May 17, for Rouge River Day. Volunteers are sought to help remove trash and debris from the river, clear invasive species, plant native wildflowers and maintain trails at the park from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Flower Day at Eastern Market — One of the most popular market days of the year returns to Eastern Market this Sunday, May 18, featuring flower vendors and growers from across the Midwest. Flower Day will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the market. Additional Flower Tuesday Markets are planned for May 20 and 27 in Sheds 5 and 6. Find more information at easternmarket.org.

Art exhibition

CCS Student Exhibition — Detroit’s College for Creative Studies is inviting the community to its annual Student Exhibition Opening and and Sale from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 16, showcasing more than 3,500 from students and alumni in various mediums. The exhibition will be on view and open to the public through May 30. Find more information at ccsdetroit.edu.

Support local journalism.

WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

The post The Metro Events Guide: Pre-Movement festivities, Flower Day at Eastern Market + more appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Navigating sobriety, substance use at Movement festival

14 May 2025 at 20:28

We’re just over a week away from Movement, Detroit’s annual electronic music festival. The event draws techno lovers from across the globe for three days of music, dancing, and for many people — heavy partying. 

While Movement discourages and prohibits illegal or illicit drugs at the event, research from the National Institute of Health shows that electronic music festivals are typically “high-risk scenes for drug use.”

Passenger Recovery is a Hamtramck organization offering recovery and mental health support and sober programming for musicians and/or other individuals in the local music scene.

Bryan Wolf, director of programming at Passenger, joined The Metro on Wednesday to share some resources and outreach efforts planned for Movement weekend. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Navigating sobriety, substance use at Movement festival appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: New National Public Housing Museum offers stories of hope, amid struggle

14 May 2025 at 19:32

The muted complexes and concrete towers that paint the image of America’s public housing tell a deeper story. It’s a story of segregation, of communities trying to survive along the margins, and of money and power shaping neighborhoods.

In Detroit — as in many places — it’s a layered story, one that involves neighborhoods like Black Bottom and Paradise Valley — majority Black middle-class communities that were razed in the late 1950s in the name of “urban renewal.” Many of the residents who were displaced were promised better housing in public projects, but those promises rarely came to fruition. 

But even in the most challenging times, many public housing residents have made the best of it, raising children, organizing neighbors, and demanding more. Now, a new museum in Chicago is illuminating those histories — not to romanticize them, but to confront them.

The National Public Housing Museum honors the people who made homes in a system stacked against them. It also asks: What should public housing in America look like today, and how can it be a place where people and families can thrive?

Lisa Yun Lee, executive director and chief curator at the museum, joined The Metro to help us answer these questions.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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Detroit Evening Report: Embassy of Bangladesh brings pop-up to Warren

12 May 2025 at 20:03

The Embassy of Bangladesh returns to Michigan for another mobile consular services pop-up. Plus, the City of Detroit is hosting the Detroit Senior Olympics. Read on to learn more. 

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

Embassy of Bangladesh pop-up

The Embassy of Bangladesh is returning to Michigan for another mobile consular services pop-up. The next one will be held May 31 through June 1 at the Al Ihsan Islamic Center in Warren. The event will include walk-in services on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents from surrounding states are also welcome to attend. 

The following services will be provided in the consular pop-up:

  • Issuance of No Visa Required (NVR) Seal
  • Biometric Enrollment of E-Passport Application
  • Power of Attorney/Attestation

For more information about each service, check the mobile consular camp notice.

Detroit Senior Olympics

The City of Detroit is hosting an event for seniors next month. The Detroit Senior Olympics takes place June 9–14. Participants must be 49 or older and can compete in categories like arts and crafts, baking, and sports. The event takes place at multiple locationsAn awards dinner for competitors will take place in July. Register by Thursday, May 15 at tinyurl.com/detroitsenolympics. 

Generational wealth workshop

Outlier Media is hosting a workshop this week on generational wealth. The workshop goes over how to build generational wealth for you and your family. Participants will also learn how to build credit, buy a home and become financially responsible. The workshop takes place this Thursday, May 15 from 5–7 p.m. at TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street. Visit outliermedia.org for more information. 

Rising Voices meeting

The nonprofit Rising Voices is hosting monthly meetings. The next meeting will deal with issues of importance for Asian Americans, and will take place at TechTown Detroit on Thursday, May 15 from 6–7:30 p.m. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month. Register at bit.ly/RVMonthlyMeeting. 

Foster parents needed

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is raising awareness for Foster Care Month. About 10,000 kids are in the foster care system in Michigan — 200 of whom need permanent placements. MDHHS is looking for people to become foster care parents. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/HopeForAHome. 

Elder care workshop

The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding is hosting a workshop to share results of a new report on elders and housing. The webinar will go over Muslim family life and the responsibilities of caring for elders. Organizers will discuss integrating the intergenerational care framework into schooling and housing, and increasing culturally competent services. The webinar takes place on Zoom on Thursday, May 22 at 1 p.m. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

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The Metro: Teen coders make Detroit-inspired video games in partnership with U-M

12 May 2025 at 19:05

Detroit at Play is a workshop series led by the Taubman Visualization Lab at the University of Michigan

Last month, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, high school students developed software engineering skills and designed video games. 

Devaughn Washington is a 9th grade student who participated in the program. His team developed the game “Junkyard Mayhem,” where players find supplies in a junkyard and use it to fix up homes in a virtual Detroit-inspired world. 

Washington joined The Metro to discuss the collaborative process of creating a game with a team of peers and what he learned. Director of the Taubman Visualization Lab Ishan Pal-Signh also joined the show.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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The Metro: Archdiocese of Detroit discusses the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s election

By: Sam Corey
12 May 2025 at 18:36

If you haven’t heard yet, the Catholic church has a new leader. 

Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on Thursday to lead 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world. Interestingly, he’s from Chicago, which marks the first time the world has a pope from the United States. 

In the 1970s, he attended a now-closed catholic high school in Southwest Michigan. On Saturday, he said he wants to focus on “loving care for the least and the rejected.”

Reverend Tim Wezner of the Archdiocese of Detroit joined The Metro to talk about the significance of an American pope and the pope’s influence beyond the Roman Catholic Church.  

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how cultural awareness among health care professionals impacts Bangladeshi women

10 May 2025 at 12:00

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we listen to the second story in WDET reporter Nargis Rahman’s series Shustho.

The four-part series explores the barriers Bangladeshi women face in accessing high quality health care, and efforts to bridge those gaps.

In the second story, we meet several Bangladeshi American health care professionals working to provide culturally competent care to women in their community. Rahman explores how culture, relationships and education affect how Bangladeshi women experience treatment.

Stay tuned to DER Weekends throughout the month of May to hear the entire four-part series.

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.

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Detroit Evening Report: City celebrates new affordable housing complex at St. Matthew School

9 May 2025 at 22:03

City leaders joined with community members and stakeholders on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of a new affordable housing complex at the historic St. Matthew School on Detroit’s east side.

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

Renamed The Residences at St. Matthew, the building had previously been vacant for almost a decade. Now the residence will offer 46 new affordable apartments with 36 one-bedroom, four two-bedroom and six studio units. Twenty-five of the units are reserved for permanent supportive housing for individuals who were unhoused. The rest of the units will serve folks making 30%-60% of the area median income.

The Residences at St. Matthew is part of the national Healthy Housing Initiative launched by Catholic Charities USA. The Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, who spearheaded the renovation, will have the residence serve both affordable housing needs and health services delivered through a partnership with Henry Ford St. John Hospital.

“This redevelopment represents the heart of Catholic Charities’ mission — to create hope, foster dignity, and build community,” said Paul Propson, CEO of CCSEM, in a statement. “We are proud to honor the legacy of St. Matthew’s Parish by helping meet a critical need for affordable housing in Detroit.”

Other headlines for Friday, May 9, 2025:

  • The My Mental Wellness clinic inside the Islamic Center of Detroit will host a mental health first aid training from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.
  • Southwest Detroit music venue El Club closed down Saturday due to what the general manager described as “police intimidation,” Detroit Metro Times reports.
  • The late Detroit funk and soul ‘ambassador’ Amp Fiddler is being honored on May 16 with his own street — Amp Fiddler Ave. The city of Detroit, in collaboration with the Amp Fiddler Estate, will reveal the street sign on the corner of 7 mile Rd and Revere St.
    All are welcomed to attend.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

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Detroit Evening Report: State raises awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

8 May 2025 at 21:14

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has expanded its support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. 

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

The National Institute of Justice reports that four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced domestic violence 

Lorna Elliott-Egan is the director of tribal government services and policy at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She says there are about 4,000 open cases in Michigan of MMIPs. 

“When we look at Native American data, we generally know that the impact is much more than the data reflects, because it’s not always easy to collect those numbers,” she said. “You can’t look at your neighbor and know whether they’re Native American or not, unless they tell you and are they enrolled in a tribe.”

Elliott-Egan says there is grant funding for domestic violence and crime victim programs for members of the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. 

“They have their own domestic violence programs, human services programs, health clinics, their own tribal police, and so each one of those tribes is working sort of off of a federal template to create a murdered and missing indigenous persons plan for When these things occur,” she said.

Elliot-Egan says the state is working on a resource hub for Native American residents to find information in one place. 

Other headlines for Thursday, May 8, 2025:

  • The TRUE Community Credit Union is providing $75,000 over five years to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) to set up a recovery center for substance use disorders.   
  • The Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition is hosting its 16th Annual Hamtramck Health Hike from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 17. The first 400 people will receive freebies. Register at tinyurl.com/HealthHike
  • The city of Warren is hosting its second annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Celebration from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave. The event will feature music, food and vendors.
  • The supermarket La Jalisciense is expanding to Taylor, Michigan. The supermarket offers Mexican cafeteria style foods and groceries. The new store, La Jali, is an expansion of its Southwest Detroit store that’s been family run for over a decade. The new store is located at 9411 Telegraph Rd.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

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The Metro: Reflecting on motherhood ahead of Mother’s Day

By: Sam Corey
8 May 2025 at 16:41

No matter who you are, being a parent is a tough job. There’s no one definitive playbook for how to best love and guide your kids. 

And mothers are frequently the ones to care and nurture us, to keep us in line when it matters and to expose us to different people and places. 

The former U.S. Surgeon General said last year that parental stress is a significant public health issue. But we know that, in addition to the challenges, there are a lot of joys that come with motherhood. 

There are opportunities for creating stronger connections, for providing and maybe sometimes receiving care and for expanding love. 

And as Mother’s Day is coming up, we’re looking at what a day in the life of a mom is like. Today on The Metro, two mothers from different places in our region share their perspective on motherhood and what it means to them.

Ambra Redrick runs the nonprofit Teen Hype in Detroit. She has two biological daughters and her husband has two children that she helps raise as well. Lori Goldman is a mom of four.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

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