"It's a true gap," says "Mama" Zina Davis, who runs a Detroit child care center and knows first-hand what providers and teachers are facing, not just in terms of pay, but in respect for their roles. "We shouldn't be competing with McDonald's."

The Carr Center has a unique history in Detroit, fulfilling a critical need for elevating Black artistic excellence in visual arts, dance, arts education, and jazz. The latest installation offers a nod to the center's past as it celebrates 30 years. 

Alison Mariella Désir explains in her new book how she was frustrated constantly hearing how running is a sport ‘for everybody’: "...it was clear that this message came from white runners in a white sport inside a white country, and they had no idea what it was like to be a Black body in such a climate.” 

In its second school year, the Marygrove Early Education Center works to provide a holistic educational experience for students, teachers, and families. Its state-of-the-art facility, designed in collaboration with its surrounding community, recently received international recognition. Our team spent an afternoon learning how this award-winning center is creating an innovative model for early education.

Knowing that eight out of 10 Black-owned businesses close within the first 18 months, Rachael and Gerrard Allen are opening an Oakland County space for small business innovators. They hope to connect the dots for Detroit commuters: "We want Black folks and our allies to feel seen, welcome, and that something was created for them."

For many families, child care exceeds the cost of a mortgage or rental payments and rivals college tuition payments. Yet, child care employees have been among the lowest wage earners in the state. Parents and early education advocates showed up at a virtual forum recently to ask local candidates running for Michigan’s State Senate how they plan to fix this problem.