Features

Feature Story The Motown Witch, Yvette-Louise Wyatt. Photo by Nick Hagen.

‘Motown Witch’ brings ancestral wisdom to Detroit’s west side with metaphysical supply

In this nod to Women’s History Month, Model D Editor At Large Biba Adams interviewed Yvette-Louise, also known as The Motown Witch, who opened her new metaphysical supply store in January with products like incense, candles, crystals, books, and more. She is creating a space for people and particularly women, to explore ancient magic rooted in self-love.

Longform People walking along the Dequindre Cut in Detroit.

Mental health is a driving factor in a year of surging attendance at Southeast Michigan parks

Numerous factors have prompted huge increases in park usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of them trace back to residents seeking mental stability during unprecedented chaos and uncertainty.

Development News Good Vybz specializes in Jamaican cuisine like jerk chicken, plantains, “Rasta pasta” with shrimp or jerk chicken, and more.

Husband and wife bring authentic Jamaican cuisine to downtown Farmington

“I feel like if you’re going to represent somewhere or something, it should be done right. Good Vybz is a representation of where I’m from. People are coming from all over to see it, taste it. So proper representation is a very big thing for me,” says Good Vybz co-owner Anthony Harriott.

Feature Story David Gifford and Mike McFall with a SMART bus in the background.

Ride along with Transit Guide Detroit

Riding the bus can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Transit advocate David Gifford teaches people how to figure out routes, how to pay, how to exit, and how to transfer.

Feature Story Cakes by Shamsun Nehar.

Engineer, cake artist pays homage to Bangladeshi roots

“The left side of my brain is focused on logic .. so the right side of my brain focuses on more artistic things,” says cake artist Shamsun Nehar.

Feature Story Dante Williams, Cutz Lounge

Detroit barber business weathers COVID-19 with community approach

By the time he reached high school, Dante Williams and his brother were cutting hair for about 120 clients a week — from neighbors to classmates to teachers — paying $5 a cut. Now the Detroit entrepreneur owns Cutz Lounge, and shares how he is making it through the current COVID-19 crisis. 

Feature Story Ebony Anglers Pictured L to R:  Lesleigh Mausi -Detroit, MI Bobbiette Palmer -Iowa City, IA Tiana Davis -Long Island, NY Gia Peebles -San Diego, CA Glenda Turner -Durham, NC

What I Love about Detroit: Expats wax philosophical about their hometown

Oliver Wendell Holmes said that “where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”

Feature Story 2020 DAYUM summer interns.

Metro Detroit youth advocate for mental health, uplift one another amid isolation

Despite hardship, many young people across the region are rising to offer one another peer support and to advocate for their own well-being.

Longform The B2B Trail between Dexter and Hudson Mills Metropark.

"Everyone seems to agree on this": Southeast Michigan comes together to plan connected trails system

Stakeholders have adopted a more regional approach, thinking in terms of projects that build trail connections not just within a single county but across Southeast Michigan.  

Development News A section of the Lower Rouge Greenway in Canton Twp.

New upgrades coming to Wayne County's Lower Rouge Greenway include kayak launches, trail heads

Wayne County's Lower Rouge Greenway is growing and improving. Here's what to expect next from the regional trail.

Development News Linear Park will transform the south side of Nine Mile between Scotia and Rosewood in Oak Park.

Oak Park seeks to build ‘Linear Park’ along Nine Mile Road

“The Nine Mile Road Linear Park will make a significant contribution to transforming this vital Oak Park corridor into an economic and cultural asset,” says Oak Park Mayor Marian McClellan.

Innovation News Jeff Ebaugh, second place, Sterling Heights

Nature center gets digital to connect residents, celebrate photography, during COVID-19

A walk-by gallery at the Sterling Heights Nature Center proved an innovative way to connect residents with nature, and each other, this year during COVID-19 restrictions.  

Innovation News Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor joined a live Zoom session to share a "day in his life" with teen residents.

Youth group launches a 'Day in the Life' series to connect teens with civic leaders

Teenagers in Sterling Heights are getting civically active in a virtual series that connects them with city leaders, to ask questions and learn about roles in the city's government. 

Feature Story Blossom Heath in 1929.

Looking Back: St. Clair Shores may not be an old city, but it honors its past

The city is unique in that it budgets for city historic markers every year.

Feature Story ederique-goudia

24 hours in Detroit with chef Ederique Goudia

An expert in food, music, and culture with more than 20 years of restaurant industry experience, Goudia highlights her favorite local spots on the east side. Here’s how Goudia would spend a perfect day in the city she now calls home.


Development News birwood-wall

5 Detroit sites recognized for role in civil rights movement, added to National Register of Places

The sites are: Birwood Wall; New Bethel Baptist Church; Rosa L. and Raymond Parks Flat; Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church; and WGPR-TV Studio.


Feature Story Canoeing on the Clinton River in Clinton Township.

Macomb Parks & Trails: 3 Macomb County park systems that'll make you wish you were outside right now

These three local Macomb County parks systems offer unique attractions that really help them stand out.

Development News A grand opening to celebrate the new restaurant is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2.

New Mexican restaurant to celebrate grand opening in downtown Farmington

“Masa was created for our love of tacos and our love of Farmington. We’ve been wanting to open a quick-casual restaurant for Farmington, the area, and even ourselves,” says co-owner David Azar.

Partner Content Girl Scouts showcase the varieties of cookies available for purchase.

Girl Scout Cookie Sales UnderwayCookies Available for Purchase from Local Girl Scouts

This is the first in a series of monthly features about the leadership and life skills girls are learning as members of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan.

Feature Story soeun3.jpg

Michigan youth uses online ballet classes to increase diversity, accessibility

When COVID-19 forced her to hit pause, junior student SoEun Park saw an opportunity to work on her dream to help increase diversity in classical ballet, so she launched free online classes to meet a need for young dancers in her community.

 
Nonprofit leaders across southeast Michigan are contributing their thoughts via journal entries on how COVID-19 is affecting their organization. 
This series is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Co.ACT. Click here to read the journal entries.