Mary Sheffield Becomes the Youngest Black Woman Ever Elected to Lead a Major U.S. City
Mary Sheffield is Detroit’s new mayor-elect. For the first time in 12 years, Detroiters elected a mayor other than Mike Duggan, who announced earlier this year that he would forego a bid for a fourth term as mayor and instead run for governor of Michigan in 2026. Sheffield’s opponent in the race, Triumph Church pastor Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., was unable to make up his 30-point deficit from the August 2025 mayoral primary and was defeated soundly, with the race being called in Sheffield’s favor just after
Detroit Native Chloe Gibert Named Chief Marketing Officer at Baller Alert, Leading with Innovation and Intention
“This is a platform that does not just report culture, it has helped define it.” — Chloe Gibert Baller Alert has announced the appointment of Detroit native Chloe Gibert as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Known for her innovative approach and intentional storytelling, Gibert brings a proven record of success and a unique ability to blend creativity with strategy. Baller Alert is one of the most influential digital media platforms in entertainment. The company reaches more than 18 million combined social media followers and generates over 1.2 billion monthly
A Life in Full Color: Patricia Millender at 77 Still Dances Toward Tomorrow
The daughter of political trailblazer Robert Millender carries a family legacy of service into her art, teaching, and community while shaping what aging looks like in Detroit showing what it means to keep living fully — and to bring others along. The music starts and Patricia Millender is already in motion. Inside a bright room at Detroit’s Hannan Center, she joins other elders stepping through the hustle, a dance she only recently added to her schedule. At first, she could hardly make it halfway through without catching her breath, but now her feet
Onjila Odeneal Named First CEO of Detroit Promise, Leading a New Era for College Access in the City
When Detroit native Onjila Odeneal stepped into her new role as the first-ever chief executive officer of Detroit Promise on October 1, it symbolized much more than a career milestone. For Odeneal, it marked a defining moment for a city determined to make higher education a reality for all its young people. Her appointment arrives as Detroit Promise, the city’s tuition-free scholarship program, officially transitions into an independent organization after more than a decade of transformative work. Since its founding in 2013, the program has provided more than 6,000 Detroit high school graduates with
Kenneth Kelly Named Chair of the American Bankers Association
The appointment is a one-year term for the nation’s largest financial service industry organization First Independence Bank and its board of directors proudly announce that Chairman and CEO, Kenneth Kelly, has been elected as 2025-2026 Chairman of the American Bankers Association. The installation ceremony took place during the American Bankers Association Annual Convention in Charlotte today. “Kenneth brings a powerful combination of decisive leadership, strong vision and problem-solving skills to the role of ABA Chair,” said Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO. “He understands the unique challenges facing smaller institutions thanks to
Detroit Entrepreneur Dazmonique Carr is Solidly Rooted in Detroit AG Space
By Julie Riddle To Detroit entrepreneur Dazmonique Carr, almost any patch of dirt can be a farm, and almost anyone can be a farmer. Eight years ago, Carr established Deeply Rooted Produce, a farmer-to-consumer food distribution service, after learning about Detroiters’ lack of access to healthy food in a nutrition education class at Wayne State University. The business provided local farmers of color with a reliable income by marketing their fresh, locally grown food to Detroit residents. But Carr’s service revealed a gap in the burgeoning urban farming scene: suppliers/farmers
Interview With a Legend: NCAA Champion Debra Walker
By: Darryl Jacobs ESPN & CBS Sports Networks Analyst/Commentator Before Caitlin Clark was rewriting record books, before Dawn Staley became a household name, there was Debra Walker—a Detroit powerhouse who left her mark on the game long before women’s basketball had the national spotlight it commands today. From dropping 63 points in a single high school game without a three-point line, to anchoring Cheyney University’s historic run to the first ever NCAA Women’s Championship game in 1982 —the only HBCU ever to reach that stage—Walker’s journey is both a Detroit story and an
Detroit Economic Opportunity Director Justin Onwenu, Launches Bid for State Senate Seat
Detroit entrepreneurship and economic opportunity director Justin Onwenu launched a bid for state Senate in a seat in the redrawn 1st Senate District that could see a competitive Democratic primary election. In an announcement video released Thursday, Onwenu asks whether Michigan politics is worse than D.C., highlighting the chaotic lame duck session last year in which Democrats were blocked from accomplishing legislation that would have benefited Detroit residents the most. "I do think that the lame duck session, which is the first time that all three of our branches
Michigan Chronicle Honors 2025 Class of 40 Under 40 Leaders in Detroit
Detroit’s story has always been written by its people—those who build, heal, teach, innovate, and lead with conviction. The Michigan Chronicle’s 13th annual 40 Under 40 Awards carries that same energy, reminding the city and all of Southeast Michigan that leadership does not only rest in boardrooms or at podiums, but in classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms, churches, union halls, and every corner where vision meets action. Now in its 13th year, the program continues to honor African American professionals whose work inspires, disrupts, and uplifts. They are selected
NBA Star Tobias Harris Launches $4 Million Homeownership Initiative for Detroit Families
Detroit has long been a battleground for housing. Generations of Black families built neighborhoods brick by brick, only to see them stripped through redlining, foreclosures, and speculative investment. What’s left is a city where renters often outnumber homeowners, mortgage denials remain disproportionately high, and the chance to own a home feels out of reach for many working people. The scars of the foreclosure crisis still show up on blocks across the city, where empty lots and boarded houses sit as reminders of broken systems. At the same