Detroit’s ‘Mr. Basketball’ Darius Acuff Jr. Returns Home to Host Free Camp
On Tuesday, Dec. 23, one of the country’s most exciting young basketball talents will return to his hometown to give back to the next generation of players. Darius Acuff Jr., a freshman guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks and one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class, will lead a free basketball camp at the ACC Youth Center on Seven Mile Road. The event, open to local youth, offers an opportunity for campers to develop skills, learn fundamentals, and play the game alongside a rising star who
PRSA Detroit Elects New 2026 Leadership, Names Antonice Strickland President
Public relations professionals across Southeast Michigan gathered at Wayne State University on Nov. 20 as PRSA Detroit confirmed its 2026 Board of Directors and honored members whose work has shaped communications standards in the region. The meeting remains one of the largest annual convenings of communicators in metro Detroit, drawing representatives from corporate, nonprofit, education, government, and agency sectors. PRSA Detroit is the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, a national organization formed in 1947 to strengthen ethics, accreditation, and professional development across the communications field. Detroit’s chapter, established 78 years
DESC Appoints Talitha Johnson as New Communications Director
The City of Detroit’s workforce agency, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), has named Talitha Johnson as its new communications director. In this role, she will lead communications, branding and media relations for a wide range of major workforce initiatives managed by the agency, including key programs for the Detroit at Work system and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent. Johnson joined DESC in mid-November after serving as director of communications at the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP). “We are delighted to have Talitha joining to lead our communications team,” said Dana Williams, President of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation. “This
How NBA Legend Isiah Thomas Is Rewriting the Rules of Wealth, Industry, and the American Dream
There is something tender and knowing in the way Isiah Thomas speaks about the earth. It is the tenderness of a man who understands struggle and sunlight, who respects what grows slowly and what survives storms. When he began describing how his journey into renewable materials first took root, he started not with profit sheets or projections, but with the living world beneath our feet. “I began by understanding the plants and the soil,” Thomas told Black Press USA. “Rice, corn, soy, all of these crops work directly
Detroit’s Most Influential Leaders Called to Be Featured in Who’s Who in Black Detroit
Real Times Media is once again celebrating the excellence that defines Detroit. The Who’s Who in Black Detroit yearbook is officially open for nominations, spotlighting the people shaping the city’s culture, commerce, and community impact. The publication — a staple under Real Times Media’s Who’s Who brand — has long served as a living archive of Black achievement. From Cleveland to Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, to Columbus, the Who’s Who series has honored business leaders, educators, artists, public officials, faith leaders, and community advocates whose work continues
We Remember the Life and Legacy of Dr. Lloyd Crews
Dr. Lloyd Crews of Southfield, MI lived a life rooted in faith, family, and service. He accepted Christ at an early age and was a lifelong member of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit. A proud product of the Detroit Public Schools, Lloyd graduated from Cass Technical High School before earning both, Bachelor's and Masters' degrees in Political Science from Clark Atlanta University. His thirst for knowledge and commitment to leadership led him to earn a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Wayne State University, and
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