(L-R) Mayor Steven L. Reed of Montgomery, AL, Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, LA and Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta, GA Credit: Monica Morgan Photography   At the most recent Pancakes and Politics forum III, three prominent Southern mayors, LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, Steven L. Reed of Montgomery, and Andre Dickens of Atlanta, convened to discuss the unique leadership challenges faced by African American and female mayors in Republican-dominated states. The conversation was live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, which drew national attention. Along with a mix of civic leaders, students, and policy advocates, the mayors offered a candid look at the pressures of governing...

Nicole Scott didn’t grow up with the sound of hooves pounding against dirt arenas or the sight of cowboys racing through open chutes. She’s a daughter of Inkster, Mich., and her early experiences didn’t include rodeos—especially not ones showcasing Black riders, ropers, and wranglers. But fate, family, and faith would pull her into a world that would soon become her life’s calling: producing and championing Black rodeos across the country. Her journey began in Denver, Colo., where her family relocated years ago. There, she met extended relatives she’d barely known before—one of whom owned a rodeo. “I was like, ‘What is this?’” she recalls. It was...

Underneath the weight of inequity, Christine Coady Narayanan built a vessel that carried thousands of Michiganders toward ownership, dignity, and possibility. That vessel is Opportunity Resource Fund—a community-rooted institution that’s leveraged over $300 million to uplift people who’ve been told “no” by traditional lenders. This year marks 40 years of that work—and with it, a shift that echoes the heartbeat of Detroit’s legacy of reinvention. After more than three decades of leading the charge for capital justice, Narayanan is preparing to step down. In her place, a new voice rises—one that’s been in the trenches of financial inclusion from the very beginning. Byna Elliott, a daughter...

Michigan State University’s Arlynn Dailey has been named to the newly established Michigan Board of Dietetics and Nutrition, a state body tasked with setting licensing standards for dietitian nutritionists. Appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Dailey will serve a term through June 2029, helping shape the future of nutritional practice across the state. As the community engagement and outreach administrator for Michigan State University’s Health Sciences and the College of Human Medicine in Detroit, Dailey bridges the university and the community. Her work is focused on building genuine relationships based on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to progress. She develops and implements external relations strategies that...