In this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Organizer and Labor Policy Expert, Jasmine Kaltenbach to discuss the upcoming 2026 Eastside Candidate Forum.

The Eastside Candidate Forum , held in partnership with SEIU Michigan, takes place on July 18th, ahead of the 2026 Michigan U.S. House, State House, and State Senate elections.

At the forum, residents will have the chance to learn where candidates stand on community priorities, local policy, and issues shaping Detroit’s Eastside.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit and register for the forum, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

HOW THE OBAMAS ARE MOTIVATING BLACK VOTERS IN MICHIGAN'S U.S. SENATE RACE

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In this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with the City Council Person for District 4, Latisha Johnson Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wayne State Dr. William Shuster, and Environmental Justice Director at Eastside Community Network, Dr. Marie Garcia to discuss what’s happening with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the canals in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

ABDUL EL-SAYED LAUNCHES NEW AD TARGETING BLACK VOTERS AFTER MALLORY MCMORROW DROPS BID FOR SENATE

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In the first episode of Have You Heard?, Arlyssa Heard sits down with father, mentor, coach, author, and youth advocate Jonathan Shropshire to discuss the rise in fighting, bullying, and violence in schools.

Together, they explore how social media conflicts spill into classrooms, what's driving these behaviors, and what parents, schools, and communities can do to better support our children.

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In this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Sheba Rogers, Liz Kennedy, Ali Lakhani and Valerie Kelly-Bonner to discuss a series of mental health roundtable discussions Detroit Justice, Henry Ford Health’s Trauma Recovery Center, and Strategies to Overcome Obstacles and Avoid Recidivism (SOOAR) have hosted in the city.

Trauma is often thought of as an injury resulting from a motor vehicle crash or gunshot wound. However, trauma can be any event resulting in physical, emotional, or life-threatening harm that has lasting adverse effects on an individual. The Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) is working to promote resiliency and holistic recovery for survivors following a crime. Their mission is to maximize the recovery of traumatically injured patients, families and communities through support, mental health services, education and access to resources.

Since its founding in 2005, SOOAR has been committed to enhancing the lives of those in need throughout the Metro Detroit area. They measure success not just through data, but through the stories, feedback, and visible improvements in community well-being. SOOAR uses a holistic approach—offering education, support, and engagement—to promote healthier behaviors, reduce harms, and build stronger, resilient communities.

The Detroit Justice Center (DJC) is a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization working to create just cities where every life is valued and supported with dignity and care. They are a national organization rooted in Detroit—a city emblematic of both the harms of racial capitalism and the resilience of community-led solutions. They engage in legal, policy, and narrative work to inspire the work of building just cities across the nation.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

BENSON BRINGS GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN ACROSS MICHIGAN

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In this episode, Donna and Sam ran down some of the hottest political topics across the city including some of the upcoming primary elections. They also sat down the Jessica Kwalli, the owner of Jessica Blair Beauty.

Jessica Kwalli is no stranger to identifying and servicing the needs of others which is why she is the Founder & CEO of Black Diamond Beauty Supply Co. LLC. As a native Detroiter, she was always at the epicenter of beauty and fashion. Growing up in the inner city made her realize there was a lack of representation and ownership in the hair care industry reflecting its largest consumers––African Americans. After repeated incidents of poor customer service and a lack of knowledge in Black hair at local beauty supply businesses, Kwalli made it her mission to create a hair care disruptor by the people and for the people.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

STATE SENATE CANDIDATES AIYASH, ONWENU CLASH AT DETROIT FORUM

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In this episode, Donna and Sam ran down some of the hottest political topics across the city including Mike Duggan’s exit from the governor’s race, Detroit’s census case, UAW endorsements, money out of politics, and more!

They also discuss Juneteenth and the importance of telling the story of Black people’s freedom. The word "Juneteenth" bleeds "June" and "nineteenth," and the day is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It became a federal holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth marks the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas. Many enslaved people already knew about the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. What they lacked was the power to make freedom real. Union troops enforced emancipation and helped transform freedom from a proclamation into a reality.

Freedom on paper and freedom in practice were not always the same thing. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied — and freedom enforced changes lives.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

SHEFFIELD BACKS BENSON IN MICHIGAN GOVERNOR'S RACE

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In this episode, Donna and Sam welcomed director and the founder of Plowshares Theatre Gary Anderson plus playwright Cándido Tirado to discuss the world premiere of “Roberto Clemente: A Diamond Within,” an original play written by Tirado.

“Roberto Clemente: A Diamond Within” dramatizes the life of baseball great Roberto Clemente, one of the few Latin athletes who recognized his African ancestry. From his origins in Puerto Rico to his lengthy professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente advocated for the civil rights of Black and Latino individuals both in and outside of baseball.

They also took some time to discuss data centers and their potential impact on the community following Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s controversial appearance at OpenAI’s data center groundbreaking in Saline and a proposed data center on Detroit’s east side.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

WOMEN ARE DYING AT MICHIGAN’S ONLY FEMALE PRISON, AND LAWMAKERS ARE DEMANDING CHANGES

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In this episode, Donna and Sam welcomed the latest member of the Authentically Detroit Podcast Network, Kamaria Gray, to discuss her newly released podcast “Roots & Wonder.”

Roots & Wonder Podcast is a storytime space where little ones are invited to slow down, listen closely, and remember.Each episode retells beloved African folktales carried across generations through voice, rhythm, and imagination.

They also took some time to break down what’s happening with the contaminated demolition dirt in the city, which some believe led to the conclusion of Mike Duggan’s Gubenatorial campaign.

To stay up to date on all things Authentically Detroit, click here.

THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

MONEY OUT OF POLITICS BALLOT INITIATIVE TURNS IN 561K SIGNATURES

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