Here is a roundup of the latest news concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to announcements from local, state, and federal governments, as well as international channels. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Dy’nfly Salon Opens with ‘Color Perfection’ at Woodward Corners in Royal Oak
Dy’nfly Salon has opened at Woodward Corners (13 Mile and Woodward Avenue) in Royal Oak offering premier color treatments in 60 minutes or less.
Dy’nfly says its professional colorists focus exclusively on mixing the perfect color and providing color-related services, including blowouts, scalp treatments, and even a YDI (You Do It) bar inviting clients to complete their style with a wide array of complimentary styling products.
“After spending two decades working in various salons, I know that dy’nfly’s color model is absolutely the best for maintaining the perfect hair color,” says Kacie Dietz, the store’s general manager. “The traditional salon approach can take hours and cost a small fortune. Our guests are in and out in less than an hour plus they enjoy the experience and love the results.”
According to Dietz, Dy’nfly colorists pride themselves on creating the ideal color blend for each unique client, and the salon maintains precise records of each clients’ personalized color DNA to ensure they receive an exact match at every appointment regardless of salon or colorist.
The salon uses premium, color-conscious products infused with amino acids, keratin, and coconut oil for “instant condition and shine.”
The Dy’nfly pop-in pop-out color bar concept was created by Detroit hair designer George Nikollaj, co-owner of 6 Salon in Birmingham, Detroit, and Royal Oak. Dy’nfly services include $35 for the “take root” cover up treatment up to $90 for the “true blond,” a full head of foil highlights. Many additional services are available in the $35 range and frequent clients can join dy’nfly’s membership program for $30 per month with additional insider discounts and opportunities.
Dy’nfly offers Ladies Night on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 2-5 p.m., featuring a night of beautification, wine, and 50 percent off blow out service with the purchase of a sweet treat.
More information on the new location can be found here.
U-M Alum Awarded Nobel Prize in Economics
Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan mathematics alumnus Paul Milgrom was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his work in improving auction formats.
Milgrom and fellow researcher Robert Wilson were awarded the prize for their research about auction theory, a branch of economics that researches how people act in auction markets as well as the properties of auction markets. The pair used auction theory to design new auction formats for buying and selling intangible goods such as radio frequencies.
Analyzing auction formats is difficult because bidders make strategic, individual decisions based on the worth of the item on which they’re bidding.
“People have always sold things to the highest bidder, or bought them from whoever makes the cheapest offer,” according to the Nobel Prize Committee. “Nowadays, objects worth astronomical sums of money change hands every day in auctions, not only household objects, art and iniquities, but also securities, minerals and energy.”
Milgrom designed a general theory of auctions that takes into consideration common values of auction markets as well as private values, which vary from bidder to bidder. To do this, he analyzed bidding strategies from well-known auction formats and showed that a seller will earn a higher expected revenue in a specific auction format when bidders learn more about each other’s estimated values during bidding.
Milgrom and Wilson’s work addressed auction markets that deal in goods typically absent from public thought, such as landing slots for planes at airports and a radio or television address on the airwaves. Milgrom was a key academic figure in the Federal Communications Commission’s 1994 decision to allocate broadcast licenses via auction rather than lottery.
Lear Climate Change Strategy Aims for Net Zero Emissions by 2050
Lear Corp., a global automotive seating and e-systems technology supplier in Southfield, today expanded its sustainability efforts by announcing several new environmental goals, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Lear further plans by 2030 to use 100 percent renewable energy at the company’s manufacturing facilities and reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent. The timeframes align with the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to limit global warming, based on 2019 data.
“Setting the goal for Lear to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 is a significant next step that builds on actions already underway at our company,” says Ray Scott, president and CEO of Lear. “We believe designing and manufacturing products with world-class innovation and quality for our customers is compatible with protecting the environment. These efforts go hand in hand.”
To attain net zero emissions by 2050, Lear will increase renewable energy use, improve energy efficiency at facilities, expand engineering efforts for vehicle electrification and lighter weight products, and heighten sustainability requirements for its suppliers.
“To achieve these goals, we will partner with our customers, suppliers and policymakers to focus on further advancing technologies that reduce carbon emissions,” Scott says. “We will also encourage our employees to contribute to creating a cleaner environment, not only while they are at work, but while they are at home, too.”
Kellogg Foundation Launches $90M Global Challenge to Address Systemic Inequities
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek has launched Racial Equity 2030, a challenge that calls for solutions to drive an equitable future for children, families, and communities around the globe.
In honor of the foundation’s 90th anniversary, the challenge will award $90 million to invite, build, and scale actionable ideas for transformative change in the systems and institutions that uphold inequities.
“Racial Equity 2030 is an invitation to build on this moment and advance equity,” says La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “At the Kellogg Foundation, we know that change happens through people and their collective action. That’s why we’re awarding $90 million to fuel creative and actionable solutions to achieve racial equity in the next decade.”
The coronavirus pandemic has compounded many of the inequities in health, wealth, education, and opportunity. Global outcry has ensued from decades of racial and systemic injustice. The aim of Racial Equity 2030 is to reimagine and to build a future where equity is realized. Teams of visionaries, change agents, and community leaders from every sector are encouraged to apply.
Interested organizations must register to apply before Jan. 28, 2021. Complete applications are due by Feb. 25, 2021 and will be assessed by expert reviewers, as well as by peer applicants.
Applicants are welcome to propose early-to-mid-stage ideas, as up to 10 teams will be selected as finalists and each will receive a one-year $1 million planning grant, which includes nine months of capacity-building support to further develop their project and strengthen their application. At least five additional awards adding up to $80 million will be announced in the summer of 2022. At least three Awardees will each receive a $20 million grant. Two additional awardees will each receive a $10 million grant. Grants will be paid out over nine years to coincide with W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 100th anniversary in 2030.
For more information, visit here.
Karmanos Cancer Institute Receives Renewal of National Cancer Institute Core Grant
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s National Cancer Institute Core Grant has been renewed. This renewal extends the Detroit center’s NCI designation through 2025. Karmanos is among 51 centers nationwide to receive this designation.
NCI-designated cancer centers are characterized by scientific excellence and the capability to integrate a diversity of research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. They play a vital role in advancing towards the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer.
“This designation reaffirms what we see at Karmanos every day: that our researchers and clinical staff members are doing outstanding work in their fields,” says Dr. Gerold Bepler, president and CEO of the institute. “Our NCI designation sets us apart in the fields of cancer research and treatment by showing our patients, colleagues, and peers that we are committed to creating a world free of cancer. With this achievement, we are empowered to press forward in the fight against cancer.”
To secure grant renewal, Karmanos submitted a 2,000-page application and underwent a site visit by a panel of experts from across the country. The 2020 visit took place virtually for the first time in history, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This visit resulted in a detailed report including a score sheet. The work of Karmanos’ Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement, which conducts community-based behavioral research, achieved a perfect score of “exceptional.” Overall, Karmanos exceeded its standing from 2015 – a result that the institute says validates the work and dedication of its team.
Comcast Offers Grants, Equipment, Marketing, Technology to Black-owned Small Businesses
Comcast Corp. has launched Comcast RISE, an initiative created to help strengthen and empower Black-owned small businesses hard hit by COVID-19.
The Comcast RISE program, which will help thousands of small businesses – especially those owned by minorities – over the next three years, is a multi-faceted program offering grants, marketing, and technology upgrades, including media campaigns and connectivity, computer and voice equipment, as well as free marketing insights to all applicants.
A recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the number of U.S. active business owners dropped from 15 million to 11.7 million from February to April. The study cited that Black-owned small businesses were hardest hit, suffering the steepest decline (41 percent), followed by Hispanic and Asian American-owned small businesses.
The program will roll out in waves, and starting this week, U.S.-based Black-owned small businesses can apply for marketing and technology support and equipment to jumpstart and help them sustain business operations. In addition, all small businesses are able to sign up for free marketing insights and resources. The next wave of the program opens eligibility to include Black, indigenous, and people of color, those next hit hardest by the effects of the pandemic.
“There’s this old saying, ‘When America catches a cold, Black America catches pneumonia,’” says Ron Busby, president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers Inc. “Black businesses, which never recovered from the great recession, have been ravaged by COVID-19 with Black-owned businesses twice as likely to close as their white counterparts. Comcast RISE will help Black businesses adapt to the changing landscape and position them to be leaders in America’s burgeoning online to offline economy.”
Comcast says it decided to launch Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment, to help the hardest-hit small business owners get a fresh start and boost their operations during this difficult time. Comcast RISE brings together two of the company’s brands — Comcast Business and Effectv, both with expertise in the small business space — to help empower business owners with the tools, expertise, and resources needed to navigate the economic effects of the pandemic.
“We see and know firsthand how vital small businesses are in powering economic growth, recovery, and innovation,” says Teresa Ward-Maupin, senior vice president for digital and customer experience at Comcast Business. “Now more than ever, driving awareness and maintaining a strong digital presence are crucial for these businesses to succeed. We created Comcast RISE to give these business owners access to the tools and resources they need to survive the pandemic and thrive.”
Comcast RISE is part of a larger $100 million Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative that Comcast launched this summer.
For more information, visit here.
Ford Becomes First Corporate Copper Mark Partner
Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn has become the first corporate partner to The Copper Mark, the only comprehensive social and environmental assurance program for the copper industry. The partnership, finalized earlier this year, aligns with Ford’s sustainability goal to responsibly source all raw materials used globally in its vehicles.
Copper producers affiliated with The Copper Mark meet the qualifications of responsible production practices as outlined in the risk readiness assessment of the Responsible Minerals Initiative. The Copper Mark supports the copper industry’s contribution to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, which are recognized by 193 countries and make up a universally adopted framework for sustainable development.
Copper is used throughout the automotive industry, including by Ford, for circuitry, printed circuit boards, and radiators. Ford uses significant quantities of copper in instrument panel wiring, engine wiring, cables, and converters.
“Transparency in our supply chain is key to ensuring the companies we work with align to our sustainability standards and principles,” says Bob Holycross, vice president and chief sustainability and safety officer at Ford. “Our commitment to responsibly sourced copper is another way we’re working to put actions behind our words and show that what’s good for the planet is good for business.”
Capital City Market Opens Today in Downtown Lansing
Capital City Market opened today in the BLOCK600 development at Michigan Ave. and Larch St. in downtown Lansing, marking the third small-format store opened by Grand Rapids-based Meijer and one of the first grocery stores in the area.
The market is focused on bringing customers a mix of fresh, local, and convenient food at low prices, Store Manager Mitch Cook says of the retailer’s first small-format store in mid-Michigan.
“We’ve been looking forward to opening our doors after working diligently for months to ensure we have the best assortment of products on our shelves,” Cook says. “Capital City Market is unique, and my team is ready to give our customers the shopping experience they deserve.”
Prior to the market’s first day of business, Cook and his team delivered five $3,000 donations to area nonprofits, including Allen Street Neighborhood Center, Salus Center, Impression 5 Science Center, All of the Above Hip Hop Academy, and Friends of Lansing Regional Trails.
The 37,000-square-foot store features an assortment of fresh and prepared foods, including bakery items, fresh meat, and deli offerings; Meijer and national brand products; and an estimated 3,000 local, artisan items, including Reputation Beverage Co., Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecake and Round Lake Produce. It boasts a Ferris coffee shop with a full functioning coffee and espresso bar; an extensive beer, wine and liquor counter featuring a rolling ladder; and an expansive international food aisle with eight ethnic backgrounds, including Middle Eastern, kosher, Hispanic, European and Asian foods.
Capital City Market features open-air elements, a design inspired by local culture in downtown’s Stadium District, and six garage-style doors that open to an outdoor fresh produce and floral area in warmer months. Additionally, local artist Brian Whitfield painted a mural that features vibrantly colored produce on the side of the market near its parking lot entrance.
ACC, United Way, Area Agency on Aging 1-B to Deliver Food to Seniors Friday
ACC, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and Area Agency on Aging 1-B is providing food boxes, face masks, and hand sanitizers to 250 seniors at Solberg Senior Living Apartments in Madison Heights on Friday at 3 p.m.
Each senior will receive a box filled with chicken, tuna, peanut butter, beans, pasta and sauce, rice, fruit, vegetables, and oatmeal. ACC staff will deliver food boxes while observing proper social distancing. At a later date, the Solberg Senior Living staff will go door-to-door and distribute PPE to all residents.
“Including this event, we have delivered food and essential PPE to 550 senior citizens in recent weeks thanks to the generous support of our community partners, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the Area Agency on Aging 1-B,” says Haifa Fakhouri, president and CEO of ACC.
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Hosts Fundraiser Friday
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is hosting its physically distant but socially connected fundraiser, #BeingApartTogether.
As part of this fundraiser, a free virtual broadcast of musical performances by local artists along the riverfront at 6 p.m. on Friday on the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s Facebook page. The concert will feature performances from In Transit, Al Bettis, Juuni, and New World Soul.
At 4:30 p.m., Detroit Experience Factory is hosting a free virtual tour at 4:30 p.m. for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of the past, present, and future of the Detroit riverfront. To register, visit here.
Supporters will receive a package curated in partnership with Detroit’s City Bird that is filled with limited-edition riverfront items, locally sourced gifts, and activities for outdoor fun that can be enjoyed in their own backyard or during a visit to the riverfront.
Sponsorships are still available and supporters of #BeingApartTogether, with a donation of $250, will receive the box of items and activities delivered to their door. The boxes are available for purchase here.
EMU Expands STEM Programming with Digital Dudes and Divas After-school Program
Digital Divas and Digital Dudes at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti is partnering with the Mr. October Foundation and GameAbove to launch a free after-school STEM program for middle school students at four schools in metro Detroit.
“Now more than ever, students need engagement in STEM,” says Bia Hamed, director of K-12 STEM outreach at EMU. “With education being restricted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students being home-bound, and engagements with STEM limited, extracurricular activities need to be offered in a non-traditional environment to reach students where they live.”
The 2020-2021 school year after-school program will engage 125 eighth grade students from the various schools. The program will be offered virtually for 20 weeks of instruction, two days a week, for two hours a day, engaging students in STEM activities in subjects such as health care, physics, HVAC, construction, wind power, hydroponics, and more.
“This program is not only a reflection of EMU and GameAbove’s commitment to working with Michigan communities to support K-12 students, it is an example of one of the ways we’re expanding our efforts to engage more young students specifically in STEM fields,” says Hamed. “We’ve reached thousands of middle and high school students with our STEM programs in past years, and this after school program will help us expand that reach further.”
Participants will be given kits with the necessary supplies to be successful in the program. The program is meant to build pathways to college and build more interest in STEM majors and careers for students.
“I’m very excited and appreciative of our new partnership with GameAbove and Eastern Michigan University,” says Reggie Jackson, baseball hall of famer and founder of the Mr. October Foundation. “Detroit has always been a target for me since I’ve played there and learned of the need they’ve had for a focus on education among the younger generation – a generation that soon will be making the decisions for our future.”
The middle schools selected for this year’s virtual after school program include, Hope Academy and Cesar Chavez Academy Middle School in Detroit, Salina Intermediate School in Dearborn, and University Middle School Academy in Southfield.
GameAbove is a team of Eastern Michigan alumni who desire to make a difference in communities in Michigan. The group has donated more than $15 million supporting a variety of initiatives to support education at all levels.
The Digital Divas program was founded in 2010 by Professor Skip Lawver as a way to attract more female students to STEM classrooms at EMU. Today, more than 8,000 middle and high school girls have attended a Digital Diva event. The Digital Dudes program was founded in 2019.
For more information, contact Bia Hamed at bia.hamed@emich.edu.
Juneteenth Film Festival Rescheduled for Oct. 16-22
Emagine Royal Oak (200 N. Main St.) will host the rescheduled Juneteenth Film Festival (originally planned for June) to benefit the United Negro College Fund, Oct. 16-22.
Tickets for the festival are $10, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the UNCF.
The films being featured during the festival include:
- “The Defiant Ones” (1958).
- “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018).
- “American History X” (1998).
- “I Am Not Your Negro” (2017).
- “Do the Right Thing” (1989).
- “Who’s Streets?” (2017).
- “The Hurricane” (1999).
- “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967).
- “The Color Purple” (1985).
- “Imitation of Life” (1934).
- “Blindspotting” (2018).
- “In the Heat of the Night” (1967).
For a complete list of showtimes and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Juneteenth is a U.S. holiday celebrated on June 19 that recognizes the end of slavery and celebrates the culture and achievements of African Americans. The Juneteenth Film Festival will feature films that honor black actors/actresses, writers, directors, and filmmakers as well as showcasing films that present compelling moral stories and educate on racism and black history.
