Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Detroit Goodfellows to Honor Nancy and Arn Tellem for Community Work Oct. 20
The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit will honor Nancy and Arn Tellem with the Edward H. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award at its 33rd annual Tribute Breakfast at 8 a.m. Oct. 20 at Huntington Place.
Nancy is executive chair of Eko and co-Founder and CEO of BasBlue. Arn is vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons. WJR, the Voice of the Tribute Breakfast, will broadcast live from the event “JR’ Morning with Guy Gordon, Jamie Edmonds, and Lloyd Jackson,” and Paul W. Smith, past Goodfellow of the Year honoree, will serve as emcee.
The Edward H. McNamara Award is presented to distinguished and noteworthy individuals who have significantly contributed to the community.
“We are thrilled to honor Nancy and Arn Tellem with this year’s Goodfellow of the Year Award,” says Beth Conley, president of the Detroit Goodfellows. “In a short amount of time, they have made a significant impact for many groups of people in the Detroit community.”
Tickets for the 33rd annual Tribute Breakfast are $150 or $1,500 for a table of 10. Additionally, multiple contribution levels are available to help Detroit Goodfellows honor its 109-year-old pledge and include: Tribute Breakfast Sponsorship – $10,000, Santa Circle – $5000, Vice Chair – $1500, and general donations of any amount. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit here or contact Detroit Goodfellows Executive Director Sari Klok-Schneider at 586-775-6139 or sarigoodfellows@gmail.com.
Revenue raised will go toward the Detroit Goodfellows’ 2023 fundraising goal of $1.2 million, which will help provide 26,000 holiday gift packages containing clothing, books, candy, and toys for needy children in Detroit, Highland Park, Harper Woods, River Rouge, Hamtramck, Ecorse, and Redford. It will also provide a dental program for children through University of Detroit Mercy Dental School, scholarships through Wayne State University, a free shoe program and summer camperships.
Historic Fort Wayne to Mark 175th Anniversary on Saturday
The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the placement of the cornerstone in the barracks by hosting an event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7. The event is free to the public and takes place within the 1840s star fort located at 6325 W. Jefferson in southwest Detroit. On-site, secured parking also is free.
The event features activities taking place both outside within the star fort grounds and inside the barracks building, which was built 175 years ago in 1848 and is the third oldest building in Detroit. Outside, look for the following:
- Civil War-era reenactors acting as living historians.
- An authentic 1860s cannon captured by Monroe, Michigan-native George Armstrong Custer on display.
- John R. Weaver II, a nationally known expert on American coastal forts, presenting “Design and Construction of Fort Wayne: The Brick Fort.”
- Activities for kids, including face painting, crafts and a scavenger hunt.
Inside the barracks, more experiences will provide more of the history and flavor of life at the Fort over the last 175 years. Various displays will feature the history of the barracks, life at the Fort from the Civil War years through Vietnam, and the USO. Guests can also view a collection of military equipment from the Civil War through World War II. Finally, living historians in the second-floor bunkroom will portray 1860s life at the Fort.
For more information, visit here.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Return to Detroit Opera House Oct. 21-22.
The Dance Theatre of Harlem will provide the opening act of the Detroit Opera’s 2023-2024 Dance season Oct. 21 and 22.
Dance Theatre of Harlem’s relationship with Detroit dates back five decades. The company plans a week-long series of master classes, appearances, and a Summer Intensive audition.
- “Dancing in the Streets,” noon, Oct. 14, Motown Museum.
- “The Tone Matters,” 4 p.m., Oct. 15, Detroit Opera House.
- DPSCD Cultural Passport program, 11 a.m., Oct. 20, Detroit Opera House.
The Oct. 21 performance has been themed “Divine Nine Night,” during which area sororities and fraternities will be acknowledged. Attendees are encouraged to wear their colors with pride and enjoy a stunning evening of art and culture.
Tickets for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s performances are available online starting at $30.
Michigan State Receives $1.1M Alumni Gift to Support Student Development
Michigan State University in East Lansing has received a gift of $1.1 million from alumni Gary and Sue Farha in support of MSU’s Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, or RISE, program in the College of Natural Science.
RISE is an interdisciplinary living-learning program with a focus on sustainability and environmental studies that provides students with the skills and knowledge to become the next generation of leaders for a sustainable future.
The Broad College of Business alumni have established two funds. The first is a $1 million endowment, the Farha Family “Go Green” Scholarship in the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment. The second gift is a $100,000 expendable fund, the Farha Family “Go Green” Student Travel Fund.
“We are grateful to the Farhas for their leadership and vision in supporting the success of students who are passionate about the environment,” says Teresa K. Woodruff, interim president of MSU. “Their generosity will help aspiring leaders majoring in any of MSU’s many disciplines graduate ready to contribute to solutions that will advance a more sustainable future in the communities and industries they will serve.”
Lawrence Tech in Southfield Wins $400K Grant for Summer Programs
Lawrence Technological University in Southfield has won a six-year, $440,000 Michigan College-University Partnership Research Scholars program grant that will bring community college students to LTU in the summers to study a wide variety of topics.
Principal investigator on the grant is Sibrina Collins, executive director of STEM education in LTU’s College of Arts and Sciences.
The grant furthers existing partnerships between LTU and Henry Ford College, Macomb Community College, and Oakland Community College. It will provide 15 talented community college students with four-week summer immersive learning experiences at LTU as MICUP Research Scholars. They will study diverse technologies such virtual reality, applications of physics, chemistry, mathematics, AI, and the humanities, culminating in a research seminar and poster presentation. MICUP Research Scholars will also be provided with an opportunity to begin research experiences with faculty during the fall semesters.
Called “Exploring the Impact of STEM and Humanities Innovations in Metro Detroit,” the projects include:
- Applications of Generative Artificial Intelligence with C.J. Chung, LTU professor of computer science: ChatGPT (where the “G” stands for generative) is a popular topic within higher education. This project will explore improving AI art technologies as well as addressing ethical AI issues impacting our society. Number of Students: 2 MICUP Research Scholars.
- Detroit Working Class Literature with Paul Jaussen, associate professor and chair of the LTU Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication. This project will focus on archival research to examine and explore the way Detroit’s unique culture of factory labor served as a backdrop to literary production. Number of Students: 2 MICUP Research Scholars.
- Virtual Reality and Societal Impacts with Franco Delogu, assistant professor and director of the psychology program in the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication. This research area will provide students with experiences with installing a VR system and focus on both theory and practical applications in society. Number of Students: 2 MICUP Research Scholars.
- Chemistry and the Development of a Catalyst with Meng Zhou, associate professor of natural sciences. This project focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a metal catalyst to produce urea fertilizer from carbon dioxide. Number of Students: 2 MICUP Research Scholars.
- Physics in the Community with Bhubanjyoti Bhattacharya, associate professor of natural sciences. This research project is computer-based and focused on theoretical particle physics. The scholars will receive hands-on training in the mathematical and programming software to conduct research. Number of Students: 2 MICUP Research Scholars.
- Mathematical Biology in the Community, with Matthew Johnston, associate professor of mathematics and computer science, and Bruce Pell, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science. This experience will include two weeks of instruction followed by two weeks of research focused on mathematical biology. The professors have used mathematical modeling to investigate the impact of COVID-19 within our communities. Number of Students: 5 MICUP Research Scholars.
“I am passionate about this LTU initiative because I started my college career as a community college student,” Collins says. “The LTU MICUP STEM initiative provides unique opportunities for community college students to engage in cutting-edge research with our amazing LTU faculty. These students will be able to engage in diverse research projects such as artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling, literature, and physics.”
Washtenaw Community College to Host Career and Internship Fair
Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor is hosting its Fall Career and Internship Fair Oct. 12 where some 70 employers looking to hire for job and internship openings are expected to be represented.
The public and WCC students alike are invited to attend from 4-6 p.m. in the Morris Lawrence Building on campus, 4800 E. Huron River Drive. The fair will feature multiple work-and-learn positions for job seekers, including full-time, part-time, apprenticeship, co-op, and internship opportunities.
For details about the event and registration links to attend, visit the Career and Internship Fair webpage.
Job seekers are invited to attend free online workshops to help prepare for the fair. To register, email careers@wccnet.edu. The workshops are:
- “Navigate the Career Fair Like a Pro!” at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday, Oct. 9
- “Effective Conversation Starters!” at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10
- “Career Fair Questions – Drop-In Hour!” at noon, Wednesday, Oct. 11
