Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Joyola Mei Hair Salon Brings Eco-friendly Hair Care to Detroit’s Corktown
Joyola Mei, an eco-conscious and curl-driven salon for people with wavy, curly, coily, and tight textures, has opened at 1432 Michigan Ave. in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood (east of Trumbull Street).
Joyola Mei received a cash grant of $25,000 in Round 18 of the Motor City Match (MCM) program and is one of several Black, woman-owned businesses opening in Detroit in 2022.
After starting her career in legislative government, owner Joyell Lewis chose hairstyling as a “side hustle and has been a licensed cosmetologist since 2011.
“I am hoping to bring awareness to eco-conscious and clean beauty,” Lewis says. “We’ve created an empathetic, safe space for people of all hair textures while teaching sustainability and clean beauty in the industry.
“A lot of people have never been introduced to the idea that products should be natural and clean, and many salons aren’t inclusive of various hair types. Even though we are not curl-specific, we are curl-driven. Thanks to Motor City Match, we’re able to educate others and provide an inclusive, safe space.”
Joyola Mei is one of 135 open brick-and-mortar businesses that have received support from Motor City Match. More than 90 percent of all MCM businesses are minority-owned, 80 percent are women-owned, and 85 percent are owned by Detroit residents.
For more information, visit joyolamei.com.
SME to Host AM Industry Celebration as Part of RAPID + TCT 2022
SME in Southfield, which is hosting the RAPID + TCT additive Manufacturing (AM or 3-D printing) event May 17-19 at Huntington Place, has added an industry celebration to the agenda at the conclusion of the first day.
“On the heels of President Biden’s remarks last Friday supporting the adoption and investment in AM technologies, we’re thrilled to see further collaborations that continue to drive additive manufacturing’s implementation,” says Bob Willig, executive director and CEO of SME. “We’re equally excited to celebrate this and the host of achievements in AM that SME and our industry partners have each proudly supported over the last 30+ years.”
The AM Industry Celebration is open to all registered event attendees and will serve as the official kickoff reception for peers and colleagues attending RAPID + TCT to catch up and gear up for the event’s many activities to experience.
RAPID + TCT is North America’s largest and most influential additive manufacturing event and includes speakers, panels, and exhibits.
For more information, visit rapid3devent.com.
The Highlands in Harbor Springs Debuts New Welcome Experience
Lodging guests visiting The Highlands in Harbor Springs are being greeted in a new way, at a new locale with the completion of the renovated Discovery Center.
The center, with a bright, airy, and modern feel, now serves as the central check-in for all resort accommodations, and offers a gateway for information about resort attractions, activity reservations, and happenings in the area.
The Discovery Center, which formerly served exclusively as an office building for real estate and owner services, is part of a series of enhancements outlined in the resort’s 2030 Transformational Journey.
“Our new arrival experience edges up the level of hospitality and personal care our guests receive,” says Mandy Gray, director of lodging at The Highlands. “In a world built for online experiences, we wanted to bring back the personal connection with an inviting space, warm smiles, freshly baked goods, and assorted refreshments. The arrival is the first impression, and we want people to feel as special as this place is to us.”
The Discovery Center’s makeover includes an expansive patio area complete with fire pit, and a paved parking area adjacent to the building. The location, near the resort’s entrance, also adds convenience for guests staying in the many condominium and cottage accommodations spread throughout the grounds.
Visit highlandsharborsprings.com for more information.
Nearly $2M Awarded from Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced nearly $2 million in grants to 80 organizations through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds. Since the inception of the funds in 2016, over 385 grants totaling nearly $9.5 million have been awarded.
“The Community Foundation is honored to collaborate with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation on this important work,” says Ric DeVore, president of the Community Foundation. “The Wilson Legacy Funds provide generous support to organizations that significantly impact neighborhoods, cities, and communities throughout southeast Michigan. Interest continues to grow in design and access and youth sports grants, emphasizing the power of public spaces and ensuring our youth are active.”
These endowment funds at the Community Foundation are complementary to the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation’s efforts to create an immediate impact within the communities of southeast Michigan and western New York.
The following grants were among those provided from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds managed by the Community Foundation through an open, competitive application process:
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association Inc. ($20,000)
- Bridging Communities Inc. ($25,000)
- Cancer Support Community ($12,500)
- Gilda’s Club-Metro Detroit ($25,000)
- Jewish Vocational Service and Community Workshop ($24,237)
- New Day Foundation for Families ($25,000)
- Brilliant Detroit ($50,000)
- Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor ($25,000)
- City of Oak Park ($45,000)
- Friends of Pontiac Parks Association ($25,000)
- Charter Township of Commerce ($45,000)
- Township of Macomb ($50,000)
- The Family Center of Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods ($20,000)
- Full Circle Foundation ($20,000)
- Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education ($15,000)
- Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra Society ($10,000)
- Grosse Pointe Theatre Inc. ($10,000)
Thirty-six additional grants totaling $634,900 were awarded to local youth sports organizations.
For the list of all 80 grants and to learn more about the endowment, visit CFSEM.org/Wilson.
Troy Chamber Hosts HR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit
The Troy Chamber of Commerce will host a half-day event, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. May 26, discussing how to build a diverse and equitable workplace, fostering an inclusive environment for our employees, and steps one should take in building a business community free of racism and discrimination.
The event will take place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton-Troy (850 Tower Dr. in Troy) and is geared toward human resources, marketing, DEI, and hiring professionals.
Summit session presenters include:
- Michelle Crockett, chief diversity officer and deputy executive officer and Miller Canfield
- Jenny Brown, co-founder and CEO of Dutton Farm
- Kristina Marshall, director of DEIJ at Oakland Community College
“We are excited to bring this event back for a third year and to have such influential and impactful presenters discuss the importance of being inclusive in the workplace,” says Tara Tomcsik-Husak, president and CEO of the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
To register, visit here.
Ahee Jewelers Announces Return of Capuchin Souper Summer at Comerica Park June 4
Ahee Jewelers has announced the return of the Capuchin Souper Summer Celebration to Comerica Park on Saturday, June 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Now in its 41st year, this year’s event, themed “Together Again,” will include a raffle featuring more than $30,000 in jewelry donated by Ahee Jewelers, live music from Your Generation in Concert and DJ Prevu with a live percussionist, cuisine, and a fireworks display.
Tickets for the raffle featuring brands including Cartier, David Yurman, Mikimoto, Roberto Coin, Tag Heuer, and Meira T are available for purchase by phone or in-person at Ahee Jewelers in Grosse Pointe Woods or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. Tickets are $5 each. All jewelry and expenses are donated by the Ahee family, allowing 100 percent of proceeds go directly to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit.
“We are thrilled to bring the Capuchin Souper Summer Celebration back home to Comerica Park,” says Stefan Ahee, vice president of Ahee Jewelers. “For over 40 years, this event has been an evening our family looks forward to every summer. It is exciting to be Together Again, to support a tremendous organization in our community.”
To learn more about the Capuchin Souper Summer XLI raffle or to make a tax-deductible donation to the Edmund T. Ahee Endowment Fund for Hunger, visit Ahee.com.
The John Shippen Golf Tournament Launches Partnership with Players’ Tribune
The John Shippen and The Players’ Tribune, have announced a partnership aimed at encouraging more recognition and greater opportunities for Black golfers. Inspired by John Shippen Jr., the first Black golfer to play in the U.S. Open and the first American-born golf professional, this partnership is designed to bring like-minded brands into the fold to champion diversity and inclusion within the sport.
Established in 2021, The John Shippen National Golf Invitational Presented by Rocket Mortgage is an event designed to provide opportunities for Black amateur and professional golfers. The John Shippen Sports Business Summit also will return for its second year to address the lack of representation in business and leadership roles in golf and across professional sports for people of color.
Since its inception, The Players’ Tribune has been dedicated to giving athletes the platform to share their own stories in their own words. The Players’ Tribune is built for athletes like John Shippen who transcend what’s expected and challenge the status quo, both on the course and away from it.
In recognition of The John Shippen this year, The Players’ Tribune will create a series of “Letter To…” articles featuring participants in the tournament.
Each first-person article will put the power in the featured golfer’s hands, allowing them to share their experiences as a Black golfer and the community of supporters around them in a personal, authentic and inspiring way with audiences. The “Letter To…” series is set to debut this summer in conjunction with The John Shippen event.
For updated information on The John Shippen, visit TheJohnShippen.com.
