Speakers Announced for 2024 TEDxDetroit at Wayne State Fieldhouse
TEDxDetroit, the annual event that brings together the brightest minds in Michigan, is back for its 16th year on Sept. 18 at Wayne State Field House and has announced its slate of speakers.
Event organizers promise a “bigger and bolder” event showcasing cutting-edge ideas and speakers who are reshaping the future of their fields. Tickets are on sale here.
TEDxDetroit welcomes thousands of attendees from around the region for a one-day celebration of storytelling and the human experience. The TEDx format features inspiring, short talks from dozens of creative minds all designed to spark fresh thinking and collaborations.
“Michigan is a hub for creativity and innovation with more engineers, more artists, and more entrepreneurs dreaming up the future,” says Charlie Wollborg, curator of TEDxDetroit. “This whole day is designed to spark all of us to put our ideas into action.”
Confirmed speakers for this year include:
- Steve Acho, technology staffing professional
- Charity, artist, singer, and songwriter
- Jen Brace, chief futurist, Ford Motor Co.
- Al Bettis, singer and songwriter
- Crystal Brown, co-founder and CEO, CircNova Biotechnology
- Zachery Dereniowski, content creator, Onefluent (MDMOTIVATOR)
- Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, visiting assistant professor of mechanical engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Jennifer Dukarski, shareholder, attorney, engineer, Butzel
- Darrick Ervin II, comedian and mortgage banker
- Tim Finkel, comedian and educator, Cengage Learning
- Joel Fluent Greene, poet, author, event producer
- Kimberley Hanke, founder and CEO, Elm Park Labs
- Nikunj Jain, founder, Cleantech
- Neil Jones, video game developer and founder, Aerial Knight
- Tom Kuntzleman, assistant professor of teaching – chemistry, Wayne State University
- Chris Lambert, founder and CEO, Life Remodeled
- Dana Lowell, co-founder and CEO, LilyPad Labs
- Imani Ma’at, dancer, artist, filmmaker, and educator
- Bethany Mach, chief operations officer, Spacely
- José Maldonado, founder and CEO, Pink Teddy AR
- Brandon Martin, founder, Reaction Technologies
- Scott Monty, communications strategist, Scott Monty Strategies
- Anna Przybylski, content creator and author
- Michelle Red, advertising executive and world traveler
- Randy Roberts, founder, Auraloids
- Nick Seluk, author and illustrator
- George Tait, storyteller, mentalist, deception expert, Mind Tapped Productions
- Elizabeth Toye, educator, DPS
- Joshua Wilde, magician and owner, The Wunderground Magic Shop
- Asim Williams, technology leader and educator, Ahdeah Labs & Google Code Next
Another interesting facet of the event is TEDxLabs, showcasing homegrown tech, art, and small businesses. It’s part business expo, part art gallery, and part science fair. Attendees can demo new tech, sample local cuisine, buy from local artisans, and meet the speakers in between sessions during TEDxDetroit.
Detroit Historical Museum to Open Detroit Lions Exhibition Aug. 23
A new, permanent exhibit supported by Detroit Lions, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Gilbert Family Foundation, and Visit Detroit is opening at the Detroit Historical Museum with an event from 6-9 p.m. Aug. 23.
“Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes,” matches the excitement of the new football season with highlights from the Lions’ championship seasons in the 1930s and 1950s along with the history-making moments of the current era.
Opening to the public on Aug. 24, Gridiron Heroes offers trophies from the ‘30s and ‘50s, historic uniforms, a display featuring every Lions Hall of Fame player, rarely seen Lions artifacts directly from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Detroit Lions’ archives, and 2024-2025 game day uniforms
Gridiron Heroes is unique, not just because it features the Lions in their first City of Champions Gallery exhibition, but also because it occupies multiple areas in the museum. Bobby Lane’s varsity jacket is in the Allesee Gallery of Culture on your way out to Legends Plaza where you can see how your hands measure up against the prints of Lions’ greats Barry Sanders and Lomas Brown.
Also on the plaza is a pop-up display (on view through September) of artifacts from the history-making 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, including a large DET sign that bears the signatures of thousands of Detroit residents and visitors who were part of the record-breaking crowd. These artifacts were donated by Gilbert Family Foundation and the display is made possible with support from Gilbert Family Foundation and Visit Detroit.
To register for the Aug. 23 event, visit here.
Motown Museum Changes Date for Detroit Bass Day
Due to the predicted weather forecast, Motown Museum has moved the date for Detroit Bass Day to Saturday, Sept. 7, from 12-4 p.m. on Rocket Plaza. In celebration of 65 years of Motown, this year’s event will pay tribute to some of the greatest bassists of all time.
The community is welcome to Rocket Plaza for this free, multigenerational, family-friendly event.
Kroger Partners with United Dairy Industry of Michigan for the Great Michigan Milk Drive
The Kroger Co. of Michigan and United Dairy Industry of Michigan have announced their partnership in launching the Great Michigan Milk Drive, a statewide initiative designed to support local families in need.
From now until the end of August, Kroger customers across Michigan will have the opportunity to donate any dollar amount of their choice during checkout and all funds raised will remain local and be redirected back to six Feeding America food banks within the state:
- Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan
- Forgotten Harvest
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Food Gatherers
- Greater Lansing Food Bank
- South Michigan Food Bank
Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, yet it is also one of the least donated due to its perishability. By participating in the Great Michigan Milk Drive, Kroger customers have the unique opportunity to ensure that local families have access to fresh, nutritious milk — a crucial component of a healthy diet, especially for growing children.
To amplify the impact of this campaign, United Dairy Industry of Michigan has pledged to match all donations up to $20,000 if total funds raised surpass that amount during the campaign. This generous match means that every donation has the potential to be doubled, maximizing the reach of the program and providing even more milk to families in need.
Registration Open for MSUFCU’s The Culture of Finances Cohort
As part of its mission to boost financial literacy and education within the communities it serves, MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) created The Culture of Finances. The program led by MSUFCU financial educators aims to foster financial confidence and empowerment among both young people and adults, covering topics such as budgeting, understanding credit, debt management, fraud, and effective financial goal setting.
The fall 2024 cohort will begin Sept. 3. Registration is currently open here through Aug. 23. The Culture of Finances is open to all community members. Course options will be available in person or online.
The adult program lasts 12 weeks with five mandatory sessions. The youth program lasts eight weeks with four mandatory sessions. When individuals complete the program, they are eligible to be entered into a drawing to win $500.
Through active engagement with members and in-depth research, MSUFCU recognized the need for a more inclusive financial literacy initiative and launched The Culture of Finances program in late 2023. This program aims to eliminate barriers for underrepresented and unbanked populations, establish trust, and provide equitable access to financial education.
Through The Culture of Finances, adult and youth participants build the confidence they need to pave unique paths toward achieving their financial dreams.
Since it launched, The Culture of Finances has had 162 registered participants; 82 graduates; and, in addition to those in Michigan, it has helped people living in Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
“The Culture of Finances aims to empower our community to take control of their financial wellness,” said Jamara Randall, Market Manager at MSUFCU. “Our first three cohorts have graduated over 80 individuals. It has been inspiring to watch each participant embark on this journey, learning and growing with one another, while receiving the tools to reach their financial dreams.”
Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens to Host 33rd Annual ArtParty Fundraiser
The Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens will conduct its 33rd annual ArtParty Fundraiser, presented by First State Bank from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Art Center (125 Macomb Place). Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel will serve as honorary chair.
Themed, “A Starry Night” after the classic Van Gogh masterpiece, the “open air” evening will feature a wide array of live entertainment, artistic performers, participatory activities, and a “Taste of Macomb” strolling dinner — all celebrating the contributions and impact of the arts, artists, and the Anton Art Center.
Entertainment will feature several eclectic Detroit-based and native artists including live music from Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations; “Urban Violinist” Kym Brady; and American street muralist Chazz Miller, founder of Detroit Public Art Works (PAWZ) and Artist Village, the latter a program of Motor City Blight Busters.
Tickets are $80 for single tickets, $150 for a pair. Proceeds from the event support the Anton Art Center’s exhibits, programs and outreach as a vital resource for the community over the past 55 years. Tickets are available here or by calling 586-469-8666.
Higher Hopes! Partnering with Famous Dave’s BBQ on Labor Day Feasts
Higher Hopes! is once again partnering with Famous Dave’s to provide a Labor Day BBQ feast for 1,000 families fighting food insecurities in Detroit.
Families in the Detroit Head Start programs will pick up generous food kits Aug. 30. Included in the kits is everything needed for a delicious Labor Day weekend BBQ, including pork, spices, sauces, sides, jiffy mix, watermelon, baked beans, fresh veggies, ingredients to make cole slaw, and more. In addition, each family will be provided with energy efficient light bulb kits, courtesy of DTE Energy, to help offset their energy bills.
The Higher Hopes! mission statement is: To inspire independence, relieve food anxiety, and encourage family meals together by providing a bounty of food in nutritious, multiple-meal food kids throughout the year. Higher Hopes!, a registered 501 (c)(3) charity, continues to fight the battle against hunger for the community’s most vulnerable children and their families.
Corporate and individual contributions are always welcome and can be made at higherhopesdetroit.org.
Hazel Park Art Fair Returns to Green Acres Park Aug. 24-25
The Hazel Park Art Fair, sponsored by the Hazel Park Arts Council, returns to Green Acres Park Aug. 24-25 with “exciting experiences and fun for the whole family.”
The free event is an opportunity for emerging artists to get introduced to the fair circuit and for experienced and polished fine art artists to share their work with the Hazel Park community.
Almost 100 artists from a variety of disciplines are slated to participate.
For more details, visit here.
The fair will take place from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Aug. 24 and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 25.
All proceeds from the Hazel Park Art Fair are reinvested into the community, which includes initiatives such as scholarships, artist roundtables, mural projects, events, and public art installations.
Eastern Market to Host Inaugural Long Live Health Event Aug. 30
Central City Health, in partnership with Long Live the Deejay, will host the inaugural Long Live Health event, set to take place from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Aug. 30, at Eastern Market Shed 3, located at 2698 Russell St. in Detroit.
The health awareness fair and entertainment event will offer attendees a full day of health screenings, educational workshops, fitness activities, and top-tier entertainment featuring an incredible line-up of local DJs.
The Long Live Health event is specially designed to support the LGBTQ+ community, particularly gay and bisexual men, as well as other marginalized groups who are at greater risk for HIV transmission. Attendees will have access to a comprehensive range of HIV prevention and education services, including free HIV testing and counseling, information and access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medication, condom and lubricant distribution, mental health services, among other offerings.
Attendees also will have access to various health screenings, such as tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, vision, hearing, BMI, and body fat analysis. Additional services include mental health assessments, sexual health education, substance use disorder resources, and vaccination services. Participants can join in the fitness boot camp and Zumba classes scheduled at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Additionally, there will be interactive fun with health-promoting games, activities, workshops, and demonstrations throughout the day.
Guests can explore more than 100 vendors and savor a variety of healthy food options. The event will be energized by the beats of 13 of Detroit’s finest DJs, including DJ Lynda Carter, DJ Rue, DJ Dot, DJ Zaneta Alvarez, DJ Earl Mixxin Mckinney, DJ Gabe Gonzalez, Nick Speed, Dez Andres, Don Q, DJ Fingers, Gary Chandler, DJ Zap, and Waxtaxn’Dre.
“Long Live Health is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of community and well-being,” said Calvin Johnson, Founder & Owner of The Long Live Brand, LLC. “We’re excited to combine our love for music and entertainment with important health initiatives, creating an experience that’s both enjoyable and informative.”
Long Live Health promises to be a day of empowerment, education, and fun. For more information, including vendor opportunities, contact Norris Howard, Div. Dir. of Community Outreach at CCH at 313-733-1303, Anthony Yanish, Community Outreach Worker at CCH at 313-666-1795, or Calvin Johnson via email at info@thelonglivebrand.com.
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan Planning Lucky 21st Annual Gala Sept. 10
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan, a grass roots 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides wigs and support services to children ages 3-18 at no charge throughout the state of Michigan, is planning its Lucky 21st Annual Gala for Sept. 10 at Penna’s of Sterling (38400 Van Dyke Ave.) in Sterling Heights.
Starting at 5:30 p.m., this is the organization’s signature event of the year, and the largest celebration of the kids and teens served. Guests enjoy dinner, dancing, entertainment, a silent auction, raffle prizes, a sweet treat extravaganza, and more.
Tickets, which are $125 per adult and $40 per child (11 and younger) are available here or by calling 586-772-6656. A pre-gala raffle also is being conducted where individuals can help sponsor nine wigs for children in need. Tickets are available for a $10 donation with a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize. Drawing and winner will be announced at the gala. One need not be present to win.
Simmons & Clark Jewelers and Detroit Beer Co. to Host Lions Party on Aug. 24
Simmons & Clark Jewelers, Detroit’s premier jeweler, has announced a tailgate and “watch” party in partnership with Detroit Beer Co. to kick off Lions season and start the countdown to its 100th anniversary in 2025.
The tailgate, scheduled for August 24, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Detroit Beer Co. (1529 Broadway St.), is just before the Detroit Lions’ first preseason home game, marking the return of football and celebrating the much-anticipated relaunch of the official Detroit Lions Watch Collection.
The watches, exclusively available at Simmons & Clark in Detroit (1535 Broadway St.), sold out during the 2024 NFL Draft and are back just in time for the new football season.
“Simmons & Clark has been in Detroit for generations,” says Michael Simmons, owner of Simmons & Clark. “We were here before Ford Field and we’ve cheered the Lions on from the very beginning. This party is all about celebrating our winning Lions and giving back to the city that’s given us so much. After nearly 100 years in business, we’re starting our next chapter and so are the Lions.”
To learn more about Simmons & Clark and view their jewelry collection, visit https://www.simmonsandclark.com/.
