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.
Winter Around the World Coming to Valade Park in Detroit This Weekend
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is hosting its Winter Around the World celebration Jan. 20-22 at Robert C. Valade Park (2670 East Atwater) along the East Riverfront in downtown Detroit.
Part of the conservancy’s Winter at Valade programming, the event will highlight cultures from around the globe. Sponsored by Visit Detroit, Winter Around the World will feature an international food truck rally on Saturday and Sunday and international music and dance performances all weekend by Detroit artists.
Music and dance performances will celebrate Irish, First Nations, Mexican, Indian, Hawaiian, Armenian, Caribbean, and other cultures.
A diverse selection of food trucks will provide Winter Around the World with an international flair as attendees have the opportunity to sample authentic cuisine from several different cultures. Food trucks scheduled to attend include Fork in Nigeria, Galindo’s, Balkan House and PizzaPazza.
Winter Around the World will offer visitors the chance to partake in hands-on activities as well with crafts scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Visitors also can make their own flag both days, and on Sunday, they can learn how to write their name in Chinese characters during the Lunar New Year Celebration.
Come Play Detroit will host its version of the winter Olympic games on Saturday from 1-5 p.m. Contestants will compete in winter classics like curling and box hockey or try their hands at more unconventional games like fowling or tug of war. Participants can earn prizes – and perhaps more importantly – bragging rights on the Valade Winter Olympics Leader Board.
Winter Around the World is open Jan. 20 from 4-9 p.m., Jan. 21 from noon-9 p.m., and Jan. 22 from noon-7 p.m.
For a full list of performances and activities, visit here.
Limited sponsorships are still available. Visit here for more information.
Dickinson Wright Receives Arch Towards Justice Award
The Dickinson Wright Detroit law firm has received the Arch Towards Justice Award at the Ninth Annual National Action Network Dream Keepers Brunch and VIP Reception. The Annual Dream Keepers Brunch is part of the NAN Michigan Chapter’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.
“We are honored to be this year’s recipient of the Arch Towards Justice Award,” says Aaron V. Burrell, member and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. “For many years, Dickinson Wright has partnered with NAN Michigan, and we look forward to continuing to support their efforts as they continue to create a more equal and just society in the state of Michigan.”
Dickinson Wright is being honored for our support of the organization’s efforts to provide basic needs and educational opportunities to underserved communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Detroit’s Ideal Contracting Celebrating 25th Anniversary in 2023
A passion for building what matters through safety, integrity, sustainability, and talent has guided Ideal Contracting’s operations since it began in 1998.
Frank Venegas Jr., chairman and CEO of Ideal Contracting, started scaling the business by putting customers first and forging lasting relationships with them as well as his employees and partners.
“Twenty-five years ago, I wanted to build a company where people are the most critical assets for the business. Using my grandfather’s advice and making the customer the boss, Ideal Contracting has become a highly respected construction firm built on the collective talents and values of every Ideal Contracting team member,” Venegas says.
In its first year of business, Ideal Contracting had a revenue of $5.8 million with a staff of just five people. Now a 25-year veteran in the construction industry, Ideal has revenues exceeding $400 million while working on premier industry projects for owners such as General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., the University of Michigan, Olympia Development, Pratt & Whitney, and more.
From the beginning, the company’s founding members envisioned Ideal Contracting as a successful, self-performing general contractor. Over the years, the company has built on that vision by providing services that include general contracting, construction management, and service agreements. Ideal also has a host of reputable self-perform capabilities comprised of structural/miscellaneous steel and precast erection, civil, concrete, and carpentry.
Ideal Contracting enacted its people-first approach to successfully build a team of more than 100 full-time staff alongside a loyal and dependable trade following of over 350 men and women. The company is currently the largest MBE employer of ironworkers in North America, with growing operations in several different geographical regions of the United States.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion have remained at the forefront of the company’s culture since its inception. This is evident through Ideal’s supplier relations, safety program, talent development process, and proactive engagement with the southwest Detroit community.
Consulate of Italy Planning Holocaust Remembrance Film Screening Jan. 29
The Consulate of Italy in Detroit, in collaboration with the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, is presenting the screening of two movies, “Twenty Minutes” and “Piazza” at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Maple Theatre in Bloomfield Hills in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Observed globally on Jan. 27, “Giornata della Memoria” commemorates all of those who suffered persecution as a result of the racial laws imposed by the Fascist government and under the Nazi occupation during World War II.
The first film, “Twenty Minutes,” is a short directed by Daniele Esposito in Italian with English subtitles. It focuses on Oct. 16, 1943 in Rome. Lea, waking in the early morning from a nightmare, hears a knock at the door. Two German soldiers give her a leaflet: Lea and her husband Enzo have 20 minutes to leave their lives behind and follow them. But the names of their children, Cesare and Fiorella, are not mentioned in the list held by the German soldiers. Lea and Enzo are undecided about what to do: in the heat of the moment, they will be forced to make the most difficult decision of their life.
The second film, “Piazza,” is an hour-long documentary directed by Karen Di Porto, also in Italian with English subtitles. “Piazza” is the vital heart of Roman Judaism. A small area in the center of a big city with a difficult and ancient history. “Piazza” is what Roman Jews call the ghetto area where they were restricted for 300 years, and which was the scene of the tragic round-ups by the Nazis in 1943. Interviews with the people of “Piazza” reveal a lively present and a past of pain and pride, reconstructed through the gaze of the daughter of one of its most notable inhabitants. A historical and intimate journey to discover a world that, seen from the inside, appears closer to us, a particular Jewish reality that symbolizes the world diaspora.
Registration required to attend the screening. To do so, visit here.
Detroit Youth Fashion Designers Offer New York Fashion Week Preview Today
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) has added to its list of high-profile collaborations by partnering with Black-owned fashion brand Masion Black (MB).
This Black Men in Fashion collaboration is a mentorship program that pairs five accomplished Black male New York-based designers with five young Black male rising stars in Detroit to guide them in designing a full look to present Feb. 7 at the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey (LVMH) tower during New York Fashion Week (NYFW).
The collaboration will host an invite-only sneak peek at the designs during its NYFW Michigan Preview today at 5 p.m. at the Diehl Club (4242 Collingwood St.) in Detroit.
“The impact on these youth is significant and supported by research that shows positive outcomes when young Black men are supported by Black mentors,” says Tori Nichel, founder of Maison Black. “When emerging talent can identify with someone that paved the way for them and navigated similar discriminations — the nurturing, understanding, and resources are unbounded.”
Given that many of these Detroiters are leaving the city for the first time, BGCSM is raising funds for a seamless experience. Donations directly support the costs of the fashion show in NYC on Feb. 7, including travel and hotel costs, and the development of garments for the fashion show. These funds open possibilities for youth residing in communities or attending schools with limited artistic outlets or resources.
“It’s so important for our youth — especially youth of color, to find mentors who they can connect to and who have similar lived experiences,” says Shawn H. Wilson, president and CEO of BGCSM. “Not only can these men pass along their technical knowledge of the fashion industry, but also give youth the tools to navigate race-based barriers which come along with being an entrepreneur of color.”
The NYFW Michigan Preview will include an introduction of the youth designers, a candid discussion with Black male fashion moguls, and a display of the pieces heading to New York Fashion Week.
To donate to the BGCSM to Fashion Week – Black Men In Fashion Mentorship Program, visit here.
Michigan Science Center in Running for Nation’s Top Science Museum
After ranking second in USA TODAY’s annual 10Best Competition for top science museums, the Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) is once again going for the win. This year, Mi-Sci is one of 20 museums nominated, chosen by a panel of experts made of editors from both USA TODAY and 10Best.com, plus relevant expert contributors and others.
The top 10 science museums will be determined by the public. Polls are open and will remain so until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 13. Voters must be 18 and up and can vote once a day until the contest closes.
“We are once again thrilled to be considered among the nation’s best science museums and hoping to win this year’s top spot,” says Christian Greer, president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center. “At Mi-Sci we strive to put people at the center of science through engaging programs and exhibitions that make STEM learning fun. We appreciate the public’s incredible support during last year’s contest and are looking forward to having them rally behind us in 2023.”
Last year, Mi-Sci ranked only behind The Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio and ahead of The Great Lakes Science Center of Cleveland. This year, Mi-Sci is one of five Detroit destinations up for awards in their respective 10Best categories. The other four are the Detroit International RiverWalk for Best Riverwalk, the Motown Museum for Best Music Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts for Best Art Museum, and Campus Martius for Best Public Square.
To vote, visit here.
Grand Rapids Distiller Sip Shine Wins Top Honors for Whiskeys and Moonshines
Grand Rapids-based distiller Sip Shine, which produces Sip Shine Moonshine, Kyodie Whiskey, and Gannett Peak Whiskey, has won 12 2022 PR%F magazine awards for best brand cocktails.
The Fourth Annual PR%F (pronounced “proof”) Awards Spirits, Wine and Beverage competition winners were revealed in the January edition of PR%F the Magazine. The judging, by beverage buyers from 18 different states, took place in November at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The judges work as buyers for all types of outlets including restaurants, bars, casinos, grocery stores, resorts, cruise ships, and more.
Out of hundreds of competition entries, Sip Shine products earned four gold and two silver medals in the Masked competition and six silver medals in the Unmasked competition. The Masked designation was a double-blind tasting competition, that focused simply on the taste of the beverage and was based on a 100-point system. Gold medals were given to beverages that scored between 91-95 points. Silver awards were given to beverages scoring between 85-90 points.
The Unmasked competition was not only based on taste, but the total package of the product, including art design, theme, marketing, logo, look and feel, and price point.
The Sip Shine beverages that were recognized are:
Masked
- Kyodie Whiskey – Peach – Gold
- Kyodie Whiskey – Ravin’ Apple – Gold
- Sip Shine – Razz-Berry Shineade – Gold
- Sip Shine – Shine Berry Sweet Tea – Gold
- Sip Shine – Arnold Shiner – Silver
- Sip Shine – Watermelon Chillade – Silver
Unmasked
- Kyodie Whiskey – Peach – Silver
- Kyodie Whiskey – Ravin’ Apple – Silver
- Sip Shine – Arnold Shiner – Silver
- Sip Shine – Razz-Berry Shineade – Silver
- Sip Shine – Shine Berry Sweet Tea – Silver
- Sip Shine – Watermelon Chillade – Silver
Late last year, Sip Shine relocated its distilling for all brands from Iowa to Michigan. Sip Shine products can be found at many area retailers and restaurants, and the company plans to open a restaurant on the west side of Grand Rapids this summer.
Sip Shine Moonshine Slushie machines also can be found at various venues including VanAndel Arena and LoanDepot Park, home of the Florida Marlins.
Sip Shine is available to consumers in more than 30 states and nationally through online purchase on its website.
Jackson’s Dawn Foods Partners with Nonprofit For Goodness Cakes
Jackson-based global bakery ingredients manufacturer and distributor Dawn Foods has entered a three-year partnership with the national nonprofit For Goodness Cakes, which matches volunteer bakers with community organizations to celebrate children in foster care and youth overcoming adversity on special days.
“Celebrating people matters, and Dawn believes everyone deserves to have their birthday recognized,” says Sarah Richmond, director of Dawn Corporate Giving. “We were inspired by the mission of For Goodness Cakes, and immediately saw the shared values between our organizations. Celebrating and supporting people is part of the DNA of our company, and we look forward to the positive impact Dawn and For Goodness Cakes can have together.”
As the first corporate sponsor of For Goodness Cakes, Dawn will help open four new For Goodness Cakes chapters — in Jackson, Kansas City, Mo., Louisville, and Seattle. Additionally, Dawn will serve as a sponsor for five existing chapters in Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, northern New Jersey, and Minneapolis.
“With over 400,000 foster children across the country, there are too many youths who have never had a birthday celebration,” says Jaime Lehman, co-founder and executive director of For Goodness Cakes. “Everyone has a birthday, and everyone deserves to be seen and recognized, which is why we are thankful for like-minded partners like Dawn Foods and the impact we can have together to make even more celebrations happen for those in need — one cake at a time.”
For more information about the partnership, visit here.
