In early 2024, Angela Dillard wrapped the administrative paperwork on The Michigan-Mellon Project on the Egalitarian Metropolis. And much like the reincarnation of Michigan Central, the project closely hewed to the ideals of “inclusive recovery,” a term popularized by Maurice Cox, Detroit’s former planning and development director.

Tony Reames, the Tishman professor of environmental justice and director of the SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic, joined us on the Michigan Minds Podcast to share his thoughts on how energy justice could manifest in the United States.

Detroit’s payroll jobs and the number of employed residents are expected to continue to climb during the next few years along with sustained real wage growth, according to University of Michigan economists. Still, positive trends are tempered by challenges that include more than three-fifths of Detroiters living in lower-income households—more than twice the national average.

University of Michigan School of Information assistant professor Robin Brewer received a 2024 Henry Russel award at the July Board of Regents meeting. The award recognizes U-M faculty members who have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishment in scholarly research and/or creativity, as well as an excellent record of contributions as teachers.

University of Michigan School of Information professor Ron Eglash was appointed a 2024 University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor at the July Board of Regents meeting. The honor recognizes faculty who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion through research, teaching and service.

Five years ago, Stephanie Steinberg created the ultimate writers group. The University of Michigan alumna, former editor in chief of the Michigan Daily and journalist for US News and World Report, CNN, the Boston Globe, USA Today and The Detroit News, had been writing about entrepreneurs and decided to become one herself. She launched the Detroit Writing Room in 2019.

“Through the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project’s summer internship program, Impact Studio for Local Business, I am proud to say that I am now working with the small businesses that I used to drive past, helping entrepreneurs like my grandfather to make key changes to their businesses and support Detroit neighborhoods.”

~ Samuel Ibri

Image-based artist Ricky Weaver joins the Stamps School of Art & Design faculty. Weaver’s object-oriented creative practice allows space for theorizing images in a way that extends beyond the photograph. Her practice interrogates how the body, hymn, scripture, and the everyday appear as images and how that image functions as both archives and vessels.

Alumna Stephanie Steinberg launched Coaching Detroit Forward, the nonprofit arm of the Detroit Writing Room, to share writing and photography skills with students in Detroit. Professional coaches share tips and student work is published in Perspectives magazine.