“This work will require partnerships across city government—from HR to procurement— and collaboration with universities and our state partners, especially the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as well as Detroit’s best-in-the-nation nonprofit and philanthropic community.”
~ Luke Shaefer

“One of the things we’re working on right now is how we can continue to make Michigan even more founder-friendly and founder-centered, and how we build not only the economic opportunities, but also leadership opportunities. So many of our founders are not just launching companies, but they’re leaders in their communities and future leaders for all of us.”
~ Rishi Moudgil

Taubman College faculty-led projects aimed at expanding renewable energy usage in Ann Arbor, rehabbing vacant homes in Detroit, and converting invasive mussels harvested from the Great Lakes into insulation have received Climate Futures Research Grants.

The University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit is launching the Detroit Leadership Lab, a hands-on, three-week program designed to build practical leadership skills for real-world application, on May 16.

Engineering alum Jhawan Davis formed the Detroit Educational Takeover, a non-profit organization whose network of volunteers provides tutoring and other educational resources to Detroit Public Schools students. Since its inception in 2022, Davis estimates that the organization has provided free tutoring to around 600 students.

Now in its fifth year of funding, the 2026 Engage Detroit Workshops grant program has selected seven projects for awards. The program supports small teams of U-M faculty, staff, students and community partners in organizing workshops that strengthen partnerships between the University of Michigan and Detroit.

Through May 30, Blaustein will present new paintings in Field Guide, a two-person exhibition with textile artist Christy Matson at Library Street Collective in Detroit.

“This case is a prime example of why it is so important for our public officials to be willing to review instances of police misconduct. Mr. Calicut had never had any interaction with police prior to this case,” said Olivia Vigiletti, ’22, a clinical fellow with the Michigan Innocence Clinic and lead counsel on the case. 

Planet Detroit’s work models what locally rooted, public interest environmental journalism can look like by serving a greater purpose than providing information to the community. “We see journalism as a means to an end, as a means to drive people to do something, not just to inform, not just to entertain, but to actually inspire people to take action,” Nina Ignaczak said.