“I grew up in what I like to call the ‘front porch neighborhood,’ where people sat on their front porches and, as a result of that, not only did we have people who were looking out for us, we had people who are interested in our success.”
~ Michael Cheatham

Stamps alumni Ian Klipa (BFA ​‘15) and Jacob Saphier (BFA and B.S.E.Mech ​‘16), founders of the Detroit design stu­dio Donut Shop, have earned a spot among the final six teams in the 2021 City of Design Chal­lenge in…

By connecting spirituality and planning, June Manning Thomas says planners can transcend the profession’s limitations: “I’ve never expected that urban planning could solve deeply entrenched social problems that are embedded within bigger forces because urban planning is tied to bureaucracies that are dependent on what policies do or do not exist.” 

The pair joined Olympia Development as part of a company growth spurt following its opening of Little Caesars Arena — the home of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings — and plans to develop the surrounding area as The District Detroit.

As a new pastor Charles Williams III made sure to connect Historic King Solomon Baptist Church to its social service roots. He established a food pantry at the church, clothing giveaways, Thanksgiving meals and youth mentoring services. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Michigan in March 2020, Williams was ready to do more.

“What I love about DYV is the focus on simultaneously cultivating beautiful humanity and musicianship in each child. Their individual personal development is just as important to Clara as their music education.”
~ Monifa Lindo, mother of Detroit Youth Volume student

An important aspect of their mission is to continue building meaningful partnerships with businesses and organizations in the Detroit area that support and advance Detroit youth. Detroit Kids Matter is an online business with occasional pop-ups. 

The variety and volume of the efforts are a collaboration with Detroit’s neighborhoods, its community organizations and its residents. While the specific goals and partners of each effort vary, all of the work aims to help boost the vitality of Detroit and the region. 

Justin Golden, BBA ‘02, has partnered with several other U-M alumni to start Greatwater Opportunity Capital, a real estate private equity investment management and development firm focused on providing housing in Detroit’s neighborhoods.