The Metro
"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media in Detroit.
Most Recent Episode
Navigating sobriety, substance use at Movement festival
We're just over a week away from Movement, Detroit’s annual electronic music festival. The event draws techno lovers from across the globe for three days of music, dancing, and for many people — heavy partying.
While Movement discourages and prohibits illegal or illicit drugs at the event, research from the National Institute of Health shows that electronic music festivals are typically "high-risk scenes for drug use."
Passenger Recovery is a Hamtramck organization offering recovery and mental health support and sober programming for musicians and/or other individuals in the local music scene.
Bryan Wolf, director of programming at Passenger, joined The Metro on Wednesday to share some resources and outreach efforts planned for Movement weekend.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
More Episodes
DWIHN launches mobile outreach clinic for preventive health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In Wayne County, one of the foremost organizations trying to ease residents' mental health burdens is the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN).
Last year, DWIHN began offering mobile mental health crisis services 24/7 to support residents facing mental health crises. The organization also expanded its mobile crisis unit services to children.
Just last week, DWIHN announced a new community outreach clinic to reach residents in Wayne County neighborhoods. Andrea Smith, director of innovation and community engagement for DWIHN, joined The Metro to discuss this new service and what they offer.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Mistrial for ex-cop who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya
A mistrial was declared earlier this month in the murder trial for Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr. He faced one count of second-degree murder for shooting and killing 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop in Grand Rapids in April 2022.
When Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, attempted to flee during the traffic stop, Schurr chased and tackled him to the ground, engaging in a physical struggle before fatally shooting Lyoya in the back of the head, according to the case.
The trial began about a month ago, and after nearly four days of deliberations, the jury failed to reach a consensus. For many, the incident brings to light concerning national statistics that show Black people are twice as likely as white people to be shot and killed by police.
Detroit Free Press politics reporter Arpan Lobo has been following the case closely. He joined The Metro to break it all down and share his reaction to the mistrial.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Detroit workshop aims to help small businesses thrive amid economic uncertainty
Uncertainty. That’s the word that economists are using to describe the U.S. economy lately.
It’s also the theme of an upcoming small business event.
The 11th annual Small Business Workshop, hosted by Michigan marketing consulting firm The LEE Group, will explore “strategies for resilience" in the face of economic uncertainty. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at the Corner Ballpark, and cover topics like the latest tariffs and how they are impacting small businesses.
Mark Lee, president and CEO of The Lee Group, joined The Metro to share more ahead of the event.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
State expands support for American Indian women facing assault
The National Institute of Justice reports that 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime.
To stop the violence, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding its work to assist the victims and families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).
Lorna Elliot-Egan, director of tribal government services and policy at MDHHS, told WDET’s Nargis Rahman that the department hopes to increase awareness and resources for Indigenous communities.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Former state lawmaker Adam Hollier on his third bid for Congress
Former state Sen. Adam Hollier announced last month that he is again running for Congress to unseat U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit).
Hollier filed to run against Thanedar in 2024, but was removed from the ballot after the Wayne County Clerk's Office said he failed to get enough valid petition signatures.
The Detroit Democrat joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the biggest issues he believes metro Detroiters in the state's 13th Congressional District are facing, along with what inspired him to run again.
"I live in the 13th District, I have been born and raised in the 13th District, I'm raising my children in the 13th District," Hollier said. "It is one of the poorest districts in the country, and what you should expect from your members of Congress — your elected representatives at any level — is that they are moving the ball forward. That they are making your life actually better. That they are delivering things that have a real impact, and that's not what we're seeing from Congressman Thanedar."
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
More than 700 Detroit students ready to showcase artistry on Fox Theatre stage
Detroit Public School Community District is hosting its 56th annual "Evening of Fine Arts" at the Fox Theatre on Wednesday, highlighting students' achievement in the arts over the past year.
The annual event was created to give students an opportunity to perform on grand stages like the Fox Theatre, while showcasing their artistic ability and the various arts disciplines offered by the district.
More than 700 middle and high school students will be performing this year, featuring everything from visual art and dance to music and theater.
Andrew McGuire, deputy director of performing arts at DPSCD, joined The Metro on Tuesday to share more about the event. He was joined by William Perkins, a junior vocal music major at the Detroit School of Arts, who spoke about the experience of performing at the Fox.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Why are men falling behind in college enrollment, completion?
Over the last few decades, there has been a growing gender gap in college enrollment and graduation rates — with boys and men falling behind.
According to the American Institute for Boys and Men, there were 2.4 million more women than men in undergraduate programs on U.S. campuses last year. Additionally, more women have college degrees today than men of the same age, the Pew Research Center reports.
That’s important, because the more education a person gets the lower their chances are of living in poverty. So if getting a college degree is still the recommended path to success, why aren’t men doing it? While college enrollment among men has declined in recent years, targeted programs and outreach efforts have emerged to reverse that trend.
Antonio Rivers is a 19-year-old industrial mechanic from Southfield. After graduating from high school in 2023, he enrolled in a vocational training program instead of college.
Rivers joined The Metro on Monday to talk about his decision to forgo a traditional four-year degree to become an industrial mechanic.
We also revisited a previous conversation with Curtis Lewis — founder of the Black Male Educators Alliance — about the organization's efforts to encourage more Black men to become teachers and why drawing more Black men into the classroom is vital.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
A closer look at Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners
The Detroit Documenters attend a range of public meetings and document what leaders and community members are saying. Their work helps us understand how government agencies, boards and commissions work — including Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners.
It oversees the Detroit Police Department for the community. It’s also in charge of approving promotions.
Earlier this month, two commissioners voted against the promotion of an officer. It’s something that rarely happens.
Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with Detroit Documenter Nachum Eichenhorn and Coordinator Noah Kincade to learn more about the Board of Police Commissioners’ role.
“Police are dealing with the apprehension and punishment of citizens for crimes,” Eichenhorn said. “[Police] reach out and touch people physically, and that requires a higher degree of scrutiny.”
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
UAW putting pressure on Detroit automakers to shift production to US
The impact from President Trump’s tariffs on vehicles and auto parts is shifting into a new gear.
Ford Motor Company says the tariffs have forced the automaker to raise prices on vehicles built in Mexico by as much as $2,000. Still, the company says it’s still not passing on the full cost of tariffs to buyers, and will continue charging discount prices until at least July 4.
Ford claims it’s in a better position than other domestic automakers because about 80% of the vehicles it sells in North America are already built in the U.S. The United Auto Workers argue that Detroit’s other car companies can do the same.
Twice last week, the UAW held rallies designed to pressure Stellantis into building more products at its U.S. factories, especially in Michigan. WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter visited one of the rallies at a union hall in Warren. He joined The Metro to share what he heard from union members.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Teen coders make Detroit-inspired video games in partnership with U-M
Detroit at Play is a workshop series led by the Taubman Visualization Lab at the University of Michigan.
Last month, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, high school students developed software engineering skills and designed video games.
Devaughn Washington is a 9th grade student who participated in the program. His team developed the game “Junkyard Mayhem,” where players find supplies in a junkyard and use it to fix up homes in a virtual Detroit-inspired world.
Washington joined The Metro to discuss the collaborative process of creating a game with a team of peers and what he learned. Director of the Taubman Visualization Lab Ishan Pal-Signh also joined the show.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Archdiocese of Detroit discusses the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s election
If you haven’t heard yet, the Catholic church has a new leader.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on Thursday to lead 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world. Interestingly, he’s from Chicago, which marks the first time the world has a pope from the United States.
In the 1970s, he attended a now-closed catholic high school in Southwest Michigan. On Saturday, he said he wants to focus on “loving care for the least and the rejected.”
Reverend Tim Wezner of the Archdiocese of Detroit joined The Metro to talk about the significance of an American pope and the pope’s influence beyond the Roman Catholic Church.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Michigan students are falling behind amid an unprecedented time in public education
Michigan schools have sputtered and stalled since the pandemic and advocates say the stakes are historically high.
According to a new report by the nonpartisan think tank Ed Trust-Midwest, Michigan ranks near the bottom nationwide in terms of how it funds students from low-income families.
Student learning, meanwhile, is stuck in a lethargic recovery following the virtual school days of COVID-19.
The report shows significant gaps in reading and math scores. Students from low-income households, students with disabilities, and Black and Latino students are all falling far behind.
At the same time, federal financial support for public schools remains uncertain as the Trump administration makes substantial cuts to the Department of Education.
These findings have animated a bipartisan group of Michigan leaders who say now is the time to act. They are calling for more investment, more accountability, and a concrete plan to support Michigan’s most vulnerable kids.
So what does this moment demand — and what happens if Michigan misses it? To answer these questions, Amber Arellano, executive director of Ed Trust-Midwest, joined The Metro.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Superfine tailoring breaking the mold at the Met Gala
Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Museum of American Art hosted its yearly Gala as part of its fundraising efforts for the museum. This year’s theme being ‘"Superfine tailoring Black Style" otherwise interpreted as, Black Dandyism.
Dandyism was a way of expressing confidence and personal revolutions within oneself. Born out of the struggles of enslavement, Black Americans found power in the way they presented themselves post slavery, during reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance and beyond, dressing well wasn’t up for debate, it was a way of life.
Entertainment consultant Afrikka Johnson joined The Metro on Thursday to talk about the theme after her experience attending this year, consulting for Miss Lauryn Hill.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Editor's note: Early in the conversation Johnson said that the Met Gala raised $71 million. The actual number is $31 million, but she is correct that it is the largest amount raised in the event’s 77-year history.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Detroit's Mosaic Youth Theatre to present modern retelling of 'Julius Caesar'
What does Shakespeare look like set in a Detroit high school? That's the idea behind “All Hail - A Contemporary Retelling of Julius Ceasar.”
It's the latest production from the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, which works with young performers in middle and high school throughout Detroit.
The play opens this weekend at the Detroit Film Theatre and runs through May 18.
WDET's Ryan Patrick Hooper spoke with "All Hail" playwright and director Shavonne Coleman about the production.
Editor's note: The Mosaic Youth Theater is an underwriter for WDET.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Reflecting on motherhood ahead of Mother's Day
No matter who you are, being a parent is a tough job. There’s no one definitive playbook for how to best love and guide your kids.
And mothers are frequently the ones to care and nurture us, to keep us in line when it matters and to expose us to different people and places.
The former U.S. Surgeon General said last year that parental stress is a significant public health issue. But we know that, in addition to the challenges, there are a lot of joys that come with motherhood.
There are opportunities for creating stronger connections, for providing and maybe sometimes receiving care and for expanding love.
And as Mother’s Day is coming up, we’re looking at what a day in the life of a mom is like. Today on The Metro, two mothers from different places in our region share their perspective on motherhood and what it means to them.
Ambra Redrick runs the nonprofit Teen Hype in Detroit. She has two biological daughters and her husband has two children that she helps raise as well. Lori Goldman is a mom of four.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Tiff Massey on year-long '7 Mile + Livernois' exhibit at DIA
7 Mile and Livernois is home to Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion and has been for many years. Thriving businesses line the streetscape with an array of shops, restaurants and art galleries — most of them Black-owned.
Detroit artist Tiff Massey shines a spotlight on this culturally rich neighborhood with her latest exhibit "7 Mile + Livernois" — which has been on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts for the past year. Massey is the youngest artist to have a solo exhibit on display at the DIA.
The exhibition — closing this weekend — features a variety of installations, public art and wearable sculptures that celebrate Black American culture and style. The DIA will host a closing celebration, “7 Mile + Livernois After Dark,” this Friday, with live performances from DJs Kesswa and Donavan Glover.
Massey joined The Metro on Thursday to reflect on the year-long exhibit before it closes.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Global Detroit leader on how to expand immigrant talent in Michigan
The Michigan Global Talent Initiative released a report saying Michigan is on track to add 125,000 college-educated immigrants to the state's job market as part of the state's Sixty by 30 goal.
The goal aims to have 60% of Michigan’s workforce to obtain a post-secondary degree or professional credential by 2030.
Steve Tobocman, executive director at Global Detroit, spoke with WDET's Nargis Rahman about the goal and what resources are being utilized to grow the number of high-skilled immigrants joinging Michigan's economy.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Breaking down Detroit’s mayoral race
For the first time in over a decade, Mayor Mike Duggan will not be on the ballot for Detroit mayor.
The longtime Democrat announced in December that he’ll instead be campaigning (as an independent) for Michigan governor — opening up a competitive field of candidates vying to fill his shoes.
That includes former Detroit police Chief James Craig, Detroit Councilmember Fred Durhal, Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins and attorney Todd Perkins.
As mayor, Duggan prioritized ridding the city of blight, revitalizing parks and recreation centers, and decreasing crime with the help of initiatives like community violence intervention programs.
Today on The Metro, BridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett breaks down the Detroit mayoral race and the candidates' priorities for the city. We also revisit a recent conversation with Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss about what she believes the city's new leadership should be prioritize.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Detroit's investments in affordable housing
Americans are struggling to find affordable places to live. With the cost of living, gas and groceries going up, Detroit it is no exception. According to a report from the Detroit Justice Center, Detroit is behind in supplying affordable homes to residents.
Still, this is an issue city leaders have tried to address. For the better part of a decade, officials have invested millions of dollars into affordable housing projects. But the city is still unable to keep up with demand. Those efforts have only multiplied in recent years.
Julia Cardi, an investigative reporter for The Detroit News, has been covering affordable housing in Detroit. She joined The Metro on Wednesday to talk about the city’s past investments and the work that’s happening now to bring more affordable housing to the city.
Also, MiSide Community Impact Network President Sean De Four joined the show to talk about Campbell Street Apartments — Southwest Detroit's new $18 million affordable housing development — ahead of the project's ribbon cutting.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson explains her 'purposeful' battle in new book
At the beginning of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's new memoir, armed protesters surround her house.
It’s December 2020, one month after the presidential election that Joe Biden won. He was not the preferred candidate of the armed mob shouting outside Benson's home.
The protestors yelled “treason” and “lock her up.”
In the moment, Michigan’s top election official tried to play it cool, all while her 4-year-old son sat unknowingly in front of the television watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Benson was indeed scared that night. But as she points out in her book, "The Purposeful Warrior," "standing up to bullies" is nothing new for her.
She did it investigating white supremacists in the American South, while she was dean of Wayne State’s law school, and during her tenure as Michigan’s Secretary of State amid President Donald Trump's lies of a stolen election.
Benson joined The Metro this week to discuss her new book and why she is running to be Michigan's next governor.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
New mobile unit aims to address needs of Detroit's homeless youth
There are many faces of housing insecurity and homelessness — sleeping in cars or cramped spaces, the constant fear of eviction, or exhausting, frequent moves.
It’s an issue hitting young people especially hard.
Nationwide, kids under the age of 18 experienced the largest increase in homelessness from 2023 to 2024.
In Michigan, more than 35,000 students experienced homelessness last school year. But research suggests those numbers are much higher. In other words, the problem can be dangerously invisible.
Detroit Phoenix Center has been working to address this quiet crisis. They provide housing for young people, and services, and support to help break the cycle of poverty.
Now, the center is taking some of these services on the road with a mobile unit. The brightly painted RV offers a place for kids to hang out, shower, snack, and even play video games.
Courtney Smith, the founder and executive director of the Detroit Phoenix Center, joined The Metro to discuss how this can make a dent in youth homelessness.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Defense attorney Amir Makled calls state's campus protest case 'selective prosecution'
Pro-Palestine protesters charged last year at the University of Michigan were celebrating in an Ann Arbor courtroom.
That’s because Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel dropped all charges against the protesters. They were facing misdemeanor and felony charges for trespassing and resisting and obstructing police.
In a statement, Nessel said, “the case has become a lightning rod of contention...and baseless and absurd allegations of bias have only furthered this divide.”
Advocates have doubled down on those allegations of bias, arguing that Nessel’s interest in the case was unusual and displayed a double standard.
Today on The Metro, we revisit our recent conversation with Defense attorney Amir Makled to give more context about the case.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Home construction is growing faster in these southeast Michigan communities
In southeast Michigan, there are a few places where home construction is growing a little faster.
The “exurbs,” including Lyon, Milford and Commerce townships, recorded some of the highest housing permits last year.
Today on The Metro, we revisit a conversation with President of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan Jeanette Schneider, who joined the show in January to shed light on this new wave of construction.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
New book explores the housing crisis that has divided Detroit
Housing policies are not just for the current time they’re created in. They produce laws and rules around housing that affects future generations, even if they weren’t intended to.
Detroit’s Black homeowners have faced systemic barriers due to predatory governance, which generates public revenue through discriminatory policies.
That’s one of the themes of the new book, “Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America.” The book explores restrictive housing policies such as racial covenants, redlining and property tax over-assessments.
Professor Bernadette Atuahene, the author of “Plundered,” works at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, focusing on land stolen from people in the African Diaspora. Her research highlights the urgent need for housing reforms to address racial inequities in property ownership.
She joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss her years spent in Detroit trying to understand the way housing policies have prevented or overturned homeownership for many Black folks in the region.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.