Outlier Media

Dana Kornberg was so thrilled to get her security deposit back that the check now hangs on her refrigerator door.  It took more than four years to get it.  outliermedia.org/detroit-secu...

Imagine covering your first assignment — a Highland Park City Council meeting — and half the council walks out midmeeting. 😳 That’s what happened to Carole Hawke-Diop, the curious-by-nature teacher who now covers meetings where residents make their voices heard. Meet @carolehawkediop.bsky.social:

A program meant to help Detroit Housing Commission tenants buy their homes is on hold indefinitely. Lenders rejected more than half of the prospective buyers in a program meant to help tenants purchase their homes. From @amondry.bsky.social: outliermedia.org/detroit-hous...

Check out the latest story from @outliermedia.org: outliermedia.org/newsletter/p...

A Detroit Housing Commission (DHC) initiative to sell its single-family homes to tenants has run into snags. DHC had hoped to close on its first 10 home sales to tenants in the spring. But lenders rejected most, and the program is now indefinitely on hold. outliermedia.org/detroit-hous...

Detroit, what’s good this week? 👋🏾 We’ve got ways to take care of yourself, show up for your neighbors, get outside and enjoy the city. One time-sensitive heads-up: Applications for repair assistance for homeowners near the old Fisher Body plant are due today.

No ID, no problem. You can still vote in Michigan. For now. There are state and federal efforts to require citizenship documents — like a birth certificate or passport — to vote. More than 1 in 4 Detroit residents likely face at least one barrier to presenting a current ID:

Nearly 1,900 Detroiters weighed in on the challenges facing their households. The finding that stood out? Major challenges increased across every category compared to last year. Plus, 96% said paying the electric bill was at least a minor challenge. The study with @fordschool.bsky.social:

Appreciate @wxyzdetroit.bsky.social having @kobylevin.bsky.social & I on today to talk about local police escalating minor stops into immigration arrests. Is your PD doing this? Find out in our investigation @michiganpublic.bsky.social & @outliermedia.org : www.michiganpublic.org/criminal-jus...

The weather’s absolutely gorgeous, so consider getting involved outdoors! After all, farms need harvesting, and trees need planting. The Nov. 3 election is also fast approaching, so if you’re unsure who to support for the Detroit public school board, we’ve got you. Get involved!

Guess where we found this out? When Detroit Documenter Paul Enns @psenns.bsky.social covered the Sept. 16 Board of Water Commissioners meeting! Catch up on the notes, transcript and agenda from the meeting here:

Detroit’s water department may decide to relocate from its historic downtown office building after routine work revealed costly structural problems. The building’s total repair needs are estimated at $30 to $40 million. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:

First off, if you aren’t registered for Documenters Speed Dating, what are you doing?! Come meet local industry professionals! Or, get involved with Detroit Heals Detroit, including getting free used clothes, new food, showers, laundry services and more. Plus, they’re hiring. Period. We love it.

Summer brought more than cookouts and long days. (Though we hope you enjoyed those, too.) In Detroit, residents dealt with ... *checks notes* ... extreme heat, storms, power outages, wildfire smoke and a string of food recalls. Want to take a trip down memory lane?

Did you know the DPD searched the Flock network at least 26,330 times in less than a year — with searches in seven other states? DPD said the tech helps solve crimes. But residents are concerned about how much data is collected and where it's shared. The latest from @kobylevin.bsky.social:

Detroit, get your money! Got a business idea? There’s funding for that. Growing food? There’s a workshop to help with that. Want to connect with other Detroiters? Guess what — there are meetings, fairs and networking events all week long. Gon’ get you some:

Help support Detroit Documenters like Marcia! Right now, your donations are doubled. 💛⤵️ #DocumentersOnDuty

We're still looking for folks struggling to afford their water bills! Reach out to Briana Rice at briana@outliermedia.org or reply here, and we'll connect you two!

Detroit Documenter Marcia Hartman logged into Zoom early. What she heard led to an investigation. Right now, up to $5,000 in donations is being matched by NewsMatch to keep Detroit Documenters on duty. Double your impact: lnkd.in/g5SCMeRG

Are you struggling to afford your water bills? Have you experienced a shutoff for nonpayment? I’m working on a story now about water affordability and what’s being done to keep water on for Detroiters. I’d like to talk with you! Please DM me or email me at briana@outliermedia.org. @outliermedia.org

Help design the Detroit you want to see. ... Except for saving those RenCen towers. You can forget it. 😭 Instead, clean up a neighborhood, share stories about motherhood, explore an urban garden, or share your POV through a survey. Get involved!

@outliermedia.org wrote about the Right to Renew laws here in Detroit last year outliermedia.org/detroit-tena...

“I don’t want to say I didn’t care because I was affected by things that happened, but I just didn’t think I had a voice.” Princess Brown started by taking notes at public meetings. That helped her find her voice — and become the newest member of the Tenants Rights Commission. Meet Princess!

September is doing that thing where summer refuses to leave, but fall is already standing at the door. 🍂 While we wait for cooler days, Detroit’s got jazz, harvest festivals, neighborhood parties, live music, dahlias, storytelling and a little early spooky season. From @samyaoverall.bsky.social:

Hey, Detroit! What are you up to this week? How about sharpening your business skills, learning to hold elected officials accountable or telling your property tax foreclosure story? You can also find your writing voice or try your hand at radio. Get involved!

Who owns your rental property? Want to know if your current or potential landlord has gotten a bunch of blight tickets? Evicted past tenants? Is behind on their taxes? Here’s a step-by-step guide on powerful online tools for researching your landlord, from @amondry.bsky.social:

A group of Detroit tenants is challenging the way evictions are handled in court, which they hope will improve housing conditions. But landlords warn this approach could destabilize the city’s already fragile rental market. They might both be right. The latest by @amondry.bsky.social:

Local police have handed migrants to the Trump admin in hundreds of cases. In dozens of communities, deportations can begin with trivial issues: cracked windshields, jaywalking, tinted windows A @michiganpublic.bsky.social & @outliermedia.org investigation: www.michiganpublic.org/criminal-jus...

Black August is wrapping up, but there are still plenty of ways to learn, heal and show love to your community. 🖤 Learn about women political prisoners, explore healing practices like yoga and bubble therapy, or join a panel on the history of the Black nation.

Come hang with Detroit Documenters at the park, then get trained to take paid assignments at public meetings! That’s only two things happening this week. You can also learn to research campaign donors, explore STEM careers or take a glowing night hike on Belle Isle. Got plans?

Charlene Richardson has applied for Detroit’s home repair assistance four times. She’s been denied each time. Nearly 9,700 households applied for the city’s latest assistance programs. No more than 350 will receive help this year, officials say. Applications reopen Sept. 9:

You’re already covering government meetings and learning the skills. How do you leverage that to get a job? Join us at Community of Practice to learn how to do that. Plus, get the scoop on free school supplies, health screenings and more as students prepare to return to school. Get involved:

Got Documenter experience? Join us Friday for Detroit Documenters Community of Practice, where Documenters will share tips for turning their experience into paid freelance and government consulting opportunities. Plus, individual resume consultations! 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Spread Art. See you there!

Skip the back-to-school shopping stress. We’ve rounded up more than a dozen events around Detroit this month with free backpacks and school supplies, plus perks like haircuts, bike giveaways, books, food and family fun. Here’s where to go before the first bell rings:

Welcome to August, Detroit! Here’s your sign to get organized. Want to join a roundtable for Detroit growers? Network with other entrepreneurs at TechTown? This list’s for you. Get involved: