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Vacant to vibrant: How Mama Shu transformed abandoned lots in Highland Park into a place for children

This is the first in an ongoing series to introduce Planet Detroit readers to residents who bring beauty and community to the vacant lots in their neighborhoods. We begin our series recounting the story of Mama Shu and Avalon Village in Highland Park – perhaps one of the most ambitious and iconic examples of vacant lot activation in the city. Do you have a story we should cover for this series? Please reach out to [email protected] .

I grew up in Detroit in the 80s and 90s, and all I ever heard about Highland Park were negative stories. It was certainly not a place you aspired to move to. 

So imagine my hesitation when I learned my soon-to-be husband purchased our first home in… Highland Park. We ended up not just moving here but staying – going on 22 years now. 

One of the first people I met when I moved to Highland Park in 2000 was Shamayim “Shu” Harris. She lived on our street and welcomed us to the city. We became fast friends from that point on. 

There are very few people that I have personally known with the strength my friend Shu exhibits. 

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In 2007, her two-year-old son, her youngest, was tragically killed on our street in a hit-and-run. Soon after, Shu had the vision to build a village on one of the worst blocks in Highland Park: Avalon Street, between Woodward and Second. This block was littered with vacant lots and structures in the aftermath of decades of drugs, prostitution, murders and fires. 

But where others saw tremendous blight, Mama Shu, as she is known, saw a place where she could “build a village in her community and most importantly for the children,” in her words. 

Mama Shu doesn’t have the credentials of a community developer or architect, but that didn’t stop her. Before there were donors, cameras, awards and recognition from countless organizations, Mama Shu moved into a home on Avalon Street with no running water, electricity or heat. Little by little, she started to fix the house and ran her ministry out of it. 

Then, with the help of a handful of volunteers, the block started to get cleaned up. The grass and trash on lots she did not own were being taken care of because of her. Like many others in Highland Park and Detroit, she took “ownership” of vacant lots she didn’t own because she did not want to live next to the trash. 

Shu didn’t want to have to move out to the suburbs to live in a well-cared-for community that is clean and beautiful and has nice shops, cafes, a library, a safe space for kids, a place to have events, play sports and enjoy a concert. 

“I shouldn’t have to move to have beautiful things around me,” she said.

So she decided that she would build all of that in Avalon Village.

One of the first projects in Avalon Village was a park dedicated to her two-year-old son, Jakobi RA. These were previously vacant lots with dumping and years of neglect. As a matter of fact, after the city had its lights repossessed due to its inability to pay its debt to DTE, Avalon Village installed the first residential solar light in Highland Park. 

The whole city was in the dark and Mama Shu did something to light up her block. The only problem was that she did not own the vacant lot the solar light was installed so she was ticketed. It’s a problem many local “lot activators” face – by doing good on land they don’t own, land that is a blight and danger to the community, they risk investing time and resources and even fines.

Shu owns that lot and many more now – approximately 40 parcels both vacant and with structures. She has plans for all of them. Last year, five more solar lights with WIFI were installed in Avalon Village in partnership with the nonprofit energy advocacy group Soulardarity – this time on lots that she already owns. When the power goes out – as it often does – that block has lights. Highland Park offers a model for city-wide community solar.

For the past decade, Jakobi RA Park has been a place for the community to enjoy – from birthday celebrations, weddings, concerts, movie nights, music camp, festivals, marketplace, community meetings, and community service initiatives. It now features a fire pit with seating to enjoy during these upcoming chilly fall days and nights. 

Adjacent to this park space is a home that was once on the demolition list. You wouldn’t believe that if you saw it today. After five years of transformation, The Homework House will officially open on Sept. 24. 

This celebration is bittersweet because there is one person who was instrumental in the village who is now an ancestor: Mama Shu’s 23-year-old son, Chinyelu, who was tragically killed in January of 2021 in Avalon Village – a collective loss to our community. A memorial garden in his name on one of the vacant lots in the village commemorates him. 

This Saturday at 3 p.m . Avalon Village will host a community open house in honor of the grand opening of The Homework House. It will also be a time to acknowledge all that Chinyelu did to contribute to the building of Avalon Village.

The Homework House is a safe haven for children in the heart of Avalon Village. It took five years to complete this project that will be a place for the children of the community to gather after school to have a warm meal, get help with their homework, learn life skills and more. 

The Homework House has all of the amenities of a home plus a library and music studio. There are several showers and children can also wash & dry their clothes if they are unable to do so at home. Every community needs a place like this. Remember, this house was supposed to be demolished and will now be a safe place for everyone to enjoy. 

On the other side of the Homework House is a recently installed basketball court with images of Mama Shu’s three sons that are all ancestors (one by marriage). Another vacant lot now houses a repurposed shipping container that will be an off-the-grid STEM lab once the funds for the inside equipment and furniture are raised. 

There is already a shipping container on another previously vacant lot that has been turned into a shop called the Goddess Marketplace, selling unique items and allowing women an opportunity to launch their business ideas. Both shipping containers have beautiful murals done by local artists and are powered by solar panels.

There is an annual weekend camp on several vacant lots so that children who wouldn’t normally get this experience can experience camping outside. It’s called Hood Camp: Urban Survival for Today’s Youth. The children who come learn about a range of topics and also do a community service activity. There are also several community garden spaces. On the remaining vacant lots, there will be a tennis court, playground, greenhouse, cafe, and more.

One thing that Mama Shu always does is thank everyone who had a hand in helping bring her vision to reality. This is not a one-person show. There have been countless people who have donated their time, money, and resources over the years. 

The majority of vacant lots in Detroit and Highland Park have areas for dumping, trash, and overgrown grass. These severely neglected neighborhood eyesores need visionary residents like Shu who are willing to do the unthinkable and invest their time and assets, often risking losing that investment or being fined,  to see past their blight and envision something better, something different, something beautiful.

This is one example of many that I will share in the coming weeks and months of how vacant lots are being repurposed into useful community gathering spaces and more. They are not just for community gardens. Let your imagination soar.

Angela Lugo-Thomas

Angela Lugo-Thomas, also known as Detroit Boricua, has a Puerto Rican heart with Detroit soul. She lives in Highland Park with her family and enjoys leading walking groups, gardening, dancing, photography, organizing community events, and is a member of several local groups and community organizations. Prior to joining Keep Growing Detroit as Garden Development Manager in November 2023, she was Planet Detroit’s Community Engagement Reporter where she published award-winning stories on grassroots leadership and community resiliency.

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by Angela Lugo-Thomas, Planet Detroit September 22, 2022

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Volunteers help to build Homework House for kids at the Avalon Village

When it comes to giving children a real chance at success, it takes a village.

In Highland Park, there is one. II’s called The Avalon Village it’s growing more and more every day.

Shamayim Harris “aka” Mama Shu, the founder of The Avalon Village, is expanding the property.

She is building a Homework House for kids in the community. It is under construction, by volunteers with Detroit Habituals.

“The Homework House is a home away from home, a place where they can eat. If they need to take a bath, shower. If they’re having hard times at home. Like,  maybe the gas, the lights, water is cut off, they can come here,” says, Shu.

The Homework House is a place for children to be educated, encouraged and get their basic needs met. This home will be their haven. 

Mama Shu had a vision. She was patient. She had a plan, and she had faith. 

However, she was running out of funds, until Shu met Scott Norris.

Norris is a volunteer with Detroit Habituals, a contractor by profession and he knows lots of them.

“I said hey, maybe we can help you get this thing going. We made a partnership and here we are,” says Norris, fondly. 

The eco-friendly Homework House is slated to be complete on the anniversary of Mama Shu’s two-year-old son’s death, a life that is celebrated at The Avalon Village every day.

If you’d like to find out how to help volunteer, search for Detroit Habituals on Facebook. Also, to learn more about The Avalon Village go to www.theavalonvillage.org .

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Highland Park's 'Mama Shu' is in the running for the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year award

A Highland Park community leader on a mission to turn "blight to beauty" in her city was named one of CNN's Top 10 Heroes and is in the running for the network's 2023 Hero of the Year award and $100,000 to support her work.

Shamayim "Mama Shu" Harris is the founder and CEO of Avalon Village, a nonprofit rejuvenating a block in Highland Park by creating spaces and offering support for the community. She is among a group of honorees providing scholarships and mentorship for young adults with incarcerated parents, restoring coral reefs in the Florida Keys and connecting migrant and refugee children in shelters with educational resources.

Through Avalon Village, the 58-year-old Harris is on a mission to transform vacant and abandoned lots and structures into a sustainable community on Avalon Street, between Woodward and Second avenues. Avalon Village also includes a  Homework House  for students, a marketplace for women entrepreneurs, a basketball court and a community garden . Avalon Village came about after the death of her 2-year old son, Jakobi RA Harris, in a hit and run in 2007. She founded the organization the year after and Avalon Village officially became a nonprofit in 2016.

"I needed to just basically change grief into glory, pain into power. I just tried to transform it and make it into something bearable and something beautiful," Harris told CNN .

Highland Park is a municipality located  within Detroit's city limits with a population of more than 8,600 . The city has gone through  tumultuous times , as properties emptied and streetlights dimmed. Avalon Village grew from about four lots, Harris said , to 45. It's a space for children to get tutoring in a house that feels like home and where women can run their businesses and network. Harris plans to grow the village with a cafe, greenhouse, restaurant, laundromat and market-rate housing.

AVALON VILLAGE: Highland Park's 'Mama Shu' opens Homework House after 6 years of development

"I would love to see all four blocks of Avalon look beautiful," she said in the CNN video. "I would love for it to be infectious. I would love for it to spread throughout the whole city. I remember every inch of how this whole block used to look. Folks hated to come over here, now they're like, 'Woah, what's going on over there?'"

For her work, Harris is one of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes — which recognizes everyday people improving the lives of others in extraordinary ways — and will receive a $10,000 prize, according to the network. People can vote to decide who will become the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year and get another $100,000 for their efforts.

Harris said she was elated to learn that she was among the top honorees . The exposure, she said, is an opportunity for people around the world to know that it's possible to revive neighborhoods in disrepair.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to inspire other folks that work in their neighborhoods and other grassroots organizations that are trying to make their spaces better," Harris said Thursday.

The $10,000 grant will help expand activities at the Homework House. If Avalon Village receives the additional $100,000 award, the funds would allow the nonprofit to complete an activities area, including a new playground, tennis court and fencing for a basketball court, Harris said.

"It would be just like hitting the lottery and just being able to get a little heads up on some of the things that we would love to have in our community," she said.

Go to CNNHeroes.com to learn more about the honorees, cast a vote or make donations, via GoFundMe. People can vote up to 10 times a day through Tuesday, Dec. 5. The votes can be for one nominee or divided among others.

CNN's Anderson Cooper will announce this year's CNN Hero of the Year on Sunday, Dec. 10, starting at 8 p.m.

Contact Nushrat Rahman: [email protected]; 313-348-7558. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter:  @NushratR .

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How a Grieving Mother Transformed a Neglected Block Near Detroit into a Village of Beauty and Opportunity

Shamayim Harris, also known as "Mama Shu", has endured the unimaginable pain of losing two of her children. Determined to transform her grief into something positive, she embarked on a mission to revitalize her struggling community in Highland Park, near Detroit, which had suffered as the automotive industry declined, with residents leaving, crime increasing, and storefronts closing. Mama Shu's vision began when she purchased a house on Avalon Street, despite not having the full funds. Over the years, she acquired additional lots and enlisted volunteers to clean up and refurbish the area. In 2016, she established the Avalon Village, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the street and creating a safe space for the community. The flagship project of the village is the Homework House, an after-school hub fully refurbished from an abandoned house. Equipped with a library, computers, a music studio, and more, Mama Shu wanted to provide resources lacking in the local schools. Avalon Village also features a STEM Lab, a basketball court, and the Goddess Marketplace, which supports women artisans and entrepreneurs. Mama Shu's ultimate goal is to continue expanding the village, including plans for a café, a greenhouse, a laundromat, and a wellness center. She envisions a beautiful Avalon Street spreading its positive impact throughout the entire city, fueled by her determination to honor her sons' spirits and resilience. An example to us all, Mama Shu has turned her grief into power, finding the energy to drive forward and create a better world.

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Highland Park's 'Mama Shu' is among USA Today's 2024 Women of the Year

Shamayim "Mama Shu" Harris is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in  2022  as a continuation of  Women of the Century , which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year’s honorees at  womenoftheyear.usatoday.com

From her porch on Avalon Street in Highland Park, Shamayim "Mama Shu" Harris has a clear view of the block she's transforming.

There's the Homework House , where kids can come to learn and play, eat a meal or take a shower. There's the Goddess Marketplace — a space for women entrepreneurs to sell their wares, from food and clothing to jewelry and candles. Across the street, there's the community garden , which — when in bloom — supplies fresh produce for visitors and serves an an outdoor classroom .

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During the summer, the porch is where Harris, 58, of Highland Park, holds meetings with her team, community leaders and students. She'll set up her desk out there, with her pencil case and calendar, and take appointments. She'll ask children playing basketball about their grades and if they ate breakfast. That porch leads into the first home she bought for Avalon Village — a nonprofit that seeks to transform vacant and abandoned lots and structures on Avalon Street into community spaces.

"My overall vision for Avalon Village is to have all four blocks of Avalon Street here in Highland Park totally transformed from blight to beauty, for it to be an example of a neighborhood that was once beautiful and that fell, that can also be beautiful again, that it can rise like a phoenix. That is what I want to show people and also for it to be an infectious example here in the community," said Harris, founder and CEO of Avalon Village. Harris is among USA TODAY’s 2024 Women of the Year, pushing for change and equality . To read about more amazing women, go to https://usatoday.com/women-of-the-year-2024 .

Avalon Village came about after the death of Harris' 2-year-old son, Jakobi RA Harris, in a hit and run in 2007. Because she was able to endure that loss, Harris said she felt invincible. But she had to brace for more. A few years later, her stepson, Pili Humphrey, died. Then, in 2021, her other son, Chinyelu Humphrey, was fatally shot .

Harris was born in Highland Park and grew up in Detroit. She moved back to Highland Park in 2003. She worked as a school administrator for nearly three decades and would see a dilapidated Avalon Street. Harris, who is also a minister, had a dream of fixing up the block but didn't have any properties then. Six months after Jakobi died, what would become Avalon Village's first home hit the market and she purchased the brick home for $3,000. She built a park in her son's name on the vacant lot nearby. Avalon Village officially became a nonprofit in 2016.

Now, Avalon Village includes nearly 45 parcels of land — about 95% of Avalon Street, between Woodward and Second avenues, she said. This year, Harris wants to expand the Goddess Marketplace and add fencing and stadium bleachers for its basketball court. Over the next decade or two, Harris envisions blocks filled with homes, urban gardens and playgrounds, surrounding a downtown Avalon Village.

She feels as though her sons are still with her, speaking to her over her shoulder, influencing her actions. Harris turned her devastation into resilience.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Question: Who paved the way for you?

Answer: My mother was always one that she knew that I kind of wanted to do something kind of different. ... My mom died when she was 48-years-old back in 1995. ... But I would say that some of the women that as a little girl that I would listen to ... I think about women like Martha Jean "The Queen." I think about Mother Waddles . I think about those women back in the day and their work.

Q: What would you say is your proudest moment?

A: I had a lot of proud moments but I'm gonna say when I finished the Homework House. I was so glad to have that space for the children. I worked on that thing for five years and some change. And I was able to actually finish it. I got my certificate of occupancy one year after Chinyelu got killed to the date, on 1/26/22. I got my OK from the inspectors and everything ... we had the total grand opening September of 2022. I was so happy. I couldn't believe it.

Q: What would you say is the lowest moment in this work that you've been doing and how did you overcome it?

A: When my son (Chinyelu) got killed. That happened right there where we actually built his garden and it made me want to protect the space more, even though that was like an isolated thing that happened. It just made me want to protect the space more and to really make sure that everything and everybody was safe, that had something to do with the village.

Q: What is your definition of courage?

A: My definition of courage is the ability to keep it moving even after the worst thing has happened.

Q: What is it that allows you to be able to do that, to pick up and keep going after each setback?

A: What allows me to keep going is … that passion for actually doing what it is that I'm doing, restoring the neighborhood, building a village. That was divinely set inside me. And the things that happened just were things that happened along the journey. But the thing inside of me, that was placed inside of me to help and be a service in my community, it overgrew that. … I still got to do the work. I know the boys not here anymore. However, this thing is still very, very important. This is still my work. ... I can't turn back.

Q: Is there a guiding principle or a mantra that you tell yourself?

A: Yes and it is, have no fear.

Q: Who do you look up to?

A: The people that I actually look up to were some elders in my life. ... My friend Marvis Cofield was just a wonderful example of a man that was actually action oriented and he taught me martial arts. Imani Humphrey who built institutions for children, a high school and a elementary school for children. Mama Ayo ... she had a big center on the east side called Kabaz Cultural Center and I spent time with her ... at her feet learning different things. Those are some people that I actually look up to and I feel that actually my work is because of them. I think that it is actually a continuation. ... Build for your community, build your own schools, build your shops — all of that. Be self sufficient. This is what was pounded in me when I was younger.

Q: How do you overcome adversity?

A: I overcome adversity by continuing to be creative, being able to still create — that's how I overcome adversity. Building this village has been a thing where, OK, I got some of this heavy stuff inside of my heart and in my mind every single day, but just to look at something beautiful and to continue the work, that really helps me. This place and things like this and this project actually helps me keep things moving.

Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?

A: Have no fear, have no fear about nothing. For real, just do it, do it. I mean not in a reckless type of way ... but just don't have no fear. Do what it is that makes you happy — you happy. That's the key. Nobody else.

Contact Nushrat Rahman: [email protected]; 313-348-7558. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter:  @NushratR .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Highland Park's 'Mama Shu' is among USA Today's 2024 Women of the Year

Highland Park activist 'Mama Shu' up for $100K in 2023 CNN Hero of the Year award

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (FOX 2) - After several hardships and years of giving back to her community, a Highland Park activist has been named one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes .

Shamayim Harris, better known as Mama Shu, is the founder and CEO of Avalon Village and The Homework House in Highland Park.

She said receiving this recognition makes her feel "totally elated," and honored for an opportunity to show more people "how you can actually transform blight to beauty."

After the tragic hit-and-run death of her 2-year-old son Jakobi in 2007, Mama Shu took action to transform her struggling neighborhood. Purchasing 45 surrounding lots of land, she created The Avalon Village – a sustainable eco-village that provides its residents with resources, youth programming, gardens, small business support, activities and more. 

Highland Park activist Mama Shu among 2023 Top 10 CNN Heroes

To help Mama Shu secure an additional $100,000 for Avalon Village in Highland Park, vote for her to win the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year.

In 2021, tragedy struck again. Mama Shu's 23-year-old son , Chinyelu Humphrey, was shot and killed in front of their home. Despite her providing an eyewitness account, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder.

"Working on Avalon Village has been really healing," Mama Shu said. "When Chinyelu got killed I had considered – like you know, what I’m just so tired of this. …I just remembered how the vision years and years ago was set on my heart."

Now, she needs the public's vote to win the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year award and secure an additional $100,000 for her community. 

The prize money would aid Avalon Village in expanding the activities section of The Homework House. Originally scheduled for demolition, this house was transformed by Mama Shu and volunteers into a safe place for children to do their homework after school.

Highland Park activist Mama Shu, volunteers transform blighted house into homework space for kids

"Everybody’s rooting for us. Everybody is voting and voting and voting," Mama Shu said. "They want us to win the $100,000 prize so that I can add to my work."

To vote for Mama Shu and Avalon Village, click here . You can vote every day through Dec. 5.

To further support the community, a GoFundMe account has been organized by the Avalon Village team.

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The Homework House is a safe place for children in the heart of Avalon Village. It took 6-years to complete this project and it will give the children of the community a place to gather after school to have a warm meal, get help with their homework, learn life skills, and more!

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Remarks by Vice President Harris During the Nationwide Economic Opportunity   Tour

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Detroit, Michigan

2:23 P.M. EDT

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon, Detroit.  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  It’s good to be back.  Good afternoon.  Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.      I want to thank Ron Busby.  We have — many of us have worked with him over the years and know: As president of the U.S. Black Chambers, he has been an extraordinary leader to an essential organization in our fight for economic empowerment.  Can we please hear it for Ron Busby and his courageous leadership?  (Applause.)      And I want to thank all of the extraordinary leaders who are here today.  Secretary of Energy and the former governor of this state, Jennifer Granholm — (applause) — who traveled with me today on Air Force Two from Washington, D.C.  She said, “I have got to be in Michigan.”  (Laughter.)      I want to thank Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su for all you do to fight for the working people of America.  (Applause.)       Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, thank you for your extraordinary leadership.  (Applause.)      Representative Shri Thanedar, thank you for you and your being here.  And he is somewhere here.  Thank you.  (Applause.)      And I want to thank also Representative Steven Horsford, who is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.  (Applause.)      And Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Garlin Gilchrist.  Thank you.  (Applause.)      So, Michigan, you know, I believe that America’s economy is powered by the ambition and the aspiration of her people — the ambition and aspiration to innovate, to create, and to prosper.       Therefore, to grow our economy, we must invest in that ambition and those aspirations.  I believe every person in our country, then, must have access to the opportunity to compete, to succeed, and to thrive; the ability to achieve what I call financial freedom, which means having enough not just to get by but to get ahead — (applause) — to be able to build a business, to own a home, to start a family, and to create intergenerational wealth.       Which is why, over the past three years, the President and I have invested now trillions of dollars in America’s infrastructure, in clean energy and a clean energy economy, in manufacturing, and in supply chains.       Our work is also guided by the understanding that there are certain communities that have faced, historically and currently, profound obstacles to acquire that opportunity.       And I’ll tell you over the last three years, both in the White House and at the Vice President’s Residence, where I live — (laughter) — I have convened Black entrepreneurs from around the country to solicit their advice and leverage their expertise as to how we can have the greatest impact with the billions of dollars that we are investing and to identify the challenges they face in building financial security and wealth, including disparities in access to capital and lending, disparities in homeownership and access to government contracts, to obstacles like student loan debt and medical debt.       President Biden and I have invested hundreds of billions of dollars to address these disparities.  And I launched, then, this national tour, the Economic Opportunity Tour, to bring together entrepreneurs, businessowners, and community leaders together with representatives from the United States Departments of Commerce and Energy and Housing and Labor and Treasury and the Small Business Administration — and the Undersecretary the SBA is with us as well — to make sure founders and families have the information and assistance to access the resources they need.       For example, on the subject of access to capital.  We all know Black entrepreneurs do not lack for ideas or ambition but often lack the capital that is necessary to turn an idea into a thriving business, to invest in inventory, hire employees, to scale up.       In fact, Black entrepreneurs are three times as likely to not apply for a loan, for fear they’re going to be turned away from a bank.       So, two years ago, I founded the Economic Opportunity Coalition — a group of 31 companies and nonprofits — including, for example, the Bank of America, MasterCard, and the Ford Foundation — that are working currently to invest $3 billion in community banks — banks which we know are uniquely designed to serve minority and women entrepreneurs.       And this builds on the work that I did when I was a United States senator in 2020 to invest $12 billion more in our community banks.  (Applause.)  Thank you.      And understand: This work is helping Black businesses receive loans not only for thousands of dollars, but for millions of dollars.       For example, I’m proud to announce we are investing $100 million in small- and medium-sized auto supply companies, many of which — (applause) — many of which are Black-owned and based right here in Michigan.  These grants will allow businesses to upgrade production and production lines to produce parts for electric vehicles.       I’m also pleased to announce the launch of a new program that will match government-backed loans with private equity capital to help small- and mid-size auto suppliers access loans from a quarter million dollars to 10 million dollars.  (Applause.)      The strength of America’s economy is also based on the strength of America’s supply chains.  We all learned that in the pandemic, if we weren’t clear before.       This investment will help to keep our auto supply chains here in America, which strengthens America’s economy overall, and keep those jobs here in Detroit.  (Applause.)      We are also axpending [sic] — expanding, excuse me, access to government contracts — government contracts.  At the beginning of our administration, President Joe Biden and I pledged to increase federal contracts for minority-owned small businesses by 50 percent, knowing that, traditionally and historically, folks didn’t necessarily have access to the relationships to get those contracts.       And we are on track to meet our goal by the end of next year, which means — (applause) — which means thousands more minority entrepreneurs with contracts worth hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars — contracts which can last up to five years with the option to renew for 10, 20, and 30 years.  Think about what that means in terms of a sustained investment and all of the folks that, over a period of time, will benefit.       Now, I also want to point out — because there is a contrast here between us and the last administration.  The last administration invested access to tax cuts for billionaires.  We are investing in access to capital for entrepreneurs.  (Applause.)      And this work and our overall perspective is that we must understand that if we want a great return on investment, we must understand the natural resources that are available and then see that and invest in those resources.       To strengthen America’s economy, we are also helping more people buy a home.  Homeownership is one of the most powerful engines of intergenerational wealth.  It builds equity, which can help pay for a child’s college education or provide equity that then can be used as startup capital to start a business.      But as a result of lasting legacies of structural inequities — such as segregation, redlining, and so-called urban renewal — today, Black Americans are 40 percent less likely to own a home.  And homeown- — this is a sad fact — and homeownership rates for Black men have been falling for three decades straight.  We’ve got to do something about that.       So, to help address these disparities in our budget, President Biden and I outlined a blueprint to provide folks who are first in their family to buy a home with $25,000 toward a down payment — (applause); to give families up to $400 a month to help with a mortgage; and to build 2 million units of affordable housing to lower costs for homebuyers and renters.  (Applause.)      We are also calling out and addressing the issue of racial bias in home appraisals.  (Applause.)  We all know the stories.  We’ve heard the stories.  The stories like of a Black family that gets a home appraisal and the valuation is much lower than they know what their home is worth.  So, they get a new appraisal, only this time they replace their photographs with photos of a family friend who is white, and they ask that family to bring in the appraiser.  And the new appraisal is much higher.  We’ve heard those stories.       Today, I’m proud to report that we have made it now easier for more homeowners to appeal home appraisals.  And we have reached a commitment that all licensed home appraisers be required to complete racial bias training.  (Applause.)      And, by the way, one of the people who is not present with us today that I want to thank is former Secretary of HUD Marcia Fudge — (applause) — all that she did to make sure this would happen.       So, the bottom line is that every family, I believe — every family, whatever their background, their race, their geographic location — has a right to the full and fair value of their home.       In addition to increasing opportunity, we have also focused on removing obstacles.  One big obstacle to wealth-building is debt.  While an issue for many people, Black Americans are twice as likely to have medical debt and more likely to struggle to repay student loan debt.       For anyone carrying debt, we know it is much more difficult, then, to save for a house, to grow a small business, to build intergenerational wealth.  And it just plain makes people feel like they can never get ahead.       So, President Biden and I have made debt forgiveness a central pillar of our economic agenda.  And we have already forgiven about $500 million of medical debt for hundreds of thousands of Americans across the nation.  (Applause.)      And in Wayne County, Michigan, we will forgive an additional $700 million of medical debt for as many as 300,000 people.  (Applause.)      And there’s more.  We are also implementing a rule — and this is critically important — we are also implementing a rule that medical debt cannot be used in calculating your credit score — (applause) — which means medical debt cannot be the reason someone is denied a car loan, a home loan, or a small-business loan.  (Applause.)      On the issue of student loan debt, we have also forgiven nearly $160 billion — billion — for more than four and a half million people.       On average, more than $30,000 per person and $70,000 for our public servants, like nurses, firefighters, and teachers — and God knows we don’t pay them enough as it is, so it’s only right.       And please, to everyone here, all the leaders, help us get the word out on the student loan debt issue.  Your student loan debt can be forgiven, even if you didn’t graduate.  Please help us get the word out because it’s only logical.  Think about it.  How many people have to drop out because they can’t afford tuition?  (Applause.)  They don’t graduate, and they still have the debt.       So, Detroit, I’ll end with this.  All of our work — whether it be debt forgiveness, affordable housing, government contracts, or access to capital — it is all guided by a fundamental principle.  President Biden and I believe in you.  We believe in the people of our country.       And so, we believe that it is a great return on the investment to invest in the people of America and to invest, as we have discussed today, in your business, in your financial security, and your wealth.       And this approach is working.  Since taking office, we have seen record Black small-business growth and we have created more than two and a half million new jobs for Black workers.  And since 2019, Black wealth is up 60 percent.       So, President Biden and I are clear.  These are not only our accomplishments, they are yours.  It is the result of your drive, your creativity, and your power.       And so, I’ll end with this, Detroit.  Together, let us continue to invest in the ambition and aspirations of our people — of the American people.  Together, let us continue to help folks create wealth and achieve financial freedom.  And together, let us continue to build a nation where every person has the opportunity to compete, prosper, and thrive.       Thank you, all.  God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.) END                                 2:41 P.M. EDT

# # # 

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NFL Draft rumor: Detroit Lions may have picked Terrion Arnold at perfect time

The Lions may have drafted Terrion Arnold at the exact right time, preventing him from landing with a divisional rival.

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Share All sharing options for: NFL Draft rumor: Detroit Lions may have picked Terrion Arnold at perfect time

We’ve seen a couple of Green Bay Packers fans freak out in the wake of the 2024 NFL Draft’s first round , and this bit of news isn’t likely going to make them feel any better.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who published NFL Draft whispers about every team , the Detroit Lions may have jumped to the perfect spot in the draft to select Terrion Arnold. On draft night, the Lions sent a third-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys to move up from Pick 29 to Pick 24—just before the Packers ’ pick at 25—to select Arnold. And according to Fowler, the Packers had done their homework and were very interested in Arnold.

“The Packers at No. 25 were among the teams that Arnold’s camp had firmly on the radar entering the 20s,” Fowler wrote. “The belief is Green Bay had Arnold rated highly.”

Now, Fowler doesn’t outright say the Packers were going to pick Arnold, but it’s worth noting that Green Bay could certainly use him. Though they have a No. 1 cornerback in Jaire Alexander, they just declined the fifth-year option of their other projected starter, Eric Stokes. As for their depth, it includes veteran, minimum-salaried Corey Ballentine and 2023 seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine.

Meanwhile, the Lions have a completely restacked cornerback room after troubles in the secondary for the past half-decade. Not only did the Lions add Arnold, but they drafted Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round, traded for Carlton Davis in the offseason, signed Amik Robertson in free agency, and re-signed Emmanuel Moseley, Kindle Vildor, and Khalil Dorsey. Now Arnold will join that group for a logjam , bloodbath , healthy competition in the cornerback room.

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Entertainment News

The 20 best haunted house movies

Real estate is always about location, location, location. But what happens if you don't look at the foundation and history of where you're living? You might end up with termites, rats... or even ghosts! The haunted house genre plays on our fear of picking the wrong place to live and stabs our safe space with a cinematic knife. What's more scary than being trapped in your own home? Here are some great titles that will make you second-guess walking to the bathroom at night.

House (1977)

Not even the best fixer-uppers in the world can save this haunted house. I mean, how do you combat watermelons that talk, cats that fly and pianos that eat people? You don't. This Japanese horror flick is like a bad acid trip with a nice feeling.

The Conjuring (2013)

Why would anyone buy this Victorian atrocity? The trees are dead, the hills are foggy and there's a dang noose outside. Luckily the owners have called paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Newman, who are based on the real-life paranormal investigators in charge of the case.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

James Wan's follow-up to the successful original might not be as spooky, but it works just the same. The audience I saw it with were gasping from their seats.

Poltergeist (1982)

A young girl gets abducted by ghosts when her family moves into a new house. A number of movies have a similar premise, but this one is elevated by Spielbergian charm, colorful prosthetics and some of the most iconic scenes in the genre.

A Ghost Story (2017)

Every ghost in cinema carries memories with them. Most of them are hurtful, but this one carries the memories of a marriage.  A Ghost Story is a profound and profoundly different take on the haunted-house formula. It's a house haunted by attraction.

Hereditary (2018)

The greatest horror movie of the 21st century so far — as far as I can remember — is set in a house haunted by grief. Along with spirits, folk tales and creepy figurines, the family is haunted by the death of their matriarch, who might have some secrets hiding under her doormat.

The Innocents (1961)

Lots of young people like to house-sit these days. They get paid to sit on the couch, watch TV and maybe help a child with their homework. But Miss Giddens gets more than she bargained for when she wanders into this creaky mansion. The Innocents laid the groundwork for a new type of horror film, one set around creaky halls and cold basements.

The Haunting (1963)

Another film that set the blueprint for haunted houses. T he Haunting sees a paranormal investigator get roped into a deadly case with a group of people he brings along to investigates a seemingly haunted mansion.

Evil Dead II (1987)

Sam Raimi remade his own horror flick with Evil Dead II, in which a group of strangers rent out the wrong cabin. In the second installment, he gets rid of the original's dark tone in favor of a slapstick vibe. The result is like Buster Keaton meets  The Haunting; a blend of horror and comedy that sticks to you like prickly branches to a cashmere sweater.

Beetlejuice (1988)

Haunted houses can be funny too, you know. Just look at Tim Burton's comedy about a haunted house infested with humans. Yeah, you read that right: this time it's the humans who are invading a rickety home.

Monster House (2006)

Three kids investigate a home they believe is alive, which makes for all sorts of lively scenarios. In  Monster House , children get a taste of what makes this subgenre so special.

The Shining (1980)

All work and no play makes for one of the greatest haunted houses in cinema. In the Overlook Hotel, a bunch of ghosts whisper from the walls, a couple twins leer from the halls and a father tries to murder his family with an axe. Heeeere's a classic you don't want to miss.

The Amityville Horror (1979)

A couple buys a home where a mass murder recently took place. What could go wrong? A lot of things, actually. Starting with a house that wants them dead.

Insidious (2010)

It's a haunted house where the characters actually leave the house. Too bad the entity follows them wherever they go. James Wan's follow-up to  The Conjuring  makes for another relentless fright-fest.

Psycho (1960)

The motel isn't actually haunted in Psycho , but the walls echo with a madman's hallucinations. They creak, freak and eventually shriek when our heroine decides to take a shower. Alfred Hitchcock's classic feels like a haunted house flick even if it's technically not.

Eyes Without a Face (1960)

Who said haunted houses had to be run by ghosts? They can be run by psychotic fathers who skin their victims alive to help repair their daughter's face. Eyes Without a Face is poetry that goes more than skin deep — it takes a scalpel to the soul.

The Uninvited (1944)

One of the earliest examples of the haunted house genre, this film set in pre-WWII England follows a brother-sister duo who can't resist buying a suspiciously-cheap seaside manor. They soon find out why it was such a bargain as they become embroiled in another family's drama, embodied by a mysterious spirit haunting their new home.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Want something a little more light with your haunted house? The Ghostbusters make for a fine comedic team, one that can get rid of any ghost haunting your house. Who you gonna call?

Repulsion (1965)

The apartment in Repulsion reflects the cracked, crumbling and shattered structure of a character's mind. She's alone for a week with no one to help her. It's only a matter of days before the walls start closing in.

Suspiria (1977)

If you're thinking about joining a ballet school, Dario Argento's classic will change your mind for good. As we enter a ballet school run by witches, we are confronted with some of the most surreal, hypnotic and immersive images ever put on film. Suspiria dances on screen before twirling majestically in your dreams. It's a great slice of horror.

Asher Luberto is a film critic for L.A. Weekly, The Playlist, The Progressive and The Village Voice.

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House Republicans will turn to K-12 schools in latest antisemitism probe

Washington — The leaders of three large public school systems will appear before Congress on Wednesday to answer questions about how they have handled incidents of antisemitism on their school campuses.

The witnesses scheduled to testify before a House Education and Workforce subcommittee represent New York City Public Schools, the Berkeley Unified School District in California and the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.

The hearing comes amid a series of inquiries by the Republican-led committee into how universities have responded to pro-Palestinian student protests on campuses.

Those earlier hearings have been heated — the first in December precipitated the resignations of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, the testimony of Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, escalated into weeks of protests that spread beyond her campus to colleges across the country.

Wednesday’s hearing will be the first to focus on K-12 schools.

Speaking to reporters last week, David Banks, the chancellor of New York City Public Schools, acknowledged that the school system had not been perfect in handling issues in schools that have emerged since the start of the Israel-Hamas war but that he was proud of how leadership had responded.

Banks said he would not be defensive in his appearance before the panel but seemed critical of how previous hearings had quickly been reduced to viral moments and video clips.

“I fundamentally believe that if we truly care about solving for antisemitism, you don’t do it through cheap political theater and cheap soundbites," he said. "Putting a spotlight on any particular individual and sometimes trying to create gotcha moments and viral moments is not how you ultimately solve problems you deeply care about.”

Both New York City and Montgomery Public Schools are subjects of Education Department civil rights investigations into allegations of antisemitism. Both cases center on whether the districts responded to harassment of students in a manner consistent with Title VI, which prevents harassment based on shared ancestry. Karla Silvestre, the board president of Montgomery County Public Schools, was scheduled to testify at the hearing.

In February, the Brandeis Center, a Jewish legal advocacy organization, filed a complaint with the department's Office of Civil Rights, citing incidents of bullying and harassment of Jewish students in the Berkeley district, including one instance where the phrase “Kill Jews” was found written in a high school bathroom.

In a statement, the district said Berkeley Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel “did not seek this invitation" but would testify.

“Berkeley Unified celebrates our diversity and stands against all forms of hate and othering, including antisemitism and Islamophobia," the statement said. "We strive every day to ensure that our classrooms are respectful, humanizing, and joyful places for all our students, where they are welcomed, seen, valued, and heard.”

All three districts, in predominantly liberal areas, have diverse student populations and a sizeable Jewish American community.

School leaders will also likely face questions on issues of free speech and how much oversight is given to teachers' actions, including on their personal social media presence outside of school.

In a lawsuit filed against Montgomery County Public Schools by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, three teachers alleged the district placed them on leave and investigated them because they expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments, some of which were on their personal social media pages.

Student-led Pro-Palestinian protests have taken place in high schools across the country, including in the three districts that will appear before Congress. The demonstrations include walkouts during school hours, and like their college counterparts, include the question of whether certain phrases, including “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”, which can mean widely different things to different groups, cross the line into antisemitism.

Tlaib Statement on the Ongoing Genocide of Palestinians and Invasion of Rafah

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) released the following statement on the Israeli government’s ground invasion of Rafah:

“It’s no coincidence that immediately after our government sent the Israeli apartheid regime over $14 billion with absolutely no conditions on upholding human rights, Netanyahu began a ground invasion of Rafah to continue the genocide of Palestinians—with ammunition and bombs paid for by our tax dollars. Over 1.5 million Palestinian civilians, including over 600,000 children, are trapped in Rafah, living in makeshift tents, without food, clean water, sanitation, medicine, or any form of shelter. Israeli forces have already killed over 35,000 Palestinians, and the families displaced in Rafah will now face even more unimaginable human suffering. Many of my colleagues are going to express concern and horror at the crimes against humanity that are about to unfold, even though they just voted to send Netanyahu billions more in weapons. Do not be misled, they gave their consent for these atrocities, and our country is actively participating in genocide. For months, Netanyahu made his intent to invade Rafah clear, yet the majority of my colleagues and President Biden sent more weapons to enable the massacre.

“There is nowhere safe in Gaza. Nearly 80% of the civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. There is no feasible evacuation plan, and the Israeli government is only trying to provide a false pretense of safety to try to maintain legal cover at the International Court of Justice. Netanyahu knows that he will only stay in power as long as the fighting continues. It is now more apparent than ever that we must end all U.S. military funding for the Israeli apartheid regime, and demand that President Biden facilitate an immediate, permanent ceasefire that includes a complete withdraw of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians. I urge the ICC to swiftly issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials to finally hold them accountable for this genocide, as is obviously warranted by these well-documented violations of the Genocide Convention under international law.”

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Tlaib, dingell introduce resolution recognizing arab american heritage month.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) re-introduced a resolution recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month to honor the incredible contributions Arab Americans have made in the United States. “It is always an honor to introduce this resolution recognizing Arab American Heritage Month,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. “As a […]

Tlaib Opposes Reauthorizing Unchecked Government Surveillance

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7888: “It’s extremely disturbing that our government under both parties continues to abuse the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to surveil and spy on Americans in violation of our civil liberties, disproportionately targeting Black and brown communities. I voted to […]

Detroit Metro Times: Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza visits Michigan to speak at U-M and meet with Rashida Tlaib

Throughout the last six months, Palestinian citizens have taken on the vital role of journalism, capturing horrors in Gaza through videos and photographs shared across social media platforms. Among many, some of the most prominent faces have been Bisan Owda, Plestia Alaqad, and Motaz Azaiza, gaining millions of followers worldwide who not only seek updates on the conflict […]

Watch CBS News

Michigan woman makes great strides in revitalizing neighborhood

By Steve Hartman

November 25, 2016 / 7:31 PM EST / CBS News

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. --  Never underestimate the power of a woman with big ideas.

Highland Park, Michigan, next to Detroit, has all the makings of a ghost town. One building was the library. Another was the high school. Much of the town just plain “was.” 

But as “On the Road” first reported in July , that wasn’t enough to stop this one imagination. 

“I just felt that it was a space to build and do things on,” said Shamayim Harris.

When “On the Road” asked Harris to run through her background in urban planning, she laughed and said: “I don’t have anything in urban planning except for sitting on this porch conjuring up what I want to do on this block. That’s it.” 

“Look at all this space. We can do anything we want,” she said.

Harris, a one-time school administrator, is now architect of the most unlikely redevelopment project in Michigan. 

“We own the lot on the corner,” Harris said. 

Several years ago she set up a nonprofit, got donations, and started reversing the decline on her block. Most of the workers are volunteers, she said.

“She embraces everyone. She tries to uplift everyone,” one volunteer said. 

“When she needs something done, she knows exactly who to call,” said another. “And it’s going to get done. That’s why Mama Shu is so amazing.” 

They call her “Mama Shu,” and they say she’ll put a boot in your behind if you don’t help her rebuild this block of Avalon Street, where she has plans for a park and an after-school homework house, as well as basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. She also has plans for a greenhouse and café that will take over an old garage, and much more. 

“You’re going to see this whole block looking like some of the suburban blocks that I see with the grass trimmed and flowers and all of that,” Harris said. “That’s what you’re gonna see.” 

Mama Shu says she is driven to do all this partly for her community and partly as a tribute to her son, Jakobi. Back in 2007, Jakobi was killed by a hit-and-run driver. He was 2 years old -- and is still very much in her heart and on her shoulder.

“’Go, Mommy, go!’ He says that, ‘Go, Mommy, go!’” she said, describing it as being like whispering in her ear “all the time.”

“Demanding. And won’t take no for an answer,” Harris said. “That’s my boy.”

Since “On the Road” first told this story, workers have completed the park and most of the homework house. Ellen DeGeneres donated a whole building that will serve as village headquarters. 

And Mama Shu won an award -- for Humanitarian of the Year . 

She has much to be thankful for this weekend -- and even more to look forward to.

“I want it to be something infectious,” she said. “I want other people to know what they can do to their neighborhoods. You can do it.” 

Take it from a bubbling fountain of living proof.  

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, email us: [email protected]

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Steve Hartman is a CBS News correspondent. He brings viewers moving stories from the unique people he meets in his weekly award-winning feature segment "On the Road."

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Open house, concert planned for Michigan Central Station reopening: How to get tickets

Corktown neighbors get first dibs on registration.

Ken Haddad , Digital Managing Editor

The historic Michigan Central Station is reopening in June, and a series of community-events are planned to help celebrate.

Ford Motor Company has been restoring the old Detroit train depot for the last six years. Now, with plans to open the building on June 6, 2024, residents will get the chance to mark the reopening with free events.

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The 11-day celebration includes an outdoor concert, open house hours and more. Here’s what’s planned and how to register.

Michigan Central OPEN Celebration

On June 6, Michigan Central will kick off the festivities with Michigan Central OPEN Live , a 90-minute outdoor concert in front of The Station headlined by well-known Detroit musical artists. We aren’t sure who the artists will be.

The show will feature short films, appearances by local leaders, and creators telling stories of innovation and culture from around the city and the region.

From June 7-16, Michigan Central will host its OPEN House , offering a first look inside the Station’s historic ground floor through a range of exhibits, entertainment, art, and more.

Michigan Central’s art program will also bring art installations, including a new iteration of Reddymade’s me + you, a critically acclaimed interactive sculpture specifically for Michigan Central.

After its reopening event in June, The Station will begin a phased reactivation of the building over the next several months and years as restaurant, retail, and other commercial and community-focused partners take up residency. The first floor will be open to the public for tours on Fridays and Saturdays through August. Expanded hours will be announced for fall, when the first phase of commercial activations opens to the public.

Tickets: Registration for OPEN Live and OPEN House will begin online at michigancentral.com on May 17 for neighbors surrounding The Station, and on May 21 for the general public.

Michigan Central Station closed in 1988 and was bought by Ford in 2018.

---> Related: Workers find 108-year-old letter in a bottle while renovating Michigan Central Station

Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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