Detroit Equity Action Lab

05/13/2026

"It was an honor to be chosen by my peers to be part of this global collection of social change makers. I've always done things in the background and never considered that my work in connecting and spearheading intergenerational and cross-cultural justice leaders and their grassroots similarities was being noticed. I shared this artifact because it gave me an opportunity to show and share it with my 5-year-old granddaughter Calliope, who I hope to continue the legacy justice work." — Consuela Barber-Lopez, DEAL 10 Racial Equity Fellow

At our Racial Equity Fellowship’s orientation, we give fellows an opportunity to share an artifact that represents their personal connection to racial equity work. This is DEAL 10 Fellow Consuela Barber-Lopez's artifact!

(🔎 See a close-up photo of the artifact in the comments.)

05/11/2026

Etta Adams was displaced as a child when I-375 destroyed Black Bottom. Now she's working on sustainability at the Wright Museum and planning a community garden to address environmental injustice in Detroit.

Adams' work connects the city's history of displacement with current efforts to build healthier, more sustainable communities — from Black Bottom to Inkster.

Read about how gardens are being used to heal communities in Metro Detroit.

https://planetdetroit.org/2026/05/from-black-bottom-to-inkster-how-one-detroiter-is-using-gardens-to-heal-communities/

05/09/2026

In this workshop, participants will learn:

1) How to identify social and political issues that matter to them.
2) How to turn issues into statements and demands for written and public comment.
3) How to sharpen their public speaking skills.

Participants will be provided a take home zine to continue on their journey to sharpen their political voice and vision.

Refreshments provided.

Must RSVP bit.ly/thepoeticsofmpc

05/08/2026

Detroit is not a rural township or a suburban county. The fights happening in places like Saline and Washtenaw County are real, but Detroit’s context is distinct. We are a majority Black city with a documented history of industrial pollution concentrated in our neighborhoods. We’re surrounded by the Great Lakes. We have lived through water crises, utility shutoffs, and decades of environmental harm that other communities have not. Any policy framework for data centers in Detroit must start from that reality, not borrow from fights in communities with different histories, different demographics, and different stakes. Join the call for a Task Force, not another Working Group!

https://mailchi.mp/detroitpeoplesplatform.org/community-benefits-ordinance-decade-celebration-16544407?e=e41e250d60

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

Hey Y’all! Black Joy Summer Camp is Back! 🥳❤️🖤

A summer full of healing, laughter, leadership, creativity, friendship, field trips, and unforgettable memories awaits Detroit youth ages 13–17 at our FREE Black Joy Summer Camp!
At Detroit Heals Detroit, we believe our youth deserve spaces where they can feel safe, celebrated, supported, and empowered to grow into who they’re becoming. This summer, we’re building community, exploring the city, learning new skills, practicing self-care, and creating joy together. ✨

🍽 Breakfast & lunch provided
🚌 Field trips & exciting adventures
🎨 Healing-centered activities
🌱 Leadership & personal growth
📍 The Healing Hub | 19510 Alcoy
📅 July 6th – August 14th
⏰ Monday–Thursday | 9AM–5PM
FREE TO ATTEND — but spots will fill quickly!

Register today:
✨ detroithealsdetroit.org

05/05/2026

"While earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I attended group counseling sessions where we were asked to share something we identified with. I chose the butterfly. For over 30 years, the symbol of Mariposa has been part of my journey and inspiration. Butterflies symbolize joy, transformation through struggle, and strength. Monarch migration reflects the resilience of racialized communities; moving, adapting, and surviving systems not built for them, yet returning with purpose." — Mayté Penman, DEAL 10 Racial Equity Fellow

At our Racial Equity Fellowship’s orientation, we give fellows an opportunity to share an artifact that represents their personal connection to racial equity work. This is DEAL 10 Fellow Mayté Penman’s artifact!

(🔎 See a close-up photo of the artifact in the comments.)

04/30/2026

Spring is staff retreat season for us at DEAL! We collectively agreed that springtime is a better time for us to reflect and imagine what's to come.

We started the day by visiting the DIA's Reimagine African American Art exhibit. After stimulating our hearts and minds with art, we spent the afternoon and the next day at Monarch Boulevard, Nia Weaving’s Detroit retreat space. We thought about our "imaginings" for what's next, shared our reflections, celebrated our successes, and—most importantly—had uninterrupted time to witness each other.

Supporting racial equity leaders through our year-long fellowship program takes a lot of effort, and we often don't have time to pause like this. It was much needed!

If you'd like to support our work, please consider making a donation (choose Detroit Equity Action Lab as the designation):
https://give.wayne.edu/campaigns/37573/donations/new

(First photo from left to right: Asandi Conner, Director; Rhiannon Chester - Bey, Fellowship Manager; Charnise Tate, Program Engagement Coordinator; Pallavi Gupta, Program Operations Coordinator; and Aysha Jamali, Communications and Marketing Specialist.)

04/30/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Angel McKissic!

We are proud to share that our Director, Dr. Angel McKissic, has been selected for the 2026 New Founders Alliance Fellowship, a six-month program convened by the Democracy Revival Center to build a multi-year network of leaders working to transform the structural foundations of U.S. democracy.

The Fellowship's premise aligns deeply with the work we are building at the Keith Center. Through the Fellowship, Dr. McKissic will engage in rigorous study of structural questions about democracy alongside organizers and movement leaders from across the country.

The fellowship also gives Dr. McKissic the chance to bring the analysis we are developing about democracy in Detroit into conversation with the national movement for democratic transformation.

Congratulations, Dr. McKissic!

04/29/2026

So excited for our Director Asandi Conner and Fellowship Manager Rhiannon Chester - Bey who are leading their workshop “Moving at the Speed of Relationships” at the Impact Fellowship Summit in D.C. today!

DEAL’s Director Asandi Conner and Fellowship Manager Rhiannon Chester - Bey will be leading a workshop on “Moving at the Speed of Relationships” at the Impact Fellowship Summit in D.C. later this month!

“Movements move at the speed of relationships” is a lesson from Mama Lila Cabbil that we keep at the core of what we do. Participants will learn how DEAL creates an environment for racial equity leaders to pause, embody what it means to show up authentically, and co-create belonging with each other.

See details on registering for the Summit (IREX): https://www.irex.org/impact-fellowships-summit-ifs-26