Shows
Authentically DetroitAmplify Outside: Recreation as Liberation with Ian SolomonOn this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with interdisciplinary artist and founder of Amplify Outside, Ian Solomon to discuss recreation as liberation and how he plans to further amplify this message as the newest addition to the Authentically Detroit Podcast Network!Ian John Solomon is an interdisciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. After receiving his B.A. in broadcast journalism from Walter Cronkite School and a stint as a congressional reporter in D.C., he found his love for community activism and storytelling required a more expansive platform. Deeply motivated by environment, Ian uses land as foundation...
2026-03-101h 41
Authentically DetroitRebuilding The Village with Kayana Sessoms and Tarsha GaleOn this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Hitha Healing House Founder and Executive Director, Kayana Sessoms and Executive Director of Brilliant Detroit, Tarsha Gale to discuss how their partnership is helping Detroit moms and their families.In February, Brilliant Detroit unveiled a new partnership with Hitha Healing House that will allow the nonprofit to continue its programming, including its signature maternal wellness program, Nurturing Roots via Brilliant Detroit’s Central Hub following a December fire that rendered Hitha Healing House’s programming space unusable. The Hitha Healing House provides holistic maternal wellness services grounded in cult...
2026-03-031h 03
Authentically DetroitBuilding BLAC Power in Detroit with Dexter SullivanOn this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Dexter Sullivan, founder of the Black Legacy Advancement Coalition (BLAC) to discuss how they’re building Black power and continuing Detroit’s legacy as a Black city. The roots of BLAC began to take form in the heart of its founder, Dexter Sullivan, in the early 2000s. Then, in 2020, the world stopped as black residents were impacted at a disproportionate rate. Under the conditions of lockdown, we could no longer numb ourselves with the routine obligations of life and career. Instead, we were forced to reckon with the physi...
2026-02-251h 13
Authentically DetroitDetroit’s Black Bottom: Remembered and Reclaimed with Marcia Black and Lex Draper Garcia BeyOn this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Co-Executive Directors of the Black Bottom Archives, Marcia Black and Lex Draper Garcia Bey, to discuss how they’re working to uncover and restore our stories as Black Detroiters.At the heart of Black Bottom Archive’s work are the people (and their descendants) who lived, worked, and built lives in Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. Their stories, resilience, and cultural contributions served as an inspiration for their organization. From entrepreneurs and artists to families and community leaders, these individuals embody the rich Black heritage they strive to pres...
2026-02-181h 12
Authentically DetroitBehind The Mountaintop: Humanity, History, and Detroit with Stephanie Wright Griggs and Brian Sullivan TaylorOn this episode, Donna and Sam spoke with Stephanie Wright Griggs and Brian Taylor Sullivan about preserving Black history, the legacy of Dr. Charles H. Wright, and The Mountaintop, written by Katori Hall and currently directed by Brian Marable at the Detroit Public Theatre.Healthcare Administration and African American history are the paths by which Stephanie has given a lifetime of public service. Her passion for both runs deep. She organically entered the path of preserving African American history in childhood as her father founded Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Brian S...
2026-02-171h 14
Authentically DetroitThriveworks: A Holistic Approach to Community Building with Urenia Johnson and Adelina RobinsonOn this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Urenia Johnson and Adelina Robinson to discuss their newly formed collaboration, Thriveworks Coalition and how they’re amplifying access to essential services for families through a unified, holistic approach.Founded by leaders from diverse nonprofit backgrounds, Thriveworks brings together organizations Corporate Development Institute (CDI) and Purposed Hands to create a “one-stop shop” for legal, financial, educational and family support.Founded by Attorney Urenia Ricks-Johnson, Corporate Development Institute (CDI) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering underserved communities through financial literacy, youth mentorship and legal...
2026-02-0444 min
Authentically DetroitFrom Data to Dignity: Detroit’s Housing Reality with Alex B. Hill and Kirsten ElliottIn this episode, Donna and Sam had a virtual sit down with Alex B. Hill for Detroit By The Numbers and Kirsten Elliott, the CEO and President of Community Housing Network. Together, they trace a clear line from protest and media narratives to the daily math of housing: water debt, fixed incomes, PSH funding, and what “affordable” actually costs.Community Housing Network empowers people to live in affordable homes to help build thriving communities. They envision a future where everyone can achieve stability, dignity, and opportunity. They aim to create thriving communities with affordable homes, connect individuals and...
2026-01-271h 06
Authentically DetroitEquity First, By Design with Graig Donnelly and Aaron AbneyOn this episode, Donna welcomes new co-host Sam Robinson to Authentically Detroit! They’re joined by Graig Donnelly and Aaron Abney of the newly launched Community Owner’s Representative Initiative (CORI) to discuss how they’re building Detroit’s capacity for equitable real estate.The Community Owner’s Representative Initiative (CORI) is building Detroit's capacity for equitable real estate development, poised to model a new way forward to deliver impact through technical assistance while training leaders in the field.CORI is a long-term partnership between proxy and CDAD driven by the belief that we all deserve access to beautif...
2026-01-131h 04
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Protecting Students, Defying ICE, And Rethinking Power In DetroitThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this final episode of the year, they confront ICE targeting of Detroit students and families, press local leaders on silence and accountability, and weigh how Michigan’s political shifts will shape real safety, housing, and power. For more episodes of the Black Detro...
2025-12-111h 03
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Detroit City FC, Fair Development and Community Power with Maxwell MurrayThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they trace Detroit’s housing failures from the Leland House scare to a subsidy-first market that missed real demand, then turn to solutions that center seniors, families, and accountability. Then, Maxwell Murray shows how DCFC and the Urban Football League use street socc...
2025-12-0555 min
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Detroit’s Demolition Drama, New WNBA Team, and DTE BattlesThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they trace how a demolition contractor without proper bonding left subcontractors unpaid, raised environmental risks through contaminated backfill, and exposed failures in selection, oversight, and ethics. They also discuss the WNBA’s Detroit return and the debate over what to name the team...
2025-11-201h 09
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Crime, Power, And Detroit’s Debate Over Federal PolicingThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they weigh Detroit’s debate flashpoint over federal collaboration, trace how crime narratives collide with community violence intervention, and unpack why history makes National Guard talk a red line. For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here....
2025-10-261h 05
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Inside The Detroit Mayoral Showdown And The Battle For Progressive PowerThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they dig into the contrast between rhetoric and results, what power should look like and who it should serve. The conversation gives a preview into this week’s mayoral debate between Council President Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. Immigration reform, envi...
2025-10-1657 min
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Ballots, Power, and Black DetroitThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they honor Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, expose deceptive voter ID petition tactics, and map a local plan to protect democracy through civic education, youth leadership, and independent media. From federal overreach to neighborhood organizing, they connect history, narrative, and action in Detroit....
2025-10-091h 22
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Power Plays and Dirty TricksThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they discuss President Trump’s threat to deploy the national guard in the city. Together they unpack how this rhetoric stems from dehumanization rather than genuine concern for Detroit residents and how these same dynamics show up in local politics. Including ballot init...
2025-09-231h 14
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: From Congressional Race to Secretary of State with Adam HollierThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode, Adam Hollier joins Donna and Sam to discuss his decision to end his congressional race and instead join the race for Michigan Secretary of State. During the conversation Adam positions himself as uniquely qualified to protect Michigan’s electoral system against potential thre...
2025-09-111h 14
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Power, Money, and Representation in Detroit PoliticsThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.In this episode, they discuss how corporate money is strangling Detroit's democracy, and politicians who claim to represent citizens are increasingly serving other interests. Following Karen Whitsett's troubling vote, where she sided with Republicans on issues vital to Detroit residents, they examined how financial influence co...
2025-09-021h 24
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Taxing the Rich for Better Schools with Imani FosterThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode, Imani Foster of 482Forward joined them to discuss the Invest in Michigan’s Kids campaign.482Forward is creating a Detroit where every student graduates ready to become a fully engaged participant in the world, equipped with the character and the capa...
2025-08-221h 02
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Detroit’s 2025 Primary Election ResultsThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode they discuss the shocking results of the 2025 primary election where Mary Sheffield received over 50% of the vote and Solomon Kinloch and Saunteel Jenkins battled for second and third place respectively. These results reveal a shift in Detroit politics with surprising outcomes in se...
2025-08-071h 15
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Detroit’s Mayoral ShowdownThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode they discuss the final stretch of Detroit’s mayoral primary race and candidates' last appeals to voters across neighborhoods. Campaign finance records reveal who’s funding the race while candidates face scrutiny over past actions, outside money influences, and policy positions on issues...
2025-08-041h 02
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Youth Voices in Detroit Politics with Kenneth RussellThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode Kenneth Russell, a rising junior at Southeastern High School, joins them to provide a youth perspective on politics in Detroit, the mayoral race, and how politicians can do a better job of reaching young voters.For more episodes of the Bl...
2025-07-251h 07
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Balancing Power in the Detroit Mayoral RaceThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode they discuss the significant issues around gender bias in candidate coverage and how a troubling generational gap in voter participation skews elections toward older residents' interests.For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.Support th...
2025-07-2152 min
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: When Old Politics Meet New Challenges with Bryce HuffmanThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode Bryce Huffman, Bridge Detroit’s Engagement Editor, joined Donna and Sam to discuss how Detroit's mayoral and council races are unfolding as candidates learn from each other and adapt their platforms to community feedback, creating a dynamic competition of ideas that could resh...
2025-07-151h 16
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Endorsements, Divisions, and Democracy in Detroit PoliticsThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode they discuss the importance of participating in Detroit’s August 5th primary election. They go over how political endorsements are creating interesting divisions, District 5’s diversity of interesting city council candidates, low projected voter turnout (13%-18%), and whether or not Zohran Mamdani’s victor...
2025-07-101h 08
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: The Battle for Detroit’s FutureThe Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode they discussed Detroit’s first televised mayoral debate which revealed deep division amongst the candidates. The debate which featured four out of nine candidates exposed some of the strengths and weaknesses of those seeking Detroit’s top office. For more episode...
2025-06-211h 00
Authentically DetroitBlack Detroit Democracy Podcast: Beyond Hudson’s and Trickle-Down Economics with Antwan Hart and Sedrick Huff Jr.The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.On this episode Black Democracy Project interns - Antwan Hart and Sedrick Huff Jr. - from the MSU Innovate Program joined the conversation around Detroit’s alleged comeback. Both Antwan and Sedrick are political science majors on the pre-law track at Michigan State with an inte...
2025-06-181h 02