The Detroit Metropolitan: Urban Lifestyles Blog

The 2nd Annual Black Business Festival will be held at the Russell Bazaar, located at 1600 Clay St. The event will be hosted by hosted by WGPR 107.5 FM, Detroit Metro Times and DoDetroit.com from February 26th- 28th, 2010.

This huge, weekend long event is free to the public and being held in honor of Black History Month. Designed for all ages, the Black Business Festival will showcase the opportunities
citizens of Detroit can find when they utilize their talents for entrepreneurial initiatives. There
will be valuable and informative seminars and forums, as well as great entertainment all
weekend. It is a perfect opportunity for networking with other business owners and our city’s
leaders and talented workforce.

Seminars and Forums Highlights (Sat and Sun Only)
􀋔 Keynote Speaker – Detroit City Council President, Charles Pugh. “Economic Outlook
for Growth in Detroit”

􀋔 Town Hall Panel Presentation – “Starting and Growing Your Business in Detroit”. This
forum will include key community business and political leaders and will include a
question and answer session from audience attendees.

􀋔 Business workshops and seminars – CEED, The Black Business Expo, the SBA and
other business groups will present a range of seminars to help businesses start and grow
in the City of Detroit.

More information on renting space for your business and up-to-the-minute seminar information
can be found at the Black Business Festival’s Web site: http://russellbazaar.com/bbf/.

In conjunction with the Detroit Yacht Club, MeMe Design + Events presents “The Back to the 80’s Party,” on February 27th from 8p to 1 am. Evoking the era of the 80’s through décor, music, and activities, the historic ballroom at Detroit Yacht Club will be transformed into an amazing night for all ages featuring – That 80’s band – 80’s Games and Décor- Special performance by local breakdance crew-DJ Surab Deb & DJ Anthony DeLuca– And we just added DJ Phifedog in the School Daze/Breakin room. Best 80’s dressed contest – Video games from the 80’s Atari, Ms Pac man, Frogger, Donkey Kong and more! Cost is $15. Free Food and Cash Bar.

Supported by – The Detroit Yacht Club, The Display Group,KE Event Productions, After 5 Detroit, Colonial Events, The Loft Warehouse, Metromix, C-My Style Event Planning, Streetvision, Luigi Bruni Capelli Moderni, Fusion Detroit, & DJ Surab Deb, the William Malcolm Luxe Collection.

For more info check out BACK TO THE 80′S PARTY
Source: Facebook.com

Detroit Young Professionals (DYP) will be hosting their 2nd Annual Vanguard Awards — the special peer-recognition program created to honor the young trailblazers making a positive difference in Detroit and shaping the renaissance of our region. This year’s event will be hosted by Local 4 News Anchor, Rhonda Walker.

The Vanguard Award honors (10) noteworthy visionaries and changemakers between the ages of 20 and 40, who will be honored at a special event taking place on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Amnesia, perched high above downtown Detroit on the 16th floor of MotorCity Casino Hotel.

Noted Honoreer include: Claire Nelson of Bureau of Urban Living; Chris Ramos of Night Move (Detroit’s first bio diesel party bus/shuttle); Fashion Designer, William Malcolm and 7 other Detroit based honorees doing great things in the City including my good friend and mentor, Scott Davis, Executive Director of The Vanguard Community Development Organization.

Please email jacqueline.northrop@detroityoungprofessionals.org with any comments or questions..Click here for more info. Detroit Young Professionals.

CONGRATS SCOTT DAVIS OF VANGUARD CDC

Only B.L.A.C. Magazine is giving Metro Detroiters the opportunity to experience one of the hottest and most socially conscious artists of a generation-up close and personal.

Hear John Legend speak about his passion for changing the world. Hear him sing highlights from the songs that stir your deepest emotions.

Limited VIP passes available for $150. Includes premium seating and meet & greet. Available only by phone or in person at the box offfice. 313.576.5111

SOURCE: DETROITSYMPHONY.COM

Are we making Detroit a place where young and talented people want to be?

The Michigan Front Page, Model D and the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Fusion group are joining forces to get some answers at our Speaker Series this month, Feb. 25 at the Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave., in Midtown.

We will talk with young Detroit leaders about embracing diversity, building leadership, and their vision for the city’s future. We also will get a picture of what Detroit’s demographic make up looks like, and will look like in decades to come, from demographer Kurt Metzger. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited so you must pre-register.

The event will start at 5:30 p.m. with sign in, and the hour-long presentation will begin at 6 p.m. and will be followed by question and answer and networking time.

The panel will include:

Moderator Brian Ellison, resident of The Villages neighborhood and a drafter of the Detroit Declaration;
Palencia Mobley, an engineer, a Detroit resident and vice chair of Fusion, the young professionals division of the Detroit Regional Chamber;
Alok Sharma, a Detroit resident;
Akindele Akinyemi, a Detroit resident, entrepreneur and an advocate for education;
Roland Leggett, a field manager with the ACLU who moved back to Detroit after a stint in Chicago;
James Canning, lifelong Detroiter and owner of his public relations firm, Canning Communications;
Raquel Castaneda-Lopez.

The Model D Speaker Series is sponsored by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Henry Ford Health Systems, Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center.

Model D February 25 Speaker Series Sign Up – visit http://bit.ly/9EyDF7

SOURCE: FACEBOOK

How do you begin to change perceptions about a major urban area?

Sundance Channel chronicled Newark, New Jersey’s herculean task of transforming the image and reality of a city tarnished by crime, lack of economic activity and citizen apathy. In a five episode film series, hosted by Forrest Whitaker, “Brick City” captures what statistics cannot convey: the dedication of Newark’s young mayor, Corey Booker; the efforts of his staff and the police department; the unselfishness of countless community activists and ordinary citizens who work towards a better day. The immediate questions arising from the documentary are: What can we learn from Newark? How do we continue to build the momentum we’re gaining?

The National Black PR Society of Detroit invites you to join us on Thursday, February 18, 2010, for our 2010 Coffee Chat series. Our featured speaker will be Desiree Bell, Director of Communications for the City of Newark, New Jersey. Moderated by Naomi Patton, reporter for the Detroit Free Press, the event will also feature a screening of the first episode of the “Brick City” documentary.

We’ve just learned that the producers of Brick City will be filming our event on Thursday to include in the second season of “Brick City”

What: Re-Imagining Detroit, A Film Screening of Sundance Channel’s “Brick City” & Conversation with Desiree Bell, Communications Director, City of Newark, NJ

Where: Compuware Building Auditorium, 1 Campus Martius, Detroit, MI 48226

When: Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Admission: $10 in advance with RSVP; $20 at the door
Pay in advance now available at www.bprsdetroit.org. Click on 2/18/2010 event

***Note: Please be advised the documentary features strong language and graphic images that may offend some audiences.***
Source: FACEBOOK

The Detroit Declaration is an organizing document for people who love Detroit, who sense that there is a growing tide of consensus about what our city must do differently to thrive, and who are willing to invest time and energy into the political process to see that consensus emerge on a transformative scale.

Mission:The purpose of this movement is to empower engaged citizens to elect leadership who will be our allies in a new vision for Detroit and to hold them accountable for upholding the principles outlined in the Declaration.

To join the movement: Please check out their website at DETROITDECLARATION.com

December 26, 2009 – Umoja (Unity)
“The Black Candle” Special Screening and Discussion with
filmmaker M.K. Asante Jr. at 3pm

The Charles H. Wright Museum with the Shrine of the Black Madonna of the PAOCC hosts the first day of Kwanzaa, Umoja (Unity). Join us as we celebrate with friends and family and pay tribute to our rich cultural heritage. There will be a candle lighting ceremony, singing, dancing, a marketplace, and much more. Doors open at 5pm and the ceremony begins at 6pm.

December 27, 2009 – Kujichagulia (Self Determination)
Doors open at 2pm and ceremony begins at 3pm in the GM Theater.

The Charles H. Wright Museum hosts the second day of Kwanzaa, Kujichagulia (Self Determination). Join us as we celebrate with the music and dancing of the Akanni Omowale Afrikan Drummers and Dancers, the Detroit School of Arts Dance Department with Mayowa Reynolds and with guest speaker Rev. Gregory Guice (Baba Tabeebee) who will be speaking on self-determination and the courage to conquer fear.

December 29, 2009 6pm – Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
General Public Viewing of “The Black Candle” Movie Presentation

December 30, 2009 6:30PM – Nia (Purpose)
The Charles H. Wright Museum hosts the fifth day of Kwanzaa, Nia (Purpose). Join us as we celebrate with the Ann Cooper Family Circle Choir. With a forty-year history, this multi-generational choir has been a symbol of unity in the Metro Detroit area and African American community.

All events are FREE and open to the public

Celebrate the holiday season this Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the Detroit Fish Market with State Representative Shanelle Jackson from 6-8pm.

Representative Jackson was just named the Michigan Chronicle Rising Star of the Year.

A dynamic leader with vision and drive, Representative Shanelle Jackson has successfully challenged the status quo in Lansing- passing laws that are the first of their kind in the nation. She has championed legislation to protect and create jobs; provide healthcare to those in need; and that keep Michigan families in their homes. State Rep. Shanelle Jackson is dedicated to serving her community and making Detroit a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Come and share your perspectives about our state with a leader that listens!

Contributions of $150 or any amount that fits your budget are greatly appreciated.

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Detroit Fish Market
Street: 1435 Randolph
City/Town: Detroit, MI

For more info about State Representative Jackson check out her Offical Page.