Residents across Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park have numerous opportunities to engage with their communities, find employment, or offer their time this fall. Upcoming weeks feature a variety of events, workshops, and job openings designed to connect individuals with local initiatives and services.
Those looking to launch or grow a business can find assistance for the Detroit Startup Fund Round 3 applications. In-person help is available at Human-I-T, 6375 W. 7 Mile Road, on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 2-4 p.m. Additional sessions are scheduled for Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, both Wednesdays, from 2-4 p.m. at different locations. Applications for the fund close on Oct. 5.
Creative individuals interested in radio are invited to apply for the Blue Moon Radio Residents Open Call by Wednesday, Sept. 9. DJs, talk show hosts, poets, and those wanting to experiment with radio can apply; no prior experience is necessary, and all shows are prerecorded.
Community cleanup efforts are planned for multiple locations. Volunteers can join the Belle Isle Cleanup Crew on Friday, Sept. 11, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Belle Isle Beach, located on Riverbank Road at Oakway Drive. Another cleanup day for Belle Isle is set for Saturday, Sept. 19. On Saturday, Sept. 12, Friends of the Detroit River will host its final Ecorse Creek Cleanup of the season from 9 a.m. to noon at Council Point Park, 3213 River Drive, in Lincoln Park, followed by a celebratory lunch. Also on Sept. 12, a Springwells Clean-Up will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gonzalez-Garcia Family Park, 8131 Chamberlain St., hosted by Bridging Communities and Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. This event will also feature Zumba, free ice cream, a composting workshop, and arts and crafts.
Several events focus on training, learning, and community building. The Detroit Justice Center is offering an interactive Capacity Building Training on Friday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mama Imani Humphrey Banquet Hall, 8324 Woodward Ave. This free event, including lunch and parking, will focus on strategies to strengthen mental health resources, led by practitioners and entrepreneurs Princess Brown and Valerie Kelley-Bonner. Hitha Healing House is hosting its second annual Lens to Motherhood conference on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Michigan State University Detroit Center, 3408 Woodward Ave., providing a free platform for moms to connect and share stories, with prizes and giveaways. Also on Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Fork Around and Find Out, at 5200 Chene St., will host a Detroit Food Sovereignty: Panel, Seed Swap & Social event, discussing local food benefits and the impact of Zionist power within the food industry. This pay-what-you-can event includes lunch.
Other community gatherings on Saturday, Sept. 12, include From Caterpillar to Community, an urban garden tour, storytelling, hands-on gardening, and community conversations on the Eastside, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Human Design Moves the Future will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at Design Build Green Hub, 1326 18th St. in Southwest Detroit, inviting builders, planners, residents, and artists to participate in city planning activities. City Institute will lead a free Greektown Detroit Small Business Walking Tour at 1 p.m., starting from 1218 Randolph St., exploring the neighborhood's history and culture. Abyomi CDC is presenting “Where We Belong: The Architecture of Home” from Thursday, Sept. 10 to Sunday, Sept. 20, at The Boulevard, 3939 Woodward Ave., an exhibit examining homeownership in Detroit, with special interviews on Saturday with Outlier Media Executive Director Orlando Bailey.
Numerous paid opportunities are also available. Detroit Disability Power is seeking a full-time Communications and Design Coordinator, a visual artist to create accessible graphics, with a salary of $55,000-$62,000 plus benefits. Applications close Sept. 23. American Indian Health and Family Services is hiring a full-time Human Resources Director to work in their new Southwest Detroit facility, offering full benefits. Detroit Heals Detroit has multiple immediate openings at The Healing Hub, including part-time interns, a part-time after-school program assistant at $20 an hour, a full-time Healing Hub director with a $45,000 salary and unlimited days off, and board members. O’Hair Park Community Association is looking for a part-time Community Engagement Liaison, paying $20 an hour for up to 10 flexible hours a week, to engage residents, businesses, churches, and schools. Rising Voices is hiring Community Captains for a part-time, temporary position that pays $25 an hour, starting this month and running until the Nov. 3 election, to canvass and mobilize voters in Michigan’s Asian American communities. Rising Voices also seeks an Organizing Intern for 15 hours a week from September to mid-December, paying $17 an hour, to assist grassroots efforts. Detroit Action is hiring Electoral Canvassers at $22 an hour to engage residents on current issues and voter registration for the general election. Data Driven Detroit is hiring a Senior Analyst for a full-time, remote position with a starting salary of $60,000, 32-hour workweeks, and benefits, to support programs tracking neighborhood conditions and early childhood services.
Ongoing services and activities include We Walk Detroit, a walking group meeting at eight city parks, the Joe Louis Greenway, and the riverfront through September, with T-shirts for participants. Detroit Heals Detroit offers free, luxurious showers every Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Healing Hub, 19510 Alcoy St., complete with hygiene kits. Additionally, free laundry service, including detergent and supplies, is available in 90-minute slots every Wednesday from 10 a.m. at The Healing Hub.
