City, community groups and business partners launch recruitment drive for Motor City Makeover

• Citywide annual cleanup and beautification effort scheduled for Saturdays May 7 – June 18

• City also promotes beautification and recycling

The City of Detroit Department of Neighborhoods, community and business partners kicked off Motor City Makeover, the City’s annual cleanup and beautification effort, on April 22 with an emphasis on beautification and recycling.

The kickoff announcement at Bushnell Congregational Church coincided with a cleanup in several locations along the Southfield Service Drive from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Residents were expected to clean vacant lots at 11741 Southfield, 6738 Ashton and 6746 Ashton.

The City is calling on residents, community organizations, business owners and students to join the effort to clean and beautify the city during on seven Saturdays in May and June.

Read the full story on the city webpage at Motor City Makeover (detroitmi.gov) Visit Motorcitymakeover.org to register or volunteer to help keep Detroit clean.

Detroit ACE partners with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to offer a special, musical experience on April 30 for families at Greater Grace Temple

The Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is proud to partner with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) to host a free, family-friendly performance on April 30 at Greater Grace Temple.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with an hour of free musical activities for children through the Detroit Harmony Initiative, a community-driven initiative that aims to engage all children in Detroit with instruments and high-quality music education.

The children’s workshops will be followed by a 7 p.m. orchestra concert featuring classical, spiritual, and popular music by African American composers and artists, including arrangements of hits by Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin. Greater Grace Temple is located at 23500 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48219.

For more information, and to reserve free tickets, visit the city webpage at Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Greater Grace Temple (detroitmi.gov)

Detroit’s Office of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship Announces Open Online Application for Unlimited Licenses

• The City of Detroit Adult-Use Marijuana Ordinance was approved by Detroit City Council on April 5. The ordinance becomes effective April 20. Open Applications for Unlimited Licenses begin April 20.

• The Homegrown program is part of the City of Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department.

The Detroit Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion and Entrepreneurship’s (CRIO) Office of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship announced an open online application process for those licenses that are Unlimited (Marijuana Growers, Processors, Transportation, Safety Compliance and Event Organizers) on April 20, 2022.

Application instructions can be found on their website: Homegrown – Detroit Means Business.

The Office of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship will continue to update their website with information regarding Retail Licenses and when they will begin accepting applications.

CRIO needs 90 days to hire a third-parting scoring firm for the license applications and to identify a program to host the lottery for any remaining licenses in the event of a tie. Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration has worked together over the last two years seeking equitable opportunities for longtime Detroiters to participate in an industry that’s estimated to yield $3 billion in annual state sales.

All are welcome to join the City of Detroit and Detroit Cannabis Project for Cannabis Business Virtual Classes for Entrepreneurs. These informative sessions offer an opportunity to get real time advice from industry experts. Learn more at: detroitcannabisproject. Residents can join sessions weekly on Thursdays at 6 p.m. using this link: cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/85158450179

Read the full story on the city webpage at Office of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship (detroitmi.gov)

DHD Teams up with Health Alliance Plan for Pediatric Immunization/Lead Testing Clinic

Young Detroiters can get up-to-date on childhood immunizations and undergo lead testing this Saturday at a Detroit Health Department wellness clinic.

All children who attend can enter a drawing for one of two free bicycles and one tablet that will be given away thanks to a donation from Health Alliance Plan (HAP). Also, the first 200 children who attend will get a free basketball, courtesy of HAP.

The DHD clinic takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, April 23, at Adams Butzel Recreation Complex at 10500 Lyndon Street. Detroit Health Department nurses will provide immunizations to children ages 5-17, including COVID-19 (and boosters if they are eligible) and lead screening for children. The clinic is the first of six pediatric wellness Saturday clinics that will be offered throughout the summer at locations around the city.

Free childhood immunizations and lead screenings will be provided by the Detroit Health Department at all six pediatric Saturday health clinics at locations across the city throughout the summer.

For the full story, and all summer clinics, visit the city webpage at Pediatric Immunization/Lead Testing Clinic (detroitmi.gov)

City Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship partners with local film festivals on riveting looks back at history

• Freep Film Festival and Detroit Black Film Festival to offer more than 100 films and special events in their April and September runs

• The Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is proud to join the Detroit Black Film Festival (DetBff) and Freep Film Festival in celebrating great documentary and narrative filmmaking this year

Media is invited to a press event 4PM Tuesday, April 26, at Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, to hear details of the Freep Film Festival, now in its ninth year, and DetBFF, now in its third year. The event will be live-streamed to YouTube and the City of Detroit Facebook page.

The fest also will host the world premiere Daniel Land’s “America, You Kill Me” about pioneering Detroit gay-rights activist Jeffrey Montgomery, who will attend the press conference. The film screens on Thursday, April 28 at the Redford Theatre.

Read the full story on the city webpage at Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (detroitmi.gov)

City of Detroit designated as a Certified Welcoming city, the first in Michigan

Public invited to enjoy 2 million daffodils now blooming in Detroit; city to plant 500K this fall

• City shares map revealing best locations & routes for taking in this spring beauty during peak time over next two weeks

• This project is part of Mayor Duggan’s mission to create a City of Beauty

Many areas of the city have begun bursting with millions of yellow daffodils as part of a city effort to help beautify neighborhood parks and boulevards and city officials are encouraging residents to come check them out.

Over the past several years, the city’s General Services Department has planted a whopping 1.4 million daffodil bulbs that are now signaling the return of Spring in Detroit. An additional 600K bulbs have been planted on Belle Isle by Daffodils4Detroit.  This fall, 500,000 bulbs are expected to be planted during a brief, but optimal, 20-day window in October and November.

Read the full story on the city webpage at 2 million daffodils (detroitmi.gov).