Friday, February 9, 2024     |     www.detroitmi.gov

The 10th year of Detroit’s summer jobs program for local youth, Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT), kicked off this week, with the application portal opening for thousands of Detroiters between the ages of 14 and 24.

Mayor Mike Duggan was joined by City Council members, employers, program partners and youth participants at the headquarters of long-time GDYT partner DTE Energy for the event.  More than 8,000 young Detroiters are expected to participate this summer.

The application portal will stay open until May 31, and the program is also open to metro Detroit businesses looking to host young people this summer.

Every year, a wide range of opportunities is available to Detroit youth, from experience with the Police and Fire departments, to employment with numerous City of Detroit departments, and in industries ranging from IT to skilled trades to healthcare.

For more information about the youth applicant process, refer to GDYT’s Roadmap to Success at GDYT.org.

Mayor joins SE Michigan coalition in support of water affordability legislation

Mayor Duggan joined a coalition of Southeast Michigan elected officials this week in support of state legislation to create shutoff protections and a statewide water residential affordability program. The legislation will help individuals on fixed incomes and low-income residents maintain water service with monthly bills limited to no more than three percent of their income.

The City of Detroit Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is seeking nominations for two new appointees – Detroit Poet Laureate and Detroit Composer Laureate.

The Detroit Poet and Composer Laureates will be appointed by Mayor Mike Duggan, whose administration has revived City support of Detroit’s creative workforce.

The Ford Foundation is generously sponsoring these historic new positions. The foundation also sponsors the first-ever City Historian position, created by the  Mayor in 2021 when he appointed Jamon Jordan.

The standard for Detroit’s poet laureate is a high bar. The previous poet laureate was the late, esteemed Naomi Madgett Long, who died in November 2020 at 97. Her legacy will be celebrated at special event on February 11 at 2 p.m. at 1001 Woodward Ave.

To qualify for the appointee positions, applicants must:

• Be Detroit residents
• Have a substantial body of published composition
• Have at least 10 years of experience writing published music

Mayor Duggan, Wayne County announce lawsuits on Insulin price

Mayor, local leaders celebrate Residences at Water Square opening

Mayor Duggan joined members of the City Council and local leaders this week to celebrate the grand opening of The Residences at Water Square. The 25-story riverfront development occupies the site of the former Joe Louis arena in downtown Detroit. Residences at Water Square is Detroit’s first all-glass residential high-rise building.

The Residences is the first high-rise riverfront residential building to open in Detroit since the third tower of Riverfront Towers opened more than 30 years ago.

Located directly on the Riverwalk, the complex offers 496 units comprised of studios, one-bedroom units and two-bedroom penthouses.

All units feature 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows providing views of the Detroit River and the city skyline. It also features an all-season pool with an outdoor sun deck, a rooftop terrace and sky lounges. Additional amenities include a fitness center, a dog wash, indoor bicycle storage, available valet parking, and soon to open retail options.

Join the virtual meeting on March 11 at 5 p.m. on Zoom here. Learn more at detroitmi.gov/parkconversions.

Local leaders, coalition launch campaign to help Detroiters claim millions in tax credits

Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison and a coalition of community partners announced this year’s push to encourage all Detroiters to access every dollar of federal and state tax credits by scheduling an appointment for no-cost expert tax preparation.

Through last year’s coordinated outreach in Detroit, residents claimed more than $330 million in Earned Income Tax Credit refunds, plus millions more in Child Tax Credits. This year, even more money is available in state credits thanks to legislation passed in 2023 that increased the Michigan EITC five-fold.

There are several cash payments available to Detroit families but taxes have to be filed to claim these credits. Even residents that don’t typically file taxes or didn’t earn much in 2023 may qualify for these payments.

Residents can call 2-1-1 or visit getthetaxfacts.org to learn more and schedule an appointment.

The City of Detroit Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is hosting “Undefeated,” a daily video series featuring speeches, panels and interviews on Black history and artistry, as part of a monthlong celebration of Black History Month.

The celebration kicked off with City of Detroit Historian Jamon Jordan’s annual speech on Black arts history. The speech can be seen here.

Detroit ACE encourages the community to tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. throughout Black History Month to view each daily segment, to be aired on Channel 22 and all City of Detroit social media platforms.

For more information, please contact Lacey Holmes in the ACE office at lacey.holmes@detroitmi.gov.

DWSD book giveaway to Detroit students continues in partnership with Michigan Science Center

Through a partnership with the Michigan Science Center, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is giving away more than 1,000 books in February to Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) students and members of the community.

The books, created by DC Water and licensed by DWSD, also align with Black History Month.  The books depict black and brown character leads and people of color in prominent positions. The three books, along with goody bags, are completely free to students and the public at the MI-SCI.

Book reading events by DWSD members will continue throughout the month of February and are open to the whole family.