Laprisha Berry Daniels brings a wealth of public health experience and nonprofit management experience to Planet Detroit. Photo by Nick Hagen.

Planet Detroit is thrilled to announce the appointment of Laprisha Berry Daniels as its first Executive Director, starting June 1. Bringing a wealth of experience in public health and environmental justice, Berry Daniels is poised to steer the organization toward new heights in impactful journalism.

Having served on Planet Detroit’s Board of Advisors for two years, Berry Daniels is well-versed in the organization’s evolution, culture and objectives. Her proven track record in fundraising, staff development and partnership building is set to be invaluable as Planet Detroit continues to grow and serve its community.

Founded by Nina Misuraca Ignaczak in 2019 as a bootstrapped initiative, Planet Detroit has swiftly gained recognition, winning numerous awards for its dedicated coverage of local climate, equity, health and environmental issues. The organization is committed to amplifying grassroots voices, holding power to account and spotlighting actionable solutions to the Detroit region’s environmental and public health crises.

Berry Daniels’ career has focused on implementing and evaluating public health interventions and disseminating findings to inform stakeholders—from healthcare professionals to policymakers and the public—thereby driving behavioral change, civic engagement and policy change. A newcomer to the media industry, she sees a clear connection between her past work and journalism.

“At Planet Detroit, this approach translates into providing stakeholders with relevant, accurate and timely information,” she says. “By doing so, the organization aims to influence individual behavior, encourage civic engagement and foster improvements to and enforcement of policies.”

Berry Daniels emphasizes, “At Planet Detroit, journalism is the intervention.”

Berry Daniels transitions into her new role from Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, where as Executive Director, she substantially grew the organization’s capacity and funding. Her leadership consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to community engagement and systemic change. Her prior experience includes director roles in the Detroit Health Department and the Macomb Children’s Healthcare Access program. She holds master’s degrees in public health and social work from the University of Michigan. She enjoys exploring local parks and waterways with her husband and three children.

On joining Planet Detroit, Berry Daniels expressed enthusiasm for her new role: “Planet Detroit has been an invaluable resource for me and the organizations I’ve led to stay educated and activated. At a time when environmental injustice is being highlighted across all levels of society, I am eager to be part of an organization that is shaping the way we think about what is and what could be. I am excited to support efforts to create new narratives that will support health and wellbeing.”

Misuraca Ignaczak expressed her excitement: “I’m so thrilled and honored that Laprisha has decided to embark on this journey with us! Her leadership experience, deep commitment to community and public health, and entrepreneurial mindset align perfectly with our mission to produce quality journalism that serves the community.”

Berry Daniels’ role is supported by the Patti K. Aaron Family Foundation, with additional backing from major contributors like the Kresge Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, NewsMatch, Google News Initiative, Michigan Humanities Council, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Porter Family Foundation, Great Lakes PFAS Action Network and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. Planet Detroit is an independent, fiscally sponsored project of the Michigan Environmental Council.

As Planet Detroit looks forward, the organization is also preparing to welcome Isabelle Tovares in July as a full-time reporter through Report for America, covering health and the environment in Southwest Detroit. The team, including Executive Editor Nina Misuraca Ignaczak, Senior Reporter Brian Allnutt, Community Journalism Director Martina Guzmán, Environment + Health Reporting Intern Jada Vasser, Audience Strategist Jennifer Hack Wolf, Engagement Producer Tarryn Mento, and Impact Partner Director April Boyle, is eager to expand its impact under Berry Daniels’ leadership.

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Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.