Overview:
- Planet Detroit is launching its 2025 Spring Neighborhood Reporting Lab, supported by The Kresge Foundation, to train community-based writers in profile writing.
-The cohort includes a diverse group of local writers, each bringing unique perspectives to their storytelling.
- Throughout the program, participants will craft in-depth profiles of grassroots leaders, amplifying their impact. Their work will be published by Planet Detroit, with mentorship from experienced journalists.
Planet Detroit is launching its 2025 Spring Neighborhood Reporting Lab, supported by The Kresge Foundation, to train community-based writers in profile writing. This year’s participants will focus on highlighting grassroots leaders driving positive change in Metro Detroit.
The cohort includes a diverse group of local writers, each bringing unique perspectives to their storytelling:
- Heidi Ausgood (Grixdale) – A veteran in broadcasting, advertising, and community development, bringing a unique perspective on storytelling and engagement.
- Perry Sylvester (Utica) – A longtime resident of the Clinton River Watershed advocating for civic engagement.
- Thomas Obioha (Rosedale Park) – A lifelong Detroiter committed to elevating the city’s history and improving residents’ quality of life.
- Carole Hawke-Diop (Brightmoor) – A high school teacher, mother, and grandmother passionate about creating conditions for Detroiters to thrive.
- Sonja Stuckey (Cody Rouge Warrendale) – A retired early childhood specialist pursuing her dream of freelance writing and authorship.
- Akilah Russell (Barton-McFarland) – A Detroit-born writer, project manager, and doula exploring memory, community, and everyday magic.
- Shannon Mackie (Detroit) – A marketing professional and freelance writer. Also a self-published author, she lives in Detroit with her family.
- Marcia Spivey (Regent Park) – An attorney who uses her legal expertise to advocate for marginalized communities.
- Tamia Davis (Eastpointe) – A Detroit native and classics enthusiast fostering meaningful conversations and community connections.
- Shayla Zimmerman (North Village) – An activist dedicated to environmental justice, public health, and grassroots organizing.
- Carissa Welton (Gold Coast) – A passionate environmentalist embracing both urban and natural landscapes.
- Yara Reda (Dearborn) – A high school student engaged in environmental research and advocacy, focusing on air pollution’s health impacts.
- Larissa Diem-Conlen (Cass Corridor) – A writer and fiber artist with deep ties to Detroit’s creative scene.
- Oscar Chapa (Southwest Detroit) – An educator and community-builder dedicated to empowering Latinx and newcomer communities through literacy and storytelling.
- Aderonke Ibironke (Royal Oak) – A creative educator using storytelling to inspire and inform.
Throughout the program, participants will craft in-depth profiles of local grassroots leaders. Their work will be published by Planet Detroit, with mentorship from experienced journalists:
- Nina Misuraca Ignaczak – Founder and editor of Planet Detroit, an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker focused on climate, equity, health, and environmental justice reporting.
- Leah Samuel – A Detroit native and veteran journalist specializing in health, science, education, and race reporting. She’s worked previously at The Boston Globe.
- Martina Guzmán – An award-winning journalist and Director, Race & Justice Reporting Initiative, Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, Wayne State University Law School and Planet Detroit’s Director of Community Journalism.
- Charlotte Morgan – A Cleveland-based educator, journalist, and community storyteller with over 25 years of experience leading community journalism programs.
- Dustin Blitchok – Planet Detroit’s managing editor and a journalist with experience covering government, crime, business, and more.
Stay tuned for Q&As with participants and their upcoming profiles on Detroit’s changemakers.
learn more about planet detroit’s neighborhood reporting lab
Introducing the 2024 Planet Detroit Neighborhood Reporting Lab
Our lab is designed to equip each resident with skills to tell their neighborhood’s story.
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