Detroit residents become reporters in Planet Detroit’s 2026 journalism program

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Planet Detroit’s Neighborhood Reporting Lab kicked off Saturday with 19 Detroit-area residents gathering to begin their journey as community environmental journalists. The 2026 cohort — selected from a competitive pool of applicants — brings together photographers, filmmakers, educators, organizers, researchers, and longtime neighborhood advocates, all united by a desire to tell stories about the places they call home.

The Lab, now in its third year and made possible by the generous support of the Kresge Foundation, is a six-week program that equips participants with the core skills of community journalism — interviewing, photography, writing, and publishing — and pairs each reporter with an experienced coach who guides them through producing a full story for Planet Detroit. Participants profile an individual in their community who is driving local change.

“Detroit has always been a city of storytellers,” said Nina Ignaczak, Planet Detroit’s founder and executive editor. “What the Neighborhood Reporting Lab does is give people the tools to take the deep knowledge they already have about their communities and turn it into journalism that holds power accountable and spotlights solutions. This year’s cohort is extraordinary — every single person walked in the door with something urgent to say.”

The morning opened with participants introducing each other after a brief partner interview exercise — a journalism technique in itself. The room crackled with energy as neighbors who had just met shared each other’s stories: a filmmaker drawn back to Detroit through pain and now channeling it into creative work; a retired community relations professional eager to document the city’s environmental leaders; a Wayne State student researching how institutional green space shapes access and equity in the University District.

Each participant will receive one-on-one coaching and, upon publication, a stipend.

Meet the 2026 Cohort

Angela D. Allen (Dr. Angie Allen) is a community educator and organizer with decades of experience building trust-based partnerships between institutions and neighborhood residents. Since 1993, she has worked locally and nationally, co-creating programs with resident leaders. She is most proud of her work in the neighborhood where she was born and raised, where her community efforts helped win a $500,000 ArtPlace America grant — the neighborhood’s first major award in over 25 years.

Catherine Kurth has spent her career in hospitality, drawing inspiration from the stories that surround food systems, wine culture, and regenerative farming. A twenty-year Detroiter who has called five neighborhoods home, she now lives in North End and believes that highlighting the vignettes of daily life is a powerful antidote to the disconnectedness of modern life.

Clayton Cortez Smith is a multimedia journalist and filmmaker from Southwest Detroit — a community he describes as one of the region’s sacrifice zones. His work explores social and environmental challenges through narrative, with a commitment to solutions-focused storytelling that sparks accountability and empowers communities.

Cynthia Gutierrez Navarro is a proud Mexicana raised in Southwest Detroit, currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. She is a fellow at the Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment and brings her background in academic research, community organizing, and environmental justice advocacy to the lab.

Eboni Williams is a Detroit-based public administration professional who blends housing systems work with community storytelling. She works as a Detroit Documenter with Outlier Media, has partnered with Sofa Stories to make local decision-making more visible, and supports statewide homelessness and housing programs. She is drawn to community reporting as a way to build connection, transparency, and amplify overlooked voices.

Etta Joyce Adams is a writer and educator born and raised in Detroit, with roots in the Black Bottom neighborhood. A graduate of Central State University with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology, she has worked as both a social worker and educator in Detroit Public Schools. She is currently engaged in sustainability work at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, exploring the environmental practices of enslaved Africans and their descendants.

Jamela Lugo-Thomas is a filmmaker based in Detroit who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the College for Creative Studies. She loves writing and storytelling and hopes to tell stories that leave an emotional impact. She previously worked with the Highland Park Fire Department, where she distributed water filters to residents when the water ran yellow — an experience that deepened her understanding of environmental justice.

Jeremy Rosenberg is a community builder and co-founder and executive director of Mezuzah, an organization working to create accessibility, equity, and community in NW Goldberg. With a background in marketing and community outreach, he is passionate about all things related to the City of Detroit, where he lives with his wife and young son.

Jihyun Ko is based in Ypsilanti and is a student journalist passionate about the intersection of climate and educational justice. She has led and edited youth publications through the Ypsilanti District Library and has reported on environmental and youth policy issues across southeast Michigan. She hopes to use the lab to develop her writing to a professional standard and amplify Detroit students’ voices.

Latia Leonard is a native Detroiter whose work in environmental justice and social justice organizing has shaped a practice that blends art and movement work. A photographer and storyteller, she uses imagery to document lived experiences and amplify efforts to build healthier communities and stronger environments.

Marisol Bonilla was born and raised in Mexico City, where she studied journalism, and now lives in Southwest Detroit. She is passionate about people’s stories and the ways that storytelling can positively shape communities. She brings both professional journalism training and a deep connection to Detroit’s Latinx community.

Najmah Anderson is a born-and-raised Detroiter who spent a decade traveling the country before returning home. Since coming back, she has worked with Brilliant Detroit, providing transportation services to community members and developed her own community engagement consulting practice. She brings a love of creative writing and a commitment to highlighting the people who are building a thriving Detroit.

Sarah Johnson is a freelance writer and editor whose work is guided by a belief in social responsibility and the power of community. She joins the lab to deepen her connection to Detroit and sharpen her skills as a community storyteller.

Quamae Hall is a Detroit-based professional photographer and founder of Opal Light Studios. With more than 14 years of experience behind the camera, he specializes in environmental portraiture that captures authenticity and story. His creative and mentorship work uses photography as a tool to uplift communities and help others find their voice.

Skyler Leslie grew up Downriver and now lives and works in Detroit’s District 6. With backgrounds in environmental justice and museum studies, she explores the intersections of public history, natural area management, and heritage tourism in the Great Lakes. She is a member of Friends of the Detroit River and joins the lab to build her writing skills and give back to the communities that raised her.

Trish Hubbell is a lifelong Detroit resident who recently retired from a long career in community relations, communications, and program management, including work with nonprofit and social service organizations. She is passionate about elevating the stories of Detroiters engaged in environmentally positive work across the city.

Weam Namou is an Eric Hoffer Award–winning author of more than 20 books and the founder and CEO of Unique Voices in Films, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating underrepresented stories. An internationally recognized filmmaker and poet, she has earned more than 60 global awards for her two feature films. She wrote and directed Pomegranate, the first Iraqi American narrative feature, released in 25 countries in 2025, and received a 2024 Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellowship for Directing.

Zayd Walid is a Detroit native studying Environmental Science with a minor in Public Health at Wayne State University. Over the past four years he has worked in environmental justice across the city, beginning with AmeriCorps and later conducting groundwater infiltration and urban infrastructure research. His work centers on the intersection of aging infrastructure and environmental equity in Detroit.

Zina Scimemi-O’Sullivan returned to the Detroit area after 12 years overseas and found renewed purpose in the city’s multigenerational creative communities. An avid storyteller, she has been documenting Detroit’s music and arts scene through photography and now brings those skills to community environmental journalism.

Meet the coaches

The 2026 cohort is supported by an exceptional team of coaches drawn from Planet Detroit’s staff, network, and Detroit’s broader journalism and creative communities.

Martina Guzmán is an award-winning journalist and editor. She is the founder of Verdad, a tool that shines a light on disinformation in Spanish-language media. She brings deep expertise in community-centered storytelling and a long commitment to amplifying Detroit voices.

Isabelle Tavares is a Planet Detroit reporter for Southwest Detroit through Report for America. Her reporting covers environmental justice and community health across the region.

Dustin Blitchok is Planet Detroit’s Managing Editor, overseeing the newsroom’s daily editorial operations and bringing years of experience in environmental and local journalism.

Ethan Bakuli is Planet Detroit’s Climate Solutions Reporter, focused on reporting that connects communities to actionable climate solutions across Michigan.

Bryce Huffman is a Detroit-based journalist and host known for his work at Michigan Public and his reporting on culture, race, and community in the city. He’s BridgeDetroit’s Engagement Editor.

Sydnee Thompson is a Detroit journalist and storyteller whose work centers on community voices and local accountability journalism.

Alex Washington is a journalist and media professional with deep roots in Detroit’s media landscape.

Ken Paulman is an editor with Canary Media, bringing expertise in environmental and energy journalism to coach participants through the reporting process.

SaMya Overall is the digital engagement editor at Outlier Media

Briana Rice is a civic life reporter at Outlier Media.

Nina Ignaczak is the founder and executive director of Planet Detroit and a journalist with a background in urban planning and environmental science.

Planet Detroit’s Neighborhood Reporting Lab is made possible by the generous support of the Kresge Foundation. Participants who publish a story receive a stipend. To read stories from current and past neighborhood reporters, visit planetdetroit.org/neighborhood-reporters.