Detroit

blue

Axios Detroit Partners

Axios Detroit

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Detroit.

Axios Detroit Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Detroit Alerts

Alert

Detroit Members

Membership

Mayor Mary Sheffield made the business case for lifting Detroit's most impoverished residents Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Why it matters: Fighting poverty is an economic growth strategy in the best interest of corporations and the state at large, Sheffield argued in a keynote speech on Mackinac Island.

The swanky annual shindig gathers the state's most powerful private, nonprofit and political leaders, costing $3,500-$5,200 to attend.

State of play: Sheffield described being a pro-business mayor — but the top of her economic agenda is investing in struggling Detroiters' health and financial well-being.

She argued that poverty is not just a social or charity issue, but the key to regional economic development and workforce competitiveness.

Case in point: When she asked credit ratings agencies how Detroit could earn a higher rating, they cited residents' income levels, poverty and unemployment.

"This confirmed what I long believed, that raising household income is not just compassionate policy, it is sound economic policy."

Plus, poverty is a top challenge cited by big-box retailers when they make the decision whether or not to open a store here, she added.

Between the lines: Sheffield referenced policies enacted so far, including bringing infant and mother cash program Rx Kids to Detroit, raising wages for Detroit employees and hiring a top-level anti-poverty executive.

She has previously called on corporations to follow her lead and raise their wages.

Other future endeavors of Sheffield's that could use corporate and state-level political support include population growth and retention strategies, and creating new revenue streams to lower property taxes.

Go deeper: Poverty is on the rise in Detroit

Sheffield's pro-business case on poverty

The mayor argues anti-poverty policy is key to the economic futures of Detroit and Michigan.

Mayor Mary Sheffield's Mackinac speech. Photo: Courtesy of Detroit Regional Chamber

Mayor Mary Sheffield made the business case for lifting Detroit&#x27;s most impoverished residents Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference.Why it matters: Fighting poverty is an economic growth strategy in the best interest of corporations and the state at large, Sheffield argued in a keynote speech on Mackinac Island.

Politics

News

Money

Walking is king this summer at Detroit's parks.

Why it matters: A stroll is one of the best things you can do for your heart, body and brain.

The Detroit Parks Coalition is doubling down on the combined benefits of walking and socialization by expanding its summer We Walk Detroit program.

The big picture: The one-hour group walks — offered multiple times a week starting June 1 at parks across the city — are part of a larger slate of free, all-ages programming for wellness and recreation.

The coalition organized the schedule across 50 parks with $1 million in combined public and private investment.

What they're saying: "Those numbers are really big milestones for us," Sigal Hemy Spiegel, the coalition's executive director, said during Wednesday's summer launch event.

"... And this collective investment by all of us here is proof that Detroit parks are really critical for our residents, and that we, as park stewards, are better and stronger when we work together."

Behind the scenes: The Detroit Parks Coalition is an alliance of community park organizations — the Belle Isle and Chandler Park conservancies, Clark Park Coalition, Friends of Rouge Park and others.

Its members represent specific parks, while also supporting parks across the city through programming and funding for improvements.

This summer's funders include the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Kresge Foundation and Gilbert Family Foundation.

Context: Some programming is aimed toward giving young people more safe summer activities, like Pistons basketball clinics, Hemy Spiegel says.

The goal aligns with Mayor Mary Sheffield's Occupy the Summer event series intended to give young adults and kids options they lack to keep busy, and address "teen takeovers" in Detroit.

🧘 Yoga in the parks running daily at various times, June 1-Sept. 30, with studios including Yoganic Flow, Full Lotus Yoga and Urban Solace Studio.

🚲 A first-come, first-served bike maintenance pop-up at Rouge Park, 10am-4pm June 13.

🐟 Community Fish Day with free fishing, prizes and refreshments at Riverside Park, noon-4pm June 14.

🍎 Know Your Health Day with free health screenings, food, music and more at Bailey Park, 1-5pm June 27.

🗑️ Grandmont neighborhood cleanup day, 9:30am-3:30pm Aug. 1.

Go deeper: The full event calendar (which will be updated regularly)

Detroit Parks Coalition brings free summer events to 50 parks

More free yoga, fishing, group walks and other park events return across Detroit this summer.

Playground equipment on woodchips. A climbing structure and a slide in the background

Chandler Park playground equipment. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios

Walking is king this summer at Detroit&#x27;s parks.Why it matters: A stroll is one of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="best things" data-vars-click-url="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10643563/" data-vars-content-id="860145f0-9b5c-4c2c-a139-86d12e3c2c20" data-vars-headline="Detroit Parks Coalition brings free summer events to 50 parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10643563/" target="_blank">best things</a> you can do for your heart, body and brain.<ul><li>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Detroit Parks Coalition" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitparkscoalition.com/who-we-are" data-vars-content-id="860145f0-9b5c-4c2c-a139-86d12e3c2c20" data-vars-headline="Detroit Parks Coalition brings free summer events to 50 parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitparkscoalition.com/who-we-are" target="_blank">Detroit Parks Coalition</a> is doubling down on the combined benefits of walking and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="socialization" data-vars-click-url="https://www.birchpsychology.com/birchs-blog/2023/4/24/why-we-need-socialization" data-vars-content-id="860145f0-9b5c-4c2c-a139-86d12e3c2c20" data-vars-headline="Detroit Parks Coalition brings free summer events to 50 parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.birchpsychology.com/birchs-blog/2023/4/24/why-we-need-socialization" target="_blank">socialization</a> by expanding its summer We Walk Detroit program.</li></ul>

Things to Do

Health

👋 Annalise here, thanking you for sharing your thoughts on off-leash dogs last week.

What we learned: Summer is the time to enjoy outside hours with your furry best friend, but letting dogs wander off-leash is a serious issue with potentially dangerous consequences.

Readers cautioned dog owners that even if they believe their dog is "friendly," bringing it unrestrained around strangers is unsafe.

Here's what some of you had to say, edited for brevity and clarity:

James R.: Dogs should always be on a leash in public! It's not only about the unpredictability of the animal, but also about that of his surroundings and people in those surroundings.

Shelley V.: As a lifetime Detroiter and dog owner, absolutely no dogs off leash in public areas.  We should respect the needs and issues of all humans and dogs.

Caitlin C.: We have a very well-behaved dog who is also extremely attached to her owners. She tends to walk better if we are doing a long walk or hike if she isn't on a leash. However, if we are in a busy area, if anyone else is approaching us, she is always on leash. We know she is well-behaved, but we also know not everyone loves dogs and you have to be respectful in public of that.

Pam W.: I have had dogs run towards me, and it is impossible to tell if they are aggressive or friendly.

Allison K.: I fear too many people assume their dogs will be loved by all. Not everyone is a dog person and others shouldn't have to worry that an off-leash dog will approach them (even if the owner knows the dog is well-trained).

Allyson B.: I have been attacked by 2 off leash dogs while running in Detroit. Both with their owners in view.

I hate seeing dogs off leash, it makes me feel scared and nervous. It also makes me not want to run outside, which really sucks. I think dog owners need to ground themselves and stop thinking their dog is the exception because it's cute and they love their dog.

Kathy W.: As a pet sitter, I am very wary of unleashed dogs, going so far to say that I'm terrified. If I'm on a trail walking a client's dog and I have to deal with a possible aggressive dog, unleashed and not under control in any sense, well, that's a recipe for disaster.

Madison S.: Miss me with that off-leash dog bullsh**.

BJ T.: Off-leash in public is never OK. It's the law and I wish more people obeyed it. Also, if a nature preserve says no dogs, please obey that as well. I see people walking dogs on "No Dogs Allowed" trails almost every time I'm out and it's very frustrating.

Metro Detroiters weigh in on unsafe off-leash dogs

Many readers say unleashed dogs make public spaces feel unsafe.

Illustration of a dog wearing a collar with a metal pendant in the shape of a word balloon.

👋 Annalise here, thanking you for sharing your thoughts on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="off-leash dogs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/21/when-are-off-leash-dogs-ok" data-vars-content-id="9debbe21-5413-49b0-a549-c2bc46484f71" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroiters weigh in on unsafe off-leash dogs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/21/when-are-off-leash-dogs-ok" target="_self">off-leash dogs</a> last week.What we learned: Summer is the time to enjoy outside hours with your furry best friend, but letting dogs wander off-leash is a serious issue with potentially dangerous consequences.

Culture

Welcome back to our weekly city policy roundup.

💼 Hiring news: Jade Mathis, a civil rights attorney, public speaker and mental health advocate, is the next director of Detroit's Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department. Much of her past work has focused on criminal justice reform.

Mathis' father is celebrity Judge Greg Mathis, a former Michigan 36th District Court judge and supporter of Mayor Mary Sheffield's campaign.

Sheffield also appointed a deputy director for Jade Mathis' office: Megan Moslimani, a local attorney whose previous work includes building Detroit's social equity program for cannabis businesses.

Plus: More hiring news could potentially be on the way, as some leadership jobs posted to the city's website appear to have been taken down.

That could include two top leadership "chief" roles — one will oversee housing, planning, workforce and economic development, and the other neighborhood affairs.

👋 DDA fills out: Sheffield nominated another Downtown Development Authority board member — Matt Walters, a developer and former economy exec under ex-Mayor Mike Duggan.

Another nominee, former City Council member Fred Durhal, was approved by City Council this month.

The other members of the influential economic development board are listed on its website.

🗣️ Lastly, Sheffield's keynote address at the Mackinac Policy Conference is 11:15am Thursday. Watch the livestream and look out for our coverage.

Separately, we expect the announcement of a new Detroit neighborhood data dashboard.

Detroit City Chatter: New civil rights hire

Plus, more additions to an influential economic development board.

Illustration of a podium with a banner hanging on it that reads "City Chatter"

Welcome back to our weekly city policy roundup.💼 Hiring news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jade Mathis" data-vars-click-url="https://jadeemathis.com/" data-vars-content-id="b6d1e066-446f-4fc3-93d2-0b6321f3503f" data-vars-headline="Detroit City Chatter: New civil rights hire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://jadeemathis.com/" target="_blank">Jade Mathis</a>, a civil rights attorney, public speaker and mental health advocate, is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="next director" data-vars-click-url="https://detroitmi.gov/news/mayor-mary-sheffield-appoints-jade-e-mathis-director-civil-rights-inclusion-opportunity-megan" data-vars-content-id="b6d1e066-446f-4fc3-93d2-0b6321f3503f" data-vars-headline="Detroit City Chatter: New civil rights hire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroitmi.gov/news/mayor-mary-sheffield-appoints-jade-e-mathis-director-civil-rights-inclusion-opportunity-megan" target="_blank">next director</a> of Detroit&#x27;s Civil Rights, Inclusion &amp; Opportunity Department. Much of her past work has focused on criminal justice reform.

Development

Collecting art for your home can feel intimidating and expensive. But local experts say it doesn't have to be and that Detroit is a great place to start.

Why it matters: Art fuels the soul and body, enriches our living spaces and can help support the local creative economy.

What they're saying: "There is art collecting to be had at every level, no matter what your budget is," says Misha McGlown, director of Detroit's Irwin House Global Art Center and Gallery.

Here are experts' tips for beginner art collecting:

🧠 Absorb, don't rush: "If someone feels intimidated by collecting art, the most important thing to do is start by spending time with art," Miah Davis Gardner, Detroit Artists Market executive director, tells Axios.

Start by attending (often free) events and visiting galleries. Meet local artists and follow them on social media.

Taste develops naturally through exposure, Davis Gardner adds. Patterns in your interests flesh out over time.

Wide art gallery hallway with white walls and light floor, paintings lining both sides under track lighting, a black accent wall on the right with a vibrant piece, and a bench at the far end.

Irwin House's annual affordable holiday art exhibition. Photo: Courtesy of Irwin House Detroit

📍 Learn the landscape: Art Detroit Now is an oft-cited resource with a weekly art event email blast and interactive gallery map. Sacred Spaces showcases local Black-owned art galleries.

🤓 Education: Detroit Artists Market hosts free collector education events, with the next one on June 6.

The Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club meets Mondays at 5pm at Marygrove Conservancy, gathering art lovers, artists and collectors.

💵 Cost is a spectrum: Art can cost anything from a few dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on the stage of the artist's career, the intricacy of the piece, the venue and other factors. Buying from and following emerging artists also means you can follow their careers as they grow.

Plus, buying prints of paintings rather than originals, or artists' sketches rather than their complete artworks, can be an affordable way to support local artists, Davis Gardner notes.

Summer art fairs are a good entry point to learn pricing. 

Larger pieces can also often be purchased in installments.

🤗 Buy art that calls to you: Both Davis Gardner and McGlown say to focus on pieces that make you feel something. Note what you're still thinking about after you've left a gallery.

Plus, consider which art you'd like to come home and have a conversation with every day, McGlown says.

The bottom line: If you don't have a specific spot in your home in mind, don't necessarily let that deter you, she adds.

"When you get [the piece of art] home, it will tell you where it wants to go. ... This might potentially mean moving things around, but I think art is meant to move around."

How to start collecting art in Detroit

You don't need a huge budget to start collecting local art.

A person gives a gallery talk, in front of a white wall lined with colorful paintings and sculptures. The seated audience watches.

A Detroit Artists Market event. Photo: Courtesy of Detroit Artists Market

Collecting art for your home can feel intimidating and expensive. But local experts say it doesn&#x27;t have to be and that Detroit is a great place to start.Why it matters: Art fuels the soul <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="and body" data-vars-click-url="https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/10/art-fund-research-proves-that-viewing-art-is-good-for-the-human-body/" data-vars-content-id="ea20a1c6-474c-4cf3-95c6-7aa4e15f48a1" data-vars-headline="How to start collecting art in Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/10/art-fund-research-proves-that-viewing-art-is-good-for-the-human-body/" target="_blank">and body</a>, enriches our living spaces and can help support the local creative economy.

Annalise Frank

Featured stories

Sheffield's pro-business case on poverty

Detroit Parks Coalition brings free summer events to 50 parks

Detroit City Chatter: New civil rights hire

Metro Detroiters weigh in on unsafe off-leash dogs

How to start collecting art in Detroit