There have been 135,000 tax foreclosures in Detroit since 2009, and more than 50,000 occupied homes are stuck in chronic tax delinquency. Michelle Daine Bell was one of those homeowners. In 2018, United Community Housing Coalition worked with nearly 5,000 households to resolve tax and mortgage foreclosures, allowing Detroiters like Michelle to buy their homes...
Trunino Lowe is a young trumpet player from Detroit’s east side. A junior at Wayne State University studying jazz performance, Trunino began playing trumpet in the sixth grade through a program at the Carr Center. Throughout his high school years, Trunino joined youth jazz ensembles at Michigan State University’s Community Music School: Detroit and the Detroit...
A native Detroiter and renowned jazz bassist, Marion Hayden lives in Highland Park with her husband, artist M. Saffell Gardner. Together, the couple served as review panelists for the inaugural Community heART Highland Park program (CAHP). From June to August 2018, the $50,000 regrant program funded murals, community art trails, outdoor art festivals, and arts...
I am pleased to share the news of $4.6 million in new and continuing grants approved at our December 5 board meeting. At $1.15 million, the largest grant continues support for a coalition working to involve Detroiters in scaling up green stormwater infrastructure. The program’s keystone is an ambassador network of neighborhood leaders and nonprofits that are...
On November 14, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history and Michigan Science Center launched the Ripple of Impact: Museum Stormwater Initiative. Guided by research showing that museums are trusted spaces for learning and conversation, the event brought together diverse perspectives on water access and stewardship in Detroit. The Museum Stormwater Initiative centers...
The Foundation’s Investment Committee recently voted to invest a portion of our $300 million endowment in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) funds to begin to better align our investments with our programmatic mission and values. As family business owners concerned with the environment, Fred and Barbara Erb believed that sustainability – the harmonizing of economic,...
Toxic green slime is growing in lakes all over the country, including Lake Erie. It prevents us from recreational activities like swimming and fishing, and in some cases, contaminates our drinking water supply. Polluted runoff from agricultural fields and urban areas fuels the growth of these harmful algal blooms. Our foundation has supported over $14 million...
I am pleased to share the news of $7.1 million in new and continuing grants approved at our June 7 board meeting. Grant highlights include: $2 million as a challenge grant for the Detroit Zoo to create a new Great Lakes center in Macomb County. The center will use sustainable design and innovative programming to...
A key component of sustainability is equity. In addition to the redevelopment of policies and programs, seeking equity calls for diverse voices forging solutions that benefit all. The University of Michigan Environmental Fellows Program diversifies environmental and conservation philanthropy by supporting the career aspirations of graduate students from traditionally underrepresented populations. On May 23, the Foundation hosted this...
We are pleased to share our foundation’s 2017 annual report. Covering one year and $11.3 million in grantmaking, the report showcases people and organizations who are advancing sustainability through work in the environment and the arts. We hope that you share our excitement about their efforts and enjoy viewing the short videos embedded throughout the report. The report’s...