TheChronicleNews
Detroitisacitythathasalways knownhowtotellastory. FromMotown’srhythmtothe muralsontheeastside,thenarrative ofresilience,brilliance,andBlack artistryhumsthroughitsstreets.This September,thatstorytellingtakes thescreenasthe6thAnnualDetroit BlackFilmFestivalrollsoutfour daysoffilms,conversation,andcultureacrossthecity.
FromSeptember25–28,2025,Detroitwilltransformintoacinematic
Parents,students,school areencouragedtonominateoutstandingpublic-school educatorsfortheMichiganLottery’s2025-26ExcellenceIn Educationawards.
Allpublic-schoolemployees maybenominatedfortheExcellenceInEducationawards, whichrecognizeeducators
whogo“aboveandbeyond”to children.Tonominateapublicschooleducator,gotohttps:// www.michiganlottery.com/excellence-in-education.
“TheExcellenceinEducationawardsareourway ofhonoringthephenomenal workbeingdonebyeducators incommunitiesthroughout
Michigan,”saidLotteryCommissionerSuzannaShkreli. “Thesededicatedprofessionals dosomuchmorethanteach; theyareaconstant,supportive presencewhoinstilllifelong skillsandinspirestudentsto believeinthemselves.”
30countriesandshowcasingthevoices theirstoriesgountold.Sinceitslaunch in2020,thefestivalhasscreenedmore placeasoneofthepremiershowcases forBlackcinemaintheMidwest.
onevenue,Detroit’seditionspreadsits wings.
In1969,civilrightsactivist FannieLouHamertookher
Afteryearsofbattlingdisenfranchisementandracialterror,Hamer sawclearlythatpoliticalfreedom couldnotbesustainedwithout economicfreedom.WhenBlack andworkbywhitelandownersas punishmentforregisteringtovote, Hamercreatedanewkindofresistance:sheboughtlandandputitin thehandsofthepeople.
TheFreedomFarmCooperative
L“sustainability”becamebuzzwords,HistoricallyBlackCollegesandUniversities(HBCUs)were quietlycultivatingbothcropsandleaders.ManyHBCUswerefoundedas land-grantinstitutionsaftertheMorrillActsof1862and1890,designed toextendagriculturaleducationtoall Americans.ButforBlackcommunities,theseschoolsmeantmuchmore: theyweresanctuariesofself-reliance andinnovation.
AtplaceslikeTuskegeeUniversity,NorthCarolinaA&T,andFlorida A&M,studentslearnednotonlyhowto growfoodbuthowtobuildfutures.Agriculturalprogramstrainedfarmers,scientists,andextensionagentswhocarriedknowledgebackintoruralBlack communities—teachingnewmethods
wasbornon40acresnearRuleville, Mississippi.Familiesgrewvegetables,raisedlivestock,andsharedin theharvest.Themodelwassimple yetradical—ifthesystemrefusedto feedBlackpeople,theywouldfeed themselves.
“Ifyougiveamanfoodwhenhe ishungry,youhelphimtolive.But ifyougivehimland,yougivehim life,”Hameroncesaid.TheFreedom Farmbecamemorethansustenance; itbecamehealingground.Itwasa placewherethesoilheldbothstruggleandrenewal,whereseedscarried dignityaswellasnutrition.
offarming,soilpreservation,andcooperativeeconomics.
Thislegacyisinseparablefromicons likeGeorgeWashingtonCarver,who turnedpeanutsandsweetpotatoesinto symbolsofpossibility,provingthatfrom humblerootscouldcomeworld-chang-ence;itwassurvival,creativity,andempowermentbornofnecessity.
thanfood.Itcreatedhousing, launchedapigbanktohelpfamiliesraiselivestock,andgaveBlack farmersafootholdagainstexploitation.Thoughitlastedonlyadecade duetofundingchallenges,thevision endures.
Today,whencommunitygardens bloomincitieslikeDetroit,Flint, andJackson,theycarryechoesof Hamer’scooperativespirit.Each plotofsoilisacontinuationofher dream:thatharvestcanbehealing, andresiliencecanberootedinthe land.
ExtensionprogramsatHBCUsalso senteducatorsintocommunities,bridg-tice.Theyspreadinnovationsincrop rotation,livestockmanagement,and foodpreservationthathelpedfamilies weatherstorms—bothliteralandsocial. Theseinstitutionssowedmorethan agriculturalskills;theycultivatedleaders.Fromfarmerstoactivists,thealumniofHBCUagriculturalprogramscarriedforwardabeliefthatknowledgeis aseed,andwhenplantedincommunity, ityieldsharvestsoffreedom.
Today,asHBCUscontinueto thrive,theiragriculturalrootsremind usthateducationitselfisagarden.The seedsplantedinthoselecturehallsdid notstopattheclassroom—theygrew movements,legacies,andleaderswho continuetonourishournation.
FannieLouHameratthe1964DemocraticNational Convention—hervoicefedhopeasmuchasthesoilfed
September1-September15,2025
McLarenGreaterLansing’sPetTherapy ProgramBringsComfortandConnection
McLarenGreaterLansinghas launchedapettherapyprogram,andleadingthewayis averyspecialpup.Jasper,a6-year-old “Aussiedoodle”(Australianshepherd andpoodlemix),visitsthehospital everyTuesdaywithhishandler,Datherapydogforfouryearsandbrings acalm,friendlypresencewhereverhe goes.
“Hisyearsofexperiencemakehim wellsuitedforthehospitalenvirongentledemeanorimmediatelyputpeopleatease,”saidWilson. dogintheprogram’sreturn,theidea isn’tentirelynew.
“Wehadtheprogrampriorto COVID-19,andwehavebeenworking onbringingitbackforsometime,”said MichelleDeputat,patientexperience directoratMcLarenGreaterLansing. “Thepatientexperiencedepartmentreceivedmuchinterestintheprogramasers,andvisitors.”
board.Forpatients,visitsfromtherapydogslikeJaspercanreducestress andanxiety,provideemotionalsupport,andbreakupthehospitalroutine withsomethingpositiveandcomfortmuch-neededboostfrominteracting withthedogs.
“Avisitwiththedogshelpsreduce stressandanxietywhileencouraging socialinteractionandasenseofconpatientshavealreadyembracedthefew minutestheygetwiththedogswith
Theprogramisorganizedthrough thevolunteerdepartmentandfollows onboardingprotocols.Therapydog teams,boththedoganditshandler, mustmeetallthehospital’svolunteerrequirements,includingemploy-
eehealthchecks,compliance,and infectioncontrolguidelines.They receiveformaltrainingandahospital-issuedbadgelikeothervolunteers. TheteamscurrentlyparticipatingareapyDogs(ATD),arespectednational organization.Vaccinationrecordsfor alldogsarecarefullymaintainedand monitored.
WhileJasperhasquicklybecomea familiarfaceatMcLaren,henowhas teammates.
“Wehavealreadyexpandedthe programwiththeadditionoftwoother dogs,CaliandScout,”saidDeputat.
Caliisa“Cavapoo”(KingCharles Cavalierandpoodlemix)andScout isa4-year-oldgoldenretriever.Togetherthesetherapydogsarehelping tomakethehospitalfeelalittlemore likehome.
LisaReneéPittsofABeautifulNoiseBreaksBarriersand BringsBlackExcellencetotheWhartonCenter
WhenthelightsgouponA BeautifulNoise:TheNeil DiamondMusical,audiencesmayexpectthefamiliar,120millionalbumsworthofhitslikeSweet Caroline,ForeverinBlueJeans,andselvesinvitedintothequiet,complicated,anddeeplyhumanspacesof NeilDiamond’slife,asseenthrough theeyesofhistherapist.Andinthis nationaltour,thatroleiscarriedwith remarkabledepthandresponsibility byactressLisaRenéPitts.
Pittsplaysthedoctor,acharacter basedonDiamond’sreal-lifetherapist, whohelpshimsiftthroughmemories, struggles,andtriumphs.ForPitts,the roleismorethanlinesandmusic,itisa chancetoembodyauthenticity,tohonor theseriousnessoftherapy,andtobring herownculturallenstoaBroadwayhit nowtouringAmerica
“Itakethisroleveryseriously,be-
matters.Toplaysomeonewhosework andhealing,it’sanhonor.”
FromBroadwaytoWharton Center
AfterasuccessfulrunonBroadway, ABeautifulNoiseisnowinitssecond yearontour,arrivingatEastLansing’s WhartonCenterSeptember16–21, 2025.Theshow,createdwithNeilDiamondhimself,weaveshiscareerintoa narrativeaboutidentity,resilience,and thetransformativepowerofmusic.
boxmusical,it’saliveband,high-energyshowthatalsoaddressesmental healthwithcareandhonesty.Audienc-
somuchmoreunderstandingofwho NeilDiamondreallywas.”
CarryingBlackExcellenceinto theSpotlight
ForPitts,steppingintothisrole alsocarriestheweightofrepresentation.SheisaBlackwomaninhabiting thelifeandworkofaJewishtherapist,ingtheimportanceofBlackvoicesin everycorneroftheater.
“Itmeansalottometobeinthis position,torepresentBlackexcellence inthisway,”shesaid.“We’retellinga universalstory,butIknowthatwhatI bringwithmematters.Icarrythatinto everyperformance.”
causeshetookherworkveryseriously,”Pittstoldmeduringourconversation.“Everyclientmatters,everystory
“Thecastisdiverse,acrossagesand backgrounds,andthat’simportant,” Pittssaid.“Peoplewalkawaynotonly withthemusictheycamefor,butwith
AsPublisherofTheChronicle News,aBlacklegacypublicationnow inits40thyear.Ifelttheweightofthat momenttoo.InterviewingPittswas morethananassignment.Togetherwe madehistory.
www.thechroniclenews.com COMMUNITYANDLIFESTYLE
September1-September15,2025
MasqueradesasLeadership
BYYANICEY.JACKSON
Alltheworld’sastage,Andallthemenand womenmerelyplayers.”
ThisfamouslinefromShakespeare’s AsYouLikeIthasneverfeltmoretruethanin today’sdigitalage.Socialmediahasbecomeour stage,wherecuratedpersonasandcarefullyposed momentsplayoutlikeperformances.
In2025,youdon’tneedaradioshoworarecorddealtobeknown.AllyouneedisaFacebook yourlifeintoastage.
Scrolllongenoughandyou’llseethem:thelocalcelebritieswhopostlikepreachers,livestream likepundits,andcollectfollowerslikeafanclub.
tionsecholikechurchchoirs:“Yes,King!”“Come through,Queen!”
WelcometotheeraofbeingFacebookFamous
—wherelikesgetmistakenforlegacy,sharesfor substance,andattentionforimpact.
Inaworldwherefollowersaretheaudienceand likesaretheapplause,thequestionisnolongerwho youarebutwhoyoucanappeartobe.FromThe CharismaticPreachertoTheSelf-CrownedChampion,thesearchetypesaren’tstereotypes,they’re patternsweallknowtoowell.Theyremindusthat charismaisn’tcharacter,andcloutisn’tcommunity. Now,tobeclear:whatfollowsarearchetypes, notstereotypes.Archetypesarerecurringroles— recognizablepatternsofbehaviorthatshowup everywhere.Theyaren’taboutrace,gender,or identity.They’reaboutperformancestylesweall recognize:thepreacher,thephilosopher,thehustler,thegatekeeper.Andinourcommunity,some ofthesearchetypeshave becomealltoocommon. They’renoteveryone, buttheyareindeedeverywhere.
Scan toread fullstory
DetroitTechno:TheAfro-FuturistBeatThatChangedtheWorld
LongbeforeEuropean raves,globalDJtours,and soundoftechnowasborninacity shapedbystruggle,resilience, andrhythm:Detroit.
Intheearly1980s,atrioof youngBlackvisionaries,Juan Atkins,DerrickMay,andKevin Saunderson,wouldgoontobe knownasTheBellevilleThree. Fromtheirsuburbanhighschool outsideDetroit,theybeganexperimentingwithelectronicinstruments,drummachines,andsynthesizers.Theresult?Aboldnew soundthatmarriedfunk,soul, Motownnostalgia,andafuturisandtheindustrialcollapsearound them.
ReclaimingaGenre
Toooften,theglobalpopularityoftechnoiswhitewashed, associatedwithEuropeanDJs andmusicfestivals.Butatits root,technoisBlack,radical,and deeplyAmerican.Itssyncopated rhythmsandmechanicalgroovestryanditsBlackworking-class heartbeat.
“It’slikeGeorgeClintonand Kraftwerkstuckinanelevator,” DerrickMayoncesaidofthe sound.
TheseweresonsofMotown, buttheyweren’tlookingback. Theywerebuildingforwardinto soundscapesthatimaginedliberationthroughmachines.ItwasAfro-futurismbeforethetermhitthe mainstream,andtechnobecame thesonicrebellionofageneration thathadinheritedbothbrilliance andbrokensystems.
GlobalImpact,LocalRoots Today,Detroittechnoisa globalforce.FromBerlin’sundergroundclubstoTokyo’sstreet parties,DJsstillpayhomageto theirorigins.Yetbackhome,the recognitionandlegacy,reminding theworldthatBlackculturehas alwaysledinnovation,evenwhen itisn’talwayscreditedforit. Detroit’sroleinbirthingtechnoismorethanafootnote,it’sa reminderthatBlackmusiccontinuestobeatoolofimagination,
Scan toread fullstory
COMMUNITYSPOTLIGHT
www.thechroniclenews.com
September1-September15,2025
MeetTakuraNyamfukudzalitigatorand communityadvocate
Tdistinctivebowtie;it'shisunwaveringdedicationandexpertisethattrulysethimapart.Tohim, defendingpeople'srightsinthecourtAsanadeptcriminaldefenselitigator, hehasastringofsuccessesunderhis belt,includingsecuring"notguilty" verdictsinmultiplechallengingcases suchasattemptedmurderandcriminal sexualconduct.
Beyondhiscourtroomvictories, Takuraplayedacrucialroleintheexonerationofthreeindividualswhocollectivelyspent52yearswrongfullyim-
ScreeningsandpanelslightupinstitutionsliketheCharlesH.Wright MuseumofAfricanAmericanHistory, theMarleneBollYMCATheater,the CarrCenter,andtheLOVEBuilding; eachspaceaddingitsowntexture.On Fridaynight,theLOVEBuildingopens itsdoorstoafreecommunityscreening forticketholders,butforeveryonewho claimsDetroitashome.
MoreThanaMovieNight
ButtheDetroitBlackFilmFestiandwatchingreels.OnSaturday,September27,theTasteofBlackSpirits: TheCocktailConciergebringstheart
prisoned.Collaboratingwiththeteam atChartier&Nyamfukudza,P.L.C., hetirelesslyfoughttoprovetheirinnocence.
Takura'slegalprowessextends acrossstateandfederalcourtsinMichigan,wherehehandlesappellatecases atboththeMichiganSupremeCourt andtheMichiganCourtofAppeals. Beforehislegalcareer,heproudly servedhiscountryintheUnitedStates Armyfortwelveyears.
Inrecognitionofhisexceptional contributionstothelegalprofession thecommunityadvocate,Takurawas honoredwiththeStateBarofMich-
igan'sRegeanaMyrickOutstanding YoungLawyerAwardin2015.He hasalsoreceivedaccoladessuchas theRisingStarAwardfromtheDavis-DunningsBarAssociationandthe prestigious"Top5Under35"Award fromtheInghamCountyBarAssociation.
Activeinvariousprofessionalorganizations,Takurashareshisinsights oncriminaldefenseatconferencesand institutions likethe Michigan JudicialInstitute.
Scan toread fullstory
ofmixologyintothefold.Pictureit:a wine,beer,andspiritbrands,fromRonaldIsley’sLiquidGoldtoSableBourbonbyMorrisChestnut&TayeDiggs. It’scinemapairedwithatoasttoculasitisvisual.
rangingfromdocumentariesthatdig deepintohistoryandactivism,tonarrativesthatstretchfromDetroittothediaspora.Thefestivalbridgescontinents, butthecommonthreadisalwaysthe same:Blackvoicestellingtheirtruths, theirway.
Passes&Tickets
Ticketscanbepurchasedthrough
FilmFreeway.
BlackSpiritsEvent–$225
Includesallscreenings,AwardsCeremony,andTasteofBlackSpiritsevent.
TasteofBlackSpirits:“TheCocktailConcierge”Only–$120
EventonSeptember27.
FestivalScreeningPass(4Days)–$100
Includesallscreeningsandthe AwardsCeremony.
One-DayScreeningPass–$35 Includesallscreeningsforoneselectedday.
TheMichiganLotteryestablished theExcellenceinEducationawards in2014torecognizeoutstandingpublic-schooleducatorsacrossthestate duringtheschoolyear.
Oneoutstandingeducatorwillbe selectedeachweekandwillreceive a$2,000cashprize.Attheendof theschoolyear,oneoftheseweeklyawardwinnerswillbeselected toreceivetheLottery’sEducatorof theYearawardandwillreceivea
$10,000cashprize.
Thewinnerofthe2025Educatorof theYearawardwasKellyHerberholz,a scienceteacherandadministrativeintern withDakotaHighSchoolinMacomb. Hundredsofeducatorswerenominatedduringthe2024-25schoolyear, whichwasthe11thyearoftheExcellenceinEducationawardsprogram. Thirty-fourofthesenominees,includingHerberholz,wereselectedtowina weeklyaward.
PreviouswinnersoftheEducatoroftheYearaward: 2024–SamanthaTwoCrow,thedirectoroftheIndigenousEducationProgramforSuttonsBayPublicSchoolsin SuttonsBay. 2023–KathrynKluzak,akindergartenteacherwithRobertL.Green ElementaryinEastLansing. 2022–SpencerVanderheide,ahigh schoolteacherwithKenowaHillsHigh
Attire:Semi-formalandcasualchic.
FestivalLocations:
TheDetroitBlackFilmFestival& TasteofBlackSpiritswillbehostedat: CarrCenter–15E.Kirby,Detroit, MI48202
MarleneBollYMCATheater–1401Broadway,Detroit,MI48226
DoubleTreeHotel–525W.LafayetteBlvd.,Detroit,MI48226
CharlesH.WrightMuseumofAfricanAmericanHistory–315E.WarrenAve.,Detroit,MI48201
TheLOVEBuilding–4731Grand River,Detroit,MI48208
IndividualTicket(Sept.28Only)–$75ny.
SchoolinGrandRapids.
2021–JaniceSmith,aschoolsocial workeratFisherMagnetLowerAcademyinDetroit.
2020–MeganSidge,anAutism SpectrumDisorderteacheratHickory WoodsElementaryinWalledLake. 2019 –Stewart Kieliszewski,anEarth science,bi-
www.thechroniclenews.com
Don’tBeFooled:HowtoSpotandAvoid ImposterScams
ARTICLECONTRIBUTED BIYTRUECOMMUNITY CREDITUNION
WhatIsanImposterScam?
Animposterscamiswhena scammerliesandpretendsto besomeonethey’renottotrick youintogivingthemmoney,accessto personalinformation.Scammersoften pretendtobefromawell-knownbusifromagovernmentagency.
HowImposterScamsTryto TrickYou
Scammersoftenspoofphonenumbers.Thisisintendedtotrickyou intothinkingthecallislegitimateand they’reactuallycallingyoufromthe businessyourecognize.
Scammerswillprovideyouwitha fakeemployeenameorbadge/IDnumber. letterswithsealsandmakeupgovernmentagencynamesthatsoundrealbut
aren’t.Theywillprovideyouafraudu“letterhead”usinganimagefromthe internet.
HowToAvoidImposterScams
Nevertransferorsendmoney, cryptocurrency,giftcards,orgold tosomeoneyoudon’tknowinresponsetoanunexpectedcallormessage.
Neverprovideyourpersonalinfor-
mation,suchasyoursocialsecurity number,accountnumber,oronline bankinglogin,toanyoneoverthe phone.
Don’tbelieveanyonewhosaysyou havetoquicklymoveyourmoneyto “protect”it.Anyonewhotellsyou thatisascammer.
Ifthecalleronthephonesaysit’s serious,involvesacrime,claimsto befromthegovernment,orinsists thatyoudon’ttalktoanyoneabout
receivingthecall,thisisascam. Don’tclickonlinksorreplytounexpectedtextmessages. Don’tcallbackusingcontactinformationprovidedinunexpectedmessages.
Ifyouthinkthemessagecouldbe real,verifythestory.Contacttheorganizationinquestionusingaphone number,website,oremailaddress youknowisreal.Don'tusecontact informationleftinunexpectedmessages.
Usingcautionisoneofthebest waystoprotectyourselffromscams.A giveyoupeaceofmindandaddedprotection.
VisitTRUECommunityCredit UnionatTRUECCU.comformoretips tohelpkeepyourinformationsafefrom scammers.
CommunityFarmsTakeRootAcrossAmerica
AcrosstheUnitedStates,a quietrevolutionisunfolding inthesoil.Fromcityrooftopstoruralplots,communityfarms areprovingthatagricultureisnot onlyaboutfeedingbodies—it’sabout nourishingneighborhoods,restoring dignity,andreconnectingpeopleto oneanother.
Inruralcommunities,cooperativefarmsarecreatingnewopportunitiesforfamiliestoshareresources,knowledge,andharvests. Bypoolinglandandlabor,these collectiveslightentheburdenon individualfarmersandstrengthenfoodsecurityforentireregions.
School-basedgardensandyouth teachingchildrenthatsustainability beginswithplantingaseedandcaringfortheearth.
Communityfarminghasbecomeapowerfulequalizer.CSAs (community-supportedagriculture programs)connectlocalfarmersdirectlywithfamilies,bypassingmiddlemenandputtingfreshproduce onkitchentables.Foodpantries partnerwithfarmstoensuresurplus handsofthosewhoneedthemmost. Andineveryharvestshared,bonds arestrengthenedacrossrace,class, andgeography.
Thesefarmsgrowmorethan crops—theygrowresilience.Inthe wakeofrisingfoodprices,climate concerns,andsocialfragmentation, thesoilhasbecomeasanctuarywhere peoplediscoverthathealingbeginsin thegroundbeneaththeirfeet.Each gardenisareminderthatwearerootedtogether.
September’stheme—Rootedin Soil,RisinginSpirit—livesinthese farms.Theharvestisliteral,butitis alsosymbolic:communitiescultivatinghealth,hope,andhumanity.The messageisclear—whenweplanttogether,werisetogether.
BYYANICEY.JACKSON
Irecentlyhadthepleasureofsitting downwithMr.Al"Leal"Smith,a fellowClarkAtlantaUniversity alumnusanddearfriend.AlisoneofualsI'vehadthehonorofknowing, withaheartasbigashispassionfor education.Hiscommitmenttoleavingnoonebehindisevidentthrough hismissiontoempowerothersusing hisgiftformarketingandmedia.
LealholdsaBAfromIndianaUniversityandanMBAfromClarkAtlantaUniversity,combininghisformal educationwithreal-worldexperience toinspireothers.Histransitionfroma successfulcareerinmarketing,where -
paignsforFortune500companies,to educationspeaksvolumesabouthis desiretogiveback.Hesawaneed formorepositivemalerolemodelsin communitiesofcoloranddecidedto
ButLealdidn'tstopthere.Hispas-ly,leadinghimtolaunchPurpixMediaandFutureFilmmakers.Through theseventures,hemasterfullymergesingthought-provokingcontentwhile teachingthenextgenerationhowto
OneofhismostimpactfulinitiativesistheOneDayFilmSkool.In highschoolsandcollegiateprograms
teachingstudentstheinsandouts withnationalprogramslikeTRIO andstateinitiativessuchasFlorida’s C.R.O.P.,empoweringstudentstoexplorecareersincontentcreationand media.
Leal'sworkhasearnedhimnumerousaccolades,includingthe2017 LillyTeacherCreativityGrant,the 2018IndianaArtsCommissionGrant, andthe2019CreateIndyAward,to nameafew.Hisrelentlesspursuitof excellenceanddedicationtouplifting youthisbothadmirableandinspiring.
HowtoChampionChangeasaLocalBusinessOwner
Asasmallbusiness owner,youcansig-munityhealthandwell-being whileenhancingyourbusiness’sreputationasaleader incare.Thisarticlepresents practicalstrategiesforleadinginitiativesthatimprove individualwellnessandfoster ahealthiercommunity.Promotinghealth,buildingstrong communityconnections,and prioritizingwell-beingcannessandthosearoundyou.
DriveWorkplaceWellnesswithHealthInitiatives
Organizinghealthscreeningsandvaccinationcampaignsatyourworkplaceis apowerfulwaytoboostemployeeandcommunityhealth. Theseinitiativesgiveyour
teamaccesstopreventive healthmeasuresandincrease theirawarenessofpersonal healthstatus,whichiscrucial inreducingabsenteeismdueto illness.Byincorporatingbest practicesforworkplacesafety andhealth,youfosteraculture
yourimmediateteamtotheir familiesandthewidercommu-
nity.Proactivestepslikethese demonstrateyourcommitment toemployeewell-beingand positionyourbusinessasaresponsiblecommunityleader.
EnergizeCommunity SpiritbySponsoring Events
Sponsoringcommunity eventssuchascharityrunsand
cantlyenhancephysicalactivityandwellnessinyourarea. EventslikeRunForCharity
participantsofallagesand abilitiestoengageinphysical exercise.Bysupportingthese initiatives,youpromotehealth andwellnesswhileincreasing yourbusiness’svisibilityand customerengagement.Partneringwithlocalhealthfairs allowsyoutoprovidevaluable healthscreeningsandeducationalservices,furtherpromotingacultureofwellness.
UnlockSuccesswith LocalBusinessTips Embarkingonyourentrestrategicplanningandaclear businessgoalsandcraftinga comprehensiveplanthateval-
derstandsyourtargetmarket’s needs.Engagingwithyour localcommunitybybuildingstrongnetworkscanenhanceyourbusinessprospects throughvaluablereferralsand partnerships.It’scrucialtoresearchthebusinesslicenses andpermitsapplicabletoyour businesstocomplywithlocal regulations.Search“howmuch isabusinesslicenseinMichigan”formoreinformation; Michigandoesnotmandatea generalbusinesslicenseatthe statelevel,althoughlocalrequirementsmayvary.
CultivateCommunity ConnectionwithEmployeeVolunteering
Scan toread fullstory
Scan toread fullstory
www.thechroniclenews.com September1-September15,2025
HBCUClassics:MoreThanaGame— It’sLegacyinMotion
There’samomenteachfallwheningbandsignite,andgenerations converge,thisisHBCUClassicseason, atimewhenBlackcollegefootballisn’ttage,perseverance,andpride.
FromBatonRougetoBirmingham, fromNewYorktoNewOrleans,Classicspowermorethanscoreboards. Theyfueleconomies,gatheralumni, andcentercultureineverydrive,beat, andhalftimeshow.Thebattlesonthe gridironechostoriesofstruggleand triumph,andthesoundsofbrassand drumsremindusthatthesematchups areculturalceremoniesasmuchas athleticcontests.
DetroitJoinstheLegacy
traditioninspectacularfashion.The DetroitFootballClassicreturnedto
FordFieldforthefirsttimeinnearly twodecades,bringingHBCUfootballbacktoMichigan’slargestcity. OnAugust30,KentuckyStaterallied todefeatCentralStateUniversityina gamethatenergizedbothalumniand newcomers.
ForTheChronicle,themomenthit closetohome.OurowninternNassan, aproudCentralStatestudent,watched
thebrightlightsofFordField.Hisexschools,they’regatheringsofhistory, pride,andlegacythatstretchfromcampusquadstocityblocks.
Detroit’sembraceoftheClassic provesthattheheartbeatofHBCUfootwhereveralumni,students,andsupporterscometogethertocelebrate.InMichigan,thereturnoftheClassicsymbolizesresilience,revival,andthepowerof communitytokeeptraditionsalive.
TheHeartbeatoftheClassics: MarchingBands
Whilethescoreboardtellsonestory,themarchingbandstellanother—a louder,prouderone.AteveryHBCU Classic,thebandisascentralasthe
tailgatesbutfortheBattleoftheBands, thehalftimetheatrics,thedancelines, andthethunderoussoundthatmakes stadiumsvibrate.
Scan toread fullstory
Morethanentertainment,the bandsareculturalambassadors. Theycarryhistoryineveryformation,honortraditionineverycadence,andcreatespacesofcomraderywhererivalriesdissolveinto sharedpride.Formanyfans,the highlightofthedayisn’tthetouchdownbutthetubaline,thedrum sparksapplauseacrossgenerations. inBirmingham’sMagicCityClassicor NewOrleans’BayouClassic,thebands accompany thegame— theywere thegame.
BacktoCampus:RootedinHistory,RisinginPurpose
Everyfall,campusesacrossthecountrycome alivewiththeenergyofstudentsreturning toclassrooms,dorms,andlecturehalls.The back-to-schoolseasonismorethanacalendarritual,it isagenerationalrhythm,onethattiestoday’sstudents tothosewhocamebeforethem,eachstrivingtorise higherthrougheducation.
Forsome,thereturnmeanssteppingontocampusforiarlecturehalls.Forothers,it’sacontinuationofyears ofhardwork,friendships,andtherelentlesspushtoward
resident,allareconnectedbyasharedtruth:collegeis whereseedsofpotentialareplantedandnurtured.
Therootsrundeep.Universitiesandcolleges acrossthenationstandastestamentstoresilience. foundedintimesofchange,sustainedbythepursuit
ofknowledge,andstrengthenedbygenerationsofstudentswhorefusedtogiveupontheirdreams.Today’s studentsinheritthatlegacy,andwithit,theresponsi-
bilitytorise.Butrisingdoesn’thappenalone.College isalsoaboutcommunity,theroommateswhobecome lifelongfriends,theprofessorswhomentor,theorganizationsthatbuildleadership,andthesharedspaces whereideascollide.
Inanageofdigitalscreensandfast-pacedchange, thevalueofgatheringinperson,oflearningandgrowingsidebyside,remainspowerful.Septemberisnotnewal.Thebooks,thelectures,theexams,theymatter. Butwhatmattersmostisthetransformation: theresiliencebuiltinlate-nightstudysessions, thecouragelearnedfromfailure,theprideofpersistence.Thisisthestoryofhighereducationacross America:rootedinhistory,risinginpurpose,and evercultivatingtheleaders,innovators,andhealers whowillshapetomorrow.
