James Hooks has owned and operated Metro Foodland in northwest Detroit in the Grandland Shopping Center for over 27 years. Metro Foodland is the only Black-owned full-service grocery store in Detroit and one of the last in the entire United States.

A proposed Meijer superstore in the location of the now-closed Redford High School less than a mile from Metro Foodland threatens the viability of the independent grocery store.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120409/BIZ/204090326

YOU can support Metro Foodland by committing to shop there 27 times this year and purchasing at least $27.00 with each visit. 27 visits and $27 in separate purchases to celebrate 27 years of success.

Metro Foodland

18551 Grand River Avenue

Detroit MI 48223

313.838.2754

info@metrofoodland.com

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Nick Ashford died Monday, August 23 2011 of throat cancer. He was 70 years old. Nick was raised in Willow Run, Michigan (near Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor) and along with his wife Valerie Simpson, was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. 

Their compositions were recorded by Ronnie Milsap ("Never Had It So Good"), Maxine Brown ("One Step At A Time"), as well as the Shirelles and Chuck Jackson. Another of the trio's songs "Let's Go Get Stoned" gave Ray Charles a number one U.S. R&B hit in 1966. That same year Ashford & Simpson joined Motown where their best-known songs included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "You're All I Need To Get By", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)". As performers, Ashford and Simpson's best-known song is "Solid" (1984 US and 1985 UK). The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. (from Wikipedia)

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Could YOUR Business use up to a $500K infusion of capital? Hurry! The deadline's fast approaching! The experts at Writing It Right For You can help you to complete your application!

Email Writing It Right For You: info@teamowens313online.com

Email Accelerate Michigan:  info@acceleratemichigan.org

Wednesday August 10 Company Application Deadline $500,000 Grand Prize * $150,000 Runner up Ten additional $25,000 prizes More than $250,000 in in-kind services The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is open to any early stage business — from anywhere in the world. What we're looking for are companies that have a strong technology or concept and serious growth potential. If you think that $500,000 would give your company the boost to move it to the next level — please apply to compete. Please contact us at info@acceleratemichigan.org if you have any questions. Eligibility Note: These are not rigid critera, they're guidelines. Technology Innovative and proven (past proof of concept) At a commercial stage Finance Potential to achieve $10+ million in annual revenue in the next five years Have raised no more than $2 million in VC investment Companies will select to compete in one of 9 sectors: Advanced Materials Advanced Transportation Alternative Energy Defense & Homeland Security Information Technology Life Science Medical Devices Next Generation Manufacturing Products and Services FOUNDERS PREMIUM SPONSORS PLATINUM MEDIA

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

The Emancipation Proclamation was presented to Congress by President Abraham Lincoln in September 1862, to take effect on January 1, 1863. However, the slaves in Texas didn't know about their freedom until two and one-half years later--on or about June 19, 1865--after the end of the Civil War.

Because the exact date in mid-June when the Union Soldiers brought the news is not known, it could have been June Fifteenth, Sixteenth, or Seventeenth--it was "one of those "teenths" in June 1865. Therefore, the holiday was named "Juneteeenth".

Check out the website Juneteenth.com to find a Juneteenth Celebration near you and to learn more about this very important and historical African-American holiday.

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19^th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

According to Tom Feelings, the author of The Middle Passage:

Juneteenth is a day of reflection, a day of renewal, a pride-filled day. It is a moment in time taken to appreciate the African American experience. It is inclusive of all races, ethnicities and nationalities - as nothing is more comforting than the hand of a friend.

Juneteenth is a day on which honor and respect is paid for the sufferings of slavery. It is a day on which we acknowledge the evils of slavery and its aftermath. On Juneteenth we talk about our history and realize because of it, there will forever be a bond between us.

On Juneteenth we think about that moment in time when the enslaved in Galveston, Texas received word of their freedom. We imagine the depth of their emotions, their jubilant dance and their fear of the unknown.

Juneteenth is a day that we commit to each other the needed support as family, friends and co-workers. It is a day we build coalitions that enhance African American economics.

On Juneteenth we come together young and old to listen, to learn and to refresh the drive to achieve. It is a day where we all take one step closer together - to better utilize the energy wasted on racism. Juneteenth is a day that we pray for peace and liberty for all.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Here in the Midwest, we have had ENOUGH of the rain! Can we declare the monsoon season over?!?!?

How's the weather where you are? Are you ready for a change? Let us know in the Comments!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Let's salute our natural-born 44th President and Commander-in-Chief! Well done, Sir! 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

This announcement was in my LinkedIn inbox today. I am excited and honored to pass it on. Please...you do the same.

Career Opportunities in Detroit

http://www.linkedin.com/miniprofile?vieweeID=2335221&context=inbox&an..." style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Bruce Hurwitz

To: Pamela Hilliard Owens

Date: May 3, 2011

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Thank you President Barack Hussein Obama!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

It's almost Easter and there are a lot of exciting activities for the kiddies this weekend. When is the last time you and the family went to the Zoo?  We have one of the greatest zoos in the world right here in Metro Detroit. This Saturday, kids will have a whole day of fun stuff to do at the Detroit Zoo.

What is your favorite Detroit Zoo memory?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Back in the "old days"--about 3 years ago--before most people started filing their annual tax returns electronically, the Downtown Detroit and Royal Oak, Michigan post offices stayed open until midnight to accept and stamp the returns for late filers. There was almost a party-like atmosphere, especially in Royal Oak where people dressed up like Uncle Sam. At both post offices, free aspirin was passed out as the postal workers ensured that returns had the correct postmark date.

No longer. E-filing of tax returns is now the way the majority of filers submit their taxes, and neither the Downtown Detroit Post Office nor the Royal Oak Post Office will offer extended hours this tax day. So, if you are still planning to file your taxes by snail mail, make sure that you get to the post office before the regular closing times: 7pm in Royal Oak and 10pm in Detroit.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

We often dedicate Fridays to music from the "Old School", also known as "Grown Folks' Music". Most of the time, we recognize and secretly dance in our cubicles to pre-1990 songs by the Temptations, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gay, Aretha, etc. Here in Detroit, a city KNOWN for some of the greatest "Old School" music ever produced, we are so very glad to have our own Detroit Symphony Orchestra, also known as the #DSO, back to the stage after a lengthy absence. 

First, when the DSO came back to the Max last week, they were greeted to an uber-exuberant standing ovation just for walking on stage!

Next, for your viewing and listening pleasure, the DSO playing the "1812 Overture"--an "Old School" song with lots of excitement and rhythm--and you can dance to it, too; especially the ending!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Well, the 2010 Census numbers have been released and record population losses were recorded for Detroit and Michigan. There has been a lot of hand-wringing and Detroit-basing going on. There have been a lot of comparisons with the 1900 Detroit population numbers and the 1950 Detroit population numbers. Well, a lot of things have changed in the last several decades so what's the point of comparisons?

There are, fortunately, those who realize that good can come from change. Instead of highlighting the negatives, many are using the new Census numbers to affect postive outcomes. Things won't turn around overnight, but the population decline didn't happen overnight, either.

If you are one of the people who is pragmatic and realistic about the present, yet still positive about the future, the following famous song by the late, great Sammy Davis, Jr. will get you pumped. Learn from the past, but don't stay there. Understand the present, but don't wallow in it. Design the future you want, then work for it.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Personally, I LOVE classcal music. I learned it throughout school and I played it on several instruments throughout my public school and college educational experiences. Classical music is not, however, at the top of the musical taste list of many people. The City of Detroit has been graced with a world-class symphony orchestra for decades; but the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has been on strike for almost six months--the Orchestra and management cannot come to an agreement on pay, work schedules, and other issues. Of course times are hard here in Detroit and the management insists that the players take a 33% pay cut; while the players have held fast to only (?) a 28% pay cut. 

Of course, some people in the metro area say either the players should be glad to take a huge pay cut, or that management should ust fire all of the players and hire players who would be willing to work for less money. Unfortunately, many people do not understand what it takes to become a world class orchestra musician. Orchestra players have been studying their craft for years--often decades--and have many, many years of specialized education. Many members have been with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra  for ten or fifteen years or more. Extremely talented and accomplished and experienced musicians such as these are supposed to earn in the high six-figures. They have worked hard to achieve their level of excellence. At the same time, management has to work within the reduced revenues they have now and will probably have in the future. Former Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Democratic members of Congress from Michigan offered a compromise in December 2010, but the orchestra management rejected the compromise.

Additionally, Detroit is supposed to have a world-class orchestra. Symphony orchestras are not "just for the rich and snooty". Highly regarded orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra are important cultural foundations for major cities throughout the world, and Detroit's orchestra is one of the most highly accredited orchestras in the world. Detroit and Michigan should be proud and should do everything possible to end this strike and keep the orchestra as a shining example of a world class city.

The Max M.Fisher Music Center/Orchestra Hall is one of only a few acoustically perfect music halls in the world;p it was saved a restored a few years ago. The Detroit School for the Arts is affiliated with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra directly training the classical musicians of the future. Elite level classical musicians take years to develop.

People of Detroit and Michigan, classical music fans or not, SHOULD care about what happens to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. World class metropolitan areas have world class symphony orchestras along with exquisite museums and other cultural institutions. Classical music is beautiful and timeless; so is the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

This is a re-post in honor of one of my favorite holidays, "Paczki Day" in Hamtramck Michigan!

Update: One of these delectable treats is called a "paczek" [POON-check]; 

"paczki" [POONCH-kee] is already plural.

Hamtramck is truly unique: a "city within a city". Hamtramck is completely surrounded by the City of Detroit; so "suburb" is not a proper term. Except for a very small borderline with Highland Park, Michigan, Hamtramck is bordered by Detroit, including the I-94 and I-75 freeways.

Contrary to popular opinion, "Hamtramck" is a French name, not Polish. Although the city has been known as a "Polish" city for decades, the City is named for a French Revolutionary war hero, Colonel Jean Francois Hamtramck (1756-1803). In the late 1700s, Wayne County was divided into four townships: Detroit, Mackinaw, Segeant, and Hamtramck; of which only Detroit and Hamtramck survive. In the early 1900s, Hamtramck was populated mostly by German-American immigrants; it wasn't until the Dodge Brothers opened the Dodge Motor Company plant in 1914 that an influx of Polish immigrants came to Hamtramck. In 1922, Hamtramck incorporated itself as a city, in order to stave off being annexed to Detroit.

Hamtramck is Michigan's most internationally diverse city: although the Polish population has shrunk from 90% to 20%, the Middle Eastern population has increased, with immigrants from Yemen and Bangladesh helping to make up the almost 42% immigrant population (as of the 2000 Census). Schoolchildren in Hamtramck speak at least 26 different languages besides English.

Mitch Ryder

Several famous people are natives of Hamtramck, including Rudy Tomjanovich, Jr. ("Rudy T"), basketball player for the San Diego/Houston Rockets; Mitch Ryder (William S. Levise, Jr.), musician; Jane "Peaches" Bartkowicz, championship tennis player; Gail Kobe, actress and producer ("Twilight Zone", "Mannix", "Peyton Place"); Tom Tyler (Vincent Markowski), actor; John Hodiak, actor; and the Honorable al-Imam Warith Deen Muhammad (Wallace D. Muhammad), son of Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam.

Paczkis with various fillings

The most famous holiday in Hamtramck is "Paczki Day". Paczki (roughly pronounced "poonch-kee") are traditional Polish doughnuts: deep-fried dough flattened and filled with fruit or sweet creams and covered with glaze or powdered sugar. On "Fat Tuesday", or the day before Lent, everyone in Detroit is "Polish" and "Paczki Day" is a day to forget about the diet and just enjoy Paczkis with friends, family, and co-workers. Luckily, "Paczki Day" lasts only one day, as Paczki have about 700 calories or more each! Although many stores around Detroit sell Paczki for Paczki Day, it is traditional to travel to one of the "real" Polish bakeries in Hamtramck on Conant or Joseph Campeau Streets, stand in line starting at 5 a.m., and purchase several dozen Paczki in white boxes tied with string.

The late Bob Bennett, an award-winning veteran TV reporter for WDIV/WWJ (Channel 4) in Detroit, has been credited with increasing the recognition and celebration of Paczki Day in Detroit; reporting every year from various Hamtramck Polish bakeries until his retirement in 2000.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

A personal message to Detroit from "RoboCop" himself: actor Peter Weller. Funny-enjoy! 

I wrote a post about the idea of a RoboCop statue here; the organization raised the $50,000 necessary to initatie the project in less than a week! Congrats!

<div style="text-align:left;font-size:x-small;margin-top:0;width:512px;">RoboCop Speaks to Detroit from Peter Weller</div>

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Rational and thinking people have realized that Beck is delusional, crazy, and just out-and-out lies at his chalkboard on his show. His rantings make no sense, have no historical credibility, and are patently false.

Last night, Beck tried to compare Detroit to Hiroshima after the 1945 bombing. Of course, Beck blamed Detroit's problems on "progressives" and "unions". He said that Detroit could not put its problems on former President George W. Bush.

Quickly:
Point 1- Beck contended that Hiroshima rebuilt itself because of "private business"; he conveniently "forgot" to mention that Hiroshima was totally destroyed during a *real* war, and was re-built with the help of the United States Government. Yes, a government "bailout" assisted the people of Hiroshima to rebuild.
Point 2 - Beck contended that Detroit is destroyed because of the unions and the auto companies and progressive politics. He states that the auto companies should NOT have received federal assistance; of course he conveniently "forgot" to mention that George Bush issued the first loan to the auto companies just before he left office in December 2010. Beck also ignored the fact that the auto companies have come back stronger than ever--saving and adding hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Point 3 - Beck contends that Detroit has been dying since the census of 1950. Yes, there have problems--lots of them--and the City has less than half the population it had in 1950. But of course, Beck "forgot" to mention--or is responding to--the POSITIVE changes in metro Detroit: the resurgence of the auto industry, the diversification of businesses, manufacturing, technology, and green technologies, etc.

People like Glenn Beck and others at Faux News and other far-right outlets continue to try to get the upper hand, not by true investigative reporting, but presently lies and extreme points of view to hold America and its cities and states (especially those that are Democratic) back from "Winning the Future".

If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. I would love to read your comments on the ongoing assault of Faux News and others like them against the middle class and the working people of America.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Betcha didn't know that Detroit is becoming a "Technology Town"! So why not "RoboCop"?

It started as a joke: a man from Massachusetts sent a tweet to Detroit Mayor Dave Bing with an unusal suggestion: how about erecting a statue in Detroit of "Robocop" the half-man/half-machine anti-hero of the movie of the same name. In the 1987 original movie, the crime in Detroit is so out of control that a large reconstruction project is halted; meanwhile a cop is severely wounded in the line of duty and the business owner helps the police to re-make him "Six Million Dollar Man"-style into a crime-fighting cyborg with painful suppressed memories. "RoboCop", starring Peter Weller, was actually nominated for two Academy Awards and won a "Special Achievement" Oscar in 1988. The person who suggested that Detroit erect a RoboCop statue apparently thought that if Philadelphia could have a statue of "Rocky", why not Detroit and RoboCop?

Here is a copy of the Twitter exchange:

@MT
@mayordavebing Philadelphia has a statue of Rocky & Robocop would kick Rocky's butt. He's a GREAT ambassador for Detroit.
February 7, 2011 11:59 am via TweetDeckRetweetReply

@mayordavebing
Mayor Dave Bing
@MT There are not any plans to erect a statue to Robocop. Thank you for the suggestion.
February 7, 2011 11:43 am via TweetDeckRetweetReply

Many people in Detroit immediately jumped into the same defensive reaction: "Oh no, not another reference to crime in Detroit! We don't need that!" But another group, more forward-thinking and internet savvy Detroiters decided this was a good idea!

1) It could be a tourist attraction, just like the Rocky Statue.

2) It could be a symbol of metro Detroit moving to become a statewide, national, and international technology region.

Of course the City of Detroit doesn't have money to erect a statue, so this group decided to turn to a decidedly 21st century solution: crowdsourcing! Crowdsourcing is just what the name implies: getting funding sources from a like-minded crowd. 

The Detroit non-profit "Imagination Station" initated the RoboCop Statue campaign and signed up for the crowdsourcing funding entity "Kickstarter". They have a goal to raise the necessary $50,000 in 30 days; and after just a few days raised $6,000. People can invest for as little as a dollar. 

Visit the Imagination Station Kickstarter page here.

I was in a meeting on Friday with another non-profit group; many of the attendees at the meeting were young people who made a conscious decision to move TO Detroit from places like ann Arbor, Chicago and Californina to be a part of the revitalization of our City. Imagine that! 21st century projects and initiatives like those of Imagination Station (pun definitely intended) will go a long way to moving Detroit forward. There is crime in every city. Detroit is much more than that. 

A RoboCop statue can stand for Detroit as a center of future technology; and as a tourist destination!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

For over two weeks, protesters in Egypt have demanded that President Hosni Mubarack immediately step down and dismantle his 30-year regime. On Thursday, President Mubarack gave a rambling speech, insisting that he had heard the protestors and would make some necessary changes. The protestors have kept up their rallies in Liberation Square since #Jan25.

The protestors told Hosni Mubarack to "Hit the Road Jack" (Ray Charles, 1961)

All day Thursday, rumors flew that Mr. Mubarak would step down and that his highly anticipated speech would be his swan song. But by the end of the day, it became painfully obvious that the Egyptian president wasn't leaving any time soon. Let us hope and pray that the Egyptians stay safe and there are no violent crackdowns.

Hosni Mubarack replied: "And I am Telling You--I'm Not Going" (Jennifer Holliday, 1982)

What are your thoughts on the Egyptian situation?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

This is the Motor City

and this is what we do.

We here in Detroit are ecstatic about the Chrysler 200 SuperBowl Commercial about Detroit starring Detroit native and

multiple-Grammy-winning

Eminem

also known as

Marshall Mathers

also known as

Slim Shady!

We are very proud of our City, and we know what is special about us and our contributions to the world.

We are especially proud that our Democratic former governor, Jennifer Granholm,

Democratic President Barack Obama, 

the Democratic Congresspeople from Michigan and the Democratic Party 

believed in the U.S. auto companies in 2009 and approved the 

necessary loans for Chrysler and GM to enable them to save and add tens of thousands 

of direct and indirect jobs right here in America when the other political party 

wanted to auto industry to just roll over and die.

The American auto industry is BACK, and the best cars are IMPORTED FROM DETROIT!

Detroit rules!

Best commercial of the SuperBowl (for Detroit and the world)!

Congrats to our midwest neighbors, SuperBowl Champions the Green Bay Packers.

Even the Detroit Lions won some games this season!

Detroit rocks!

This is the Motor City

and this is what we do.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Tomorrow will mark the 100th anniversary of President Reagan’s birth, and all week, conservatives have been trying to outdo each others’ remembrances of the great conservative icon. Senate Republicans spent much of Thursday singing Reagan’s praise from the Senate floor, while conservative publications have been running non-stop commemorations. ..read more.. 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »