DETROIT – The Detroit NAACP gave us a sneak peek at this year’s “Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.”

The annual fundraiser supports their work on civil rights and equality throughout the city.

This year, the civil rights group is honoring Gary Torgow, chairman of Huntington Bank; Brittany Lavis, CEO of Detroit Medical Center; and Dennis Archer Jr., CEO of Ignition Media Group.

Branch president Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony said that showing unity is more important than ever.

“We need you now more than ever before,” said Anthony. “If you can’t get engaged right now with all that is happening around the country, I don’t know what else needs to be said. Our voting is on the line, and our healthcare is on the line. Our history is on the line.”

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was even on hand to purchase the first ticket!

Dinner begins on Sunday, April 26, at Huntington Place.

Student absenteeism, lack of transportation and out-of-school time are key areas to be addressed

Detroit — Carrying through on a campaign promise to do more to work with Detroit’s schools, Mayor Mary Sheffield announced on Thursday the creation of two executive-level appointments intended to combat major challenges facing the city’s K-12 students and schools, both public and private, including absenteeism.

Chanel Hampton was named the city’s Senior Director of Youth and Education, a newly created role, along with JerJuan Howard, who named director of the Detroit’s new Office of Youth Affairs.

Hampton will work closely with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, along with charter schools, out-of-school-time partners and community organizations to explore ways to address some of the most persistent needs of students, officials said at a Thursday press conference at the Heilmann Recreation Center.

“We are here to support you, to uplift you and to invest in you,” Sheffield said, referring to students and the systems that work with them. “We know that your success is our success, and that is why we are here today.”

DPSCD is the state’s largest school district with roughly 48,000 students. During the mayoral campaign, Sheffield pledged to do more to work with the city’s schools, even though they have their own autonomy and aren’t controlled by the city.

Hampton said her office will delve into three key areas: out-of-school time, absenteeism, and transportation, in addition to building a coalition with DPSCD. A series of community listening sessions will soon be launched, she said.

“There are many great things happening across the city, and the way that I think of it is in three buckets,” Hampton said. “One, what is already happening that needs to be lifted up? What needs to be scaled? And where are the gaps that we as a city can fill in or coordinate?”