Detroit Innovation

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS ADDING VITALITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS IN DETROIT, HAMTRAMCK, AND HIGHLAND PARK.

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A city’s greatest assets are its residents.

Across Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, social entrepreneurs and neighborhood innovators are working to address the challenges their communities face in creative and collaborative ways. The Detroit Innovation Fellowship (DIF) is a talent development program that connects, promotes, and invests in social entrepreneurs who are leading projects to transform their communities.

Luis Ali Co-founder OF 18th Street Design Build Hub Luis
Tammy Black Founder OF Manistique Community Treehouse Tammy
Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez Founder OF Featherstone Moments Juan
Karanja Famodou Co-founder OF Ryter Cooperative Industries Karanja
Barb Matney Co-founder OF In Memory of Community Garden Barb
Joe Matney Co-founder OF In Memory of Community Garden Joe
Carrie Morris Founder OF Carrie Morris Arts Production Carrie
Mose Primus Founder OF Yorkshire Woods Community Organization Mose
Gary Ringer Founder OF Eco-Environmental Solutions Gary
Tanya Saldivar-Ali Co-founder OF 18th Street Design Build Hub Tanya
Juan Shannon Founder OF Parker Village Juan
Ali Dirul Co-founder OF Ryter Cooperative Industries Ali
Meet Our Fellows

Building a Village in Highland Park 

“Projects like this will help us to be an urban center in renewal again, and we want a chance to be part of that. “

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building a community for the future in Southwest Detroit

“We didn’t just clean up our property,” Saldivar-Ali says. Being there showed “we’re here and we want to help contribute to the community.” 

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Taking pride in diversity in the city of Warrendale

“Over the years, we have always worked with our neighbors to try to maintain a safe and clean community.”

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