New Detroit Assists in Naturalization Ceremony

The USCIS presented a Naturalization Ceremony on June 25th, 2010 at the Detroit Public Library. New Detroit, the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation, and the ACLU of Michigan assisted in the presentation that welcomed 208 individuals from 53 different countries as newly sworn-in U.S. citizens. Judge Avern Cohn of the US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, presided over the ceremony and administered the oath.

Arab American Economic Study

This report prepared by the Center for Urban Studies for the League for Economic Empowerment, provides estimates of this community’s significant employment, earnings and tax contributions to the region. Click on the link below to view the report in its entirety.

New Hispanic Population Report

Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies, in collaboration with the Hispanic Business Alliance (HBA) and the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies (CBS), conducted this Hispanic/Latina(o) study detailing the economic contributions and demographic characteristics of Southeast Michigan's Hispanic/Latina(o) population. You may be surprised by some of the findings.

Concert of Colors 2010 Photos

The 2010 Concert of Colors was held July 16th-18th in partnership with New Detroit, ACCESS/Arab American National Museum, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Photos from this year's festivities are now available online.

Race Relations & Cultural Collaboration PDF Print E-mail

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he 2000 Census identified Metropolitan Detroit as the most racially segregated region in the country. Our work in race relations fosters open communication to create greater understanding between the ethnic groups who make up the Detroit Region. Our goal is to break down barriers and eliminate this highly dubious distinction.

MLS participants share cross-cultural conversation

Our unique niche is providing a forum for race relations issues and the inequities that continue to exist because of racial and social disparities. Serving as a facilitator and advocacy organization, we partner with corporations, cultural organizations, educational institutions, and community-based organizations that represent different racial and ethnic groups to identify common concerns and develop specific action steps and initiatives. Some of these initiatives include:

Multicultural Leadership Series

This experience highlights the histories, cultures and socioeconomic issues of communities of color (African/African American, Arab, Chaldean, Asian, Hispanic/Latino and Native American). Participants must attend a day-long orientation, plus six 8-hour cultural sessions hosted by our five partner agencies that reflect these communities. Applicants will represent people of various racial, ethnic, and cultural communities in the region, a cross section of businesses, civic groups, educational institutions, health services and community-based organizations. Upon completion, participants are recognized at an evening ceremony and will serve as liaisons in the community for metropolitan Detroit.

Immigration

At the request of several Board members, New Detroit was instrumental in the creation of the Detroit Coalition for Responsible Immigration Policy in 1996. This request was made because, at the time, efforts were being made in the U.S. Congress to penalize legal immigrants in the United States by removing their opportunities to receive public assistance benefits in the reauthorization of the Welfare Reform legislation.

The Cultural Exchange Network

The Cultural Exchange Network (CEN) is a consortium of over 50 active community-based organizations, sponsored by New Detroit, and represents the region’s five main communities of color, plus other communities. This diverse group plans the annual Concert of Colors – Metro Detroit’s Diversity Festival and Series. Relationships formed through the planning process for this activity serves as a foundation for further cross-cultural collaboration around shared interests and concerns. This year's concert will be held on July 18th & 19th at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. World-class performers will be featured in several venues both in and near the center.