2022-2023 Awardees

Project Lead: Jimeka Pettes, Founder and CEO
Project: The Ausome Learning Center facilitates the development of language, social interactions, and independent living skills for children with autism spectrum disorder
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Project Lead: Cindy Eggleton, Co-Founder and CEO
Project: In collaboration with its Osborn Hub Advisory Team, Brilliant Detroit will build-out our Osborn hub to create more programming space, allowing us to better serve families who seek support.
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Project Lead: Bartel Welch, Executive Dirextor
Project: Drone Park Detroit transforms a once distressed lot into Detroit’s premier hub for STEAM education and entertainment where youth and families will learn, play, and experience drones and their technology.
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Project Lead: Stanford Wilkinson, Executive Director
Project: The DEFY Music and Production Education Program exposes, educates, and mentors Detroit youth in media and music production with hands on experience and training. Equipment and layout are provided by Grammy Award winning engineers.
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Project Lead: Summer Aldred, Executive Director
Project: The Detroit United Lacrosse Association is a recreation center-based program that delivers lacrosse athletic experiences and provides character education, mentorship, personal development, and pathways to prosperity to the historically underserved youth of Detroit.
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Project Lead: Mark Crain, Executive Director
Project: Dream of Detroit is expanding the beloved and well-used DREAM Neighborhood Pocket Park on Tyler St. to provide kids and families in the neighborhood an enhanced space to gather, play, and build community.
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Project Lead: Barbara Barefield, Board Director
Project: This project will activate and equip the historic Palmer Park Log Cabin for art, music, poetry, storytelling, performances, and multi-genre gatherings and celebrations in order to expand its capacity to serve the community as a cultural hub.
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Project Lead: David Merritt, Founder
Project: The Block is Hot is a pilot play and community activation space that will transform an underutilized parking lot into an outdoor recreation venue with sports and community programming.
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Project Lead: Brodrick Wilks, Treasurer and Program Director
Project: Rescue MI Nature Now is tackling systemic issues of Food Sovereignty and Digital Inequity by delivering innovative educational content through immersive experiences with RMNN’s Innovative Education Studios.
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Project Lead: Palencia Mobley, Interim Executive Director
Project: This project will transform vacant lots into public art and garden spaces in northwest Detroit to beautify the area for business and resident attraction as well as increase neighborhood property value and community cohesion.
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Project Lead: Angelica Bright, Owner
Project: 2Bright is a men and women’s custom apparel and accessory store located in the heart of Detroit. 2Bright’s platform is to mentor local minority entrepreneurs and promote their products.
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Project Lead: Tanya Saldivar-Ali, Founder
Project: The project is the conversion of a Queen Anne property in Southwest Detroit into a mixed-use development. The Design-Build Green Hub will offer programming, workshops, training, consulting, and advocacy from the hub to help build capacity for local minority contractors and assist residents on how to navigate the built environment process.
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Project Lead: Michelle Smart, Founder
Project: Bags to Butterflies is a fashion brand that helps formerly incarcerated women reclaim their lives after returning to the community from serving lengthy prison sentences.  They create luxurious, one-of-a-kind, handmade handbags and accessories constructed from reused materials that get transformed into elegant statement pieces by the women in the program who otherwise would not be employed.
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Project Lead: Dazmonique Carr, Founder and Owner
Project: Deeply Rooted Produce has a history in the community of providing convenient delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need and are expanding their existing program called Fresh Prescription where fruits & vegetable prescriptions are sharing the same stage as the healthcare system by ameliorating morbidities and diet-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
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Project Lead: Marissa Schuh, Owner
Project: DSG is the first Black Woman Owned Artistic Gymnastics facility providing access to affordable gymnastics in the City of Detroit.
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Project Lead: Patrick Beal, CEO
Project: The project will support improvements to the front entry of the Detroit Training Center, allowing for better access to the facility.
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Project Lead: Valerie Block, Founder
Project: Every Child is a Genius is a full-time and year-round gifted STEAM School for children ages 2-5. They are located in the internationally known Avalon Village in Highland Park, Michigan.
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Project Lead: Sabrina Iuvene, Director
Project: Grant funds will be used to purchase a passenger van to expand their services to young single mothers and pregnant women who live in shelters, transition homes, and single-family homes, and do not have transportation. The van will transport them to parenting and childbirth classes at the facility as well as take free diapers and baby essentials to moms monthly.
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Project Lead: Ciara Griffin, Owner and Operator
Project: The Event Suppliers LLC is your one-stop shop for any table or chair rentals in Detroit. The company provides tables and chairs for any event and produces a professional presentation with the latest and trendy chair rental.
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Project Lead: Becky Riess, Co-owner and Founder
Project: Thumbprint Fulfillment provides warehousing and distribution services to small and medium-sized businesses that seek customization and attention to the details with their packaging and products. They also have a team that assembles corporate gift boxes and swag bags.
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