The statistics lay it bare: Detroit teens are two and a half times more likely than other teens in Michigan to become a teen parent. Each year, about 1,600 teens in Detroit become parents. 

When I started high school, there weren’t many young-adult fiction novels where I could see myself reflected in characters as a Black teenage girl that didn’t have to do with something tragic. 

There was Sharon G. Flake’s The Skin I’m In, which tackles colorism and bullying directed at a dark-skinned girl. Then there was Brenda Woods’ Emako Blue about a Black girl with a beautiful singing voice who dies violently before the book ends. 

A community meeting will be held Thursday night for residents in and around the Villages neighborhoods to discuss Strategic Neighborhood Fund-related improvements to the area.

The meeting is hosted by the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development department. Thursday’s meeting specifically hones in on streetscape improvement and retail attraction. Earlier this year, a new implementation plan was announced for the Islandview, West Village, East Village, Indian Village neighborhoods and nearby areas.

More than $5 million in investments will go toward an improved Butzel Playfield, a more attractive streetscape along Kercheval Avenue, additional affordable housing options, and more neighborhood rehabilitation in the Villages neighborhoods are coming in the near future, City of Detroit planning officials announced Thursday night.

A community meeting will be held in the Villages to discuss final recommendations from the City of Detroit’s Planning Department on Strategic Neighborhood Fund-related improvements to the area on Thursday night.

After a series of community meetings, the Planning Department will unveil its plans based on more than 1,500 comments and other feedback from residents.

If today, right now and for the time being you’re single, you already know Instagram is about to become annoying next Wednesday. You should put the phone down. 

Truth be told, being single is awesome in a city like Detroit, where there’s more to do than one might expect. So instead of moping around or eating a quart of ice cream by yourself, enjoy these fun things for Detroit singles this Valentine’s Day. 

A literacy organization is hoping to inspire some new — or returning — readers over on the east side.

Blackbird Literacy is an organization formed in 2016 with the goal of “giving reading-level and culturally appropriate books to Detroit residents, families, educators, youth, and literacy programs.” On November 26, the organization will be collecting and giving away books to residents.

At The Neighborhoods, we’re interested in hearing from everybody in Detroit about what matters most to you.

Do you have a story to tell about what your community group is doing in the neighborhood? Tell us.

Do you have a story to tell about a home that needs to come down in your neighborhood? Tell us.