Layla McMurtrie is a Detroit-based journalist covering arts, culture, and community. Her work highlights local creatives, nonprofits, and grassroots initiatives shaping the city. Aside from writing, she is the co-founder of The Vision Detroit, an arts nonprofit that provides young local artists with accessible creative events and opportunities. She also hosts Tell A Vision, a podcast for The Vision Detroit that spotlights Detroit artists. Her work has appeared in Metro Times, Between the Lines/Pride Source, Detroit Free Press, and other Michigan publications.
Detroit’s CDO VIP Expo brought together community development organizations from across the city to celebrate their collective impact and deepen collaboration through the Detroit 21 network.
Sterling Heights’ Inspiring Green initiative is transforming the city’s former Adopt-A-Road program into a more sustainable, community-driven effort that combines volunteer cleanups with business sponsorships to reforest and beautify local roadways.
As TARUS celebrates 40 years in Sterling Heights, the Michigan-based manufacturer is forging a bold new path—combining precision tooling for critical industries with the launch of its custom-built software platform, VERAX ERP, to help manufacturers thrive.
Michigan nonprofits are facing uncertainty as federal funding streams fluctuate and administrative support wanes. The Michigan Nonprofit Association is helping organizations navigate this instability through advocacy, collaboration, and strategic planning.
Michigan Justice Fund is pioneering a collaborative funding model to support justice reform initiatives across the state. By bringing together local and national funders, the fund invests in community-led solutions that address the long-term impact of mass incarceration.
The nonprofit sector is often misunderstood as an unsustainable career choice, yet many young professionals are proving otherwise. Detroit-area changemakers are finding financial stability, professional growth, and purpose in nonprofit work.
In Macomb County, collaboration is driving meaningful change. Advancing Macomb connects nonprofits, businesses and public entities to strengthen communities, boost resources, and support nonprofit sustainability through partnerships.
“I would go to support groups, but no one looked like me,” says Camille Proctor. She eventually founded the Color of Autism Foundation to end the stigma of autism among communities of color and create a better understanding of autism and autism services for families.