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WALKING LIGHTLY is a metro Detroit's first zero waste shop & refillery, committed to helping neighbors reduce their plastic waste and live more sustainably. They offer refills of home, body, and pantry goods as well as recycling, composting, and workshops on sustainable living. They are a judgement-free zone and happy to meet you wherever you are!
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ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS’ mission is to help girls and young women experiencing homelessness and other risks such as violence, early pregnancy, and exploitation. They aim to help them to explore and access the support, resources, and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong, and to make positive choices for their lives.
HOW CAN YOU HELP
Events
Alternatives For Girls will be hosting “The Role Model Celebration” Event in honor of International Women’s Day on March 7, 2024, their biggest fundraising event of the year.
Donations
Volunteering
Events
Please email volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org to coordinate for the following events:
Jacob Mulka has been an active member of the Detroit creative community for years as a part of the official photo teams for Mo Pop, Masonic Temple Detroit, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Movement & so much more.
Q: What does the Detroit creative scene mean to you?
A: The Detroit creative scene is very dear to me, the relationships I have made and connections I have established have built the foundation of my career. While it lacks the size of a New York or a L.A I believe it cultivates a more DIY sense of creativity that is raw out of necessity. I find creatives in this market are more willing to wear many hats and create opportunities out of thin air due to an unusual sense of drive. I believe our scene is full of unusually strong willed creatives due to Detroit being written off for so long as a minor market. This has created this "we build for ourselves" mentality that I feel is prevalent in our scene. The perseverance and dedication through adversity that emanates from the Detroit creative scene has been a constant source of inspiration that I am eternally grateful for.
Q: Where in Detroit are some of your fave photos take?
A: Detroit as a whole has some of the most unique street photography opportunities, but I'd say I have a soft spot for Hamtramck. I enjoy walking around on a weekend & watching life unfold.
Q: Do you have any career highlights?
A: Photographing Coachella as an in-house team member for the past two years has definitely been a highlight. It has given me the confidence to put myself out there more and take risks.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in photography?
A: Be patient, be kind, be open. The creative journey is rarely a linear one & I have experienced highs, lows, success & failure. Just know that this is all part of the process, and there are the moments where perseverance matters most. Stay true to your vision, pivot when you must & understand any passion is equal parts pain & prosperity.
Over the past 15 years, artists and DJs Ash Nowak and Jon Dones have developed an internationally respected, locally coveted brand of artful nightlife. Inclusive, accessible and stimulating to our mutual and individual identities, Haute to Death collapses the space between sound, vision and collective effervescence. The duo has conceived over 300 happenings that have created a social organism that thrives on the UTLRASELF; an implicit demand that those who initiate bring their most vibrant, expressive and actualized selves to our dance floor, strengthening ourselves and each other in the process.
Creatively ambidextrous, the Haute to Death creative practice has delivered Detroit's longest-running monthly event series, designs and DJs an eponymous stage at Mo Pop Festival four years running, produces a much loved annual "Swim Club" series, curated 4 music and art based exhibitions during art fairs in Miami and New York highlighting dozens of under-represented artists from our community, shot and edited 12 short films, authored dozens of zines and books, performed over 1200 hours of DJ sets on respected stages in New York, Atlanta, Miami, LA, Chicago and of course Detroit. Much of which has been exhibited at our 10 year retrospective at Red Bull House of Art.
Q: What is Haute to Death and how did it come to be what it is today?
A: Haute to Death is a dance party -and sometimes other things- from Detroit, USA. It's considered our creative practice, and the creative practice of anyone who visits our floor. We call it "relational aesthetics" when we're trying to be smart about it but mostly we're just trying to have a good time and explore new frontiers in nightlife culture.
We're always evolving but also always staying a bit the same. We started the party when we were 21 but already used to going out quite a bit. At this time people weren't rushing to be in Detroit the way they are now, and to be honest, a lot of the parties and DJs we loved were ending, or moving on to bigger opportunities in other cities. We took this as an opportunity to fill a void for the kind of party we wanted to throw and wanted to attend. We didn't really know what we were doing, but we had a lot of big ideas, plenty of inspiration, and friends who were willing to dress up and dance with us. After a decade and a half, we have a slightly better idea of what we're doing.
Q: Haute to Death has been around for over 15 years, what’s your secret to keeping creativity alive?
A: We're never bored. I know that's kind of a pretentious answer, but it's true. We're both creatives that just love making things, participating in community, and being deeply curious about the world around us. This is how we do that. I mentioned that we're always evolving, but also always staying true to ourselves. Our inner teenagers get the last say a lot of the time. Being curious is a big one honestly. There is always more to try and test out. It's fun to participate in. You kind of also have to lead with an understanding you can't hit 10s all the time. Sometimes it's going to suck, things fall apart, songs bomb, whatever. You have to ask "Is this worth me doing again?" And good or bad, the answer is always yes.
Q: What are your favorite things about the Detroit creative community?
A: The resilience and the support. People here are so creative just in the process alone! Don't have this? Try that. Ask a friend, someone knows a guy. Can't afford or find a certain material? Use this instead. Like we all just get the job DONE, and it always looks exquisite in the end. You can tell when the artist is a Detroiter. Our work is from the heart, it's handmade but always exceptional. Also, our support system is solid, I feel like we really have the "collaboration over competition" thing down. We really hype each other up here, because your wins are mine and my wins are yours. We just love seeing what everyone comes up with all the time. We're all always making something new to see, hear, experience, whatever. Detroit can't help it, we just got it like that.
Q: If you had to describe Haute to Death events in 3 words, what would they be?
A: TENDER | SINCERE | EFFERVESCENT
Q: Is there anyone or anything that you’re currently inspired by?
A: We're really both inspired by SO much and SO many people all of the time. You should see our bookshelves, our notes apps, our Pinterest boards. We're inspired by people trying new things, we're inspired by people who take responsibility, we're inspired by people who show the messy part of how it gets done, and we're inspired by other Detroiters. It's cool to see something and like it so much you want to take it somewhere totally different. Inspiration can be tough though like, you don't want to just be consuming "inspo" all the time- it can turn into an overwhelming feeling really quick.
Q: Are there any events that we can look forward to this spring?
A: Absolutely! We'll be having some special events outdoors this year, we're just trying to be in the sun a little bit more. Our "H2D Swim Club" pool parties are returning soon, too... As always, you can always find us at Marble Bar. We're either on the third or fourth Saturday and *just* finished our line up for the entire year actually! We went a little bigger and badder this time around and can't wait to share those artists with everyone.
Q: What do you want people to take away from Haute to Death events?
A: I just want people to leave feeling like "wow, I needed that." and knowing that the party really and truly wouldn't have been the same without them. Community in the cover of night is really so fun and important, a place where we can lean into each other's ears on the dance floor with compliments and gossip and the fulfillment of human connection that make life worth living. I want to make sure people leave knowing they are deeply loved and essential.
CAMP CASEY is a nonprofit that brings free horseback riding programs into the lives of local children with cancer, sickle cell disease, and other life-threatening illnesses. CAMP CASEY'S mission is to provide safe, fun horseback riding and recreational experiences for children and families affected by childhood cancer, rare blood disorders, and other life-threatening illnesses through accessible horseback riding programs.
HOW CAN YOU HELP
Volunteering
Donations
Fundraisers
DETROIT DOG RESCUE is focused on raising awareness for the plight of the forgotten, homeless and stray dogs of Detroit along with advocating for humane rescue alternatives such as no-kill sheltering, foster care and adoptions, pet identification and healthy pet population control through spay and neutering.
DETROIT DOG RESCUE also specializes in community outreach, and they work closely with local, city and statewide organizations in order to educate and involve people in this cause.
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