Metro Detroit

As students head back to school, teachers across the country are hard at work creating engaging, comfortable, and resource-rich classrooms—often using their own money to fill in the gaps. In celebration of her birthday, Brooklyn Adams, fiancée of Detroit Lions star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, is teaming up with the St. Brown Foundation to help fulfill wishlists for teachers. Adams’ September birthday coincides with National Literacy Month—a natural overlap for the St. Brown Foundation, which places educational support and literacy programs at the heart of its mission. If you would like to join Brooklyn and the St. Brown Foundation in supporting local educators, visit stbrownfoundation.org.

Sydnee chats with Keegan Sulecki, Head of Youth Services at Troy Public Library. Keegan shares some top picks for beginners, middle schoolers, teens, and adults.

Metro Detroit native, Sean Hagerty, is a retired Special Operations Soldier with over 25 years of experience. He's taken a bit of his knowledge and created an amazing vengeance collection, The Dane Cooper series. He's also written a children's book, Founders' Font, that teaches cursive through the words, principles, and ideals that shaped the United States of America.

Joe Robinson (right) and Lance Woods (left) cofounded We Run 313, Detroit's premier run club, in 2019. Their book 'We Run 313' shows not only showcases their club, but it also shows Detroit's resilience and determination.

As debate over Flock cameras in the U.S. grows, another Metro Detroit community has canceled their contract with the controversial tool.

Julie Buntin is an author and teacher at the University of Michigan. Her bestselling novel, Famous Men, is a gripping story about ambition, parents and children, and all the ways women still pay for men's mistakes. She also has a new book, Notes to New Mothers, where 65 writers and artists capture early motherhood in scenes and revelations: a vulnerable, kaleidoscopic record of postpartum life.

Sydnee sat down with Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to discuss how his organization, The St. Brown Foundation, is strengthening local youth literacy and giving back to the community. As part of these efforts, the foundation partnered with Rhymes with Reason at Durfee Elementary-Middle School in Detroit. The program uses music-based courses to boost student engagement and track measurable improvements in reading skills.

Teresa Wasson is a Legal Secretary and avid reader of all genres. She's also a Metro Detroit author with her debut novel 'Blame it on Nikki.' Teresa studied literature at Eastern Michigan University in 1994 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. It was during this time she uncovered her ability to take current events and use satirical comedy to change the ending of the story. 

Michelle Bailey is a Metro Detroit author and a middle school teacher. She's been writing and reading all sorts of genres since she was a kid. Now, she's the author of two books, 'Same Time Tomorrow,' and 'Meet Me in the Middle.'

Sydnee chats with fellow book lovers Anabeth, Bri, and Matteo. Along with bestselling authors Adria Moses, Natalia Iacobelli, Patric Gagne, Phillip B. Williams, and Kayla Ancrum. 

Natalia Iacobelli is a Metro Detroit author with an upcoming children's book, "Painting the Light." Painting the Light follows Morisot's extraordinary path from a young girl with artistic dreams to her breakthrough as an acclaimed painter whose works now hang in major museums worldwide. This inspiring picture book biography introduces young readers to the only female founder of Impressionism whose vision helped shape one of the most beloved art movements, but whose story remains largely unknown today. 

Adria Moses is a Detroit-based writer, and founder of the School of Radical Healing. Her debut novel "Towards What Hurt" is a collection of poems that's structured as a ceremony in three movements and draws on 15 years of writing through chronic illness, major surgery, domestic violence, childhood abuse, love, grief, and survival. 

Anabeth is a social media influencer, who uses her platform to show the fun and importance of reading. She also incorporates amazing fashion and lifestyle tips in her conversations.