FASHION PILLAR

Sydni C. Warner, also known as The Duey Dealer, is a Detroit-based seamstress and durag designer who transforms the overlooked into the reimagined. Specializing in traditional Black hair protection, she elevates bonnets and durags into wearable art using fabrics like satin and velvet alongside unconventional materials such as newspapers and tobacco leaves. Her work blurs the line between function and fashion, pushing durags into unexpected spaces. Through bold design and cultural storytelling, Sydni challenges stigma around how we protect our crowns, reclaiming hair care as a form of self-expression, heritage, and liberation.

MUSIC PILLAR

Detroit Ché is a recording artist, producer, model, and actress from Detroit’s Westside. She gained national attention after her standout BET 2014 Hip-Hop Awards Cypher appearance as Sprite’s first female “Hot 16” winner. Since then, she has become a leading voice in Detroit hip-hop, earning praise from Kendrick Lamar and opening for artists such as Waka Flocka, Curren$y, and YG. She has performed at major showcases, released seven projects including her self-produced CHIZZY THE MIXTAPE, directs her own visuals, works in fashion, and continues inspiring creatives to stay authentic.

FASHION PILLAR

Majesty Hope Bland is a designer and fiber artist who reimagines traditional methods for those who want to stand apart. Raised in a large family, she draws on values of faith, community, and resourcefulness that continue to shape her practice. Her work explores new fabrications through weaving and fiber manipulation, often using discarded and recycled materials to support a more circular economy. Through bold color and rich texture, she creates garments and installations that spark joy, celebrate individuality, and amplify the beauty already present in the world around us.

MUSIC PILLAR

Niko Noir is a Detroit-born R&B artist whose music bridges soulful intimacy with modern storytelling. She is known for her velvet tone and emotional clarity. A graduate of Detroit School of Arts, Niko carries forward a strong artistic discipline that continues to shape her work. She has opened for R&B standout Kenyon Dixon and the legendary El DeBarge. Niko has also made a growing digital and media impact, being featured in The Detroit News, Metro Times, Michigan Chronicle, Channel 4 News, CBS, Detroit’s Hot 107.5, Kiss FM, and Hot 97.3 in Toledo, solidifying her place as one of Detroit’s rising voices.

ART PILLAR

Brittini Ward is a Detroit-based multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, and founder of Eye N Eye. Her work lives at the intersection of art, memory, and community care. Through her Embodied Storyholding framework, she treats each piece as a living narrative, translating ancestral memory, elemental energy, and lived experience into visual form. Her exhibitions and performances invite deep listening, honest reflection, and spiritual connection. From canvas to ceremony, Brittini creates work that preserves legacy, sparks dialogue, and nurtures collective healing, offering space for stories to be seen, felt, and honored.

MUSIC PILLAR

Rosemarie Wilson, also known as One Single Rose®️, is an award-winning poet, playwright, and multidisciplinary artist from Detroit’s east side. Her work spans spoken word, music, film, and performance, blending poetry with jazz as Jazzetry and delivering house-infused spoken word as Queen Rose. She made history as the first poet filmed in Motown’s Studio A and as the first Motown Mic Performance Artist of the Year. Through dynamic collaborations and genre-blending expression, Rosemarie continues to expand the reach of poetry.

FOOD PILLAR

Yum Village was born from Chef Godwin’s Nigerian upbringing and the bold flavors of his youth. Alongside his brother, he created Yum Village to share vibrant Afro-Caribbean cuisine while celebrating the diversity of Midwest communities. Driven by a mission of social impact, the company prioritizes paying living wages and sourcing 85% of its ingredients locally to uplift regional partners. With locations in Detroit, Cleveland, and Columbus, Yum Village continues to grow while staying rooted in culture, quality, and community. Their journey reflects a deep commitment to culinary innovation, meaningful connection, and creating opportunities through food.

FASHION PILLAR

Britney “Nerd” Epps is a Detroit-based visionary shaping culture through fashion, sustainability, and emotional wellness. As the creator of The House of Both Rows and co-founder of The Ether Detroit, Nerd transforms discarded materials into intentional garments and immersive experiences that spark joy, reflection, and connection. Their work challenges traditional fashion by centering renewal, honesty, and the beauty of reuse. Through storytelling, community care, and bold creative expression, Nerd encourages people to embrace who they are, honor every emotion without shame, and discover their own path to happiness and self-defined fulfillment.

FOOD PILLAR

The Ice Cream Detroit crafts small-batch, scratch-made ice creams and sorbets, blending classic, non-liquor-infused flavors with inventive signature varieties infused at under 0.5% ABV. Founded and operated in Detroit, every batch is churned using quality ingredients and carefully selected spirits to create balanced, adult-forward desserts alongside timeless favorites. The company offers flavor-making classes every second and third Monday, caters events, collaborates with local makers, and hosts tastings that spark conversation. Committed to creativity, responsible indulgence, and hospitality, The Ice Cream Detroit transforms simple ingredients into memorable experiences, one handcrafted scoop or spoonful at a time, proudly serving Detroit and beyond.

ART PILLAR

Sudani Shaah is an interdisciplinary artist born in Detroit, Michigan, with roots in Ypsilanti. Working primarily with fiber and craft-based materials, she creates textile works, sculptures, and digital collages that explore spirituality, Black feminism, nature, and identity. Shaah blends techniques such as dyeing, sewing, felting, and digital printing with sustainable and found materials, allowing each piece to evolve through experimentation. A recent BFA graduate from the College for Creative Studies, she approaches making as both research and storytelling, using texture, color, and imperfection to reflect the complexity of living within one’s body, mind, and cultural history.

ART PILLAR

Victoria Bayagich is a Detroit-based artist, mother, and creative entrepreneur committed to building spaces where art connects people and uplifts community. Motherhood informs her intentional, flexible approach, with a focus on accessibility, mentorship, and support for women, non-binary, and BIPOC artists. She founded Watercolor Connections as a sustainable platform that blends live portraiture with digital engagement to foster meaningful relationships. At MCSDA, she merges creative and administrative leadership to strengthen Detroit’s cultural landscape. Victoria envisions Detroit as a national hub for artistic innovation, mentorship, and collaboration across street dance, music, and visual arts.

FOOD PILLAR

Shell Shock’d Tacos offers a one-of-a-kind experience of Detroit-style, Latin-inspired street food—an escape from the ordinary. Founded by two Detroit natives during the pandemic, Shell Shock’d Tacos pushed past limitations, elevating simple food items into something truly delightful. With a menu of uniquely flavored dishes and welcoming service, they create memorable experiences for every guest.