Biba Adams
Model D
Detroit, MI, United States
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Past articles by Biba:
"Mamavist" Fellowship works to uplift the voices of mothers of color at the ballot box
Motherhood is often called “the hardest job in the world,” but it can also be the least respected and the least protected — especially in marginalized communities. Just ask the folks behind Mothering Justice. A national organization, Mothering Justice centers the experiences and voices of womxn of color to address the health and economic disparities they face in America. Amplifying these… → Read More
Spunky, punky Hamtramck Labor Day Festival has always been about resilience
According to the event’s official website, the idea for the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival arose during a dark time in 1980 as the city faced an economic crisis. → Read More
Wu-Tang Clan prove hip-hop’s staying power at upcoming Pine Knob concert with Nas and Busta Rhymes
There’s hip-hop, and then there’s the Wu-Tang Clan. → Read More
Marygrove Conservancy to focus on uplifting “culture-bearers” to meet challenges ahead
Even before the doors closed at Marygrove as a college, plans were in place to keep the campus a viable and important presence on the West Side of Detroit. Perhaps, even more than it did as a school. The Marygrove Conservancy has been working diligently to create and codify programming on the 53-acre campus since 2018, with the support of partners and stakeholders. Fellows from Challenge Detroit… → Read More
PNC Bank to finance $57.3M project at Marygrove Conservancy
PNC Commitments Continue Historical Collaboration with The Kresge Foundation to Benefit Marygrove Conservancy PNC Bank and The Kresge Foundation today announced on January 18, 2022 that they will commit $57.3 million in financing to support the conversion of the Liberal Arts and Immaculata buildings on the Marygrove Conservancy campus into K-12 facilities for the School at Marygrove. The… → Read More
Affordable housing: What is it, where to find it, and why it’s Detroit’s next best bet
There is record demand for homes across the nation, but also limited supply. And in Detroit, a majority renter city, there is no surplus of affordable housing in the city, and there are waitlists. Soaring home prices put the idea of homeownership out of the reach of many, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the issue of housing insecurity at a time when sheltering in place was necessary to… → Read More
On bicycle clubs and the social fabric of Detroit life
The first bike clubs appeared in Detroit in 1879. According to Todd Scott of the Detroit Greenways Coalition, the clubs set up a structure similar to the army inspired by the newly-won Civil War. Complete with uniforms, a hierarchy of officers, and a bugle to start their rides, the first bike clubs were social gatherings, and eventually, they became support systems for members and communities… → Read More
New Black-owned day spa brings luxurious beauty treatments to Hamtramck
In Hamtramck, a new spa recently opened proclaiming that they are “where beauty meets luxury.” Esthi Queen Healing Spa offers traditional spa services like facials, mani/pedi treatments, and woman-centered services like Brazilian and underarm waxing, and a popular new treatment called a vajacial (a facial for the vulva). Men are also welcome at the spa, but because men have coarser hair —… → Read More
Ready for spring? Check out these five Detroit spring dress destinations
There hasn’t been much opportunity to dress up over the past year, but, as a growing number of Detroiters are opting to be vaccinated, there is hope. Because spring means pastels and frilly dresses to me. Retailer Rachel Lutz, who owns several women’s wear stores in the city and metro area, told The Detroit Free Press that her stores have seen a recent uptick in sales. “People are tired of… → Read More
Marygrove Conservancy shines in Impact Report
Established in 2018, The Marygrove Conservancy built on the legacy of the historic institution that provided excellence in education for over 90 years at the Northwest Detroit campus. → Read More
For this Detroit developer, building generational wealth fuels her dreams
For many African Americans, this financial freedom has been denied due to an imposed legacy of systemic racism and poverty. However, the idea of generational wealth is becoming recognized as a key component of closing the wealth gap. → Read More
Detroiter Angela Lewis talks 'Snowfall', making it big from the D, and her favorite hometown foods
On “Snowfall,” Aunt Louie is a fan favorite. The character, played by Angela Lewis, is a complex one. She is a drug dealer, no doubt about that, but she is also family-focused, and a trustworthy and important leader in her crew. Her depiction of Louie is complex, nuanced, and layered, a lot like Lewis herself. A relatively new mom, Lewis is also passionate about Black maternal health care. She… → Read More
Meet the three women leading the educational transformation at Marygrove
Marygrove College was known for a unique curriculum that imbued “all of its academic programs with social justice and citizen-leadership themes,” Model D correspondent David Sands wrote in 2019. “Marygrove has held a special place in Southeast Michigan’s educational landscape for more than nine decades,” he added. “During this time, more than 44,000 graduates (of both bachelor’s and master’s… → Read More
5 Detroit Instagram accounts you need to follow right now
Instagram is more than just a social media platform. These days, it’s a networking tool, an online photo album, and a form of photo-blogging. The platform is also a great way to network with like-minded people and stay connected to things you are passionate about. For us here at Model D, there’s nothing we are more passionate about than Detroit. We compiled a shortlist of some of our favorite… → Read More
This is Black development in Detroit
Realtor Magazine describes how many people enter the field of small-scale development as a “somebody oughta moment.” When a person notices that there is an opportunity in the real estate of their community and decides to use their resources to create change and make a profit. My late grandmother, Elvira Rogers, lived in the same house for 30 years. She watched Lauder Street evolve throughout the… → Read More
‘Motown Witch’ brings ancestral wisdom to Detroit’s west side with metaphysical supply
You can judge a good “hoodoo” store by the smell. If you walk in and smell incense, herbs, and candles, you’re in the right place. This is especially true at Motown Witch, a metaphysical supply store that recently opened in a beautiful open space at 16844 Schaefer Hwy. on Detroit’s west side. Painted a bright yellow, the store is spacious with a large display of herbs like jasmine, lavender, and… → Read More
What I Love about Detroit: Expats wax philosophical about their hometown
Oliver Wendell Holmes said that “where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” Detroit is a city that, over two decades, has seen hundreds of thousands of its native sons and daughters leave and relocate in greener pastures. In 1950, Detroit was the fifth-largest city in the U.S. with 1.8 million residents. As of 2019, there are just over 670,000 of us die-hards… → Read More
Detroit-based beauty giant The Lip Bar rebrands as TLB as it expands catalog and reach
Melissa Butler started out nine years ago making lipstick in her kitchen. The Detroiter was famously featured on the television show, Shark Tank, in 2015, where she was denied any funding for her colorful lipsticks. → Read More
Make Food Not Waste organizes hundreds of meals for Detroiters
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the scourge that is food insecurity for millions of Americans. These needs are especially real for many metro Detroiters. → Read More
Celeb chef Max Hardy bringing new pizza and wing franchise to Detroit
Detroit native chef Max Hardy bought an old pizza spot on Seven Mile Road and Riopelle Street in March right before the coronavirus pandemic. He had the intention of opening his new casual pizza shop in May, but COVID delayed those plans by more than six months. → Read More