From Henry Ford to Motown’s Barry (sic) Gordy, Thomas Edison to Jerry Bruckheimer, the Detroit area has long been home to big thinkers, game changers and rebels with a cause, says Complex, an online pop culture magazine based in Manhattan.
Maybe it’s something in the lake water, or maybe it’s a reaction to the harsh winters and harsher realities—either way, Detroit has produced more than its share of entrepreneurs. There is something about the city (and its very public problems) that creates people who are able to step up and come up with solutions. From small business creators, artists, and community builders, Detroit has a whole new breed of innovators ready to lead the way.
Some of the faces -- blight buster John George and the shop-owning and publishing Linn siblings -- will be familiar to local readers. But others are less well known:.
Detroit is synonymous with American craftsmanship and Mike Z Ballerini wants to see that it stays that way. The son of a farmer from Detroit’s suburbs, Mike started making handcrafted men’s bags that reflect the aesthetic of the city. These aren’t European man purses. Rather, Z Ballerini bags focus on functionality and each is created in Detroit. It was Mike’s desire to bring the spirit of the city into his design.
Samantha White lists her passions as Shakespeare, Detroit, and living with purpose. She brought all three together with Shakespeare in Detroit. In a city that has been losing population and tax-base, the people of Detroit are also losing access to the arts. Samantha is bringing back the Bard to people by staging affordable Shakespeare classics. With a diverse cast, the plays are performed in various historical sites and venues across Detroit. Starting the company was a big gamble by Samantha, who was introduced to Shakespeare by her mother as an alternative to rap music, but it’s paying off both for her theater company and the Motor City.
