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The Black Law Students Association at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, MI represents a commitment to building community, fostering inclusion, and supporting the professional and personal growth of Black law students. As a student-led organization, it embodies Wayne Law's broader mission of preparing lawyers who understand the law's impact on individuals, corporations, and nations while remaining grounded in Detroit's evolving landscape.
Wayne Law has called Detroit home for more than 90 years, and its student organizations, including the Black Law Students Association, actively participate in the city's reinvention and growth. The association serves as a vital support network for students, offering peer mentorship, professional development, and collaborative opportunities that enhance the law school experience. Every organization at Wayne Law is open to all interested students, creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds strengthen the entire legal community.
The Black Law Students Association operates within a law school that values both theoretical excellence and practical application. Students benefit from a comprehensive network of support services, including career guidance, clinical education opportunities, and connections with area practitioners. The organization sponsors discussions on topics of current interest, jointly organizes outreach events for underserved communities, and collaborates on programs that promote social justice and legal advocacy.
Based in Detroit, MI, the association connects Black law students with resources, mentorship, and professional networks essential for success in legal careers. By fostering relationships among peers and with faculty advisors, the organization contributes to creating a supportive, inclusive law school community where students can thrive academically and professionally while preparing to serve their communities with integrity and excellence.
Founded as a local chapter of the Women's Council of The National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. (NAREB) in 2017, the Women's Council of Greater Detroit is rooted in a mission to address housing and socio-economic concerns affecting underserved and unserved communities throughout the Detroit area. We are part of NAREB's legacy—an organization established in 1947 by African American real estate professionals committed to securing equal housing opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, creed, or color. Our philosophy centers on the belief that successful women don't compete; they collaborate. We build generational wealth through financial literacy education, community advocacy, and homeownership opportunities that transform lives and families across Greater Detroit. Beyond professional services, we actively engage in community outreach programs including financial empowerment workshops, scholarship initiatives for youth, and charitable giving that reflects our commitment to our neighbors. Our members—referred to as REALTISTS—embrace a special charge in ensuring that communities of color and underserved populations receive dignified, respectful treatment in the housing market. By fostering leadership development, encouraging peer networking, and supporting collaborative partnerships with aligned organizations, we work toward our ultimate goal: democracy in housing. The Women's Council of Greater Detroit represents not just a professional organization, but a movement toward equitable access and sustainable prosperity for all Detroit residents.
Greater Detroit REALTIST Association (GDRA) was chartered in February 2015 at the 67th Annual MidWinter Convention, representing a significant milestone for the Detroit, MI real estate community. Founded on the principle of 'Democracy in Housing,' GDRA operates as a trade association dedicated to serving African Americans, underserved populations, brokers, agents, and their clients throughout Michigan. The organization carries forward the legacy of NAREB®, America's historic minority trade organization, while addressing contemporary challenges in fair housing and equitable real estate practices. GDRA's founders envisioned a supportive infrastructure that would establish the association as a positive and dominant influence in Michigan's real estate market. Beyond transactional services, GDRA actively promotes fair housing principles and works to eliminate disparities in how communities of color are treated in real estate valuation and market access. The association hosts educational events, fair housing initiatives, and community wealth-building programs that reflect its commitment to systemic change. Members benefit from a welcoming community that values professional growth, ethical practice, and social responsibility. GDRA's work in Detroit demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have equal access to housing opportunities and professional advancement in real estate. The organization continues to expand its membership benefits and strengthen its role as an advocate for fair housing practices and minority representation in Michigan's real estate industry.
Founded in 1969 as the Detroit Association of Professional Accountants, this organization has grown into a vital professional community serving the Detroit, MI area and beyond. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by minority accountants pursuing careers in public accounting, government, and private industry, the chapter received its NABA charter in 1972 and has since become a cornerstone of professional support and advocacy. The Detroit Chapter's mission centers on encouraging and increasing the percentage of minorities pursuing academic and professional careers in accounting and finance, creating pathways that were historically difficult to access. Today, the organization stands as one of Michigan's largest professional minority business organizations, second only to Chicago within the Central Region. The chapter fosters genuine community through member discussions, collaborative learning communities, and shared resources that empower accountants and finance professionals at every career stage. By combining educational programming with corporate partnerships and peer support networks, the Detroit Chapter demonstrates a commitment to building not just individual careers, but a stronger, more inclusive accounting profession. The organization's 50+ year legacy reflects a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in accounting and finance while maintaining strong connections to Detroit's professional community.
Rooted in Detroit's rich legal history, the Wolverine Bar Association traces its origins to the Harlan Law Club, founded in 1919 by African-American attorneys excluded from local bar associations throughout Michigan. Named in honor of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John M. Harlan, whose dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson championed equality under law, the organization was formally established in the 1930s to coordinate the energies and talents of African-American attorneys admitted to practice across Michigan. From its inception, the Wolverine Bar Association assumed a leadership role in community and political activities—a commitment that remains paramount today. The organization embodies the founding principles of equality and dedication to community service that guided the Harlan Law Club nearly a century ago. Serving Detroit and the broader Michigan legal community, the Wolverine Bar Association represents a powerful mechanism through which African-American attorneys address the unique and distinct needs of their communities for legal service, representation, and protection. The organization's mission is to be Detroit's representative of the legal profession, serving both the public and the profession by enhancing the legal system and promoting justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law. Through its Wolverine Bar Foundation, the association gives back to the community by supporting educational programs, hosting law student instruction initiatives, and sponsoring community outreach efforts. With a legacy spanning nearly a century, the Wolverine Bar Association continues to meet present and future challenges with renewed vigor and determination, building a strong organizational infrastructure to carry out its vision of equal justice for all.
Since its establishment in 1987, the Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA Inc. has grown into a vital community organization serving Akwa Ibom citizens throughout the United States, with an active Metro Detroit chapter dedicated to local engagement. AKISAN USA operates as a membership-based organization rooted in the principles of unity, cultural preservation, and mutual support, creating meaningful connections among people who share Akwa Ibom heritage. The organization's mission extends beyond social gatherings to encompass substantive community development work, including support for educational aspirations, professional growth, and legitimate business ventures that align with community values. Based on its commitment to the Detroit, MI community and beyond, AKISAN USA actively promotes economic and social progress while maintaining strong ties to Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. The organization recognizes the importance of intergenerational connection and community stewardship, operating youth wings and women's groups that ensure diverse voices shape the association's direction. As a non-discriminatory organization, AKISAN USA welcomes all community members and maintains partnerships with other Nigerian associations to amplify collective impact. Through annual conventions, charitable initiatives, skills acquisition programs, and cultural celebrations, the Metro Detroit chapter creates spaces where Akwa Ibom citizens can celebrate their heritage, build professional networks, and contribute meaningfully to both their local community and their homeland. The organization's governance structure and constitutional framework ensure transparent, accountable leadership that prioritizes member interests and community welfare.
For nearly three decades, LGBT Detroit has been a steadfast advocate and community anchor serving the Detroit, MI area with unwavering commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals across all races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. What began in 1994 as KICK Publishing Company—the nation's third Black American LGBT media company—has evolved into a powerful force for social justice and community empowerment. The organization's mission centers on activating, amplifying, and sustaining LGBT culture, education, advocacy, and human rights through integrity and pride. LGBT Detroit's journey reflects deep community roots: from providing vital HIV/AIDS information during the pandemic crisis, to creating Hotter Than July as a platform for spiritual and cultural celebration, to establishing safe spaces where vulnerable populations can gather without fear. The organization recognizes the importance of cooperative economics and community self-determination, symbolized through their incorporation of both the Rainbow Flag and the Kwanzaa principle of Ujamaa in their identity. Today, LGBT Detroit operates from its headquarters in Detroit's northwest business and residential neighborhood, serving as a beacon of hope and strength for a community historically marginalized and misunderstood. Their expansion to 15 programs demonstrates their commitment to comprehensive support—addressing youth development, education, advocacy, and wellness—while maintaining the personal relationships and trust that have defined their work since inception.
Founded in January 1953 by national founder Marion Stubbs Thomas and a dedicated group of 15 mothers, the Detroit Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. has grown into one of the nation's oldest and most respected youth organizations serving the Detroit, Michigan community. What began with Frances Polk as the first chapter president has evolved into a membership of 80 mothers committed to a singular vision: enriching the lives of their children and creating meaningful, lifelong friendships. The organization's strength lies in the deep bonds forged among families who share common values and aspirations for their children's futures. As mothers working together with camaraderie, members have built a legacy of community involvement that spans over seven decades, establishing traditions that new generations continue to embrace. The Detroit chapter has produced notable national leadership, including Sheryl Benning Thomas, who served as the 16th National President of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. from 1996-1998. This chapter's distinction as one of the oldest throughout the USA, Europe, and Africa reflects its foundational role in the organization's history. The dedication that binds this community together—the commitment to preparing children for beautiful adulthood while advancing the welfare of all children—ensures that legacies return and the Detroit Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. continues thriving as a family organization rooted in purpose and service.
For over four decades, the Detroit Association of Black Organizations has served as a unifying force in Detroit, MI, bringing together a diverse federation of black and non-black organizations committed to community empowerment. Founded in 1979 with three principal goals—creating power for the Black community to control its own destiny, effectively serving community needs, and building interracial coalitions—DABO has evolved into a trusted institution fostering functional unity and maximal empowerment. The organization's vision reflects a commitment to a united and thriving Detroit where barriers are broken and every resident can access tools for success. DABO builds capacity within the Detroit community by developing the skills, abilities, and resources that organizations and communities need to remain sustainable in a rapidly changing world. Beyond direct services, DABO emphasizes bridge-building across communities and systems, fostering collaboration and dialogue to create stronger networks of support throughout the city. The organization's approach centers on promoting cultural, economic, and social well-being while removing obstacles that prevent individuals and families from taking control of their futures. With deep roots in Detroit's neighborhoods, DABO combines advocacy, education, and opportunity-creation to uplift communities. The organization welcomes volunteers and partners who share its vision, offering multiple ways for Detroiters to become part of meaningful change and contribute to the collective well-being of their city.