On Giving Tuesday 2025, Soulardarity goes live from Detroit is Different with a powerful two-hour broadcast hosted by Khary Frazierβan uplifting blend of storytelling, music, and community truth-telling about the fight for energy justice and the movement to bring our cityβs light back home. From the β50 Reasons to Giveβ countdown clips to candid conversations with Soulardarity leaders and neighbors on the frontlines of shutoffs and rate hikes, the program carries the heartbeat of a community refusing to be left in the dark.
Featuring performances from Angela Davis and Mama Jahra, plus stories of resilience and vision from Michelle Jones, Ken Bates, and Executive Director Shimekia Nichols, this livestream invites viewers to recognize Highland Parkβs legacy of brilliance and invest in its future. Donation links and the phone bank remain active throughout the broadcast as we rally togetherβDetroit styleβto build people power, streetlight by streetlight, household by household.
Give at: soulardarity.org/donate
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Greetings community!
We hosted our first Whole Homes, Whole Communitiy (WHWC) Workshop! Residents were able to walk away with vital information from experts on property tax help, how to spot contractor scams, how to prep your home for summer, and DIY resilency to beat the heat this summer! Plus - new connections, a great lunch, and awesome giveaways!
Thank you to ALL who came out and donβt miss your chance to join in on amazing events like this one by going to soulardarity.org/events!β ... See MoreSee Less
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Greetings community!
We hosted our first Whole Homes, Whole Communitiy (WHWC) Workshop! Residents were able to walk away with vital information from experts on property tax help, how to spot contractor scams, how to prep your home for summer, and DIY resilency to beat the heat this summer! Plus - new connections, a great lunch, and awesome giveaways!
Thank you to ALL who came out and donβt miss your chance to join in on amazing events like this one by going to soulardarity.org/events!β ... See MoreSee Less
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COOKEDβ
Screening Fundraiser
June 27 @ 1:00 pm β 4:00 pm
Held at The Planet Ant Theater at 2320 Caniff Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212 from 1PM β 4PM on Saturday, June 27th. We would love to see AS MANY of you & your friends as possible. Even if youβre not able to make the screening, you can still sponsor tickets. Thank you for supporting Soulardarity!
In the summer of 1995, Chicago experienced an unthinkable disaster, when extremely high humidity and a layer of heat-retaining pollution drove the heat index up to more than 126 degrees. Cooked: Survival by Zip Code tells the story of this tragic heatwave, the most traumatic in U.S. history, in which 739 citizens died over the course of just a single week, most of them poor, elderly, and African American. When peeled away from the shocking headlines the story reveals the less newsworthy but long-term crisis of pernicious poverty, economic, and social isolation and racism. Cooked is a story about life, death, and the politics of crisis in an American city that asks the question: Was this a one-time tragedy, or an appalling trend?
Grab your tickets early, and invite as MANY people as you can to fill the seats to support Soulardarity and the important work we do! Get your popcorn, grab your friends and family, and join Soulardarity in raising money for the fight for energy justice WHILE taking in an incredible documentary.
CLICK THE LINK IN OUR BIO TO GET YOUR TICKETS! ... See MoreSee Less
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Greetings community! Just stopping by to share a little snippet from a couple of years ago when we teamed up with the brilliant @detroitisdifferent team to hit the streets asking our community βDo You know DTEβ!?
Fun fact: Shimekia(Soul ED) and the Soulardarity team were one of the first organizations to bring public awareness to DTEβs antics and bravely fought back against DTEβs rate hikes and other injustices brought on by DTE. #doyouknowDTE ... See MoreSee Less
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βCOOKEDβ
Screening Fundraiser
June 27 @ 1:00 pm β 4:00 pm
Held at The Planet Ant Theater at 2320 Caniff Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212 from 1PM β 4PM on Saturday, June 27th. We would love to see AS MANY of you & your friends as possible. Even if youβre not able to make the screening, you can still sponsor tickets. Thank you for supporting Soulardarity!
In the summer of 1995, Chicago experienced an unthinkable disaster, when extremely high humidity and a layer of heat-retaining pollution drove the heat index up to more than 126 degrees. Cooked: Survival by Zip Code tells the story of this tragic heatwave, the most traumatic in U.S. history, in which 739 citizens died over the course of just a single week, most of them poor, elderly, and African American. When peeled away from the shocking headlines the story reveals the less newsworthy but long-term crisis of pernicious poverty, economic, and social isolation and racism. Cooked is a story about life, death, and the politics of crisis in an American city that asks the question: Was this a one-time tragedy, or an appalling trend?
Grab your tickets early, and invite as MANY people as you can to fill the seats to support Soulardarity and the important work we do! Get your popcorn, grab your friends and family, and join Soulardarity in raising money for the fight for energy justice WHILE taking in an incredible documentary.
CLICK THE LINK IN OUR BIO TO GET YOUR TICKETS! ... See MoreSee Less
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Flash Back Friday!
Greetings community! Iβm stopping by really quickly to share a quick snippet of the HP parade the soul team participated in last week!
βRain or shine, it was our HONOR to march in the Highland Park Parade this weekend! Thanks to all who came out to support as we continue to DUNK ON DTE! πβ -Max ... See MoreSee Less
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Greetings community!
This past Friday, we had one of our most invigorating and inspiring meetings to date! Deepest gratitude to all who came out to support Soulardarity Quarterly meeting, and allowing us to hold space as you learn more about the impact the Soul team has continued to make upon our community.
Come join, and collaborate with us and be a part of our movement to enrich our community by way of solar and social justice/education. Email programs@soulardarity.com to learn how you can join!β
A HUGE, shout out to those of you who signed up at our meeting to be Soulardarity Members/ volunteers/ and fellows! Welcome! πππΎπ‘ππβπ½
#EnergyDemocracy #SocialJustice #powertothepeople #follow #MembershipMonday ... See MoreSee Less
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Greetings community! I wanted to share a Flash back to when our very own ED Shimekia Nichols was invited to speak as a guest panelist at the Rachel Catalyst Network's 2026 Spring Meeting Panel.
Shimekia was not only a Speaker, but was also an Award Recipient which included the honor of sitting with true energy warriors Marnese Jackson, Director of Midwest Decarbonization Coalition and Briana Dubose, Director of Ecoworks, moderated by Shreya Durvasula, Catalyst Program Director, Rachelβs Network.
This all took place in front of an Audience of 30+ women environmental funders and advocates from across the country, some of them were even unfamiliar with Detroit.
Early last week I sat with Shimekia to collect information, quotes, and even personal take-a-ways on her experience during the panel discussion/ luncheon. Hereβs what Shimekia has shared with us:
β I had an incredible time participating in the Rachel Catalyst Network Panel! It was an honor to engage with such a dynamic group of leaders and visionaries.
We dove deep into some powerful topics, and I wanted to share a few of the prompts that guided our conversation:
- Prompt 1: Intro- Soulardarity was born out of crisis when 1,000+ residential streetlights were repossesd unannounced to the community. That moment forced a question: What does energy sovereignty actually look like? Who has power.
βWe donβt just fight energy injustice β we build the alternatives.β
Our work sits at the intersection of:
* Community-owned solar + infrastructure
* Energy democracy + policy intervention
* Leadership development in Black and frontline communities
Today, weβre installing off-grid solar streetlights with Free wifi access, organizing in DTE Energy rate cases, and training residents to challenge systems that were never designed for us.
- Prompt 2: High Utility Rates β Impact on People & Bills
Michigan residents arenβt just paying high rates β theyβre paying for a system that fails them repeatedly.
We see:
* Households choosing between lights and food
* Paying for outages, shutoffs, and unreliable service
Soulardarity's efforts reduces dependence on the grid entirely. We teach that "Energy burden isnβt accidental or from the neglect of rayepayersβ itβs designed. And weβre redesigning it.β
- Prompt 3: Biggest Challenge Right Now
Challenge: Misalignment between funding, policy timelines, and community urgency
Weβre expected to:
* Build infrastructure
* Fight policy battles
* Develop leaders
β¦on restricted, short-term funding
βThe biggest barrier isnβt imagination β itβs capital that trusts communities to lead.β
The energy and insights shared during this panel were truly inspiring. I am looking forward to continuing these important conversations and building in safe spaces! ... See MoreSee Less
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Put your walking shoes on and Come march with us in the Highland Park Michigan Week Parade THIS Saturday, May 16th @12! Meet us at 11:30am!
The actual parade will be from Manchester and Hamilton TO Alvin Casey Park (Monterey & Hamilton). Soul will park/meet near Oakman Blvd (other side of Hamilton) at 11AM. Please email programs@soulardarity.com if youβre interested in marching with us.
Come out and support Soulardarity in the Highland Park Michigan Week Parade! A classic event hosted by Highland Park yearly, see many cool floats, special guests, organizations, kids clubs, and MORE! Line up on Hamilton to watch the parade as the whole parade ends at Ernest T Ford Recreation Center at 10 Pitkin St for resources, fun, and food! ... See MoreSee Less
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