As we prepare to welcome the new year, we’re taking a look at some of our favorite stories of 2025. From reports on Michigan’s contributions to LGBTQ+ history and efforts to restore wild rice in our state to our Destination Detroit and caregiving initiatives, we’ll share highlights of these stories and others that stood out to our One Detroit team.

Michigan’s first Pride: LGBTQ+ historymakers look back on Christopher Street Detroit ’72 march

One Detroit’s Bill Kubota, Zosette Guir and Chris Jordan examined Michigan’s contributions to LGBTQ+ history. They heard from people who were a part of the Christopher Street Detroit ‘72 celebration, learned about the “Come Out! In Detroit” comic book and talked with the nation’s first openly gay elected official.

Harvesting manoomin, Michigan’s Indigenous wild rice

One Detroit teamed up with BridgeDetroit and Great Lakes Now for a report on wild rice, the state’s official native grain and a part of Indigenous people’s history in Michigan. Also known as “manoomin,” it used to grow in abundance across the Great Lakes region. Now there’s an effort to bring it back.

Children of Holocaust survivors preserve their families’ stories

There are only about 400 to 450 Holocaust survivors still alive in Michigan. Descendants of Holocaust survivors are preserving their families’ stories and carrying on their legacies. One Detroit contributor Sarah Zientarski visited a storytelling workshop for second and third-generation children of survivors at The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills and talked to participants about how their families ended up in Michigan after World War II.

How one Detroit neighborhood stopped heavy industry in its midst

Residents in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood didn’t want a concrete crusher operating near their homes. They were concerned that concrete dust and truck traffic would damage their quality of life and impede residential redevelopment in the area. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota and contributor Nicole Macdonald chronicled the two-year fight to keep heavy industry out of Core City and prevent it from moving into their community.

Haunted Detroit: Ghost hunting at Eloise Asylum

One Detroit’s Chris Jordan and Andrea Riley visited Eloise Asylum around Halloween to explore its history, went behind the scenes of the haunt and hunted for ghosts with the asylum’s paranormal investigator.

Caregiving: Legal planning for the future

As part of One Detroit’s series of reports on caregiving, we take a look at the sensitive but important conversations that should take place between caregivers and their loved ones. Among these are discussions about finances and legal documents. Contributor Marty Fischhoff spoke with Antonia Harbin of the Elder Law and Advocacy Center. He also sat down with Judy Page and her daughter and caregiver, Ericka Page.

Destination Detroit: Hamissi Mamba

Destination Detroit is our series that explores the region’s rich history and the people who shaped it. Detroit resident Hamissi Mamba, co-owner of Baobab Fare, talked about his experience living in the city as a refugee from Burundi. When he and his wife came to the city, they were welcomed by Freedom House Detroit, a shelter for those seeking asylum.