Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Angela Lugo-Thomas
Detroit community center provides climate refuge
This article was produced in partnership with Planet Detroit. A new community center in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is also a key part of the city’s climate strategy. The Community Center at A. B. Ford Park is part of the first three networks of resiliency hubs on the eastside of Detroit.
New community center provides Jefferson Chalmers with a climate refuge
Published in partnership with Energy News Network. A new community center in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is also a key part of the city’s climate strategy. The Community Center at A. B. Ford Park is part of the first three networks of resiliency hubs on the east side of Detroit.
What Michigan could learn from New Jersey's 2020 cumulative impact law – Planet Detroit
Theresa Landrum has been fighting for environmental justice in Detroit’s heavily polluted 48217 zip code for decades, where residents suffer from of asthma, cancer, respiratory problems, heart disease, miscarriages, and birth defects, all of which are associated with air pollution. Yet companies like Marathon Petroleum and Edward C. Levy continue to pursue permits that could bring even more pollution.
Environmental justice activists issue a call to ‘wage love,’ work toward building an environmentally just Detroit
This article was produced in partnership with Planet Detroit. What does it mean to wage love? The question, inspired by deceased Detroit activist Charity Mahouna Hicks, formed the centerpiece of a recent gathering of Detroit environmental justice advocates. Hicks, who died from injuries sustained after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in 2014 in New York City, made the phrase her mantra. For the panelists, answering that question means charting a course toward a better future.
Grassroots greenspace projects expand Detroit’s open space network – Planet Detroit
Detroit resident Andrew “Birch” Kemp has planted trees in Detroit’s Poletown East neighborhood for over 20 years. By expanding the city’s tree canopy, the former Detroit high school teacher hopes to promote the growth of healthy, resilient and equitable green spaces in his community that would both enrich his and his neighbors’ quality of life and deepen their connection to nature.
How a climate-fueled disaster led a native Detroiter to a career helping her neighbors – Planet Detroit
This story was produced in partnership with Energy News Network. Meghan Richards’ career as a community organizer began with a crisis. Amid historic rainfall in June 2021, Richards’ basement in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood flooded, destroying clothes, furniture, and her furnace and air conditioner. She was worried about mold in the basement and didn’t know where to turn. That’s when Angela Brown Wilson, a family friend and chief operating officer at Eastside Community Network, stepped in.
Climate disaster led Detroiter to career helping her neighbors
This story was produced in partnership with Planet Detroit. Meghan Richards’ career as a community organizer began with a crisis. Amid historic rainfall in June 2021, Richards’ basement in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood flooded, destroying clothes, furniture, and her furnace and air conditioner. She was worried about mold in the basement and didn’t know where to turn. That’s when Angela Brown Wilson, a family friend and chief operating officer at Eastside Community Network, stepped in.
Hempcrete shows promise for healthy housing
This story was produced in partnership with Planet Detroit. Seasoned housepainter Kim Croes had a big problem — increasingly, the fumes from the paint she used in her work were making her sick. She often experienced headaches, nosebleeds, and coughing during and after a job. Croes, who lives in Detroit and works all over the region, knew that most conventional paints contain harmful chemicals and frequent exposure to paint fumes is a real cause for health concerns.
Can Detroit fight blight with solar panels? – Planet Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan wants to power city operations with energy generated in solar parks in Detroit neighborhoods. The administration plans to solicit private solar developers to power city buildings – police and fire stations, recreation centers, and Detroit Department of Transportation stations. The city currently pays DTE Energy about $9 million per year for electricity to power these buildings.
New outdoor exhibit, research project by Black Bottom Archives calls for reparations – Planet Detroit
Black Bottom Archives is set to unveil its outdoor exhibit, Black Bottom Street View 2.0, alongside the launch of the Sankofa Community Research Project on June 19 from 2-6 pm at the Dequindre Cut, near the Lafayette and St. Aubin entranceway. Black Bottom Archives (BBA) is a community media hub dedicated to preserving the heritage of Black Detroiters and reshaping the prevailing narratives surrounding the city.
Detroit resident 'leads with love' in local climate resiliency
This story was produced in partnership with Planet Detroit. On Belvidere Street on Detroit’s east side, Tammara Howard’s efforts to build a community space show what is possible with limited resources. Her project, What About Us?, provides a place for the community to gather, learn from one another and share resources. “I want to let people see that there is hope,” Howard told Planet Detroit.
FILM: Claiming Connections – Planet Detroit
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Planet Detroit aims to produce quality climate, equity, health and environment journalism in the public interest that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, spotlights solutions + serves the community. That means we love when other outlets share our work. Stories that are eligible for republishing contain this republishing widget.
Energy security from Michigan to Puerto Rico
This story was produced in partnership with Planet Detroit. After Hurricane Maria left millions of Puerto Ricans without electricity in 2017, Casa Pueblo became an energy oasis for the small mountain town community of Adjuntas. The nonprofit is doing what some residents in Highland Park, Michigan, want to do — running an entire neighborhood on a solar-powered microgrid.
New ‘Get the Lead Out Detroit Coalition’ holds first outreach event in Southwest Detroit – Planet Detroit
Mareesha Walker has a message for Detroit’s parents: lead poisoning is a big risk for city kids, and knowledge is power. Walker, a health educator with Detroit’s Health Department, was in attendance at the Lead Safe Kids Resource Fair on Sat., Feb. 11, at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center in Southwest Detroit. She is a part of the new Get the Lead Out Detroit Coalition that aims to raise awareness and advocate for policies to reduce the threat of lead poisoning to Detroit’s children.
The Detroit People’s Food Co-op is coming. Here’s what you need to know.
More than a decade in the making, the coop is set to open this year. Many Detroiters may remember the former Cass Corridor Food Co-op that was a staple for over 20 years and closed in 2004. Almost 20 years later and more than 12 years of organizing, planning and fundraising, the Detroit People’s Food Co-op is scheduled to celebrate a grand opening later this year.
Parks summit convenes coalition to band together for a greener city
Parks summit convenes coalition to band together for a greener city4 min read Reading Time: 3 minutes Attendees shared knowledge and lessons learned from projects to activate public spaces across the city. More than 150 Detroit parks enthusiasts attended Tuesday’s first in-person Detroit Parks Coalition Park Summit at Marygrove College.
Angela Lugo-Thomas
Parks summit convenes coalition to band together for a greener city Stories 3 min Reading Time: 3 minutes Attendees shared knowledge and lessons learned from projects to activate public spaces across the city. More than 150 Detroit parks enthusiasts attended Tuesday’s first in-person Detroit Parks Coalition Park Summit at Marygrove College. The summit featured longtime stewards of well-known parks and also residents who activated public spaces in vacant lots or took action to ...
OPINION: Get the Grand Prix off of Belle Isle Park!
OPINION: Get the Grand Prix off of Belle Isle Park!3 min read Reading Time: 3 minutes Anyone who goes to Belle Isle in the peak months of May and June and thinks this is an appropriate event to take place in a public park is not an advocate for the DNR mission “committed to the conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources of current and future generations.” A public park should not host a car race or any corporate event that...
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Angela
Contact Angela, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack