MoveDetroit Announces Inaugural Neighborhood Ambassador Cohort to Help Tell Detroit's Story

• The first sixteen neighborhood ambassadors have been selected from among more than 300 nominations to help tell the story of Detroit’s neighborhoods, people, and opportunities 
• Ambassadors will play a key role in MoveDetroit’s historic, ongoing effort to retain and attract talent to our city

DETROIT, Mich. (August 3, 2026) — MoveDetroit, the city’s first-of-its-kind talent retention and attraction initiative, is pleased to announce its inaugural class of Neighborhood Ambassadors – entrepreneurs, architects, authors, small business owners and community advocates who reflect the breadth and diversity of Detroit’s neighborhoods. 

Selected from more than 300 community nominations, the first 16 ambassadors bring perspectives spanning generations, industries, and communities. The call for applications was first announced in April during a press conference with local leaders, including Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield.

"Detroit's momentum has always been powered by Detroiters,” said Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield. “Our inaugural Neighborhood Ambassadors reflect the diversity and determination of our neighborhoods, and they embody exactly why people choose to stay in Detroit, return to Detroit, and move to Detroit. I'm grateful to each of them for helping show the world why there's no place like home."

Norris Howard III, a lifelong Detroiter who was born and raised in the city's Brightmoor neighborhood, is among the inaugural group. He is a co-host of the popular Daily Detroit podcast where he actively amplifies Detroit’s stories while helping to shape the city’s future and works with Distill Social highlighting Michigan's politics. Howard’s advocacy is rooted in lived experience and community dedication.

"I'm truly honored that my fellow Detroiters nominated me for this special position and I hope to share the stories of not just Brightmoor but the city as a whole,” said Howard. “I was blessed enough to be born and raised in beautiful and bountiful Detroit and I intend to wear the MoveDetroit Neighborhood Ambassador badge with pride everywhere I go."

Nominees were evaluated through a competitive review process based on community leadership, neighborhood engagement, and their commitment to Detroit’s future. Over the next year, these volunteer ambassadors will help amplify Detroit’s story. By guiding marketing strategies, interacting with city leaders, and spotlighting local culture, they will show the world why Detroit is the best place to live, work, and play.

"Our city’s greatest asset will always be Detroiters — the true spirit of the city lives within the people who call Detroit home," said Hilary Doe, President and CEO of MoveDetroit. "This incredible group of ambassadors embodies the passion, resilience, creativity, and pride that shapes our community. Whether they are lifelong residents or newcomers who moved here to build a brighter future, each one is deeply committed to uplifting their neighborhood and helping others experience the very best our city has to offer.”

Entrepreneur Rohani Foulkes is another Neighborhood Ambassador. She is the Australian-born Owner and Founder of Folk. Founded in 2018, Folk is a James Beard Award–nominated cafe and wine shop in Corktown.

Building on the cafe's success, Foulkes expanded her mission with Neighbor x Folk (NxF), a curated gift shop that highlights Michigan-made, minority-owned, and sustainable brands. Originally starting as a pop-up, it now has a permanent location on the main level of The Station at Michigan Central.

“I was born in Australia, and Detroit has become home in every sense of the word. This city and its people gave me the opportunity to build businesses rooted in purpose, connection, and community,” said Foulkes. “Through Folk and Neighbor x Folk, I've witnessed how welcoming spaces, local makers, and small businesses can become catalysts for belonging, creativity, and opportunity. Every day, I see the resilience, generosity, and innovation that define Detroit, and the people and places that weave together the fabric of its neighborhoods. I'm honored to serve as a MoveDetroit Neighborhood Ambassador and help tell those stories authentically, celebrating the communities that make Detroit one of the most inspiring places to live, create, and belong.”

Inaugural Neighborhood Ambassadors also include:

• Alicia Martinez, founding member of the Bagley Neighborhood Association
• Asia Williams, a born-and-raised Detroiter, architectural designer, community developer, and founder of SHE DZNS
• Bre Williamson, president of the North Corktown Neighborhood Association
• Darnell Adams, vice president of Detroit Community Initiatives at the Gilbert Family Foundation
• Elizabeth Hunter, community leader and strategic advocate for youth advancement, housing, and workforce mobility
• Jacqueline “Jackie” Perkins, a grassroots community leader, organizer and neighborhood advocate on Detroit’s east side. She serves as a community project planner in Great Communities Now, an organization she helped launch in 2014 
• Karen Walker, a lifelong Detroiter, Spirit of Detroit recipient, Ford retiree, outreach volunteer with St. Patrick Senior Center and volunteer with Make Food Not Waste
• Lisa Kim, a Los Angeles native who relocated to Detroit, arts and culture champion, and co-founder of Detroit Asian Collective
• Makese Taylor, a community caregiver and advocate for Detroit families
• Mariah Mitchell, a visual artist and independent art curator
• Reo Ramsey, an avid cyclist, entrepreneur, and community leader 
• Risonna Perkins, a community literacy advocate, children’s author, and founder of the Detroit-based educational brand Meet the Buzzbees, and Ready To Read Rimel
• Sparkle Berry, director of the Stoudamire Wellness Hub, part of the Eastside Community Network, and community coordinator for District 4 alongside Detroit Champions for Hope  
• Tam Wilson, director of marketing at Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit), Michigan's only HBCU and the only design-focused HBCU in the nation

The Neighborhood Ambassador Program is among the first major initiatives of MoveDetroit, a coalition of more than 50 organizations focused on helping Detroit grow and thrive by ensuring current residents stay, former Detroiters return, and new residents move to the city. The program is designed to leverage authentic, community voices and uplift individuals who are deeply connected to their communities, helping to move Detroit forward. 

Nominations will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis. Visit movedetroit.com to nominate a Neighborhood Ambassador today.