This week on American Black Journal: 

Church of the Messiah marks 150 years of service, community building in Detroit

The Church of the Messiah Detroit will commemorate its 150th anniversary this year with a special gala event Nov. 1 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. This year’s anniversary theme, “The Audacity of Faith,” celebrates the church’s 150 years of service and community building.  

Founded in 1874, the church serves a diverse congregation of Black, white, Asian, and Latino members in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood, but the church’s mission extends far beyond worship. It offers vital services such as affordable housing, employment assistance, medical care, and free internet access for residents.

Additionally, the church proudly boasts an 84-member marching band that promotes literacy. Each year, Church of the Messiah Pastor Barry Randolph organizes the Silence the Violence march and rally, one of the largest anti-gun violence events in the country.

Host Stephen Henderson talks with Randolph about the church’s upcoming anniversary. Randolph reflects on the church’s beginnings in Detroit, its move to the present location, the mission and work of the Episcopal Church, the importance of youth leadership, and the church’s impact in Islandview. 

Judson Center celebrates 100th anniversary with upcoming Centennial Gala

Judson Center, a metro Detroit nonprofit human services agency, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. As part of the commemoration, the agency launched its “Where Care Is An Art” awareness campaign, an initiative that paired local artists with Judson Center clients and culminated in ten unique artworks that tell stories of resilience and recovery. 

The project, designed in collaboration with Doner Detroit, highlights the journeys of clients who have benefitted from the center’s various programs, including autism services, foster care, adoption, and disability employment. Judson Center has also introduced a Centennial Challenge, where people are encouraged to support the agency’s 100 years of service.

Host Stephen Henderson sits down with Judson Center President & CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster, who discusses the agency’s origins in 1924 and its evolution in response to community needs. Hardy-Foster also talks about the center’s commitment to providing essential services, its vision for the future, and its Centennial Gala set for Nov. 1.

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum working to preserve Detroit’s automotive history with new funding

The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, located in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, is an integral part of the Motor City’s legacy. Built in 1904 by Henry Ford, the plant was the birthplace of the Model T. “It was really the Silicon Valley of its day,” Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum President and COO Jill Woodward said.

Visitors to the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum can see over 65 rare vehicles including a collection of Ford’s letter cars that preceded the Model T plus a rebuilt version of the secret experimental room where Ford made the very first one.  

This year, the plant — now a U.S. National Historic Landmark and nonprofit museum — turned 120 years old. Recently, the plant was awarded a $500,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to support infrastructure improvements and increase accessibility to its visitors. 

The volunteer group behind the nonprofit that turned the plant into a public museum has also taken on a $10 million capital campaign for renovations and preservation of the historic structure for the future. Woodward takes viewers around the museum to learn about the iconic collection of Detroit automotive history that sits within its walls.