Regional Roots

Regional Roots Trailer

Arab American National Museum

Maha Freij, though culturally Palestinian, was born in Israel. Her journey and eventual relocation to Metro-Detroit was first spurred by the Union of Palestinian Women's Association of North America. Touring after a speaking engagement for the group, she stopped in the Motor City, where she met her future-husband and would later return.Before immigrating to the US, she graduated from the Hebrew University and earned her CPA from the State of Israel. She then acquired her current position, Depu...

Maps of Detroit

As a trained historian, Brian Leigh Dunnigan has spent numerous years studying the early events, people, and of the Great Lakes region. He has refined such knowledge in practice, while holding museum positions at Mackinac State Historic Parks, as well as that of Managing Director at Historic Fort Wayne.In 1996, Dunnigan was made Head of Research and Publications, as well as Curator of Maps, at the William L. Clements Library at University of Michigan -- his alma mater. Then in 2001, Wayne Stat...

Detroit Orientation Institute - What is it?

The Detroit Orientation Institute (DOI) is a program at Wayne State University that provides a historical perspective and candid look at the region. The three-day session welcomes anyone wishing to learn about the city and metro area, especially newcomers. Business executives, professionals from nonprofit organizations, university faculty, government administrators and journalists typically attend. Background materials, a CD-Rom, meals and transportation are provided for a cost of $900. Regist...

Ozzie Rivera & Bomba

Osvaldo Rivera grew up in Southwest Detroit. He moved from the island of Puerto Rico at 5 months old. Settling in the area of Most Holy Trinity and St. Anne's, he was fortunate enough to be raised in a culture of Latino Catholic-activism. Later, in 1973 he attended Wayne State University as part of a new program to increase Latino enrollment. As a result of demonstrations and talks with administration, he and his classmates led to its development into the Chicano-Boricua Studies program -- one...

Immigration

Osvaldo Rivera grew up in Southwest Detroit. He moved from the island of Puerto Rico at 5 months old. Settling in the area of Most Holy Trinity and St. Anne's, he was fortunate enough to be raised in a culture of Latino Catholic-activism. Later, in 1973 he attended Wayne State University as part of a new program to increase Latino enrollment. As a result of demonstrations and talks with administration, he and his classmates led to its development into the Chicano-Boricua Studies program -- one...

Latino vs. Hispanic

Osvaldo Rivera grew up in Southwest Detroit. He moved from the island of Puerto Rico at 5 months old. Settling in the area of Most Holy Trinity and St. Anne's, he was fortunate enough to be raised in a culture of Latino Catholic-activism. Later, in 1973 he attended Wayne State University as part of a new program to increase Latino enrollment. As a result of demonstrations and talks with administration, he and his classmates led to its development into the Chicano-Boricua Studies program -- one...

Latinos in Detroit

Osvaldo Rivera grew up in Southwest Detroit. He moved from the island of Puerto Rico at 5 months old. Settling in the area of Most Holy Trinity and St. Anne's, he was fortunate enough to be raised in a culture of Latino Catholic-activism. Later, in 1973 he attended Wayne State University as part of a new program to increase Latino enrollment. As a result of demonstrations and talks with administration, he and his classmates led to its development into the Chicano-Boricua Studies program -- one...

Racial Equity

The fifth generation of his namesake and lineage to live in the City of Detroit, George Galster is an expert on the history and consequences of the region's housing and development trends.With his great-great-grandfather having come from Southern Germany in 1851, Galster's ancestral past demonstrates a classic example of Second Wave Immigration. Likewise, with his family's founding of the Acme Wire & Iron Company provides a good representation of Detroit's historical ties to industrialism.At W...

Segregated Living

The fifth generation of his namesake and lineage to live in the City of Detroit, George Galster is an expert on the history and consequences of the region's housing and development trends.With his great-great-grandfather having come from Southern Germany in 1851, Galster's ancestral past demonstrates a classic example of Second Wave Immigration. Likewise, with his family's founding of the Acme Wire & Iron Company provides a good representation of Detroit's historical ties to industrialism.At W...