I must be a willing participant in God’s blessings for my life. ...

Detroit famed Gospel family, the Sheards, has a new reality television program every Sunday on BET. Pictured above are (left to right): J. Drew Sheard, Kierra Sheard, Karen Clarke Sheard and John Drew Sheard, pastor of the mega church Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. ...

Art X Detroit: Kresge Arts Experience will take over Midtown this spring as the free, five-day arts experience celebrates Detroit’s arts scene April 10-14. Throughout more than a dozen venues in the Midtown district, the public is invited to experience an exciting collection of visual art installations, dance, musical and theatrical performances, literary readings, and much more created by the Kresge Eminen ...

Courageous is the best way to describe 11-year-old entrepreneur Olujinmi Edison. The sixth-grader owns a T-shirt company named Baby Lu Lu that she established last May. “My sister started calling me ‘Lu Lu’ and that’s where I got the name from,” says Edison, who aspires to be a fashion designer. “Since I sell onsies (infant T-shirts), that’s where ‘Baby’ comes from.” ...

A Michigan radio station has taken a stand against destructive messages being sent through the airwaves. Listeners of Muskegon radio station 103.7 The Beat will no longer hear the music of hip hop artist Rick Ross. The station has pulled his songs from rotation following lyrics in Ross’ recent release describing the rape of a woman. ...

Control your power. Don’t worry about the awful things people will say about you or do to you. Be concerned only if you give them priority in your life — now that is a problem. ...

The award-winning Brazeal Dennard Chorale, directed by Dr. Augustus Hill, presents its third annual Legacy Concert April 13 at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. International acclaimed tenor Rodrick Dixon and soprano Alfreda Burke are the headliners. Dixon says the concert will be a “rich and wonderful” presentation of Negro Spirituals. ...

I am a total snapshot of my life experiences. I am who I am today because of all of my joys and pains. My good and my bad are necessary for my total completeness. ...

Plowshares Theatre Company says its newest production, “Gem of the Ocean,” continues its ongoing celebration of Black women. “‘Gem’ highlights the power of a woman’s faith,” says Scott Norman, managing director for Plowshares. “It is also a play about grooming our next generation to be responsible men and women, the responsibility of sacrifice in one’s life and the lasting legacy that slavery has on the Bla ...

For Las Vegas’ MGM Resorts International, a Vegas-sized production was the best way to unite 62, 000 employees under its corporate culture. “Inspiring Our World: A Musical Journey” uniquely expresses the company’s views on diversity, philanthropy and sustainability. The original production hit the stage in December 2012 for its Las Vegas properties; this past week’s Detroit performance was the first stop on ...