Grab a cup of coffee and join for a walkabout of the neighborhood to learn more and capture photos.
Jena Brooker
Jena Brooker is BridgeDetroit's environmental reporter, covering food and agriculture, pollution and climate change. She has held three fellowships: a ProPublica fellowship, where she led an investigative project on heavy industry in Detroit neighborhoods; a Data Fellowship at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, where she produced award-winning coverage of Detroit's automotive industry and environmental racism; and a Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowship through CASW, AHCJ and SEJ. Her work has also earned the Michigan Press Association public service award three years in a row and recognition as Young Journalist of the Year in 2023. Before joining BridgeDetroit, she covered environmental issues across the Midwest as a Reporting Fellow for Grist.
Jena holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, Mother Jones, Salon, Slate, Grist, Next City, Chalkbeat and Planet Detroit.
Posted inEducation, Environment
UM has given an AI assistant to every student. That could have an environmental impact.
In September, the school gave personal AI assistants to the more than 50,000 students at the University of Michigan.
Posted inBusiness
Detroit chef opens Filipino cafe and bakery in New Center
The location on Woodward Avenue offers baked goods, savory foods and espresso drinks in traditional Filipino flavors.
Posted inBusiness
Kitab Cafe owners open Corktown grocery store
With its late hours and fresh affordable foods, Rosette Market + Cafe seeks to increase access to food in Detroit.
Posted inEnvironment, JB's Bites
JB’s Bites: Detroit getting composting program
Tepfirah Rushdan, director of Detroit’s Office of Sustainability, said reducing food waste is a key goal of the city’s climate strategy.
Posted inJB's Bites
JB’s Bites: Return of Detroit’s Mexican-Irish Festival
Jena Brooker writes about the upcoming Mexican-Irish festival after a years-long hiatus, Plus, this week’s food news and pop-ups.
Posted inJB's Bites
Jena Brooker doesn’t love soup. Change her mind, Detroit
BridgeDetroit staffers share their favorite soup spots in Detroit. Jena isn’t sold on soup in general. Send her your favorites!
Posted inJB's Bites
JB’s Bites: A rice camp for Natives
Jena Brooker has the details on a rice harvesting camp at Historic Fort Wayne, the latest food pop-ups and more.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Historic Fort Wayne to host Indigenous wild rice camp
A workshop on Sunday seeks to help urban Indigenous peoples reconnect to traditional manoomin harvesting and processing.
Posted inJB's Bites
JB’s Bites: Server wages going up
Jena Brooker sits in on a talk about the Michigan Supreme Court decision to phase out tipped wages and raise the minimum wage and the affect on small businesses and restaurants.