A recent history and a list of free, public group bike rides in Detroit
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 inCivic and Community Information
Detroit’s Friday swim club on Belle Isle quickly growing
The Belle Isle Swim Club meets every Friday at 7 a.m. to swim, hang out, and drink free coffee.
Posted inJB's Bites
JB’s Bites: The Veggie Express and a collard cookoff
BridgeDetroit food reporter Jena Brooker has the dish on a rickshaw delivering fresh produce to Detroiters, an inaugural collard green cookoff and more.
Posted inArts & Culture, JB's Bites
Get ready for Detroit’s inaugural collard green cookoff
Five chefs will cook up 40 pounds of collards apiece to be judged on taste, texture, smell and creativity.
Posted inArts & Culture
Film on Indigenous food sovereignty screened in Detroit
‘Gather’ highlights Indigenous efforts to reclaim identity and heal trauma through food sovereignty.
Posted inEnvironment
Solar-powered rickshaw delivering local produce to Detroiters
The Veggie Express means better access to fresh food in Detroit neighborhoods, and increased profit for farmers.
Posted inEnvironment
Detroit environmental lawyer selected for Obama leadership program
Jeremy Orr is director of litigation and advocacy partnerships for Earthjustice and an adjunct law professor at Michigan State University.
Posted inJB's Bites
Introducing JB’s Bites
BridgeDetroit Reporter Jena Brooker has your latest news on all things food. Find out about new restaurants, pop-ups and some food history, too.
Posted inEnvironment
Can vertical farming succeed in Detroit?
After five years, Planted Detroit in Islandview is closing unless it can find an investor.
Posted inArts & Culture, JB's Bites
Midtown mansion welcomes basement cafe and bar
The French-inspired cafe and cocktail bar will be open until 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.