Meet Melia Howard, Deputy Mayor for the City of Detroit. From her early days in the Department of Neighborhoods, Melia Howard knew she was exactly where she belonged. The work let her do what she had always done naturally, show up for people, solve problems, and make sure residents felt seen and supported. Detroit raised her, and serving the city means giving back in a holistic way, understanding the full picture of a family, a block, and a community. For Melia, service is not a role, it is a calling rooted in gratitude and responsibility. Of the many development efforts she has helped lead, the UMCI and District Detroit initiative stands out. Expanding Saturdays in the D into a citywide platform for education and opportunity captured everything she believes public service should be. Knowing that residents will soon walk into new learning spaces and build skills that shape their future is powerful. Hearing participants speak about how the program transformed their confidence, careers...