Hope doesn’t always wait for a headline. Sometimes it walks through Detroit’s streets, reinvests in its own people, and then gathers the community to celebrate how far we’ve come while naming the work ahead. That’s what’s taking place on Friday, May 16, 2025, when Detroit’s historic Book Tower opens its doors to more than just a gala—it opens up a night where legacy, justice, healing, and vision take center stage. This isn’t simply a fundraiser. It’s a calling. The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition (BLAC) is bringing together Detroiters and supporters from around the world for an evening rooted in community power and investment.
This celebration is layered. Every dollar raised will go directly toward BLAC’s Ground Up Initiative—an effort focused on affordable housing, mentorship, and transformational programming for young adults navigating life beyond foster care, incarceration, homelessness, and systems that too often abandon them.
“Our future is not waiting for any outside superhero. It depends upon us,” said Dexter Sullivan, President and CEO of BLAC. “We must organize and build on the floor that the civil rights movement provides us. We have made it the Coalition’s mission to empower our communities with knowledge, resources and tools that significantly elevate our collective position for generations. We are committed to the long haul for Black people, planning for no less than three generations to come.”
BLAC is far from a newcomer in this work. Since 2020, the organization has invested more than $500,000 directly into Detroit neighborhoods. That investment is not theoretical. It looks like property revitalization. It looks like young adults no longer on the streets. It looks like gardens growing food and community. It looks like the Health Is Wealth Detroit expo that brought out more than 8,000 people over the years, centering Black wellness not as an afterthought but as a foundation.
The coalition didn’t form overnight. Its roots trace back to a moment of grief that became fuel. In 2010, Dexter Sullivan lost his friend, Ishmail Ali, to violence in Detroit. That loss transformed into purpose. He launched The Man to Man Project, a mentoring initiative for young Black men that evolved into BLAC’s men’s outreach wing. Thousands of young men have been reached with mentorship, coaching, scholarships, and development programs.
“While we strive toward a bold and powerful vision, we are clear that our efforts require a commitment spanning generations,” said Sullivan. “We are committed to successively building on the foundation of generational legacy, derived from the accomplishments of our transformative ancestors.”
Those ancestors and contemporary icons will be honored at the May 16 gala during the Black History Makers celebration. This moment recognizes the contributions of Black leaders who have shaped our cultural and civic landscape. That recognition becomes a bridge, connecting legacy to future investment.
The Book Tower venue, newly restored, stands tall over Washington Boulevard—an architectural nod to Detroit’s greatness. Its Conservatory Ballroom will hold the evening’s festivities, starting with a strolling reception and silent auction. That auction is laced with culture and luxury, featuring works by renowned artists including Dr. Hubert Massey, Judy Bowman, Joseph Cazeno III, Oshun Williams, and Jamea Richmond Edwards. It extends beyond the canvas. Guests can bid on fine dining gift certificates, exclusive hotel stays, a Detroit Lions VIP Training Camp experience for two, and a luxury custom suit fitting.
Guests won’t just leave with fine wine and memories—they’ll leave knowing their presence helped fund homes for young adults who had nowhere else to go. They’ll leave knowing they contributed to a movement that builds gardens, not just buildings. They’ll leave knowing they uplifted Black futures rooted in action.
Throughout the night, the ambiance will carry Black brilliance. Live jazz will provide the soundtrack. Guests will enjoy a full-course meal with four wine pours and a fully stocked bar. But even amid the elegance, the purpose will remain present. Special presentations will highlight awardees whose lives and contributions reflect BLAC’s mission.
“We are focused on revitalizing property while revitalizing lives,” said Sullivan. The numbers speak for themselves. BLAC has launched semi-independent housing for both men and women, known as the Ali Legacy House and its counterpart for women. These are not transitional shelters. These are stable, affirming spaces for young adults between the ages of 18 and 35, places where they can regroup, receive support, and move toward independence.
BLAC also cultivated the Ali Legacy House Tranquility Garden. That garden spans 4,500 square feet and holds over 150 fruit-bearing plants. In a city where access to fresh food can be a challenge, this garden feeds more than stomachs—it feeds futures.
Beyond housing and food, BLAC has made mentorship a pillar. Its consistent programming reaches young adults holistically. That includes personal development, mental health resources, and career readiness. The work doesn’t stop at programming. BLAC’s annual “Black History Makers” awards recognize Detroiters creating impact right now. The celebration includes a grant competition that pours money into community-led ideas.
The Coalition has grown to a membership base of more than 3,000 people. That base isn’t passive. They are builders, visionaries, and everyday folks who believe in Detroit’s renewal by way of its people.
BLAC’s vision doesn’t end with the gala or even this moment. They are actively campaigning to develop the Black Legacy Advancement Center. That cultural heritage campus will include a barber shop, a health food restaurant, classrooms, green space, offices, an auditorium, and 24 housing units. It will become a living monument to the work already underway. It will also house the intangible—hope, resilience, strategy, and pride.
“The Black nation within the United States is uniquely positioned with opportunity in time. Our ancestors paid a great price for the freedom, prosperity and success that we enjoy as a people today,” said Sullivan. “But our overall well-being is still not equitably distributed among the race. Racism is being emboldened. Blatant cultural attacks are being normalized by the status quo against our very existence.”
His words ring out as both truth and warning. The current cultural moment demands more than observation. It calls for movement. BLAC is answering that call—not through political rhetoric but through real estate deeds, mentorship pairings, healing circles, and intentional investment. The gala is not an escape. It is an offering. It is where joy meets purpose and where the future gets funded.
Registration is open now. Tickets cost $150 per person or $125 for members. Tables of eight are available for $1,000—a group savings that turns a gathering of friends into a force of impact. The event will take place at the Book Tower’s Conservatory Ballroom, located at 1265 Washington Boulevard.
Legacy isn’t built in isolation. It takes a village, a vision, and an unshakable belief in what’s possible when Black communities are given room to breathe, grow, and lead. This gala is a declaration of that belief. Detroit will rise, not because it’s asked for permission, but because it is already doing the work. BLAC is ensuring that work gets seen, celebrated, and sustained.
Tickets to the Black Legacy Advancement Coalition’s Five Year Anniversary Gala can be purchased online at theblac.co/GALA today.Sponsorship opportunities can also be accessed at theblac.co/galasponsorships/.
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