Detroit Equity Action Lab

Etta Adams was displaced as a child when I-375 destroyed Black Bottom. Now she's working on sustainability at the Wright Museum and planning a community garden to address environmental injustice in Detroit.

Adams' work connects the city's history of displacement with current efforts to build healthier, more sustainable communities — from Black Bottom to Inkster.

Read about how gardens are being used to heal communities in Metro Detroit.

https://planetdetroit.org/2026/05/from-black-bottom-to-inkster-how-one-detroiter-is-using-gardens-to-heal-communities/

"While earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I attended group counseling sessions where we were asked to share something we identified with. I chose the butterfly. For over 30 years, the symbol of Mariposa has been part of my journey and inspiration. Butterflies symbolize joy, transformation through struggle, and strength. Monarch migration reflects the resilience of racialized communities; moving, adapting, and surviving systems not built for them, yet returning with purpose." — Mayté Penman, DEAL 10 Racial Equity Fellow

At our Racial Equity Fellowship’s orientation, we give fellows an opportunity to share an artifact that represents their personal connection to racial equity work. This is DEAL 10 Fellow Mayté Penman’s artifact!

(🔎 See a close-up photo of the artifact in the comments.)