- [Will] Coming up on "One Detroit:" Governor Whitmer shares her vision for Michigan during her State of the State address.

Our "One Detroit" contributors weigh in on what she had to say.

Plus, the Filipino fast food restaurant chain Jollibee makes its debut in Michigan.

Also ahead: A Disney+ docu-series places the spotlight on the Detroit Youth Choir.

Plus, we'll have ideas on how you can spend the weekend in Metro Detroit and we'll hear from excited Detroit Lions fans as the team gets closer to a Super Bowl appearance.

It's all coming up next on "One Detroit."

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(upbeat music) - [Will] Just ahead on "One Detroit:" The Filipino restaurant Jollibee brings its famous chicken joy to Michigan.

Plus, more national recognition for the Detroit Youth Choir as Disney+ debuts a documentary series about the group.

Also ahead: Peter Whorf of 90.9 WRCJ runs down some of the events and activities taking place this weekend and Lions-mania has taken over.

We'll hear from fans about the team's winning streak.

- Let's go, Lions!

- [Will] But, first up, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her sixth State of the State address at the Capitol before a joint session of the Michigan House and Senate.

Among the topics she focused on were education, affordable housing, economic development, and senior citizens.

"One Detroit" contributor Steven Henderson of "American Black Journal," Nolan Finley from the "Detroit News," and Zoe Clark from "Michigan Public" shared their thoughts on the governor's address.

- Or where you come from... (gentle music) - Okay, Nolan and Zoe, Governor Gretchen Witmer's sixth State of the State address was Wednesday here in the state of Michigan.

I thought immediately that this was a more modest speech than we heard from the governor, especially last year when she was sort of in the initial days of this new powerful majority of Democrats in the State House.

She had a really ambitious agenda.

This time it was a little more calculating and I think a little more strategic given that that majority is not there right now, at least in the House and, of course, this is an election year, which means that we won't get anything done after about May or June anyway.

But I'm curious to hear what your reactions were.

Zoe, I'm gonna start with you.

- Yeah, I mean I think it was a more muted speech, right?

Not the enthusiasm.

I mean, we have to note, of course, all of this is happening in the midst of Lions wins and so the governor certainly mentioned the Detroit Lions quite a number of times, more I think even than road funding possibly, if you can imagine that.

So, I mean, she was enthusiastic, but I think particularly when you look back to last year, right, when Democrats came with that...

I mean they each had like printed sheets of the things they wanted to get done vis-a-vis social policy, whether it be abortion or LGBTQ rights, or the economy, whether that be the earned income tax credit changes.

But this year, I mean, I don't know that anyone could come out and say, "Here are the six things and they're really amazing and exciting" in the way that last year.

So yeah, I don't think it was, compared to last year, as much of just sort of a powerful, in your face, "Here's what we're gonna get done" and some of that, as you mentioned, is because of the politics surrounding all of it.

- Yeah, Nolan, nonetheless, we saw the Republican response last night just light a fire about this speech, essentially accusing the governor of hyper-partisanship.

I mean, you're always gonna get the opposing party to say, "Hey, we thought the speech sucked," but in this case it seemed like there was a bit of an overreaction to what she was talking about.

There was a mismatch.

- Well, I mean, we spent the past year watching hyper-partisan politics in action.

They were included on very little of the decision making.

Being in the minority after 40 years in the majority, it's sort of a hard pill to swallow and so there's some bitterness there.

But this speech to me had the grogginess, the post-Thanksgiving meal grogginess you feel.

They spent $9 billion of federal money and they're just gorged on it and now they've woke up from their nap and they're tryin' to cram down another piece of pumpkin pie.

It's just that feel.

"Oh, can we do it?"

And there wasn't a whole lot new.

What struck me though is she continuing this expansion of government assistance programs to the middle class and wealthy and I don't really understand that.

We've got a lot of people in this state who obviously need help and it would seem to me like you can't help them as much as you ought to if you're giving out freebies to middle class and wealthy people.

She talked about her universal pre-K program by saying, "No matter how much money you make, you're gonna get to..." That should never be what government says.

Assistance should go to the people who need assistance.

- Well, I mean, I guess that's if you see these things as assistance or welfare.

I think a lot of people would say these are pillars of good economies.

You look at other states in the Midwest and what they're doing, they do these things.

Minnesota, I think is probably the best example of that.

These are the kinds of institutions that states that are outperforming us gird with public support and they don't see it as giveaways.

They see it as making sure that everybody has access to the same kind of necessities and that you don't tailor it in a way that takes it from people who need it.

But Zoe, what do you think of that idea of her leaning into the idea of giving stuff away?

- Well, I mean, all of this, let's put into context, is coming with what we thought I think was that there was gonna be a lot more details or at least pushing it forward from the Growing Michigan Together Council proposals, which we've all talked about a lot, right?

Which is this idea of sort of a strategy to make Michigan a top 10 state again, whether it comes- - We should maybe take top 20.

- I was gonna say- - Top 40 would probably be more reasonable.

- Yeah, top 25 would be nice.

And so, I mean, again, this goes back to the idea of "Who's strategy?"

because I mean, what you're both talking about is this sort of Democratic verse Republican strategy when it comes to growing the economy and the issue is, in politics and in government, there isn't this block where someone gets power for 20 years and can sort of see their vision from A to Z and so this is now Democrats in charge saying, "This is how we think we can grow the economy."

To Nolan's earlier point though about this $9 billion, I mean, you're absolutely right.

I don't know about the pumpkin pie analogy, although now I really do want some pie.

But I mean, the fact is there was this $9 billion surplus.

A lot of that of course because of what Republicans like to call Biden bucks, right?

This was federal dollars that came into the state because of the pandemic and much of that money is indeed- - It's gone.

- And so really, what Democrats have to figure out, when you're talking about 10,000 new housing, whether that's rehabilitation or building new houses, I mean, I think we can all agree that there is a housing crisis in this state, but when you're talking about one and a half billion dollars, where is that money gonna come from?

And so that again is where you could talk about these policy proposals, particularly as Democrats, what they think is going to grow the economy, help the middle class.

But with all of it, it's "Where are the dollars gonna come from?"

And we'll hear from the governor, right, February 7th?

- Well, the budget address is just around the corner.

- Exactly.

- We've only got about two minutes left.

Of course, they never give us enough time.

How much of this can she get done with the uncertainty in the House and with the election looming?

Nolan, what's your take?

- Well, none for a while, but I was surprised here.

She just had this growth council and put out its report.

I thought the speech would be all about that and had you not known that there had been a growth council report, you wouldn't know it from the speech.

This was her opportunity to sell Michigan on that and to lay out that strategy and she didn't do it and I can't quite figure out why.

- Hmm.

Zoe?

- In terms of getting it done, I mean, this is gonna be a relationship with Speaker of the House, Joe Tate.

I was talking to him last night exactly about this.

"What are you gonna tee up first?"

He has a caucus right now of 54 members to manage all of their priorities.

Possibly as early as April we could see a 56 majority again.

But then, at that point, they've gotta focus on the budget.

So it's gonna be really interesting to see how they stack these proposals and which ones they even bring to floor votes.

- [Will] A highly-anticipated restaurant has opened in Sterling Heights.

It's the first Michigan location of the well-known Filipino fast food chain Jollibee.

"One Detroit" contributor Daijah Moss was there for the grand opening and has more on the excitement surrounding Jollibee's debut.

(gentle music) ♪ You know I'm mobbin' with the D.R.E.

♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah - So we are opening Jollibee Sterling Heights finally.

We are very excited to finally be able to serve the community of Sterling Heights and the state of Michigan.

- Jollibee started in the Philippines in 1978.

We're really known for our world famous fried chicken, our crispy and juicy chicken sandwiches, and our delicious peach mango pie.

The chicken is actually the founding family's family recipe.

That has actually propelled the brand globally and we're really excited to be here today in order to open the first one in the state of Michigan.

- Oh my gosh!

I am so excited about Jollibee being here in Michigan.

Pretty much ever since that first announcement came out over two years ago now, just been excited.

I'm like, "When, when, when?"

- And whenever my family would travel, I would just happen to stumble across a Jollibee and we would just get it.

We would usually get a lot because there's not really any Filipino food around us where we live.

- We're really excited to be here because of the diversity in Sterling Heights because it will allow us to bring that experience to more people and bring them together in this special place where sharing a meal together can create even more bonds and a stronger community for everyone.

- I think a lot of people know Filipino food as the party foods that you would find, pancit, lumpia.

Those are the things that most people see.

But then you come into a chain like this and you have the Filipino spaghetti, which is completely different than normal spaghetti and I know a lot of people be like, "What in the world?"

Because the biggest difference is there's hot dogs.

They got hot dogs in the spaghetti and it's a lot sweeter sauce.

What you get here is pretty much the same menu you're gonna get in the Philippines, the same menu you're gonna get in California.

- I can connect with people here that have the same cultural background of me and that there are other people who are also trying Filipino-based foods and it really makes me happy.

- Being able to share some of that culture and just the exposure and to lend the understanding to focus on, "We're not completely different.

There are a lot of similarities" and I think that opens a lotta doors to then explore things.

- I just hope that people would maybe expand their knowledge about other countries and maybe other ethnicities.

♪ Cause 'round here, if you slip you catch a hot one ♪ ♪ Ride shotgun, couple of 'em got one ♪ ♪ Belvedere in the rear of the club ♪ ♪ Pulled up on dubs and we 'bout to go and buy the bar up ♪ ♪ I'm not scared - [Host] The nation first came to know the Detroit Youth Choir from their two acclaimed performances on the television show "America's Got Talent."

Now the group is in the spotlight again as the stars of a new Disney+ documentary series titled "Choir."

The docuseries follows the choir and the lives of several of its members as they prepare for one of their biggest performances yet, at Carnegie Hall.

"One Detroit's" Chris Jordan visited a Detroit Youth Choir rehearsal at the Marygrove Conservancy to talk with director Anthony White, assistant director Ryan Bowie, and a few of the choir members.

(gentle music) - [Anthony] The amount of dedication it takes to be in DYC is on the same level as a high school athlete.

- I don't really think it clicked until they showed up to my door.

- Yeah.

- They were like "Dingdong."

And I was like, "Okay, this is getting real."

- It all does take work, but if I keep going, I'm going to reach my mark.

- I think it actually clicked when I went to Disney+ and I saw it, the poster and everything and the trailer being there and the description.

I was like, "What?

This is kind of weird."

But this is something that is honestly like a really, really good thing for DYC.

- Detroit Youth Choir ranges in age eight to 18.

We are a nonprofit organization and now we have a docuseries airing on Disney+, January 31st, 2024, and we are so elated.

We know that a lot of good things is gonna come out of the docuseries.

- It takes many performers a lifetime to make it to Carnegie Hall.

So consider yourselves among the elites.

- You're gonna see an honest look into the lives of some great Detroit kids, how we're resilient, how they never give up, havin' to make decisions on the spot, workin' through loss, pain, heartache, triumph to create something beautiful.

And that's something I love about the arts.

We take our real life, human experiences, everyday experiences, and they fuel us to give a great show.

- How the documentary came into fruition, they reached out to me.

Maniac Productions along with Blumhouse Productions, they reached out to me during Covid and they came out and they did some shooting.

They did some interviews and they honed in on some of our young people and, next thing you know, Disney was on a Zoom call and they showed their interest and I was so happy.

I'm like, "Disney liked what we're doing?"

And they went on ahead and signed us up and it not only helped our organization grow, I believe it's helpin' the city of Detroit as well.

- People from outside of the city, I hope that they can see that a lot of good things, including the choir, can come from it and I hope that people inside the city who, whether they're fans or not, they would've seen our performances.

They only see our performances.

So they're gonna see our rehearsals, how dedicated we are, how driven we are, how hard we actually work to get to where we are.

- [Anthony] Here we go!

♪ Hey, congratulations ♪ You're the greatest - The docuseries follows DYC going to Carnegie Hall for a choral experience and that we were gonna have our own set before we did our choral music.

I think, though the show focuses on us preparing for Carnegie, I think that it also shows the love and support and the teamwork that DYC puts in each and every student.

- A lot of people didn't really expect for a youth choir from Detroit to be on a stage like that.

You could just see the drive and the passion that we all had because people didn't believe that we were supposed to belong there.

So the show really focuses in on us preparing to prove people wrong.

- With the director, Rudy Valdez, he came in like he was my brother and he opened up his arms to us and we just fell right in and he made sure that we felt like it was natural.

Everything was natural.

- They caught us in the moment, on-spot teaching.

They were just like...

They would come in, get us hooked up and say, "Go for it.

Do exactly what it is that you do."

And I think that was, for me, that was the most beautiful part because it wasn't scripted.

So the cryin' that you see, it's the real thing.

The yelling, the tears, even arguments, the heated moments, they're a real thing and it's all part of this beautiful process because we're human, so we're not perfect.

So you're gonna see imperfections, but you're gonna also see redemption, comeback, and it's gonna be a beautiful thing.

- We want to be that choir that changes lives again and again.

Detroit is just about hard workers.

That's what Detroit Youth Choir is made of.

We are a blue collar town.

Our kids don't know the meaning of quit.

And do we have perfect, perfect young people?

Absolutely not.

We have young people that's trying to obtain the status of being a better person.

We have young people that's growin'.

We have young people that came from a damaged place and then coming into our space and trying to get better.

It's all about prioritizing and I believe the Detroit Youth Choir is a top priority in some of these young people lives.

♪ I'm not scared be seen ♪ I make no apologies ♪ This is me ♪ Oh, oh, oh - One of our instructors, Daniel, he said, "You know, things may get hard, but it's always best to know how to do hard things well."

And I think that's what Carnegie was for us.

We handled those hard things well because we kept a straightforward mindset.

♪ I won't let them break me down to this ♪ ♪ I know that there's a way for us ♪ - They do it from the heart and so they say that what's from the heart will reach the heart and so I think each and every time that you in a rehearsal or on stage, it is a heartfelt, honest performance and I think that is what moves other people.

It is being honest and intentional about taking the moment, finding where I can identify with the song and performin' from that place and if you can get to that part, an honest, true part from you and perform from that place, then it doesn't matter whether you're singin' Beethoven or Jonathan McReynolds, or Mississippi Mass Choir, it will always touch people because there's something unique about the arts that speaks to the human experiences.

♪ Glory - I'm glad that the world gets to see DYC.

- They're going to see a youth choir that's made of ambassadors for the city of Detroit.

They're also going to see a beautiful city.

I mean our city is such a beautiful place to manifest and the Detroit Youth Choir is part of that manifestation of quality here in the city of Detroit and I believe that the world is gonna know that Detroit is back on the map.

♪ So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us ♪ ♪ Like the ceiling can't- - [Will] And you can see all six episodes of the docuseries "Choir" on Disney+ starting January 31st.

There's plenty of entertainment on tap in metro Detroit this weekend.

From theater productions to concerts and a dinosaur show, there's something for everyone.

Here's Peter Whorf of 90.9 WRCJ with today's "'One Detroit' Weekend."

- Hi, I am Peter Whorf with 90.9 WRCJ here to jumpstart you into the weekend with some entertaining events happening in and around metro Detroit.

First, don't miss Zehnder's Snow Fest, happening in Frankenmuth now through Sunday, where you can experience snow sculpting and ice carving from world-class artists, plus a fireworks display and, in honor of Mozart's birthday, the Ann Arbor Symphony is holding the concert Mozart's "Jupiter."

Friday's performance is at Orchestra Hall at 8:00 PM and Saturday's concert is at the Michigan Theater at 8:00 PM with a pre-concert talk at seven.

Also on Friday and Saturday, the 47th Annual Folk Festival is coming to Ann Arbor's Hill Auditorium.

Actor and musician Jeff Daniels will be the MC for both nights that will feature multiple renowned and up-and-coming folk performers.

Performances start at 7:00 PM.

It may be freezing outside, but that doesn't mean you can't start dreaming of boat weather.

So might as well head to Huntington Place for the Detroit Boat Show, January 27th through February 4th.

Check out a one-of-a-kind Barbie boat.

Enjoy a cocktail at the Tiki bar, peruse the boats, and more.

It's a little bit of summer in the dead of winter.

Can't wait for those real summer days though.

If you're someone who loves Broadway shows, one of the most iconic is at the Detroit Opera House through February 18th.

"Wicked" hits the stage there to give the audience a different look at the world of Oz and there's so much more going on in and around Detroit.

So here are other events to check out.

Have a fantastic weekend.

(gentle music) - [Will] And one of this weekend's biggest events isn't taking place here in Detroit, but Detroiters will be watching with anticipation when the Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers in California on Sunday.

The team advanced to the NFC Championship game after beating Tampa Bay last weekend at Ford Field.

We'll leave you now with the sights and sounds of excited Detroit Lions fans after attending that game.

(indistinct chattering) (faint rock music) (audience cheers) - Let's go!

- We are celebratin' our Detroit Lions!

- Divisional championship!

- We're partyin' with our friends, our Lions family, gettin' ready for another Lions victory.

- Her and I have been to the last 13 games.

Since 2021 they have not lost when we have been in the building and that's why we're here, to make sure they don't lose today.

- My family has had season tickets for 63 years.

We are our diehard Lions fans and every sport in this city has seen a championship in my lifetime except the Detroit Lions.

- We've lived in other places.

It's always been like you have to battle for Detroit.

So I think this is definitely the battle where we're ready to win this and take home the ultimate win, which is the Super Bowl.

- Let's go, Lions!

- We gonna scream loud even if we lose, you know what I'm sayin'?

We do appreciate this good season.

We're not gonna put this to waste.

We here to celebrate.

♪ Down the field again ♪ A Lions victory - Go Lions!

(audience cheers) - [Announcer] From Delta faucets to Behr paint, Masco Corporation is proud to deliver products that enhance the way consumers all over the world experience and enjoy their living spaces.

Masco: Serving Michigan communities since 1929.

Support for this program is provided by: The Cynthia & Edsel Ford Fund for Journalism at Detroit Public TV.

- [Announcer #2] The DTE Foundation is a proud sponsor of Detroit Public TV.

Among the state's largest foundations committed to Michigan focused giving, we support organizations that are doing exceptional work in our state.

Visit dtefoundation.com to learn more.

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(gentle music)