Detroit Hives

We believe a healthy future for bees reflects a healthy future for humanity. The health of those in our inner-cities, specifically people of color, is often the last to be considered – it’s our mission to change this. By transforming vacant lots into urban bee farms, we revitalize neighborhoods. We’re Detroit Hives, a honeybee education and conservation initiative that engages urban communities in our mission by creating cultural experiences that are both educational and relatable. Detroit Hives, Inc. a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded by Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey. We exist in over 25+ locations managing over 4.5 million honeybees in Detroit. Through our Bee The Change Program we're educating the next generation of leaders on sustainability. We have found a niche in proactively addressing the diversity, inclusion, and equity challenges that face Southeastern Michigan. We address diversity by being a black-led organization in a predominantly white-led organization-dominated field of beekeeping and revitalizing vacant lots sustainable, productive green spaces that support the education and conservation of pollinators. Our community engagement strategy that is directly inclusive of neighbors of vacant lots that will be revitalized brings a participatory community voice to the design, implementation, and maintenance of the reactivated vacant lots. Additionally, by providing access to clean green spaces, urban pollinators, and reactivating lots, Detroit Hives is slowly part of addressing the inequity challenges that face predominantly BIPOC communities, which include blight, food insecurity, and environmental injustices. Detroit Hives can help generate new resources for these communities, especially within underserved communities.