Founded by Delphia Simmons, Thrive Detroit is a social venture offering vulnerably-housed citizens opportunities to launch micro-entrepreneurial projects. 

Thrive Detroit’s first project is a monthly street newspaper with a mission to empower individuals struggling with extreme poverty. Newspapers are sold to individual vendors, who in turn sell to the general public at a 75% profit. At a low cost of $0.25 per issue, the paper offers a business opportunity with a very low barrier to entry. It also helps vendors participate in the community on a new level, moving toward self-sufficiency and success.
 
The Thrive Detroit Street Newspaper offers local content, covering issues of social justice and poverty, and seeks to be a voice for vendors and the un-housed. Staffed by volunteers, the paper aims to address these topics without being overhanded. Simmons' vision is to have readers who want to read the monthly issues, and vendors who are proud to sell them. 

In June 2011, Thrive Detroit was selected as one of the inaugural recipients of Kiva Detroit's microloan program. Now, Simmons is working to expand their scope to offer additional creative business opportunities that require little startup capital and low technical barriers. The newest initiative will train and equip people with windshield repair kits, which, like the newspapers, they can use to generate income.

Photo by Marvin Shaouni Photography.