BY JULIEN GODMAN

Our third awardee for Global Detroit’s flagship event, Tapestry, is Gracie Xavier, who will be recognized with the Immigrant Impact award. This award goes to an established immigrant entrepreneur making notable strides in the community.

This year, besides the Immigrant Impact award, we are also excited to present the Emerging Talent, Corporate Leadership, and the Community Entrepreneur awards, respectively. And with Tapestry only a handful of weeks away, we’d like to encourage you to explore what each awardee and their venture is all about and consider their services and unique products.

Gracie is a multifaceted professional with a passion for economic development, social entrepreneurship, and the arts. As the visionary Founder and Managing Director of D’Artillery, she channels her expertise as a catalyst for change and a bridge-builder to uplift immigrant women and global artisans in Detroit. Through D’Artillery, Gracie provides essential support, resources, and training to empower these individuals to maximize their creative talents for both social and economic advancement.

Fittingly, before founding D’Artillery, Gracie excelled at Global Detroit, as the Director of Economic Development and Corporate Strategy, as well as our Chief Talent Strategist consultant. During her tenure, she led the Common Bond program, which not only impacted the lives of immigrant women in Banglatown and Hamtramck, but ultimately laid the groundwork for the creation of D’Artillery.

“Entrepreneurship was never part of my original plan—my ultimate goal is to be a world-renowned artist. However, helping others has always been in my DNA, and that’s what has led me here. At Global Detroit, the term ‘trusted connector’ was coined to describe the role I play, both in my work and in business. As an immigrant myself, from Haiti, I understand the challenges we face—often, we have the education and talent but lack the network to truly connect the dots.

 

This understanding shaped the evolution of my work at Global Detroit, and eventually inspired me to think about how we could transform what we’re doing for the women in our community, helping them connect to opportunities that generate income, refine their skills, or access valuable resources. That’s how D’Artillery came to life.”

What does receiving this award mean to you on a personal level?

“Receiving this award is an honor, and I want to thank the community of women and friends who have guided and supported my work. This recognition is a milestone in my personal journey, and I’m truly grateful to be part of something that uplifts others as well.”

How do you believe your work has impacted the local community?

“My approach to business is rooted in solving a problem, meeting a need, or bringing joy. Right now, I’m focused on bringing these three elements into alignment. We started by upskilling women—whether they’re job seekers or aspiring entrepreneurs—so they could meet the demands of small-batch manufacturers in need of skilled talent. The result has been economic mobility for women like me, giving them the ability to find work or start their own businesses, while helping manufacturers get their products to market. This brings joy not only to the women, but also to the businesses we serve.

 

Building D’Artillery as a hub for this kind of growth has been a rewarding journey. I am incredibly proud of what we’re creating for our community, particularly for immigrant women, as we provide them with a safe, women-only space to connect, create, and collaborate. Our work is place-based, rooted in the community of Banglatown and Hamtramck, but we’re open to women throughout Detroit and Highland Park.”

 

If you’d like to know more about Gracie and D’Artillery, please visit https://www.dartillery.org/. And if you would like to know more about any of Global Detroit’s programs, email us at info@globaldetroitmi.org.