The City of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is celebrating a rising young artist whose creativity captured the spirit of Detroit and the pride of Lions fans across the city. Inaya Smith, an eighth-grader at Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary-Middle School, has been named the winner of the “Color The Roar” Lions coloring book contest, a project sponsored by the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

Detroit ACE partnered with the Detroit Lions to create a special coloring book that would help kick off a new season with excitement for children throughout Michigan. The book highlights some of the most memorable celebration moments from the team’s 2024 season, a year filled with energy, momentum and unforgettable wins. Students from across the city were invited to color the pages and submit their work. Dozens of entries poured in, each one reflecting talent, imagination and the unmistakable creativity of Detroit youth. The best were sent to DPSCD for final judging.

From more than 50 semi-finalists, Inaya’s artwork stood out. Her attention to detail and expressive use of color captured the judges’ interest immediately. Detroit ACE Director Rochelle Riley and a panel of students from the Detroit Lions Academy helped narrow the field to the top three. In recognition of her achievement, Inaya was honored at her school, where she received a David Montgomery jersey and a Lions swag bag filled with surprises. Celebrating with her were Superintendent Nikolai Vitti; Andrew McGuire, who leads DPSCD's arts initiatives; her art teacher, Carl Hankins; Detroit Lions Foundation Vice President Roxanne Caine; and DPSCD school board member Monique Bryant.

Two additional students were also recognized for their outstanding entries: sixth-grader Atithi Roy from Davison Elementary-Middle School and eighth-grader Malia Vang from Fisher Magnet Upper Academy. Their work helped showcase the depth of artistic talent across the district. Reflecting on the contest, DPSCD board member Monique Bryant praised the students’ efforts, noting that the detail and heart they brought to their artwork exemplify why the district continues to invest in the arts and in opportunities for young people to shine.

For Detroit ACE, the contest serves as more than a celebration of art and athletics. It represents the organization’s commitment to nurturing young talent and encouraging students to follow their passions. “We are celebrating the Lions in every way we can,” said ACE Director Rochelle Riley, “and we want to celebrate our students too, encouraging them to follow their passions toward art careers if they are artists.”

The “Color The Roar” coloring book is available for download at www.detroitartsandculture.com. It features four iconic illustrations from the Lions’ 2024 season: David Montgomery celebrating his overtime game-winning touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams; Dan Campbell receiving the game ball from Jared Goff after defeating the Dallas Cowboys; Amon-Ra St. Brown doing a joyous headstand in the end zone after scoring against the Green Bay Packers; and Jahmyr Gibbs celebrating his fourth touchdown in the victory that clinched back-to-back NFC North Division Championships. The book offers young artists and fans of all ages a creative way to relive an unforgettable season while celebrating Detroit’s culture, resilience and love for its hometown team.