The City Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is announcing that Inaya Smith, an Emerson eighth-grader, has won the “Color The Roar” Lions coloring book contest sponsored by the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

Detroit ACE partnered with the Detroit Lions on the book to kick off a powerful new season with a special treat for children of all ages across the state: a coloring book featuring popular moments of celebration from the team’s 2024 season as the Lions were beginning the hunt this season. Students were asked to send their colorful pages to the City, and the best ones were sent to DPSCD for the contest. Smith was celebrated at school and received a David Montgomery jersey, and the Lions put together a fantastic swag bag for her. 

From right to left: Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Andrew McGuire, who leads DPSCD arts initiatives, Carl Hankins, Inaya Smith's art teacher, Color the Roar contest winner Inaya Smith, Detroit Lions Foundation Vice President Roxanne Caine and DPSCD school board member Monique Bryant.

Smith’s work was one of more than 50 semi-finalists that were narrowed down to three by Detroit Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE) Director Rochelle Riley and a panel of students from Detroit Lions Academy. The second and third place finishers were: Atithi Roy (Grade 6, Davison Elementary-Middle School) and Malia Vang (Grade 8, Fisher Magnet Upper Academy)

“DPSCD students continue to impress us with their brilliance,” DPSCD board member Monique Bryant said. “The detail, imagination and heart they put into this contest reflect exactly why we do this work. We are committed to elevating their voices, celebrating their creativity and creating spaces for them to shine. Congratulations to all our winners, and thank  you to our partners for helping our students rise.”

Smith's coloring work

“We are celebrating the Lions in every way we can,” said Rochelle Riley, ACE Director and an ardent Aidan Hutchinson fan. “We also want to celebrate our students and encourage them to follow their passions toward art careers if they are artists.”

The coloring book can be downloaded at detroitartsandculture.com and features:  

• David Montgomery celebrating his game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on Sunday, September 8, 2024
• Dan Campbell accepting the game ball from Jared Goff after beating the Dallas Cowboys 47-9 at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, October 13, 2024
• Amon-Ra St. Brown doing a headstand in the end zone to celebrate his touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 4, 2024
• Jahmyr Gibbs celebrating his fourth touchdown in what would be a 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field, clinching back-to-back NFC North Division Championships for the Lions , on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

The Arts and Creative Economy (ACE) Department works to enhance and grow investment in the fine and performing arts, culture and history with a special focus on entrepreneurship and support for Detroit’s creative workforce. Follow @detroitcityarts on Instagram and Facebook. See five years’ worth of ACE work at heyzine.com/flip-book/ae8130edcc.html.