Discovering Detroit treasures with care is a gift for this influencer

Nkemdilem Bernard’s closest associates had lengthy identified about her cheerful persona. However hundreds extra folks would make the invention when Bernard, who can be a registered nurse, turned an influencer.

• Nkemdilem Bernard is a Detroit-based influencer who spotlights town’s eating places, occasions, and hidden gems.
• Often known as Detroit Finds 313, she has greater than 250,000 followers mixed on Instagram, Fb and TikTok.
• Bernard, a registered nurse, transitioned from being a full-time nurse to specializing in her work as a digital creator.

Nkemdilem Bernard is understood for her distinctive snort.

And as an on-the-go, in-demand influencer, Bernard, creator of Detroit Finds 313, serves up quick however memorable parts of pleasure, laughter and helpful data to her 125,000 followers on Instagram, 82,000 followers on Fb and greater than 49,000 followers on TikTok.

And it is all about highlighting Detroit’s eating places, occasions and hidden gems.

However past the numbers, Bernard says her want to “join Detroiters with the most effective of their metropolis,” which she facilitates by posting an ongoing collage of compelling photographs and video tales highlighting “tradition, creativity and group impression,” is rooted within the deep respect she has for town and its residents.

“There’s a lot magnificence in Detroit and a lot to do, so let me discover you cool locations and occasions. That is what Detroit Finds 313 means. And that is how I serve Detroiters,” says 32-year-old Bernard, who chronicles childhood experiences in Detroit corresponding to swimming in Chandler Park, attending United African Neighborhood Group picnics at Eliza Howell Park and “leg-burning journeys” alongside the Belle Isle Big Slide for serving to her acquire an early appreciation for the sights of town. treasure.

When Bernard talks about offering a “service” as an influencer, it is not stunning given Bernard’s almost decade of nursing and offering care to sufferers.

When Bernard lastly gave in to the light prodding of a few of her closest associates and began her influencer journey in 2022, she was a full-time nurse and a part-time influencer. Since then, Bernard says, the time she spends influencing and nursing has reversed.

It was a transition that took her dad and mom a while to know.

“Rising up in a Nigerian-American family, going to varsity is essential, so I went to varsity to review nursing (at Saginaw Valley State College) as a result of I used to be within the medical area,” says Bernard, who was born in New York’s Queens borough however fell in love with Detroit tradition whereas rising up in Westland. “My dad and mom thought I used to be simply taking part in round after I first began as an influencer. However then a few of their associates got here as much as them and mentioned they have been following me and that I used to be doing nice issues for Detroit.”

The idea that Detroit influencers have the potential to do “nice” issues for town can be supported by Dr. Ken L Harris, a champion for entrepreneurs in Detroit and past as president and CEO of The Nationwide Enterprise League, the nation’s oldest and largest commerce affiliation serving Black-owned companies.

“Creators like Nkemdilem Bernard signify a brand new technology of Detroit entrepreneurs who’re shaping town’s story from the bottom up – and doing so with authenticity, creativity and community-oriented function,” mentioned Harris, a Detroit native who just lately joined Mayor Mary Sheffield’s Rise Larger Detroit Mayoral Transition Staff as a member of the Workforce, Financial Improvement and Small Enterprise Committee.

“Transferring from a full-time nurse to a full-time digital entrepreneur isn’t just a private milestone, it displays a broader structural pattern within the fashionable economic system,” he mentioned. “When an influencer shines a light-weight on a Detroit restaurant, boutique, occasion or entrepreneur, it has a measurable financial impression. Visibility will increase foot site visitors. Foot site visitors drives gross sales. Gross sales create jobs. Jobs stabilize neighborhoods.”

On the morning of December 9, Bernard defined how rising up in a house the place events with music, dancing and scrumptious meals have been common occurrences ready her nicely for most of the environments she finds herself in as a Detroit influencer.

Nonetheless, Bernard says he is studying how one can rework uniquely Detroit experiences like a Pistons sport evening at Little Caesars Area; or a skating tour on Campus Martius; or a meals tasting at Detroit Jollof; or a e book and wine outing on the Sip-n-Learn Guide Bar; together with so many different adventures, it’s an artwork type to create compelling digital tales that meet the expectations of its followers and companions. And, she mentioned, she continues to review it in the identical disciplined approach she applies to nursing.

“Similar to after I work together with a affected person, when telling a narrative digitally, I’ve to be optimistic and my voice needs to be inviting and upbeat as a result of folks can really feel that power,” says Bernard, who shared a few of her experiences as a creator at CreatorCon Detroit 2025 on November 15 at Huntington Place.

“However quite a lot of what I’ve discovered as an influencer has been by way of trial and error. Additionally, TikTok has offered little ideas which have been very useful. The perfect recommendation I’ve obtained is to attempt to captivate my viewers within the first three seconds.”

Bernard will little doubt make use of all her greatest practices whereas creating content material this vacation season. She says her focus can be on highlighting enjoyable vacation occasions and “cool Christmas pop-ups.”

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And whereas she hopes to deliver slightly vacation cheer to the individuals who come throughout her digital tales, Bernard says she’s additionally wanting ahead to receiving a number of particular presents of her personal, which occurs each time considerate phrases seem in her feedback part.

“In Detroit, typically what folks suppose is a spot within the wall is a superb place to discover. And after I discover these locations after which hear from folks, they’re all the time so grateful,” Bernard mentioned. “Feedback like this let me know that I am really serving to different folks and make me wish to discover and do extra.”

Scott Talley is a local Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Colleges and a lifelong lover of Detroit tradition in its numerous kinds. On his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up with as a toddler, he talks enthusiastically and humbly in regards to the metropolis’s neighborhoods and the various fascinating individuals who outline the completely different communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or comply with him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Learn extra tales from Scott at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please assist us develop nice community-focused journalism by become a subscriber.