Happy New Year – 2026!

David, Kishna and Nadiyah

I’m wishing, hoping, and praying for peace, love, and joy for you, for me, and for our families and friends in 2026. My hopes and prayers, and my anxieties, have been amplified by what I view as widespread, biblical-scale abandonment of decency, integrity, and courage by so many. We must act to counter this reality in 2026. On this day, however, I am merely sharing a personal reflection on 2025. Resolutions and goals for 2026 will (perhaps) come later.

Looking Back

Twenty Twenty-Five has been as busy for me as those long-ago years when I was building the business that fueled my independence – Telecom Analysis Systems. This past year, I’ve been consumed largely by two closely related activities: 1) growing the scale and impact of the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative (UEI), and 2) teaching and advising students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, both in the College of Engineering / Center for Entrepreneurship and in the Ross School of Business – Impact Studio. The goal of all of these activities is the same.

Help talented people apply the amazing technologies and entrepreneurial innovation at our disposal to address the needs of people who live in urban communities.

This is a fairly simple notion that goes to the heart of what entrepreneurship is all about. With the help of the UEI board and volunteers, the U-M Center for Entrepreneurship, and our talented research associates, we made serious progress in 2025. We have created an online community (https://urbanei.org) where urban-focused innovators and entrepreneurs can find essential information, inspiration, and connections that can enable and enhance their business success. Our new Urban Innovator Platform is up and running, and we have many enhancements planned in the coming months. Check it out!

Accompanying students in the U-M Ross School of Business – Impact Studio to their business presentations at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Detroit

On the personal / family side of things the big news is that this is Nadiyah’s last year of high school. She has been intensely focused on the college application process, in addition to her ususal palette of advanced-placement classes and extracurricular activities. Kishna of course has been the lead supporter for all of Nadiyah’s activities, and the results of her efforts speak for themselves.

2025 Wrap: Twelve Months, Twelve Pics

I started this 12/12 thing last year, so I feel kind of compelled to do it again. It is becoming excruciatingly difficult to select just one picture to represent each month – but here we go!

January

MLK Day 2025 was the coldest day of the year. 7 degrees F! What a day for an 11 mile bike ride through downtown Detroit. I almost made it. See related story at https://davidtarver.com/2025/06/23/mlk-ride-2025/

February

Attended released-from-parole reception in Flint for Mike Thompson, my childhood friend and next-door neighbor. He served 25 years in prison for marijuana possession and sale.

March

Back in Lisbon, Portugal once again exploring the city on my Brompton bike. A delightful trip.

April

Nadiyah had her “coming out” party at the Detroit Debutante Ball!

May

Connected with friends-for-life Dot Stokes (l) and Shirley Hampton James in Alameda, CA

June

Visiting with dear friends Wale, Jackie, and Ade Akinpelu before dropping Nadiyah off for summer experience at Johns Hopkins University.

July

Kickin’ it with Kishna at a really cool Thailand resort.

August

Celebrating best-bud Reggie Barnett’s birthday on a gorgeous morning in Birmingham.

September

Flash mob performance with my U-M urban entrepreneurship class at Motown Museum Detroit.

October

Took my grandkids on their first bike-buggy ride during brief visit en route to their new home in San Diego.

November

David Tarver and Ronnie Flood
Greeting Ronnie Flood, the newest Fred and Louise Tarver Scholar, at U-M College of Engineering Scholarship reception.

December

Nadiyah’s cousin Maryam paid us an after-Christmas visit and they enjoyed ice-skating (more like ice-stumbling) at Campus Martius, Detroit.

The rest of the story…

Aaron (above) and Stacy (not pictured) are doing well. Their mom Diane (front) is still in New Jersey, and we stopped by to visit while ferrying Nadiyah from Georgetown to Harvard this past August. You can see the grandkids in this pic, as well as Aaron’s wife Lesley just behind Kishna.

Last but certainly not least, below is a picture of Nadiyah and Stacy during our Nadiyah Birthday/Easter vacation trip to NYC in April.

So there you have it. We received many blessings in 2025, and we are grateful for each and every one.

2 thoughts on “Happy New Year – 2026!

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