New Partnership, Same Mission: Dearborn’s Voice

Dearborn Blog is partnering with Simon & Associates Real Estate to expand community-powered storytelling—amplifying authentic local voices while keeping editorial independence, transparency, and fair-housing principles front and center.^1,2

Dearborn has never had a shortage of opinions. Our problem is distribution.

That’s the idea behind a new partnership between Dearborn Blog—led by its CEO Wissam Charafeddine—and Simon & Associates Real Estate, led by owner and broker Simon (also known publicly as Senan/Sinan) Saleh: build more pathways for community members to share what’s real, what’s urgent, and what’s hopeful—without turning local news into a gated community.^1,2,3 This collaboration is structured through a Cooperation & Cross-Promotion Agreement designed to publish and promote community news and related content across platforms for shared community benefit—with no required financial obligation by either party and with Dearborn Blog retaining final editorial control.¹ 20260206171253722

What this partnership is—and what it isn’t

Let’s be pain20260206171253722clarity is underrated and lawsuits are tedious): this partnership is about community storytelling and cross-promotion, not about Dearborn Blog becoming a real estate sales funnel, and not about Simon & Associates dictating coverage.

The agreement’s purpose is straightforward: collaborate to publish and promote community news and related content across Dearborn Blog platforms and Simon & Associates channels, for shared community benefit and cross-promotion—again, with no financial obligation or expectation by either party.¹

“The Parties wish to collaborate to publish and promote community news and related content…”¹

The agreement also spells out something essential for trust: non-exclusivity. Either party can collaborate with others, and neither is “owned” by the other in practice, spirit, or paperwork.¹ And importantly: the document explicitly frames the parties as independent, not as a merged entity or joint venture.¹

Why this matters in Dearborn

Dearborn is a city where global issues show up in local lives—whether it’s wars overseas felt in family WhatsApp threads, federal policy rippling through airport screening, or housing costs squeezing working families here at home. We’re also a city where people are tired of being talked about and are ready to speak for themselves.

Dearborn Blog’s founding story (and Wissam’s broader community work) has long centered on building platforms where community members can be seen and heard as more than stereotypes or headlines.⁵

At the same time, housing is one of the most “local” issues imaginable—and also one of the most politically loaded. In a region where families are trying to buy their first home, keep a roof over their heads, or avoid displacement, the quality of information matters. So does the integrity of the people sharing it.

Simon & Associates describes itself as a full-service, licensed real estate brokerage serving clients across Michigan, including residential and commercial needs.⁴ And Simon Saleh’s public biography emphasizes community roots and entrepreneurship—born in Yemen, educated locally (including Henry Ford College), and building his brokerage in Michigan.³

So the “why” is not complicated: community media + community business can either become a cringe “brand collaboration”… or it can become a real tool that helps people get informed, get connected, and get represented.

This partnership is trying to do the second one.

What you should expect to see

The agreement outlines a practical scope: Dearborn Blog may publish content on its website and associated platforms (think social media, newsletters, messaging apps, video/podcast channels), and Simon & Associates may share and promote that same content on its channels.¹ It also lists the kinds of services Dearborn Blog may provide when mutually agreed—including article writing, graphic design, photography, videography, podcast production, and distribution/promotion support.¹

In plain English: the partnership is a distribution amplifier. If a community story matters—student achievements, local civic debates, small business spotlights, neighborhood resources, cultural events—this structure makes it easier to push that story across multiple channels instead of relying on one algorithm’s mood swings.

A quick note on approvals (because people ask)

The agreement allows for pre-publication review if requested, but it does not require Dearborn Blog to obtain pre-approval before publishing unless otherwise agreed.¹ That’s a healthy balance: collaboration without censorship-by-default.

The guardrails: editorial independence, privacy, and “no hype guarantees”

Here’s the part that actually matters most.

The agreement states that Dearborn Blog retains final editorial discretion—including what gets published, the headline, formatting, placement, timing, and whether to publish at all.¹

Editorial independence isn’t a slogan here—it’s written into the structure.¹

There are other key protections too:

• No payment expected and no guaranteed outcomes (no promised leads, revenue, audience growth, or media pickup).¹
• No contact-list sharing by default—nothing requires sharing subscriber lists or private analytics.¹
• Confidentiality for non-public operational info when marked (or reasonably implied) as confidential.¹
• Termination for convenience with 7 days’ notice (and no obligation to keep producing new content after termination).¹

That’s not just legal seasoning. Those points are how you keep a partnership from turning into a weird dependency or a blurry conflict-of-interest situation.

Real estate content has rules—fair housing comes first

If any content touches housing, real estate, or listings, the agreement emphasizes compliance: Simon & Associates is responsible for ensuring required professional disclosures and compliance requirements are met (with Dearborn Blog cooperating by including required disclosures when requested).¹

That matters because housing isn’t just “market vibes.” It’s also civil rights.

Federal fair housing principles prohibit discrimination based on protected classes (including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability).⁸ And in Michigan, broker licensing education explicitly includes civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing as part of qualifying requirements for brokers.⁷

Fair housing protections apply broadly, with limited exemptions in specific cases.⁸

For Dearborn—one of the most diverse cities in the country—this isn’t theoretical. It’s daily life. Any partnership that might amplify housing-related information should be loud and clear about equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, and transparency.

Where the Green perspective fits (without turning this into a campaign flyer)

Dearborn Blog’s voice has consistently leaned toward people-powered politics—especially the Green Party’s emphasis on grassroots democracy, social justice, and an economy that serves communities rather than squeezing them.⁶

This partnership fits that worldview in a practical way:

• Local voices over corporate narratives (community news by community members).²
• Transparency over influence (editorial independence and no guaranteed outcomes).¹
• Community resilience over extraction (building durable channels for information-sharing).¹

And yes—Dearborn Blog remains unapologetically committed to human rights, including standing with Palestine and refusing to treat Arab and Muslim communities as disposable background noise. A stronger local platform means more space for authentic storytelling—about identity, civil liberties, and the lived impacts of foreign and domestic policy—rooted right here in Dearborn.

The human version of the mission

“Uplifting the community and expressing its authentic voices” can sound like a bumper sticker until you translate it into actions:

• Publishing community-submitted stories with editorial standards
• Covering civic issues without access journalism or intimidation
• Making room for youth voices, immigrant voices, and marginalized voices
• Promoting accurate information—especially when rumors travel faster than facts
• Building channels that don’t rely on one platform or one gatekeeper

That’s what this partnership is aiming to support: more community stories, better reach, and clearer guardrails.

And if you’re wondering whether a media outlet can partner with a local business and still keep its integrity—sure it can. The trick is not magical purity. The trick is written independence, public transparency, and consistent behavior over time.¹

Source List

1. “Cooperation & Cross-Promotion Agreement (Dearborn Blog × Simon & Associates Real Estate)” (signed Jan. 29–30, 2026). PDF copy provided by the parties. 20260206171253722
2. Partnership announcement graphic (“Dearborn Blog partners with Simon & Associates Real Estate… February 5, 2026, dearbornblog.com”). Image provided for publication context.
3. Simon & Associates Real Estate – “Simon Saleh | Real Estate Broker” (bio page describing founder/principal broker background and company leadership).
4. Simon & Associates Real Estate – Official website (“About us” / brokerage description) (describing services and status as a licensed brokerage).
5. Wissam Charafeddine – About page (wissamc.com/about) (background including founding Dearborn Blog in 2015 and community projects).
6. Dearborn Blog – Article on Wissam Charafeddine and Green Party USA national leadership (context on civic engagement and values).
7. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) – Real Estate Individual Broker Licensing Guide (PDF) (educa20260206171253722luding civil rights and equal opportunity in housing).
8. Michigan MDHHS – “Fair Housing Equal Opportunity for All” booklet (PDF) (summary of Fair Housing Act protected classes and coverage).
9. Michigan REALTORS® – Legal Hotline Companion (PDF) (guidance referencing fair housing constraints and disclosure concepts in brokerage practice).

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Disclaimer (Please Read)

This article is published for informational and community-news purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, financial advice, real estate advice, or an endorsement of any specific transaction, property, agent, or service provider. While Dearborn Blog strives for accuracy and good-faith reporting, details can change and readers should independently verify any time-sensitive information.

For any corrections or comments that you would like inserted in the article, please email info@dearbornblog.com.

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