She graduated from Redford Union, yes. I think, as someone who grew up in Redford Township and graduated from Redford Union, I understand the tendency to view Redford as such a small place. .
Redford, up until the early 2000's, benefited from being right next to the part of Detroit known as "Copper Canyon".
Prior to 2000, all city employees in Michigan and Detroit were required to reside within the city for which they worked. In 1999, the Governor of Michigan repealed that law--freeing up Detroit police and firefighters and other city workers to reside anywhere they liked. And most chose NOT to continue to live in the City.
Former Mayor Bing around 2011 initiated an incentive program to get Detroit police and such to move back into the city. Of 1500 eligible police and firefighters, only 6 took advantage of the program. Preferring to live outside the city rather than get the tax and housing etc breaks that the City was offering.
But prior to that and obviously for a few years after the repeal, Detroit police, Detroit firefighters, Detroit city workers congregated on the far west to northwest side of the city---basically living along the edge but within the Detroit city limits along Telegraph, from 8 Mile on down to 96 and then continuing after the freeway/parks to Joy/Warren--where the city of Detroit ends and Dearborn/Dearborn Heights begin.
At the time of the repeal, Redford township--despite abutting Detroit directly--stood in direct demographic opposition to the city across the border.
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,622 people residing in Redford township. The racial makeup of Redford township was 87.98% White, 8.54% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.
Detroit in 2000--again, right across the street from Redford:
81.6% African-American
12.3% White
5.0% Hispanic/Latino
10 years after the repeal of residency requirements and the exodus of Detroit PD/FD et al from the Copper Canyon area,
In 2010 Redford Township had a population of 48,362. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 64.7% white, 28.7% African-American and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race. The African-American population increased by about 200% between 2000 and 2010, while the overall population of the township declined by 6%.
Based on Redford Union High now being 2/3rd African American, I'd guess the 2016 numbers for Redford's population at large are equally dramatically different from 2010 as the 2010 numbers were from 2000.
Previously the movement of inner city residents to the suburbs had been into Southfield, which is to the East and North of Redford. So it makes sense perhaps that Redford would be next to welcome city of Detroit residents moving out to inner-ring burbs.