Dug Song, co-founder and president of the Song Foundation, and Khalilah Burt Gaston, its founding executive director, are driving a vision to empower Michigan entrepreneurs and bridge the gaps that exist in the state’s innovation ecosystem. Focused on fostering diversity and inclusion, the Song Foundation supports initiatives that give Michiganders a pathway to participating in the growing innovation economy.One Detroit contributor Zoe Clark, political director for Michigan Public, spoke with Song and Gaston at the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference about growing the state’s innovation economy. 

Michigan Central in Detroit includes Ford’s recently renovated train station as well as Newlab, which is home to more than 100 startups.  One Detroit contributor Nolan Finley, editorial page editor at The Detroit News, talks with Michigan Central Chief Operating Officer Carolina Pluszczynski about investing in the future of mobility in the Motor City at the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference. She discussed strides to make the 30-acre campus a mobility innovation hub and what she envisions Michigan Central will become in the next 10 years.

Johnnie and Alexa Turnage, co-founders of Black Tech Saturdays, are helping to increase African American representation and entrepreneurship in the tech industry. The initiative aims to close the racial wealth gap by empowering Black tech communities nationwide through training, workshops, and advocacy. In partnership with Michigan Central, Black Tech Saturdays hosts events at Newlab in Detroit. One Detroit contributor Stephen Henderson, host of “American Black Journal,” sits down with the co-founders at the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference to discuss fostering an inclusive tech ecosystem in Detroit.