News
2025 Detroit Policy Conference focuses on driving growth in the region’s innovation economy
The annual Detroit Policy Conference will be held at the MotorCity Casino Jan. 23. The conference is presented by the Detroit Regional Chamber and brings together business, civic, and government leaders. This year’s theme is “Driving the Innovation Economy.”Key Michigan leaders will explore how Detroit and the surrounding area can attract startups, high-tech companies, investment, and talent. Conversations will focus on fostering a competitive innovation ecosystem. The Detroit News Editorial Page Editor and One Detroit contributor Nolan Finley talked to Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah about this year’s conference. View coverage from previous conferences here.
Detroit Future City’s 5th annual Equity Forum focuses on bridging gaps for Detroiters
Detroit Future City is gearing up for its 5th annual Equity Forum, with this year’s focus on increasing workforce equity for Detroiters. The event will be hosted from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Wayne County Community College Northwest Campus. “Five years later, it’s become a pivotal and seminal event for Detroit and the economic development and justice community,” Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss said. Alongside conversations on equity, inclusion and the future of work with local speakers and experts, the event will feature a session with Columbia School of Journalism Dean Jelani Cobb. It will also explore how companies of all sizes can help bridge educational and skill gaps to provide better employment opportunities and higher incomes to residents in the region. “We want to make sure that as Detroit and the region continue to grow and change that everyone is included in that,” Goss said. One Detroit’s Will Glover sits down with Goss to talk about the upcoming Equity Forum, which will focus on equity in employment. Plus, they discuss Detroit Future City’s goals of making the city more equitable and sustainable, and how companies can implement better equity practices across their organizations.
Michigan Tech Week 2024 hosted at newly renovated Michigan Central campus
Featured photo courtesy of Michigan Tech WeekThe 2024 Michigan Tech Week takes place Oct. 1-4 this year at the newly renovated Michigan Central in Detroit. As one of the largest convenings focused on technology and high-growth entrepreneurship in Michigan, the event brings together a diverse group of founders, investors, and innovators. Organized by a coalition of local organizations and presented by the Michigan Founders Fund, the event aims to strengthen Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Attendees can expect a range of activities, including workshops, panel discussions, pitch competitions and networking opportunities. The startup conference will also feature prominent speakers, including Melissa Butler, CEO of The Lip Bar, who will share insights on her entrepreneurial journey. The event is seen as a crucial platform for connecting startups with potential investors and resources, reflecting Michigan’s commitment to enhancing its tech sector. One Detroit’s Will Glover talks with Rishi Moudgil, the executive director of the Michigan Founders Fund, about the four-day event for tech founders, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Wayne State University’s AI for Mobility Project seeks to improve Detroit’s public transit system
The Wayne State University School of Computer Science is working on an AI tool that may transform the way Detroiters get around the city.
University of Michigan becomes first college to create AI tools for campus, students
The University of Michigan has become the first major university in the nation to create its own artificial intelligence tools.
University of Detroit Mercy launches STAR Center training facility for nursing students
A new cutting-edge research and training facility at the University of Detroit Mercy, the STAR Center, has launched to elevate the training of its nursing students. The Simulation, Technology and Research Center, as it’s formally named, gives nursing students hands-on experience with a wide range of scenarios and environments they might find working in the medical field. The 5,000-square-foot facility also serves as a hub for research and innovation, where students and faculty can collaborate on new nursing projects. This comes after the university’s College of Health Professions built its first simulation center in 2010, albeit a smaller version, Interim Dean Janet Baiardi said. The new facility is on the University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichol’s Campus in the College of Health Professions. RELATED: One Detroit contributor Daijah Moss visited the university to tour the training center, delve into its innovative features and learn about its potential to enhance students’ proficiency in the medical field. She talks with Baiardi, College of Health Professions Interim Associate Dean Saran Hollier, STAR Center Clinical Instructor Dr. Sheila Williamson, STAR Center Assistant Dean of Prelicensure Clinical Partnerships Nina Favor and some of the students in the program. Stay Connected: Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel and don’t miss One Detroit on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Attention turns to Detroit as the city prepares to host the 2024 NFL Draft
While the Detroit Lions’ historic winning season has come to an end, football mania in the city isn’t over yet. The 2024 NFL Draft takes place in Detroit April 25-27. Campus Martius and Hart Plaza will be the primary sites for NFL draft activity in the city, which will include the NFL Draft Experience, the NFL’s interactive theme park. Hundreds of thousands of football fans are expected to visit Detroit for the draft, Visit Detroit CEO Claude Molinari said. During the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, more than 300,000 fans attended events in the city and NFL draft coverage was seen by 10 million viewers, a Ford Field press release said. With a handful of other NFL cities close to Detroit, Molinari expects attendance in the city to meet or exceed previous years. RELATED: Detroit Lions superfans share excitement for the team’s historic winning season Visit Detroit is also offering “On the Clock” tours through April. The tours include 10 stops across seven of Detroit’s neighborhoods in an effort to boost excitement around the city’s neighborhoods leading up to draft day. One Detroit contributor Stephen Henderson, host of “American Black Journal,” sat down with Molinari at the 2024 Detroit Policy Conference to talk about how the city plans to host one of the largest events it has undertaken recently. Plus, they talk about how tourism, city amenities and outsiders’ perception of Detroit have changed over the last decade, as well as what impact the draft will have on suburban counties like Oakland and Macomb. Stay Connected: Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel and don’t miss One Detroit on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Michigan ranks second-last in U.S. population growth. Former Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr. explains why.
Michigan’s population is at a crossroads. Ranked 49th out of 50 states in terms of population growth, Michigan has been struggling to attract new people and retain its residents, and the implications for the state’s economy and prosperity could be dire. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 43,000 people moved out of Michigan between 2020-2022. At the 2024 Detroit Policy Conference, business leaders and policymakers convened to tackle Michigan’s shrinking population and discuss potential solutions. Former Ambassador John Rakolta Jr. and Shirley Stancato, Wayne State University Board of Governors Member, served as chairs of the conference, which hosted conversations around the future workforce, education, creating vibrant communities, and the city of Detroit’s efforts to attract new residents. One Detroit contributor Nolan Finley, who is also editorial page editor of the Detroit News, sat down with Rakolta, co-chairman of the Growing Michigan Together Council, at this year’s Detroit Policy Conference to talk about where Michigan stands when it comes to growing its population. They discuss the four drivers of growing the state’s population. According to Rakolta, growing Michigan’s population in the short term seems unlikely, but the state should still focus on increasing productivity and prosperity. One way to do so is by investing more in the educational quotient of the entire state and unifying labor and management in the workforce to increase the state’s readiness for embracing innovation, Rakolta said. He also talks about what it would take to implement these improvements. Stay Connected Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel and don’t miss One Detroit on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Upgraded education system needed to help grow Michigan’s population Skillman Foundation CEO Angelique Power says
Michigan’s population is at a crossroads. Ranked 49th out of 50 states in terms of population growth, Michigan has been struggling to attract new people and retain its residents, and the implications for the state’s economy and prosperity could be dire. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 43,000 people moved out of Michigan between 2020-2022.
Michigan ranks second-last in U.S. population growth. Fmr. Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr. explains why.
Michigan’s population is at a crossroads. Ranked 49th out of 50 states in terms of population growth, Michigan has been struggling to attract new people and retain its residents, and the implications for the state’s economy and prosperity could be dire. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 43,000 people moved out of Michigan between 2020-2022.
2024 Detroit Policy Conference to tackle Michigan’s population growth and business development
The Detroit Regional Chamber is gearing up to host the 2024 Detroit Policy Conference on January 11 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. The annual gathering, presented by the Detroit Regional Chamber in January each year, draws hundreds of business and policy leaders. This year’s conference will explore initiatives and policy strategies that could bolster the state’s population and make Michigan an alluring hub for talent and business development.
From engineering to running an Asian American bakery, Rachel Liu Martindale set to open Q Bakehouse and Market
Rachel Liu Martindale, former engineer turned entrepreneur, is getting ready to open Q Bakehouse and Market early this year. The Asian American bakery, located on the west side of Ann Arbor, will feature a fusion of traditional Asian flavors.
Federal Pell Grants for prison inmates return, opening new possibilities for prison education programs
In Michigan, roughly 22% of the state’s formerly incarcerated population end up back behind bars, but education can have an impact on recidivism. A study from Emory University shows that recidivism rates drop to less than 14% after earning an associate degree, down to 5.6% after earning a bachelor’s degree, and nearly 0% with a master’s degree. More opportunities for returning citizens to earn higher education degrees became accessible in July when Federal Pell Grants became available to the incarcerated again.
Michigan’s battle against brain drain: Washtenaw Community College FAME program connects students to careers
Michigan has been suffering from brain drain, the loss of in-state college graduates to other states after graduation, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. Washtenaw Community College’s FAME program — the Michigan Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, a work-and-learn program between the college and advanced manufacturing employers, has been taking steps to help the state change its trajectory. There are several FAME chapters across the nation; Washtenaw Community College started the first Michigan chapter in January.
Blast Detroit’s EV Automotive Mobility Program prepares Detroiters for an electrified future
Blast Detroit has launched an innovative program, the EV Automotive Mobility Program, that equips Detroiters with the skills necessary for jobs that will soon be in high demand. The program offers hands-on training in the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles, as well as education in internal combustion engine technology, in an effort to bridge the gap and address the racial disparity within the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Only roughly 2% of EV owners are Black, a statistic often attributed to vehicle costs and a notable lack of charging stations in predominantly Black neighborhoods, often referred to as “charging deserts.” The racial disparity within the EV industry is not just about car ownership; it extends to broader implications for public health and economic opportunities. RELATED: Students of The Blackbottom Group’s EV Automotive Mobility Program in Detroit learn how to repair and perform maintenance on electric vehicles. | Photo by One Detroit High asthma rates and air pollution have disproportionately affected Black Americans in zip codes where electric vehicle adoption has been slower due to a lack of infrastructure. Additionally, the lack of charging stations has hindered mobility and participation in the gig economy, especially in urban areas. Ray Smith, the visionary behind the Deroit program, spoke with One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota, to shed some light on the critical mission of the program and the skills students are being taught. Smith also talks about how he hopes the program will narrow the employment gap, improve health outcomes, and promote green job opportunities in communities of color. Stay Connected Subscribe to Detroit PBS YouTube Channel & Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @amblackjournal. View Past Episodes > Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
The Blackbottom Group’s EV Automotive Mobility Program prepares Detroiters for an electrified future
The Blackbottom Group has launched an innovative program, the EV Automotive Mobility Program, that equips Detroiters with the skills necessary for jobs that will soon be in high demand. The Program offers hands-on training in the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles, as well as education in internal combustion engine technology, in an effort to bridge the gap and address the racial disparity within the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Only roughly 2% of EV owners are Black, a statistic often attributed to vehicle costs and a notable lack of charging stations in predominantly Black neighborhoods, often referred to as “charging deserts.” The racial disparity within the EV industry is not just about car ownership; it extends to broader implications for public health and economic opportunities.
Michigan Muslim, Arab Americans’ share their population growth strategies with the Growing Michigan Together Council
Amidst a broader backdrop of population stagnation in Michigan, an American Muslims Town Hall at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, organized by the Growing Michigan Together Council (GMTC) and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), brought together council workgroup members, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to delve into the critical issues shaping Michigan’s future. Led by Michigan’s first Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe, GMTC council and workgroup members were there to gather ideas and develop recommendations for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on how to grow Michigan’s population.
New CRC report shows Michigan’s infrastructure struggles under climate change pressure
Michigan’s infrastructure is crumbling — literally. Michigan has witnessed a troubling decline in the condition of its aging infrastructure, including its roads, water, and energy systems, and the tangible effects of climate change through increased flooding, heatwaves, and severe storms have placed additional stress on these already fragile systems. Addressing the interplay between deteriorating infrastructure and the impact of climate change has become a pressing issue for residents and policymakers alike. These challenges raise urgent questions about how to modernize and fortify critical infrastructure in the face of an evolving climate landscape.
Gov. Whitmer’s Growth Council aims to boost population, economy through education and infrastructure
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s “Growing Michigan Together Council,” unveiled during the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference, is taking a bold bipartisan approach to address the state’s key challenges. Comprised of experts from various fields, the council’s overarching goal is to devise strategies that will bolster Michigan’s population and economy with a focus on Pre-K-12 education, higher education, infrastructure, jobs, talent, and overall societal well-being.
Detroit Public Schools graduates first high school class from The School at Marygrove
A unique educational partnership has produced its first class of high school graduates. In 2019, the closure of Marygrove College gave way to a different approach to education on the same campus with the Detroit Public School’s new School at Marygrove, a social justice, engineering and education-focused school. The School at Marygrove is part of a “cradle to career” program called the P-20 Partnership. It’s a collaboration among several organizations including Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), the Kresge Foundation, the Marygrove Conservancy, Starfish Family Services and the University of Michigan School of Education. The School at Marygrove held a monumental commencement ceremony for its first graduating high school class, which collectively received over $6 million in post-secondary scholarships and awards. One Detroit contributor Daijah Moss stopped by Music Hall Detroit to capture the celebration. At the commencement, graduates share their experiences at the new school. University of Michigan School of Education Dean Elizabeth Birr Moje talks about the college’s commitment to the next generation of teachers and students. The commencement ceremony featured school principal Lisa Williams and founding teachers, DPSCD Board Members, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Bolden, and the graduation class’s valedictorian and salutatorian. Stay Connected: Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel & Don’t miss One Detroit Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit every Monday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
2023 Mackinac Policy Conference emphasizes collaborative solutions with ‘The Power of And’
Every year, the state’s top policymakers, C-suite business executives, academics, community and civic leaders head to Mackinac Island for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the challenges and opportunities that Michigan has before it. This year’s conference is set to explore the theme “The Power of And,” emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation and inclusive solutions to shape the future of Detroit and the state. With an array of thought-provoking discussions, interactive sessions and networking opportunities, the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference is expected to be a platform for meaningful conversations and transformative ideas, much like previous ideas that began at the conference including the bipartisan auto-reform policy, rebounding Detroit from bankruptcy, and more. One Detroit’s 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference correspondent Zoe Clark, political director for Michigan Radio, sat down with Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah and Bank of America Michigan President Matt Elliott, this year’s conference chair, for a preview of the annual conference and what attendees can expect. They talk about the conference theme, the future of work, what each are looking forward to, and how the conference’s conversations affect the daily lives of Michiganders. Detroit Public TV will provide live coverage of the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference beginning Tuesday, May 30. Stream key conversations from the conference here. Plus, don’t miss a special one-hour One Detroit episode from the conference airing at 7 p.m. ET Thursday, June 1. Stay Connected: Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel & Don’t miss One Detroit Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit every Monday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
