Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, explains the large population losses experienced in some of Michigan’s largest cities and what community leaders are now trying to do to improve their cities.
John Gallagher covers urban and economic development for the Detroit Free Press where he has been a reporter since 1987. He is working on a new book, Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining and American City, due to come out in the fall.
Kurt Metzger is a demographer and director of Data Driven Detroit, the organization that recently completed a plot-by-plot analysis of the city of Detroit. After speaking for 30 years about the need for coordinated data collection and delivery in Southeast Michigan, Kurt was selected by the Skillman and Kresge foundations in October 2008 to develop and direct a new foundation-funded regional data indicators system.
Dan Kildee is co-founder and president of the Center for Community Progress. Prior to founding the Center, Kildee served as Genesee County Treasurer from 1997-2009. Before his election as Treasurer, he served for 12 years as a Genesee County Commissioner, including five years as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
Linda Smith is executive director of U-SNAP BAC Non-Profit Housing Corporation, a position she has held since 1995. U-SNAP BAC is a consortium of community and business organizations that work together to provide safe, decent and affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families. She has implemented a comprehensive Neighborhoods Housing Strategy Plan for her community which includes the construction of both affordable single-family houses and rental townhouses.
Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, discusses why it’s so important to have places where people want to live.
Brian Boyle is co-founder and co-CEO of Issue Media Group, the company that created the award-winning Model D Media and many other online magazines across the country.
Lou Glazer is president and co-founder of Michigan Future, Inc., a non-partisan, nonprofit organization. The mission of Michigan Future is to be a source of new ideas on how Michigan can succeed as a world-class community in a knowledge-driven economy. Its work is funded by Michigan Foundations.
Tom Costello is president and CEO of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. This human rights and social justice organization is dedicated to building sustainable inclusive communities in Michigan.
Austin Black is a realtor in Detroit and a founding member of City Living Detroit. He has studied urban redevelopment and community development in more than 20 cities around the world. He lives in Midtown Detroit and was recognized in 2006 by Crain’s Detroit Business for its Dream Board of Directors and 20 in their 20s.
According to the last US Census, 2/3 of college graduates between 24 and 35 chose where they wanted to live before they looked for a job.
Nearly half of Michiganders between the ages of 18-34 say they would visit downtown Detroit more often if there was a better transit system in place.
46% of Michigan's college graduates are leaving the state within a year of graduation.
Ann Arbor offers more than 200 unique dining experiences.
Each year Detroit’s peak-time commuters spend an average of 52 hours sitting in traffic congestion, which wastes 34 gallons of gas per person.
Michigan’s metropolitan areas account for 88% of the state’s gross domestic product and are home to 89% of the jobs.
Traverse City’s walkable downtown boasts more than 150 boutiques, galleries, and restaurants.
Detroit has the second-largest theater district in North America, after New York City.
Every $1 invested in public transit returns around $6 in local economic activity.
Cheers! Michigan ranks 6th in the nation in the number of brewpubs and microbreweries.
