View the full session recording below.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., and was not able to attend the Detroit Policy Conference in person. In her pre-recorded remarks during the Conference, she emphasized that, although her leadership marks a new era for Detroit as its first female mayor and the first change in city leadership in 12 years, building strong partnerships between businesses and neighborhoods will remain at the heart of Detroit’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
“Sometimes we all hear the narrative that there is either an either-or choice between supporting our businesses or supporting our neighborhoods … that reality is exactly the opposite,” Sheffield said. “Businesses need strong, vibrant neighborhoods and thriving neighbors to be successful in. Neighborhoods need businesses in order to be strong and vibrant.”
Looking ahead, she said her administration is focused on making it easier for businesses to open and succeed in Detroit. Further, she’s looking to prioritize youth development, transportation, poverty reduction, and education to build a stronger and more inclusive Detroit.
Following Sheffield’s remarks, Melvin “Butch” Hollowell of The Miller Law Firm – Detroit took to the stage to discuss his time leading Sheffield’s “Rise Higher Detroit” mayoral transition committees. “Rise Higher Detroit” included a wide variety of subject matter experts, industry leaders, and other stakeholders who contributed their expertise, perspectives, and insights to ensure a rigorous and inclusive process for shaping the Sheffield administration’s early policy agenda.
From the beginning, Hollowell told WXYZ-TV’s Chuck Stokes that he and Sheffield were committed to avoiding a traditional, top-down approach during the transition. Instead, they developed a model emphasizing accessibility, neighborhood engagement, and inviting everyday Detroiters to participate in shaping policy.
The transition team emphasized the need to ensure that community voices are heard beyond the downtown area. This approach has given residents actual influence, through 18 policy committees, 280 members, and a citywide survey that drew thousands of responses in its first week.
“Mayor Sheffield indicated that she wanted this to be not just smooth, as we indicated, but the most community-driven transition in Detroit’s history,” Hollowell said. “I don’t know that there’s ever been one like this in the city. I don’t know that there’s ever been one like this in the United States.”
Rather than focusing on short-term wins, Hollowell designed a transition plan that produced sustainable, structured policy guidance for the first 100 days, first year, first term, and beyond. Committees were given a framework grounded in:
This integrated approach ensures that recommendations include critical data and are shaped by community need. The result provides the foundation for an administration that is strategic, forward-thinking, and ensures policy is grounded in community voices. Reflecting on the impact of this leadership and the community’s response, Hollowell emphasized the significance of this moment for the city of Detroit.
“Mary Sheffield is the perfect mayor for right now in the future,” he said. “We’re in a good rhythm right now. The citizens of this city are looking forward to her leadership. And it’s an exciting time.”
This session was sponsored by Huntington Bank.
