Agenda

Sponsored by: Greektown Casino-Hotel

Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber

John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO, Operation HOPE Inc.; Founder, Bryant Group Ventures

Financial literacy is key to providing opportunity to young, minority and underprivileged entrepreneurs. Detroit can create a new class of entrepreneur and hundreds of new businesses by focusing on those with great ideas, but little resources and connecting them with the resources/assets needed to succeed.

Panelists:
John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO, Operation HOPE Inc.; Founder, Bryant Group Ventures
Crystal Nickson, Financial Management Counselor, HOPE Inside-Detroit

Moderator: Rochelle Riley, Columnist, Detroit Free Press

Brian Calley, Lt. Governor, State of Michigan

Gwendolyn Hatten Butler, Vice Chairwoman and Chief Marketing Officer, Capri Investment Group

Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

David Maraniss, Associate Editor, The Washington Post; Best-selling Author, “Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story”

Interviewer: Christy McDonald, “MiWeek” Anchor, Detroit Public Television

Sponsored by: Delta Air Lines

Sponsored by: ITC Holdings Corp.

Purchase and get your copy of David Maraniss’s “Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story” signed.

Sustaining Neighborhoods: Champions of Revitalization

There are models for neighborhood sustainability in Detroit that can be replicated and customized across the city to help create safe and vibrant neighborhoods. This session showcases the many efforts to transform local communities through neighborhood stabilization, commercial revitalization and community organizing that increase opportunity and improve quality of life.

Panelists:
Tom Goddeeris, Executive Director, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp.
Quincy Jones, Executive Director, Osborn Neighborhood Alliance
Luther Keith, Executive Director, ARISE Detroit!
Kristen McDonald, Vice President, Program and Policy, The Skillman Foundation

Moderator: Faye Nelson, Vice President, Public Affairs, DTE Energy; President, DTE Energy Foundation

Sponsored by: DTE Energy Foundation

Building Detroit: One Homeowner at a Time

Home ownership has a dramatic impact on communities by empowering new and longtime residents alike. This session highlights the aggressive efforts underway to replace blight with residential development through collaborative partnerships between the city and business community.

Panelists:
Matthew Elliott, Michigan Market President; Market Executive, Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America
Craig Fahle, Director of Public Affairs, Detroit Land Bank Authority
John George, CEO and Co-founder, Motor City Blight Busters Inc.
Andrew Munro, Execution Team Manager, Bridges to Homeownership Program

Moderator: Jennette Smith, Editor, Crain’s Detroit Business

Connecting Communities: The Impact of Regional Transit

With the city and region facing chronic regional transit issues, the upcoming Regional Transit Authority millage will significantly impact the trajectory of the city’s revitalization. This session outlines the impact of reliable, comprehensive regional transit on neighborhoods and how the lack of a transit system is thwarting economic recovery.

Panelists:
Michael Ford, CEO, Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
Rev. Oscar King III, Pastor, Northwest Unity Baptist Church; Detroit Practice Leader, Kelley Cawthorne
Melissa Roy, Executive Director, Advancing Macomb
Laura Trudeau, Managing Director, Community Development and Detroit, The Kresge Foundation

Moderator: Nancy Kaffer, Columnist, Detroit Free Press

Sponsored by: The Kresge Foundation

Pick up a boxed lunch in The Detroit Experience Hall and return to the Sound Board to find a seat for the lunch session.

Speaker: Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit
Interviewer: Stephen Henderson, Editorial Page Editor, Detroit Free Press

Sponsored by: MotorCity Casino Hotel

Lauren Hood, Acting Director, Live6 Alliance-Detroit

Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

Introduction: Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber

Host: Carolyn Cassin, President and CEO, Michigan Women’s Foundation

Finalists:
Tatiana Grant, Co-owner, Flash Delivery; President, Infused Public Relations and Events
Anthony Hatinger, Co-founder, Detroit Ento
Theodore Kozerski, Co-founder, Detroit Ento
Jarret Schlaff, CEO and Co-founder, Boots on the Ground
Joe DeBose, Co-founder, Boots on the Ground
Justine Sheu, CEO and Co-founder, Pro:Up

Judges:
Dennis Archer Jr., President, Archer Corporate Services; Chair, 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference
Craig D’Agostini, Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Comcast
Devita Davison, Marketing and Communications Director, FoodLab Detroit
Gabe Karp, Partner, Detroit Venture Partners

Sponsored by: Comcast Business Solutions

Sponsored by: ITC Holdings Corp.

DPS Spotlight: The Legislative Approach

Quality education is critical to bringing widespread revitalization to neighborhoods throughout the city. This session examines the future of Detroit Public Schools as the state and city navigate legislation intended to address the longstanding problems faced by poor-performing public schools in Detroit.

Panelists:
Clark Durant, Founding Chair, The New Common School Foundation
Arlyssa Heard, Parent Leader and Education Organizer, 482Forward
Karen McPhee, Education Advisor to the Governor, State of Michigan
Dan Varner, CEO, Excellent Schools Detroit

Moderator: Huel Perkins, Anchor, WJBK FOX 2 News

Building Safe Neighborhoods: Crime and Vitality

Public safety is a prerequisite for vibrant communities as crime undercuts revitalization efforts. This session updates progress made in the post-bankruptcy era to improve neighborhood safety through initiatives from installing more public lighting to reducing police response times and eliminating blight.

Panelists:
U. Renee Hall, Deputy Chief, Neighborhood Policing Bureau, Detroit Police Department
Peg Tallet, Chief Community Engagement Officer, Michigan Women’s Foundation
Linzie Venegas, Chief Marketing Officer, Ideal Group
James Ward Jr., President, Greenacres Woodward Community Radio Patrol

Moderator: Chuck Stokes, Editorial and Public Affairs Director, WXYZ-TV 7

Combating the Digital Divide: Detroit Disconnected

The Internet’s ever-growing importance does not bode well for cities struggling with a lack of access to broadband Internet and digital literacy. This session explores Detroit’s connectivity, the challenges and issues contributing to the city’s digital divide, and strategies to increase residential broadband adoption.

Panelists:
Diana Nucera, Community Technology Director, Allied Media Projects
Jerry Paffendorf, Co-Founder and CEO, Loveland Technologies
Marlin Page, Founder, Sisters Code

Moderator: Daniel Howes, Columnist and Associate Business Editor, The Detroit News

Sponsored by: Rocket Fiber

Sponsored by: ITC Holdings Corp.

Dave Bing, Former Mayor, City of Detroit

Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

Dennis Archer Jr., President, Archer Corporate Services; Chair, 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference

Shared Opportunity: Questions of Inclusion and Gentrification

At the heart of Detroit’s revitalization are questions about economic inclusion, gentrification and sharing opportunity beyond downtown. As momentum brings business, jobs and talent to some areas of the city, it also increases property values and rent. This session explores the socioeconomic impact of revitalization, the politics of gentrification and key steps in developing a unified, economically vibrant city.

Panelists:
Ron Bartell, Owner, Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles
Ken Harris, President and CEO, Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce Inc.
Rodrick Miller, President and CEO, Detroit Economic Growth Corp.
Rashida Tlaib, Community Partnerships and Development Director, Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice

Moderators:
Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News
Devin Scillian, Anchor, WDIV-TV 4, NBC

Sponsored by:
Detroit Economic Growth Corp.
Ilitch Holdings Inc.
Office Depot
Wayne County Community College District