2021 Articles - Detroit Regional Chamber

The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People – and The Fight for Our Future

Alec Ross, New York Times best-selling author and former senior advisor of innovation for the State Department, closed out the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference Thursday.
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Evening View: Mackinac Uncensored Tackles Michigan’s Hot-Button Topics

For the fourth year, the Conference brought together some of Michigan’s most prominent thought leaders from a variety of backgrounds to engage in spirited banter on the state’s most critical issues. This year, an engaging lineup of speakers addressed vaccine mandates, talent, DE&I, voting rights, the 2022 election, and more. Read highlights from the conversations.
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Detroit Regional Chamber Releases 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do List

The Detroit Regional Chamber unveiled its 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do List following three days of discussions featuring top state, regional, and national thought leaders. In its 41st year, the Conference convened leaders in a dialogue on “reimagining a healthy Michigan.” To-do list items focus on closing racial and social equity gaps, reduce the physical and economic health impacts of COVID-19, improving education outcomes linked to upward mobility, and more.
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American Rescue Funds: How Michigan is Ensuring Equitable Allocations

Experts discussed the American Rescue Plan funds that will be distributed to states, counties, municipalities, and school systems, and strategies to ensure it is equitably distributed to communities most in need.
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Richard Florida: The Shift from the ‘Last Relic of the Industrial Age’ to Remote Work

Richard Florida, author and professor at the University of Toronto, discussed the new urban crisis and how life in urban areas have, and will continue to, shift during and after the pandemic.
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Reimagining Connectivity in Michigan and the Role of Autonomous Vehicles

The pressures of the pandemic inspired new ways to accelerate sustainable prosperity, connect underserved communities, and protect the health and safety of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents.
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Fix the Road Ahead: Gov. Whitmer on Michigan’s Path Forward

Even with significant challenges to surmount and public divide, the state of Michigan is currently poised for a once-in-a-generation recovery. Gov. Whitmer stressed that overcoming such challenges takes understanding, compassion, and curiosity without judgment.
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Robert C. O’Brien and Michael Steele Examine Today’s Republican Party

Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy K. Baruah moderated an animated discussion about the Republican Party’s present and future with Robert C. O’Brien, former U.S. National Security Advisor during the Trump Administration; and Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee Chairman, former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland, and current MSNBC political analyst.
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Harvard Economist Raj Chetty: Improve Economic Opportunity Locally Through Investments in Education

Professor Raj Chetty opened the second day of mainstage programming at the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference with research and insights on how to improve economic opportunity and upward mobility on a national and local level.
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Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Brewer: ‘Anything That Happens in Those Stores is My Responsibility’

Detroiter and Cass Tech graduate Rosalind Brewer, chief executive officer of Walgreen Boots Alliance, shared stories of facing challenges in career as a leader for the chain, Starbucks, and Amazon in an interview with Detroit Public Television anchor Christy McDonald.
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Business Leaders Encourage Uncomfortable Conversations to Advance Workplace Equity

Getting comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations and expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to include the LGBTQ+ communities and individuals with disabilities were among sentiments shared during a Racial Equity in the Workplace panel Wednesday morning.
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Preparing K-12 for Postsecondary Success

Detroit Public Television and The Detroit News’ Nolan Finley led a conversation with regional higher education, philanthropic, and government leaders to address actionable accountability in postsecondary education to ensure student success.
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John Rakolta Jr.: Making an Impact as a U.S. Diplomat in Tense Middle East

America’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates was “stagnant” when President Trump named Rakolta ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Rakolta improved it by taking unorthodox steps to get things done.
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Investing in Minority Entrepreneurship is not Philanthropic, It’s Business

In early 2020, 60% of Black-owned businesses were in distress and at risk of closing. By March 2020, 40% were in the process of closing. According to Candice Matthews Brackeen, executive director of Lighthouse Capitol, this was not a surprise. The distress rate for Black-owned businesses during the pandemic was 60%, compared to white counterparts whose distress rate was approximately 30%.
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COVID-19 Brings Best and Worst of Times to Michigan Business

As the chief executive officer of Henry Ford Health System, Wright L. Lassiter III has seen the worst of times up close during the COVID-19 pandemic, including nurses retiring in droves and more than 100 hospital beds unoccupied due to staffing shortages.
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Christakis: What History Has Taught Us About the Future and COVID-19

Nicholas A. Christakis, social scientist, and physician; director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University; and co-director of the Yale Institute for Network Science, reflected on what the history of pandemics and plagues can tell us about the physical and economic impacts of disease and how it informs our future with COVID-19 – the second deadliest pandemic in the last 100 years. Read more.
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Mayor Duggan: City Focus Pivots from Removing Blight to ‘Building Beauty’

When Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan took office eight years ago, his main focus was removing blight. Detroit was, in essence, a blight story: people flew in from around the world to take pictures of abandoned buildings, Mayor Duggan recalled. Today, the city has a different story to tell. “We don’t have to talk about removing blight; now, we are talking about building beauty,” he said.
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A Discussion with Douglas Brinkley: The Shift in American Politics from the 1930s to Now

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot around the United States over the past year and a half. But, according to Douglas Brinkley, historian and best-selling author, that’s not all that’s changed. Political shifts in motion before the pandemic seems to have only become worse. Read more.
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To Contribute to Economic Growth, ‘You’ve Got to Invest Deeply in Your Culture,’ Panel Says

There’s no question that the last 18 months have been a learning process for even the most successful companies nationwide. During a live session on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Mackinac Policy Conference, Suzanne Shank, president and CEO of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC spoke with Jay Farner of Rocket Companies, Harold Ford Jr. of PNC and John Tuttle of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on how they’ve adapted during this period of economic ups-and-downs.
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Mark Reuss: Pandemic Forces Warp Speed Changes at GM

As the son of a former General Motors president who rose to the same title as his father, Lloyd, Mark Reuss never imagined he’d be directing the production of artificial breathing devices in Kokomo, Ind. Or masks and hand sanitizer in other plants – and be proud of that pivot.
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Investing in Health Equity: The Impact of Mobilizing and Policy by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Henry Ford Health System, and PwC

Carladenise Edwards, Bridget Hurd, and Trine Tsouderos discussed health disparities and the steps Henry Ford Health System, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and PwC took to address them during the pandemic during a session focused on health equity and applying the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
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2021 Mackinac Policy Conference Focuses on Reimagining a Healthy Michigan

While the pandemic is far from over, charting a path to recover, heal, and thrive as a state is critical – and the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference serves as a platform to hear from national thought-leaders on the significant issues that Michigan and the nation is facing at this critical time in history. This year’s theme “Reimagining a Healthy Michigan” highlights what should be a top priority for the state in 2022. Read more here.
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Automotive Roundtable: Forging Pathways to Developing Michigan’s Robust, Diverse Talent Pool

More than 100 automotive professionals gathered for MICHauto’s annual Automotive Roundtable at MICHauto on the Island during the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference. The conversations highlighted the need for investment in the talent pipeline and a pathway to developing a robust and diverse talent pool throughout the state. Read more.
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Poverty to Prosperity: Investing in People Over Place

There are multidimensional causes that have shaped and continue to contribute to the racial wealth gap, including historic policy decisions and discriminatory practices. Day two of the 2021 Conference opened with a discussion on the impact of race and economic inequity, and the role that public and private sectors can play to create an equitable economic future for Michigan.
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The Link Between Art and Business: A Tool for Evoking Emotion and Cultivating Healthy Spaces

Key Takeaways: Art programs should be made to support the employee experience just as much as the patient healing experience. To convince stakeholders that an investment in art will be worthwhile for patient, community, and employee health, managers should showcase …
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What Michiganders Want: Investments in Children

A poll issued by The Skillman Foundation and Michigan’s Children found that Michigan residents want to prioritize investing in children. Across all geographies and demographics, voters expect their dollars to be put to work to help children lead healthy, productive lives.
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The Pandemic and Parks: COVID-19 Reinforced the Value of Public Spaces and Outdoor Recreation, Need for Investment

When a global pandemic kept people home from their offices, schools, businesses, and vacations, millions of Michiganders “re-discovered” their public parks, where they could safely hang with friends and family and decompress. This increased attendance underscores the need for increased investment and staffing solutions.
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Rooms Still Available at Grand Hotel

Due to reduced attendee capacity for the 2021 Conference, there are additional rooms available at Grand Hotel. Attendees interested in reserving a room at Grand Hotel can contact the Hotel directly at 800.334.7263. As a reminder, the Chamber confirms that …
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WATCH: A Mackinac Policy Conference Message from the Chamber’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Sandy K. Baruah shares details on the smart changes the Chamber is making to keep attendees safe. Despite these changes, the 2021 Conference will still look and feel like the traditional Mackinac Policy Conference that attendees have grown to expect …
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30 Things Every Mackinac Policy Conference Attendee Should Know

The Mackinac Policy Conference is Michigan’s premier public policy event, held every year for four days at Mackinac Island’s prestigious Grand Hotel. The agenda is packed with sessions, receptions, networking opportunities, and more. This list will address many of the …
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