Friday, April 3, 2020

Michigan Central Station, Detroit. September 2013.


After visiting Detroit twice a week apart, I thought back to my first visit 5 years ago. So much has changed and much stays the same. 

Recently, Michigan Central Station was purchased by Ford and will be a part of an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to create an innovation hub. In the past week I returned here to attend two conferences that  provided unique views on cities and urbanism and community. @citylab focused on a theme of revival through a global lens of innovation, smart cities, development, and data. @raceforward #facingrace centered the fight for racial justice, starting the gathering acknowledging that we were standing on the sacred land of first nations people, discussed the investment of a half million dollars in obtaining services from local black and brown businesses as conference vendors, supported the @unitehere Local 26 striking Marriott workers by bringing them to the conference stage to discuss their recent struggles and successes, and referenced community benefit agreements throughout.  I learned from both, while I continue to figure out how to support communities in shaping their built environments. Values first is the start.

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