Detroit Future City (DFC) recently announced its 2030 plan, doubling down on its agenda to grow Detroit’s middle class, centralizing its research, programs, advocacy, and engagement to help increase the middle-class population that once defined the city and is vital to its future sustainability. For more information about the vision behind this plan, check out the following video:

Detroit Future City’s 3rd Annual Economic Equity Forum was held on Thursday, September 29th. The theme of this year’s event was reparative solutions to generate economic prosperity and wealth for all Detroiters.

Keynote speakers this year included the following:

Dr. Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, and Fletcher Professor of Rhetoric and Debate at Tufts University in Greater Boston, USA. Dr. Agyeman is the originator of the concept of ‘just sustainabilities,’ which explores the intersecting goals of social justice and environmental sustainability.

Nathaniel Smith, Founder and Chief Equity Officer, Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) Empowered by the unified vision and voices realized through its regional engagement efforts, PSE pushes for policies and actions that promote balanced growth and inclusive prosperity in metropolitan Atlanta and beyond.

Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit facilitated this event, which remained online-only in 2022. To view a recording of the event, please click here.

Funds will support the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) initiative, which seeks to create a network of universities, research organizations, automakers and suppliers, and other groups to help new and technologically advanced mobility businesses get started and find and train the people they need to succeed.

Detroit Future City will support the initiative’s focus on addressing the systemic challenges to equitable access to careers in advanced mobility for historically excluded communities. This work aligns strongly with DFC’s strategic focus on community and economic development and economic equity.

“We were so honored to be a part of this very significant regional change proposal,” said Anika Goss, President and CEO of Detroit Future City. “This community is poised to grow as its heritage industry transforms, and we are so proud to be at the table fighting for a place in that growth for historically underrepresented minority communities.”

Co-developed with Data Driven Detroit and the City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department, this report focuses on identifying the number of landlords within Detroit and classifying them into distinct typologies to better understand Detroit’s rental housing system.

The report finds that there are more than 42,000 landlords in Detroit who manage 141,616 units, with about 70 percent owning one or two properties and most of those landlords residing locally. “This report will help local leaders shape lead-safe housing policy by helping them shape outreach strategies to the landlord community,” said Ashley Williams Clark, Vice President and Director of the Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research at Detroit Future City.

Funding for this report was generously provided by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation and by Rocket Community Fund.

To read the full report, click here.

Learn more about Sarah here.