At its annual board-staff holiday dinner, Detroit Future City congratulated four of its original board members who completed their terms of service with the organization.

James Ribbron, Laura Trudeau, Dr. George Swan, III, and Alice Thompson are retiring from the board after serving since the organization’s founding in 2015. They are flanked in the above photo by DFC Board Chair Wendy Lewis Jackson and DFC President and CEO Anika Goss.

“Their contributions to our organization – from inception to today – cannot be overstated,” said Anika Goss, Detroit Future City’s President and CEO. “These board members were instrumental in getting this organization off the ground, overseeing its development, and helping it reach its current level of success.”

Existing board members were toasted by guests at the board-staff dinner and each was presented with a commemorative artwork to recognize their time of service and impact on the community.

In related news, two new board members, Todd Bettison and Hasson Beydoun, both representing the City of Detroit, recently joined the board of directors.

On October 23rd, 2024, Detroit Future City hosted its fifth annual Equity Forum at the Northwest Campus of Wayne County Community College District. More than 320 community members turned out to learn about and discuss the event’s theme, the equitable future of work. Keynote speaker, Dr. Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia University’s Journalism School and an influential voice on race, politics, and social justice, delivered an inspiring message. Following his address, Stephen Henderson moderated a thought-provoking panel discussion with local leaders, including Dr. Brian Smith of the Tuskegee Museum, Kim Trent from Michigan’s LEO Department, Marvin Figora of Kelly Services, and Scott Alan Davis of SEEL. Detroit Future City wishes to extend special thanks to its event speakers, panelists, sponsors, and everyone who made this event possible. Video coverage of the event was provided by Equity Forum Media Partner WTVS-Detroit, and can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Detroit Future City (DFC) recently released “Advocating for Reparative Outcomes Along I-375: A Resident Guide“—a resource designed to educate Detroiters about the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project and explain how they can advocate for reparative outcomes for Black Bottom, Paradise Valley, and Detroit as a whole.

The I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project is a chance for Detroiters—especially those connected to Black Bottom and Paradise Valley—to help right the wrongs caused by the construction of the I-375 freeway, which displaced Black families, businesses, and community spaces. Now, there’s an opportunity to create a more equitable and thriving Detroit.

The removal of I-375 opens up 30 acres of land for development. Residents can influence how this land is used, ensuring it supports reparative outcomes and equitable growth.

This project is a unique chance for Detroiters to shape the city’s future. By staying involved and advocating for key priorities, residents can ensure that the development of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley addresses past injustices, supports economic growth, and meets the needs of the community.

To view the full “Advocating for Reparative Outcomes Along I-375: A Resident Guide,” click the button below. Please feel free to contact DFC if you have any questions.

Detroit Future City (DFC) has released the “Detroit Mortgage Data Update: 2023” to provide an updated look at the data originally presented in the 2022 report “Buying In: Opportunities for Increasing Homeownership in Detroit through Mortgage Lending,” which examines trends, challenges, and solutions for increasing homeownership through mortgage lending.

The “Detroit Mortgage Data Update: 2023” brief continues DFC’s tracking of the city’s mortgage market. Home purchase loans are crucial for advancing economic equity in Detroit, helping build wealth, supporting the Black middle class, and stimulating neighborhood growth, investment, and improved property values and services.

The brief highlights the following improvements and shifts in Detroit’s mortgage market:

• Mortgage demand in Detroit continues to grow, with more loans being issued each year.
• Black borrowers are increasing their mortgage demand across more areas of the city, while the number of loans to white borrowers has leveled off since 2018.
• There has been an increase in the size of loans in the city, however, the majority of large loans to Black homebuyers are written in the suburbs.
• Mortgage denial rates remain higher for Black borrowers across all income levels.
• The reasons for mortgage denial differ by race, with Black buyers often denied due to their debt-to-income ratio and credit history, while white buyers face denials mainly due to home appraisals.
• Detroit attracts different buyers by race and income. For Black homebuyers, moderate-income Black buyers are leading the way, while for White borrowers, mostly high-income white buyers are drawn to the city.

The “Detroit Mortgage Data Update: 2023” brief is a publication of DFC’s Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research.

To view the full “Detroit Mortgage Data Update: 2023,” click the button below. Please feel free to contact DFC if you have any questions.

Detroit Future City recently hosted its final Innovation Series webinar of the year, Making the Middle-Class: Advancing Stronger and More Equitable Cities. This dynamic webinar highlighted the strategies working locally and nationally to address the challenges cities face as they strive to develop middle-class neighborhoods that enable all residents to fully and fairly participate in the economy.

This afternoon of insightful conversation included the following:

• A presentation of key findings from DFC’s recent report, Making the Middle-Class: Leveraging Detroit’s Neighborhoods to Build a Middle-Class City, by Edward Lynch, DFC’s Director of Research.

• A fireside chat with Anika Goss, Detroit Future City CEO, and Jeffery Verespej, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress.

• A power-packed panel moderated by Nancy Kaffer, Detroit Free Press Editorial Page Editor with local experts:

• Caitlin Murphy, Executive Director, Live 6 Alliance

• Dina Harris, Executive Director, National Faith Homebuyers

• Donna Givens Davidson, President & CEO, Eastside Community Network

• Jermaine Ruffin, Sr. Vice President Neighborhoods, Invest Detroit

If you missed the live webinar, you can see this transformative session by clicking the button below and inputting the passcode: eO1e5!$&

Shop exclusive Detroit Future City merchandise and have it shipped to you!

Support our mission to create a sustainable and equitable future for Detroit with every purchase. The new “DFC Vision” collection features illustrations by Detroit-based designer and small-business entrepreneur Jonathan Brooks, owner of Corner Store Goods apparel.