Quarterly Newsletter | July 2026

July 17, 2026

Detroit Future City Newsletter | July 2026

What’s Inside:

Detroit Issues Guide 2026 Out Now
New Report Examines Career Connected Learning
August OSWG to Explore Detroit’s Green Space History
DFC Celebrated Homeownership Month in June
Next Future City Forum Moving to Spring 2027
Graduate Interns Leave Lasting Impact on Detroit

Nonpartisan Detroit Issues Guide Out Now

Detroit Future City (DFC) and the Citizens Research Council of Michigan have released the Detroit Issues Guide 2026, a new nonpartisan resource designed to help Detroit residents better understand the public policy issues that shape everyday life ahead of Michigan’s August Primary and November General Election. The guide explains topics such as rental affordability, public transit, public education, tax policy, and crime and public safety, while providing factual, accessible information to support informed civic engagement.

“An informed community is better equipped to shape its future,” said Anika Goss, President and CEO of Detroit Future City. “This guide helps connect the issues residents experience every day with the government decisions that influence them, empowering Detroiters to participate confidently in the democratic process.”

Rather than advocating for candidates, political parties, ballot proposals, or policy positions, the guide explains why each issue matters, how current policies affect outcomes, which levels of government are responsible for key decisions, and questions voters may wish to consider as they evaluate candidates and prepare to cast their ballots. It also includes voter resources, important election dates, absentee and early voting information, and links to official election resources.

“Our goal is to make public policy more understandable and accessible,” Goss said. “When residents have clear, objective information about how government works and how decisions are made, they are better positioned to engage in conversations and make informed choices that strengthen their communities.”

The Detroit Issues Guide 2026 is available now. Learn more and download the guide through the link below.

Read the Report

New Report Examines Career Connected Learning

Detroit Future City recently released Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit’s Future Talent. Drawing on feedback from Detroit youth, parents, educators, employers, and workforce professionals, along with an analysis of education and labor market data, this new report examines how well the city’s education, youth development, and workforce systems prepare young people for career success.

“Detroit’s young people have clear ideas about the futures they want to build,” said Detroit Future City President and CEO Anika Goss. “Our job is to make sure the systems around them are working together to help them get there.” Goss added that the report identifies practical opportunities to strengthen career-connected learning and better align the efforts of schools, employers, youth-serving organizations, and other partners.

Career-connected learning plays an important role in helping young people explore career options, build workplace skills, and connect classroom learning to future employment. The report examines the strengths, challenges, and opportunities across three key areas—career awareness and exploration, career guidance, and work-based learning—while highlighting where stronger coordination can help improve outcomes for Detroit’s youth.

“Young people told us they want more opportunities to explore careers, build relationships with trusted adults, and gain real-world experience,” Goss said. “Those are goals we can achieve when schools, employers, and community organizations work together with a shared vision.”

The report was made possible through support from The Skillman Foundation. To read the full report, click on the link below.

Read the Report

August OSWG Meeting to Explore Detroit’s Green Space History

Detroit Future City’s Open Space Working Group will convene on Tuesday, August 11, for a discussion exploring the history of Detroit’s parks, gardens, and public landscapes. The meeting will feature two leading scholars whose research examines how open space has shaped—and been shaped by—the city’s social, economic, and environmental history.

“Understanding how Detroit’s open spaces have evolved helps us make more informed decisions about their future,” said Detroit Future City President and CEO Anika Goss. “These conversations bring together history, planning, and community perspectives to help us think more intentionally about how public spaces can serve Detroit residents today.” Goss added that the Open Space Working Group provides an opportunity for practitioners, researchers, and community leaders to learn from one another while advancing ideas that strengthen neighborhoods and improve quality of life.

The program will feature Joseph Cialdella, author of Motor City Green: A Century of Landscapes and Environmentalism in Detroit, whose work explores how Detroiters have used parks, gardens, and other designed landscapes to respond to the challenges of industrialization, segregation, and economic change. Joining him will be Patrick Cooper-McCann, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at Wayne State University, whose research documents more than two centuries of planning and investment in Detroit’s public park system and the role those spaces have played in shaping the city.

“Detroit’s open spaces tell the story of our city’s past while helping shape its future,” Goss said. “Bringing together researchers and practitioners allows us to better understand that history and apply those lessons to the work happening across Detroit today.”

The Open Space Working Group meeting will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11. For more information or to participate, contact Patrick Crouch at pcrouch@detroitfuturecity.com.

DFC Celebrated Homeownership Month in June

Detroit Future City joined partners across Detroit in celebrating National Homeownership Month throughout June with events and resources designed to help more Detroiters achieve and sustain homeownership. Activities included the Heirs’ Property Showcase at Wayne State University’s Industry Innovation Center and participation in the Project REACh Homebuyers Fair, where residents connected with housing experts, financial resources, and practical tools to build and protect generational wealth.

“Homeownership remains one of the strongest pathways to building generational wealth and creating stable neighborhoods,” said Detroit Future City President and CEO Anika Goss. “National Homeownership Month reminds us that expanding access to homeownership also means helping families preserve the homes they already own.” Goss added that bringing together housing practitioners, community organizations, lenders, and residents is essential to creating a stronger and more equitable housing ecosystem.

For many Detroit families, the path to homeownership extends beyond purchasing a home. Challenges such as heirs’ property, access to financing, and navigating the homebuying process can make it difficult for families to build and retain wealth across generations. Throughout June, DFC and its partners highlighted strategies to address these barriers while connecting current and prospective homeowners with information, legal resources, and housing assistance programs.

“The solutions already exist across Detroit,” Goss said. “Our role is to help bring partners together, share what works, and ensure more families have the knowledge and support they need to achieve long-term housing stability.”

Detroit Future City’s National Homeownership Month activities were made possible through partnerships with organizations including LISC Detroit, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, National Faith Homebuyers, MiSide, Community Impact Network, and many others committed to expanding and preserving homeownership opportunities across Detroit. Learn more about DFC’s homeownership research and initiatives at Detroit Future City’s National Homeownership Month webpage.

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Next Future City Forum Moves to Spring 2027

Detroit Future City has announced that it is moving the next rendition of its annual Future City Forum event to from Fall 2026 to Spring 2027. The move reduces scheduling conflicts with other important community events, while ensuring more time to secure top speakers and guests.

“So much is happening in Detroit this Fall,” said Detroit Future City President and CEO Anika Goss. “We’ve been considering a move to Spring for some time, to ensure we can continue to deliver the kind of first rate experience Detroiters have come to expect from this event.”

The Future City Forum began in 2020 with DFC’s launch of its research arm, the Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research. It has continued annually for the past six years, changing dates and venues several times to accommodate community members through the Covid-19 Pandemic and beyond.

“Last year we had more than 300 people at the Forum, excited to talk about the future of Detroit,” said Goss. “We know there is demand for this event in our city, and we think we have an exciting format moving forward in Spring 2027.”

No date has yet been released for the Spring 2027 event – details will be published soon. Be sure to check back at www.detroitfuturecity.com for full registration and event information in the coming weeks.

Graduate Interns Leave Lasting Impact on Detroit

This Summer, Detroit Future City hosted two interns from the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. Through their support for the organization, these young women learned about Detroit, while contributing fresh perspectives to Detroit Future City’s work in the city.

Tooba Bilal worked with DFC’s Development and Land Use and Design teams to support efforts aimed at creating, maintaining, and conserving greenspaces across the city. Ms. Bilal has a background in fundraising and land use projects; she supported DFC with research into effective sustainability strategies, while sharing her own experiences with developing land use projects aboard.

Tongyao Li worked with DFC’s Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research to develop research projects like the recently published Career Connect Learning report (described above). Ms. Li is studying economic development and contributed her international experience in the field throughout her time with the organization.

DFC would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Tooba and Tongyao for their contributions to the organization and this city, and to the University of Michigan for its generous sponsorship of these students and the internship program.

Best of luck ladies!

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