Detroit
As part of Kresge’s 100th anniversary – celebrated on June 11, the exact day of the foundation’s launch by Sebastian S. Kresge – the Detroit & the American Cities Symposium brought together several hundred people from Detroit, Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans. The discussions looked to the past traumas of Detroit and cities like it, then looked to a future on the basis of equity. One of the topics was finding joy – and from the opening blasts of the Cass Tech Marching Band through to the final applause, the event had the look of success.
Moderator Orlando Bailey, Outlier Media executive director, plumbed complex emotions with Academy Award-winning production designer Hannah Beachler (pictured) and dream hampton. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Oliver Ragsdale Jr. and Brenda Terrell of the Carr Center (front), Katie McGowan and Christina deRoos of Kresge Arts in Detroit (left to right, rear). (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Writer-filmmaker dream hampton talked about her roots in Detroit and the joys she finds in reconnecting. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Kresge Detroit Program Officer Alexa Bush (center) moderated a panel spotlighting links between environment and health. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence at PolicyLink. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence at PolicyLink, called for a radically inclusive future within a multiracial democracy. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Mothering Justice Founding Director Danielle Atkinson and Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation Executive Director Angie Reyes envisioned a Detroit where everyone can access opportunities. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of Kresge's Detroit Program played multiple symposium roles, including panelist. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Urban Strategies Executive Vice President Donovan Duncan and Kresge's Dr. Raquel Hatter. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Detroit Public Schools Community District Deputy Superintendent Alycia Meriweather and Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Dr. Andre Perry, Brookings Institution senior fellow, grounded his remarks in his large body of research on race, structural inequality, and education. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Attendees from Detroit and around the country listened with rapt attention. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Info Attendees from Detroit and around the country listened with rapt attention. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Dr. Raquel Hatter, managing director of Kresge's Human Services Program, introduced and moderated a panel on acknowledging past harms to communities that hinder their path to greater equity. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Dominique Morisseau, award-winnng playwright and actress, explained she has been fighting negative stereotypes of Detroit and Detroiters as far back as her days at the University of Michigan. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II reminded the audience that Detroit has always been a place for people to pursue their dreams. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Kresge Senior Health Program Officer Erica Brown. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Kresge Trustee Suzanne Shank and playwright Dominique Morisseau, following Morisseau's symposium presentation. (Photo by W. Kim Heron)
Cass Tech marching band brought the energy of Motown to start the day. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Debra Kozole, Kresge investment director, and Trustee Paula Pretlow with out-of-town attendee. ((Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Kresge Trustee Scott Kresge and former Trustee Cynthia Kresge (left) with fellow board members. (Photo by W. Kim Heron)
"We draw on the past so that we can look to the future," Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson told the audience. (Photo by Lon Horwedel)
Environment, Health