Launch! Greater Detroit Windsor Project
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Dear Friends - Old and New,
A great big thanks to those of you who joined me (on a boat!) on a beautiful Detroit River afternoon to commemorate the launch of the Greater Detroit Windsor Project.
October 16th seems like years ago now. . . a lot can happen in a few weeks, I guess. Apologies to anyone who thought we really were on a one way trip to Canada! No, we made it back to Cullen Plaza; Windsorites, thank YOU for making the trip TO Detroit that day. And a special shout out to Robin Boyle, the only participant of the event page's comment section. Hope you’re well, you rebel.
If I’m honest, I struggled with the timing of this note of thanks. And in reflecting more on the 2024 election and the stark divide felt by too many these days, it has come to highlight for me how this project can serve a higher purpose as it explores ways to bring our region closer together.
Because no matter how we may feel right now, I try to remind myself the zeitgeist of the Celebrity Car Wash PR machine is rarely wrong. But, there's much work to do, no doubt. And I am grateful to everyone who endeavors to improve our quality of life in Metro Detroit-Windsor, despite what seems like endless challenge. That’s why I signed you up to this newsletter.
So after a bit of hand wringing, I’ve decided to start a Substack; welcome to it. And welcome to the Greater Detroit Windsor Project!
If this is the first time you’re hearing, the Greater Detroit Windsor Project is a *new* initiative, with startup support from the Hudson Webber Foundation and Ford Foundation. I say “new” because I’ve been thinking, writing, and presenting ideas on this topic of regionalism for quite a while now. Of course I join a long line of folks who’ve been at it for decades and, if nothing else, there’s a strong sense of continuity in this quest!
I’m excited for the opportunity. Over the next year, we hope to build on the outreach and activities these new resources allow us to leverage. On the boat I mentioned a “three-legged stool” metaphor for moving the needle over the long haul. How I see it, we must: (1) reframe regional data to (2) tell new narratives about the kind of place Greater Detroit-Windsor can be. To succeed, these narratives must appeal to a sense of enlightened self-interest for a broad demographic, inspiring a new generation of stakeholders who (3) seek change and accountability in their local elected leaders.
Ambitious? Maybe. But entirely possible. Especially if we are patient and are smart about identifying and framing the issues. In the absence of a compelling vision, the status quo can seem preordained. Let’s start making a case for something else. For those of you who are interested, there’s more background in my remarks from the launch event.
Over the next year I will continue to reach out to you for your insights and feedback. Even during and since the boat trip you shared some great ideas, from a desire to prototype activities that get residents across Metro Detroit-Windsor thinking about how they are connected as regional citizens, to creatively reimagining how we use the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, to budgeting exercises for local governments as a pathways to cooperation. Several of you shared you’d be interested in hosting a regional conference or even engaging in the next opportunity to hold a constitutional convention. Amazing!
We’ve also begun working on a survey of both elected officials as well as candidates to local office about their sentiments related to regional collaboration with our friends Alex Hill at Detroitography, Advisory Board Member Erin Casey of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative, and Lauren Hood, of the Black Thriving Index. We plan to launch those next year in time for the 2025 election cycle. The results will serve as a baseline going forward, will help inform a first targeted issue, and feed into a case statement for a multi-year funding proposal.
My aim is to publish a newsletter on a monthly basis to check in and dig a little deeper into specific ideas and issues with which we continue to wrestle. I’d love your comments as we go along. Lookout too for website updates as well as information about more get togethers in 2025; who else is interested in a fall conference next year?
Onwards; the future can be as bright and hopeful as we make it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week.
F
Grate