Economic Forum for Skillman Good Neighborhood Communities

Economic Development Forum for Skillman Good Neighborhood Communities

January 11, 2008

Dean Paula Allen-Meares and Skillman Foundation President Carol Goss opened the Economic Development Forum by sharing their respective welcomes and remarks.

Dr. Trina Shanks, Assistant Professor of Social Work and the Forum’s faculty organizer provided a statement of the meeting’s purpose:

  1. To discuss strategies to help six identified Detroit communities think more deeply about economic development
  2. To generate a list of ideas for potential economic develop and discuss costs/benefits
  3. To set a timeline for update, workshops, and other follow-up activities

The agenda for the day was reviewed with information regarding the 2 panels and the lunchtime speaker. During the afternoon session, small neighborhood groups with panelists and follow-up on neighborhood specific issues. The forum will then re-group for wrap-up.

Watch the video

Check out the Economic Development Forum video and watch the opening remarks and panel presentations. Click here to watch the video.

Opening Panel Presentation

George Fulton and Donald Grimes: Wayne County and Detroit Communities: Outlook and Opportunities (Executive Summary), University of Michigan, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations

Elsie Harper-Anderson: Workforce Development in Detroit: Connecting Youth, University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

Michael Barr: Savings and Financial Services for Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Evidence from the Detroit Area Survey and Wayne County Financial Institutions by Neighborhood map, University of Michigan, Law School

Panel Respondent

Grace Lee Boggs, Activist and Founder of the Boggs Center to Nuture Community Leadership

Second Panel Presentation

Dr. Larry Gant, Professor of Social Work, opened and introduced the second set of panelists

While the first panel discussed broad trends to give the Forum an overall big picture perspective, the second panel will move into a more focused, local, on the ground initiatives. These programs will have direct implications to GN initiatives.

Olga Savic: Social Compact and Detroit DrillDown (Report, Press Release, and FAQ), Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Michelle Rafferty: Center for Working Families, United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Deborah Younger: Detroit LISC and Neighborhoods NOW, Detroit Local Initiative Support Corporation

Deborah Olson: Center for Community Based Enterprise (Two Pager Document) and Capital Ownership Group, Capital Ownership Group

Ray Waters: ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit Loan Fund, Shore Bank – Detroit, Shore Bank Enterprise Detroit