Six Southeast Michigan Civic Organizations Coordinate Efforts for Transforming Region

Unprecedented collaboration will develop a one-vision, one-plan blueprint to achieve transformation in the areas of economic prosperity, educational preparedness, regional transit, race relations, regional cooperation and quality of life.

DETROIT, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Previous efforts to achieve significant transformation of the City of Detroit or any single part of Southeast Michigan have lacked two important factors -- sufficient collaboration between organizations which together can make transformation possible, and a scope that encompasses the entire Southeast Michigan region working as a whole.
This is according to the leaders of six Southeast Michigan community organizations who announced today that they have joined forces to form a unified group called One D: Transforming Regional Detroit to ensure the region works together to achieve measurable goals in six areas of priority: economic prosperity, educational preparedness, regional transit, race relations, regional cooperation and quality of life.

The region's top civic organizations over the past year have conducted extensive studies to assess the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of Southeast Michigan. These studies have included interviews with thousands of concerned citizens and civic, business, entrepreneurial and academic leaders throughout the region. Among the civic organizations leading this process have been New Detroit, the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan. These organizations work to meet specific objectives of their own, but they recognize that they have a collective responsibility to the region as well.

The research findings to-date will be announced over the next few months and further input will be obtained from other organizations within Southeast Michigan that aren't currently part of One D: Transforming Regional Detroit. Some specific initiatives intended to address one or more of the six priority areas are further developed than others, and those will be announced by One D over the next few months. Input and data gained from the community, government officials and other organizations outside of One D are extremely important factors in the success of this unprecedented transformation effort, and will be used by One D to build a one-vision, one-plan blueprint for transforming Southeast Michigan. The final blueprint is expected to be unveiled at the 2007 Mackinac Policy Conference.

New Detroit President and CEO Shirley Stancato said, "One D is unique because each member has a specific area of responsibility that must be addressed if this region is to move forward. New Detroit's area of responsibility is the racial divide that has been such an impediment to this region for so long. We made a very significant step forward in confronting the racial divide at our recent summit on race and look forward to working with the other members of One D to continue the momentum we established at our recent race summit."

Richard E. Blouse, Jr., president and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber, said, "The community is uniting to meet the unprecedented challenges affecting the region, including diversifying our economy, creating jobs and overcoming the political and racial divisions in Southeast Michigan. Like never before, business and community leaders are working together to ensure that our region is a great place to live and work."

"We have shown that the region can work together and rally behind a common cause," said Larry Alexander, president and CEO, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We proved this as gracious hosts of the Ryder Cup, All Star Game, Super Bowl and World Series. Those recent events and a string of major conventions held in metro Detroit each year contribute to the health of our local economy. We are pleased that the second-largest industry in the state -- tourism -- is represented at this table."

Detroit Renaissance President Doug Rothwell said, "This level of coordination and collaboration has never occurred to this extent in Southeast Michigan, and never before has such an effort been focused on Southeast Michigan as a whole. One D: Transforming Regional Detroit will rollout specific elements of its regional plan in the weeks ahead. The strategies and tactics will be highly focused, manageable and measurable."

United Way for Southeastern Michigan's President and CEO Michael Brennan said, "After many months of reviewing data and obtaining valuable input, each of our organizations has joined together in a way that has never been done in Southeast Michigan to develop and implement one vision and one plan that ensures coordination, consistency and comprehensiveness. This was a long-time coming and will greatly enhance the likelihood of this transformation effort to succeed."

Maud Lyon, counsel for the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan, said, "The challenges facing the region create an opportunity to work together in a new way, bringing all of us together as a unified region. One D will communicate extensively throughout Southeast Michigan so those in the region can learn about the specific strategies, tactics and barometers of success that will help transform the region with many diverse organizations making important contributions to our quality of life."

Among the first opportunities for Southeast Michigan residents to hear directly about One D: Transforming Regional Detroit will be a 30-minute special broadcast on WTVS-TV56 at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 20, and subsequent programs over the next few months. [Source]

Related

• One D: Transforming Regional Detroit?
• One D offers hope for regional solutions
• 6 civic groups team, promise regional change