Registration is now open for Move Detroit: Creating Vibrant, Inclusive and Innovative Public Places – a free event that will explore ways to make Detroit more livable and create places that allow people to walk, bike, access transit and enjoy parks and other public spaces. The event offers a curated immersion week of workshops, discussions and activities with international community development expert Gil Penalosa, founder and Chair of 8 80 Cities.
Presented by Jefferson East, Inc. (JEI) in partnership with Wayne State University Office of Economic Development with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the event will take place Monday, June 22-Friday, June 26 and bring together community leaders, civic innovators, urban experts and others for lectures, panel discussions, workshops, strategizing and more.
“We look forward to bringing together as many people as possible for these important, efficacy-focused conversations,” says Joshua Elling, executive director of JEI. “The community development work Penalosa has done with his 8 80 Cities initiatives is exciting, progressive and, most importantly, extremely effective. Our goal is to come out the other side of this with as many actionable ideas as possible.”
“What excites me about working in Detroit is that despite having lived through adverse conditions there are still many people from all economic and social backgrounds committed to creating a great city for all,” says Penalosa. “The immersion week is about strengthening existing alliances and building new ones that will help to build a shared vision and sense of urgency to support a healthier, happier, and more vibrant city.”
“The event is an opportunity to connect people invested in the future of Detroit, so they can discover and share the best tools for creating places that break down barriers, create opportunities and ensure more economic vitality in our city and beyond,” says Katy Locker, Knight Foundation program director for Detroit.