New Center : Features

Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? And how are we creating a shared vision for a regional network of cycling infrastructure in southeast Michigan?

As a part of our "10 Years of Change" series, we revisit this piece from 2008 in which Terry Parris, Jr. reflects on his experience of going carless for a month in the Motor City. What he learned might surprise you.

Activi-Tree is much more than a cool space made from a hodgepodge of repurposed (celebrity) garbage and artwork – it's a space for sharing ideas and building relationships. And you can help program it when it heads to ArtPrize.

With a shortage of workers looming, a Detroit program could prove a national template for developing the healthcare workforce of the future.

In just a decade, Detroit has grown from a city lacking non-motorized transportation options to one with a growing infrastructure for cycling and walking and a nascent bike culture.

Last month, Forward Cities, a national learning collaborative among four cities undergoing transformation, held a convening in Detroit. 

Six months ago, it would have been nearly impossible to watch improv comedy in the city of Detroit. Now, the problem for fans of improv is choosing which shows to attend.

From June 24-26, over 200 business and community leaders from four cities are gathering in Detroit to discuss how to increase entrepreneurial activity and connectivity in distressed neighborhoods so that the local innovation economy does not leave anyone behind.

Do you believe in the power of small business to restore community? If so, you might be a localist. Here are three simple suggestions for how to contribute to the localist movement in a meaningful, holistic way.

Walk Score just released its rankings of America's most walkable cities. The list contained good news for Motor City pedestrians: Detroit's Walk Score is up 2.2 points since 2011.

For the working poor, it's not enough to be employed. An innovative program is helping people reach financial stability by learning how to manage their money.

Detroit's musical legacy is indisputable. Its future as a music capital, however, is uncertain. Here are 13 ways the city can help cement its legacy for decades to come.

Building a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) economy is widely seen as a pathway to prosperity. So what would it take to make Southeast Michigan a STEM Hub? Dr. Tonya Matthews, CEO of the Michigan Science Center, has a few ideas, starting with putting people first.

Chris Grindem argues that Detroit's leaders must engage with a specific group of Millennials, the city's emerging leaders, and their vision of a new American Dream. Why? Because they are convinced Detroit is in a unique, once-in-a-lifetime position to help define the future of American cities.

In a culture so consumed by digital devices and virtual experiences, how can the natural world compete for students' attention? We talk with David Sobel, architect of place-based education, to find out.