Detroit Future City

Detroit Future City Detroit Future City (DFC) is the starting point for Detroit’s transformation. The DFC Strategic Framework would not be a plan that sat on a shelf. K. and James L.
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DFC coordinates with stakeholders to inform decision-making, build capacity and fulfill the objectives of the DFC Strategic Framework, a shared long-term plan for the City of Detroit.
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In January 2013, after three years of solid work, drawing on the best local and national talent as well as the insights of tens of thousands of Detroiters, DFC Strategic Framework was released. The DFC

Strategic Framework is a highly detailed long term guide for decision–making by all of the stakeholders in the City. For the next year, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation gathered resources and developed a team to connect people to the plan. Work began immediately in various sectors of the community and with policy leaders locally and at the state and federal levels as well. Through the support of the Kresge Foundation, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, W. Kellogg Foundation, John S. Knight Foundation and working in collaboration with the City of Detroit, the DFC Strategic Framework would come to life. In January 2014, an official home base was created and leadership team announced to ensure the successful ex*****on of the vision created in the DFC Strategic Framework. In 2016, DFC became an independent nonprofit in order to solidify and amplify its role in Detroit’s revitalization.

Please join Detroit Future City for the June Open Space Working Group session on Monday, June 9, from 3:00–4:30 PM.The O...
06/05/2026

Please join Detroit Future City for the June Open Space Working Group session on Monday, June 9, from 3:00–4:30 PM.

The Open Space Working Group is a bimonthly gathering for advocates, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners focused on open space in Detroit. Topics span a wide range of open space types, including natural areas, urban farming, energy production, green buffers, traditional parks, greenways, and more.

This month, we're highlighting recent research on how changes to Detroit's landscapes have shaped both its people and its ecology — and exploring how these lessons can help build a better future for all Detroiters.

This month's session features three presentations:

Dr. Jacob Napieralski (University of Michigan–Dearborn) will explore how flood risks are amplified by "ghost streams" — historic waterways buried during Detroit's development.

Dr. Amber Pearson (Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University) will discuss how vacant land affects biodiversity and human mental and physical health.

Kimani Jeffrey (City Planning Commission) will share updates on open space amendments to Detroit's zoning ordinance and how you can support their advancement.

We hope you'll join us for this session and future ones!
Sign up for the Open Space Working Group email list to receive invitations for this and upcoming sessions:
https://mailchi.mp/detroitfuturecity/open-space-working-group-sign-up

05/29/2026

What do Detroit's young people need to succeed? As education was a central theme of this week's , we wanted to know what young people had to say about thier future. What drives their career and education decisions? So we asked them.

Our latest report, Career Connected Learning: Investing In Detroit's Future Talent, centers the voices of over 200 youth ages 16–24 alongside labor market data and input from education & workforce partners — all to understand how Detroit can better connect students to real economic opportunity.

From CTE and youth development programs to apprenticeships, we're looking at what's working, what's missing, and how to close the gap.

Explore the findings and read the full report, and learn about upcoming events at detroitfuturecity.com.

Detroit is at a pivotal moment. As the future of work shifts beneath our feet, are we doing enough to prepare our young ...
05/20/2026

Detroit is at a pivotal moment. As the future of work shifts beneath our feet, are we doing enough to prepare our young people for what's ahead?

Detroit Future City's new report, "Career Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit's Future Talent", takes a deep look at opportunities for Detroit's education, youth development, and workforce systems to better align and help young Detroiters thrive in a changing economy.

Read the full report and learn about upcoming events at detroitfuturecity.com.

Detroit Future City is proud to announce that Cierra McFarlin, Equitable Neighborhood Program Manager, has been selected...
05/08/2026

Detroit Future City is proud to announce that Cierra McFarlin, Equitable Neighborhood Program Manager, has been selected to participate in the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) Connect Leadership Cohort!

This nine-month experience connects community and industry leaders across Detroit's advanced mobility ecosystem. The cohort includes four in-person convenings featuring facilitated small-group discussions focused on regional mobility trends and opportunities. Through this experience, participants will collaborate to develop tools, guidance, and support systems that create clearer pathways into the advanced mobility ecosystem.

"Through participation in the GEM Connect Leadership Cohort, we will gain critical insights and relationships that help inform and strengthen the Thriving Communities Initiative. These learnings will directly shape how we design equitable pathways into the talent pipeline for residents." — Cierra McFarlin. Congratulations, Cierra! We can't wait to see the impact you'll make.

05/01/2026

What happens when over 100 venture capitalists, founders, educators, civic leaders, policymakers, philanthropic partners, and community advocates gather to explore the opportunities ahead for Detroit and discover how they can support the city's work to build a thriving tech sector? Change.

From a deep dive into the Tech for Tomorrow: A Vision for Detroit report to a dynamic fireside chat exploring the K–12 talent pipeline, closing the capital access gap for founders of color, and what a truly inclusive tech economy can look like — Power Up was an unforgettable and transformative afternoon.

A sincere thank you to our project funders, The Kapor Foundation and the Song Foundation, whose generous investment made the development of Tech for Tomorrow: A Vision for Detroit possible. We also extend our gratitude to panelists Khalilah Burt Gaston, Executive Director of the Song Foundation; Dr. Allison Scott, Chief Executive Officer of The Kapor Foundation; and Hilary Doe, President and Chief Executive Officer of MoveDetroit, as well as to everyone who joined us at Power Up.

The future of Detroit's tech sector is bright, and it's being built together.

Behind every rental property in Detroit, there's a story.We sat down with small landlords across the city to hear their ...
04/23/2026

Behind every rental property in Detroit, there's a story.
We sat down with small landlords across the city to hear their challenges firsthand — from dealing with city processes to keeping up with repairs on tight budgets.

Understanding their experience is key to building a better housing market for everyone. Learn more about landlords and the Detroit rental market in our newest report, created in partnership with Data Driven Detroit, 2026 Update: Understanding the Rental Landscape: A profile analysis of Detroit Landlords.

To read the report, click the link in our bio.

04/22/2026

Every day is Earth Day when your work is rooted in it.
At Detroit Future City, climate resilience isn't a talking point; it's a framework. From reimagining vacant land to community-based planning that centers equity, we've spent years doing the deep work that makes cities more livable, more adaptable, and more just.
Detroit is proof that sustainability and community go hand in hand. Today and every day, we keep building.

Join Detroit Future City for Power Up: Shaping an Inclusive Tech Economy for Detroit, on Monday, April 20, from 1–3 PM a...
04/10/2026

Join Detroit Future City for Power Up: Shaping an Inclusive Tech Economy for Detroit, on Monday, April 20, from 1–3 PM at Focus: HOPE.

Detroit Future City invites you to Power Up, a special convening exploring what it will take to build a tech economy that works for all Detroiters. The event will feature highlights from DFC's latest report, Tech for Tomorrow: A Vision for Detroit, followed by an intimate conversation with visionary sector leaders:
• Khalilah Burt Gaston, Executive Director, Song Foundation
• Dr. Allison Scott, President, The Kapor Foundation
This conversation will be moderated by Hilary Doe, President, Move Detroit and the Michigan Institute for Growth and Opportunity.

Come ready to learn, connect, and be part of the movement shaping Detroit's tech future — inclusively and equitably. Reserve your seat today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986086981626?aff=oddtdtcreator

The City of Detroit Government's Planning & Development Department invites residents, community leaders, and stakeholder...
04/08/2026

The City of Detroit Government's Planning & Development Department invites residents, community leaders, and stakeholders to participate in upcoming Plan Detroit District Workshops, a critical step in shaping the city's updated Master Plan of Policies.

These interactive sessions will bring Detroiters together with city planners to co-create an updated Future Land Use Map, determining where development, neighborhood investment, and growth will be directed across each Council District for years to come.

Make your voice heard and help to shape the future of Detroit. Plan Detroit Meetings kick off on Wednesday, April 8, and run through Thursday, April 23. RSVP today at eventbrite.com/e/help-plan-detroits-tomorrow-today-tickets-1984881284353

03/31/2026

As Women's History Month comes to a close, we're celebrating the incredible women of Detroit Future City — the researchers, strategists, community builders, and visionaries who show up every single day to build a more equitable Detroit.

At DFC, women don't just have a seat at the table; they are the table. From our CEO Anika Goss, whose bold leadership has repositioned DFC as a nationally recognized think-and-do tank for economic equity, to every team member driving data-driven change on the ground — these women are writing Detroit's future, one community at a time.

Their work, from land use and sustainability to closing Detroit's economic gaps, is more than a job. It's a calling. And this city is stronger, more resilient, and more hopeful because of them.

Here's to the women of DFC, not just in March, but every month.

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440 Burroughs Street , Suite 229
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