The Prosperity Agenda Current Show

Advocacy

Jump to...

Action Center

Contact your Legislator!

Papers, Briefs and more

Policy Committees

Issues

Michigan Prosperity Agenda: Striving for a Welcoming & Diverse Michigan

Program Explores How to Make a Better Michigan

America is a country with people from many different backgrounds and cultures, all living in one sometimes messy democracy. How cities approach their mix of residents can have major repercussions, especially when the issues involve race relations and religious differences. On this month’s Prosperity Agenda radio show, we talk to several people involved in finding ways to make diversity work for our urban areas and statewide. We’ll hear from guest co-host and Detroit News columnist, Bankole Thompson, Christine Sauvé from the Welcoming Michigan Project, James Butler from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and manager of Buena Vista Charter Township, Dexter Mitchell.

THIS MONTH’S SHOW airs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 on News/Talk 760 WJR, and you can listen by clicking the links below. Listen as we talk about the upcoming conference and how to build better Michigan communities.

View past radio shows here.

Listen to the full show: (37:50)

	Dan Gilmartin Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, explains that the Prosperity Agenda radio show is about challenging listeners to help make Michigan a better place to live, work and play. Gilmartin said having vibrant and prosperous local communities is a key factor. - Dan Gilmartin explains this month’s show. (1:22)
	Bankole Thompson Thompson, a Detroit News columnist and WDET radio host, is a strong advocate for media diversity who has led many discussions on diversity in Detroit and elsewhere. As this month’s co-host, he talks about some of the ways that he sees Detroiters working together across racial, religious and socio-economic lines to make the city better, and what more still needs to be done. - Young people are leaving Michigan for more welcoming cities and states. Thompson discusses what can be done to change this trend. - part 2 (6:34)
	Christine Sauvé Christine Sauvé coordinates activities for the Welcoming Michigan project, a statewide grassroots immigrant integration initiative of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center that aims to foster mutual respect and understanding between U.S. and foreign-born residents. Dan Gilmartin and Bankole Thompson discuss a point Sauvé made about the state’s changing demographics and population and what this should mean for a more inviting state. - Only one state in the last Census had a declining population. Can you guess which one? Listen to find out. (11:14)
	James Butler James Butler has been a Director of Urban Revitalization Division of Michigan State Housing Development Authority since May 2007. He also served as Interim President and Director at Michigan Broadband Development Authority. This month, he joins us to discuss the Race and Law Enforcement in the Urban Community forum that took place recently in Saginaw.. - Michigan has shown some progress in being more inviting. Hear Butler give some examples. (7:35)
	Dexter Mitchell Dexter Mitchell is the manager in Buena Vista Charter Township and has served in that role since 2011. Prior to becoming manager he served as Director of the Parks and Recreation department in the Township. Mitchell joins us to also discuss the Saginaw Race and Law Enforcement in the Urban Community forum, in addition to his feelings as to whether enough people in Michigan are paying attention to race relations, or if the issue needs to be addressed more directly. (10:47)