What is a Learning Journey?

At City Institute, our focus is on offering in-depth full-day and multi-day custom experiences called Learning Journeys. These experiences focus on Detroit as a classroom, including site visits, panel discussions, and case studies to share best practices and provide a deeper understanding of Detroit.

It’s a new term for many, so I wanted to not just define it but give you a real-life example of one. 

Recently, we worked with Reimagining the Civic Commons on a 3-day Learning Journey for 36 leaders from 12 different cities, including Philadelphia, Memphis, Miami, Charlotte, Akron, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Chicago, Macon, Lexington, San Jose, and Detroit. 

City Institute created the entire itinerary based on our knowledge of the city, relationships with community leaders, and the parameters of the client. Our team handled all logistics, including booking the speakers and setting up food/beverage from local small businesses, and our President, Jeanette Pierce, led the group throughout and provided context between speakers and stops.

The response from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive. One leader from Philadelphia said, “ This experience was exciting and thought-provoking. Our host had a passion for the city and a pristine knowledge of Detroit’s history, developments (past and present), and current community projects.”

The Agenda: 

Day One:

• Breakfast from Narrow Way Cafe 

  Speaker: 
  Anika Goss, Detroit Future City 

• Detroit in Context Bus Tour led by Jeanette Pierce

  Discussion Points Include:
  + History of Detroit, including contextual history and racist policies that shaped where we are today.
  + Discussion of Detroit’s challenges, including population loss and blight.
  + Overview of some of Detroit’s innovative and impactful projects and small businesses.

• Tour Fitzgerald neighborhood with Live6 Alliance Team, Kresge Foundation, and Community Residents

  Speakers:
  Dr. Geneva, Anna Thompson, and Effie Alofje-Carrof Live6 Alliance
  Alexa Bush of Kresge Foundation
  Rico Razo if City of Detroit and Bridging Neighborhoods
  Darnetta Banks and Stephanie Harbin who are Fitzgerald Residents

• Lunch at Detroit Pizza Bar 

  Speakers:
  Mike Smith of Invest Detroit
  George N’Namdi of N’Namdi Center and Tylonn Sawyer Development
  Akunna, the Developer and Owner of Detroit Pizza Bar

• Tour Avenue of Fashion 

  Speakers:
  April Anderson of Good Cakes and Bakes
  Kim Tandy of the City of Detroit 

• Taste the Diaspora Dinner at Marygrove

  Speakers:
  Chef Jermond Booze of TDD
  Chef Phil Jones of Farmacy Foods
  Racheal Allen of Marygrove Conservancy
  Wendy Jackson of the Kresge Foundation

Day Two:

• Breakfast at the Midway

  Speaker: 
  JJ Velez the Director of Public Space and Rocket Community Fund

  Discussion Points Include:
  An engaging conversation about intentionality in Downtown Public Spaces.

• Eastside Public Space and Green Infrastructure Tour

  Speaker: 
  Donna Givens of Eastside Community Network and Tour of The Stoudamire

  Highlights:
  Manistique Street Projects, Detroit Abloom, Community Tree House Center, Freedom Freedom, and AB Ford Park

• Lunch at Chroma

  Speakers:
  Pamela Hillard of Vanguard CDC
  Calvin Johnson of the City of Detroit

• North End Tour 

  Speakers:
  Malik Yakini of Detroit People’s Food Co-Op
  Jerry Hebronof Oakland Avenue Urban Farm

  Highlights:
  BLCK Out Murals project
  Dessert at MJ’s Ice Cream

• Dinner at Bakailikon 

Saturday

Walking / Biking Day

• Bike the RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut

• Breakfast at Dequindre Cut Freightyard

  Speaker:
  Ryan Michael Dinkgrave of Eastern Market Partnership

• Tour of Eastern Market and Dequindre Cut

•  RiverWalk Tour 

  Speakers:
  Mark Wallace & Rachel Frierson of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

• Lunch from Smokey G’s and Debrief Workshop at Valade Park