New Detroit is a coalition of leaders working to achieve racial understanding and racial equity in Metropolitan Detroit.

New Detroit works to dismantle racism in the Metro Detroit region by moving hearts and minds and changing policies and systems. Our work includes education, trainings, services, research, and programs to fight racism at the personal, institutional, and systemic levels.

New Detroit’s Just Lead: Advancing Racial Equity Conference

National and local speakers will offer participants compelling perspectives on racial equity, racial justice, and tangible ways of taking action and getting involved. Participants can choose from learning paths designed for varying knowledge levels and experiences. This conference will provide leaders with up-to-date information on key issues related to racial equity and equip them with motivation, tools, and support to advance racial equity individually and collectively. This will be a collaborative space to address today’s critical issues with the goal of sprouting a collective vision for creating a region, nation, and world free of racism.

Contact Jodee Raines for sponsor opportunities.

Last year, we had 387 attendees, 43 speakers, 1 ½ days of engaging activity, and lots of positive feedback.

Watch a video of conference highlights here, some interviews by Detroit is Different here.
See the digital program book here.

New Detroit’s Just Institute is a comprehensive suite of certificated trainings and customized consulting.

Our trainings and services provide interactive pedagogical learnings and personalized action plans to provide participants tools and strategies to create racially equitable policies and practices grounded in a deep understanding of racialized systems.

New Detroit’s Just Institute is a comprehensive suite of certificated trainings and customized consulting.

Our trainings and services provide interactive pedagogical learnings and personalized action plans to provide participants tools and strategies to create racially equitable policies and practices grounded in a deep understanding of racialized systems.

New Detroit’s In-Person Multicultural Leadership Series

ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!

Now more than ever leaders recognize they need to be change agents around diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Join New Detroit and local leaders from our diverse racial and cultural community for a six-part in-person professional development program and become a positive catalyst for change in transforming your business or community organization. Learn more about the series.

New Detroit’s Virtual Leadership Series on R.A.C.E.

ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!

Racial Understanding | Anti-Racism | Cultural Competency | Equity in Practice

Now more than ever leaders recognize they need to be change agents around diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Join New Detroit and local leaders from our diverse racial and cultural community for a six-part virual professional development program and become a positive catalyst for change in transforming your business or community organization. Learn more about the series.

New Detroit’s In-Person Multicultural Leadership Series

ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!

Now more than ever leaders recognize they need to be change agents around diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Join New Detroit and local leaders from our diverse racial and cultural community for a six-part in-person professional development program and become a positive catalyst for change in transforming your business or community organization. Learn more about the series.

New Detroit’s Virtual Leadership Series on R.A.C.E.

ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!

Racial Understanding | Anti-Racism | Cultural Competency | Equity in Practice

Now more than ever leaders recognize they need to be change agents around diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Join New Detroit and local leaders from our diverse racial and cultural community for a six-part virual professional development program and become a positive catalyst for change in transforming your business or community organization. Learn more about the series.

Statement from New Detroit:

TRIGGER WARNING

Little has changed in 60 years when it comes to police in many U.S. cities and their actions against unarmed Black and Brown men. Another unsurprising assault on an unarmed Black man by police. This time in Ohio on “Independence Day.”

Jadarrius Rose surrendered to police with his hands up. Despite that, police unleashed their K9 Unit on him. The dog mauled him.

This same tactic was used against Civil Rights activists in the 1960s – Black men with their hands in the air, dogs sent to maul them.

Rose, 23, driving a semi-tractor trailer, was flagged by police on July 4 because the vehicle “was missing a left rear mud flap.” He allegedly failed to stop for the inspector and troopers who were called in to stop him.

Rose exited his car, hands up. One officer told the victim: “go on the ground or you’re gonna get bit.” Another trooper said the opposite and said “come to me.”

Two different demands by police simultaneously resulted in a man with severe dog bites, pain and trauma.

Unless we continue to completely re-train how law enforcement responds to Black and Brown individuals – and ensure repercussions against police – unfortunately, there is no end in sight for this kind of brutality. This means, our work must intensify.

New Detroit is the recipient of the 2023 Racial Justice and DE&I Advocacy Award by the National Diversity Council and the Michigan Diversity Council.

This award recognizes recognize individuals, companies, and organizations committed to building awareness and advocacy to bring about the different elements of racial and social justice, including diversity, inclusion, and equity.

The award will be presented at the National Black Men in Leadership Summit, The Legacy of Black Leadership and Excellence, on Thursday, August 17, 2022, at Huntington Place.

It’s truly a great honor and New Detroit appreciates the recognition.

Please read this article announcing all awardees and information about the event.

Our History

New Detroit was formed in response to civil unrest in 1967 that uncovered a host of entrenched social and community ills. At the request of then Michigan Governor George Romney and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, business executive Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. convened a unique coalition—the nation’s first—to identify what went wrong in July 1967, what needed to change, and how to make that change happen.

Since then, New Detroit, Inc. has been a unique and valuable arena where leaders of Detroit’s business, civic, grassroots, and religious communities have come together to plan cooperative strategies and to demonstrate their commitment to the city and its environs.

On July 6, 2020, in response to the dual pandemic of COVID-19 and racial injustice (which had come to a head with the murder of George Floyd on May 25), standing alongside 30 of Detroit’s most prominent business, political and philanthropical leaders in front of the “United We Stand” sculpture at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, New Detroit declared War on Racism.

New Detroit will dismantle racism through systems change and by moving hearts and minds. We do this as an institutional thought leader, an advocate for policy change, and as a catalyst for collective action. Our work is organized around these three strategies, and includes trainings, education, research, advocacy, and partnerships to fight racism at the personal, institutional, and systemic levels.

New Detroit Founders: Joseph L. Hudson, Jr.,Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, and Governor George Romney
The original New Detroit committee

New Detroit’s leaders and community members commemorate the organization’s history and talk about their roles and involvement in the racial justice work with the coalition throughout 5 decades. Recorded in 2017.

New Detroit has earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar!

New Detroit’s work is made possible with the generous support of the following funders:

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dte
enterprise
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white300
hudson-webber
huntington
kresge
ralph-wilson
skillman300
taubman