Mayor Mary Sheffield is hosting the second of five forums on Wednesday, Feb. 18, where residents can influence her policy agenda and meet members of her transition team.

Sheffield’s first community work session was focused on economic empowerment and workforce development. I attended the Feb. 2 event as a reporter and ended up taking notes for a table discussion moderated by Black Tech Saturdays Co-Founder Johnnie Turnage, who co-chaired a transition committee.

Here are a few things about workforce development that residents highlighted during the first forum:  

• Detroit businesses need help to understand the city’s contracting and procurement process, and what goods the city purchases, so they can bid on government contracts 
• Sheffield should evaluate the effectiveness of a Duggan-era executive order that sets a local hiring target for large construction projects, with violations resulting in fines that pay for workforce training programs 
• Young students lack enough connection to internships and early education experiences that help them see their potential and understand where to get jobs after graduating 
• Detroit needs to offer centralized resources for tech founders and entrepreneurs to get connected to mentors, funding opportunities and networking events 
• Artificial intelligence requires the city to think about retraining workers who risk being left behind by automation 
• Detroit isn’t a tech hub yet, more needs to happen for the label to go from “gimmick” to reality

Dug Song, co-founder of the Song Foundation and another co-chair on Sheffield’s transition team, said Detroit should look to Cleveland. Detroit’s Midwest neighbor has become a talent and tech business destination, retaining college graduates and drawing in new residents.

The next event focused on infrastructure and mobility will take place at St. Andrew’s Memorial Episcopal Church on Wayne State University’s campus. It starts at 5:30 p.m.

Changes people ‘see and feel’    

Sheffield’s Chief of Staff David Bowser said the meetings are meant to present residents with the administration’s plans and “pick our ideas apart.”

“Usually transitions happen behind closed doors, and then all of a sudden the administration is presented to residents,” Bowser said in an interview last week. “This transition is ongoing because we want to make sure that residents’ voices are actually built into the next four years.”

Sheffield has announced several new anti-poverty initiatives in her first week, including the Rx Kids income program for new families and a new Human Homeless and Family Services Department. 

“We have a focus on making changes that people can see and feel,” Bowser said. “We ran on quality of life improvements and making sure every Detroit feels the resurgence of the city. A lot of folks don’t realize how powerful their vote is. She’s actually able to show what mayors can do in the daily lives of residents with the platform of what she’s pushing out.”

Transition committee members said a public survey released to gather feedback includes many of their recommendations.

Upcoming community work sessions

Safe and Just Communities: 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 4. Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, 1211 Trumbull.

Thriving Neighborhoods: 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 5, at Eastside Community Network

Robust Education and Youth Opportunities: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 7, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan Dick & Sandy Dauch Campus