Blogs

Ironically, early auto workers once rode the streetcar to work in factories. This new model year, facing a crumbled rail system and plant closings, the communities of greater Detroit are assembling a regional transit authority. Megan Owens, the executive director of Transportation Riders United, outlines a timeline of transit and what's needed to make the jump from jalopy to streamlined bus service and regional light rail.

The $528 million Woodward Light Rail is finally coming to pass, but we may be in for a jiggly ride. This week Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, provides a rail platform for leadership to follow.

Darling, there's no such thing as a bad hair day! Freelance writer and marketing/PR consultant Melinda Clynes wants you to let it all down at the Detroit Wig Out, a one-night bonanza of bands, burlesque and, well, hairpieces. If you can't be there to tip your toupee, at least read up on it this week.

Melissa Trustman is the senior director of Government Relations at the Detroit Regional Chamber. Melissa manages transportation policy and monitors emerging issues that impact trade and infrastructure within Southeast Michigan.

Michael Doyle grew up in Royal Oak, studied industrial design at the Center for Creative Studies and is now an exhibit designer. He co-founded the DJ collectives Dorkwave and Dethlab, and joined the experience design agency o2 Creative Solutions. He is also a designer for Ann Arbor/New York based indie electronic label Ghostly International. He promises his blogs for metromode will be provocative!

One look at Michael McCorquodale's resume and you'll wonder if the guy ever sleeps. Founder and CTO of Mobius Microsystems, he ping pongs between Michigan and Silicon Valley. Still, he has time to volunteer his time to inner city communities and support some of Detroit's most important institutions. Michael will be writing on high-tech entrepreneurship, commercializing university research, and splitting his life between Michigan and California.

From a master plan for North Corktown to designing public spaces for the Michigan Opera, Michael Poris, has his hand all over downtown Detroit. A principal of architectural firm McIntosh Poris Associates, Michael continues to offer up solutions for the city's revival. Key points: Down with demolition and a call for an economic development czar.

With nearly 50,000 nonprofits in Michigan and charitable giving falling 11% in 2009, competition for funding is prickly out there. Michael Tyson, president and CEO of Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW), suggests these organizations should unify and share resources in order to meet their double bottom lines of money and mission.

Due to a successful compromise, the Troy Transit Center, plans for which were initially derailed, is back on track for completion in the fall of 2013. Michele Hodges, president of the Troy Chamber of Commerce, discusses why communities should have a AAA mindset and how the transit center was resurrected.

Michelle Spranger is a lifelong resident of Oakland County and currently works as a freelance producer and writer for television, video and special events with more than 15 years of experience. She will be writing about what Michigan needs to do to keep people like her from moving away.

Mike is president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. A passionate advocate for the transformation of Michigan's high-tech economy he also managed the MEDC’s $1 billion Michigan Life Sciences Corridor initiative between 2000 and 2002. Mike will be wriing about who's making a difference in the Michigan and why.

Mike Score is an agricultural innovation counselor for Michigan State University. He is also a member of the MSU C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems.Mike writes about why we need to pay more and better attention to Michigan's $60 billion food and agriculture economy.

Has the prospect of launching your own business got you tongue-tied? Mike Teshuba, CTO of language learning software provider Mango Languages, gives talking points on building start-ups – and warns us about the non-starters.

Any way you cast it, the beauty of art is its ability to project intrigue onto, say, an overturned refrigerator. This week Monica Bowman, founder and director of The Butcher's Daughter gallery, opens a window onto the relevance of contemporary art for Detroit communities.

Neeta Delaney is a champion of the arts. She's the current President and CEO of ArtServe Michigan and the former President and CEO of the Jackson County Community Foundation, where she spearheaded the Armory Arts Project. Neeta will be writing about why Michigan should care more about... you guessed it, arts and culture.