Programs
Civic Studios
Civic studios are strategically curated sessions that gather groups of change makers to discuss pressing issues that face their cities. Beyond a forum for targeted discussion and ideation, Studios serve as incubators for initiatives that implement the solutions identified in the session.
Buildings and Technology
Participants focused on technology implementation and energy efficiency in buildings.
Buildings and Technology
Goals
Participants focused on identifying barriers to technology implementation and energy efficiency in buildings. They looked to find solutions to overcome those barriers and ways to leverage opportunities for integrating workforce development.
Outcomes
Participants identified ways to eliminate barriers to technology implementation and energy efficiency and to leverage opportunities for integrating workforce development.
Three subcommittees were formed to focus on:
- Education and Awareness
- Testbeds and Pilots
- Workforce Development
The Education and Awareness group has coordinated efforts to pilot a neighborhood-level project on energy efficiency benchmarking in commercial buildings. In 2022, this project will complete its pilot phase, and begin to scale up. The framework of this program could be used throughout Detroit, and has the potential to be expanded globally. This project is a joint collaboration between DTE Energy, Walk-Miller Energy Services and the Osborn Neighborhood Alliance.
Partners
Air Quality Monitoring in Detroit
Leaders convened to discuss collaboration to support Detroit's neighborhood-level air quality monitoring efforts.
Air Quality Monitoring in Detroit
Goals
Detroit has a robust network of organizations addressing air quality issues, deploying air quality monitors, and sharing information with the public. At this Civic Studio, participants worked together to identify the members of this network and their respective areas of expertise in order to increase the field’s efficiency in Detroit and to identify opportunities for collaboration and support.
Outcomes
In 2022, this Civic Studio provided a catalog of use cases that includes an overview of current efforts, identifies opportunities and needs in this arena, and articulates a set of goals for future air quality monitoring. Discussions centered around the following questions:
- “Through what lens are you looking at this issue?”
- What values do we need to consider while establishing a community air quality monitoring network?
- What concerns might you have when considering a community air quality monitoring network?
- How might you, your neighbors, your organization utilize a community air quality monitoring network?
Partners
Water Technology Commercialization & Training
Representatives from the Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation (MCFI) convened to develop a regional southeast Michigan Training, Testing, and Evaluation Center.
Water Technology Commercialization & Training
Goals
MCFI organizations, including the Great Lakes Water Authority, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, will work to launch a Southeast Michigan Training, Testing, and Evaluation Center that
will combine scalable testing and evaluation facilities for emerging water technologies with a training center to develop existing and future water sector professionals. This Center will also provide unbiased evaluation of technologies for use within the drinking and wastewater treatment industry and a working platform for growing innovation into commercial-scale operations.
Outcomes
Post-studio activities and outcomes are still in the work – check back again as more details unfold.
Partners
Events
Detroit Urban Solutions hosts a variety of programs that aim to unify and expand the urban tech ecosystem while delivering tangible growth, connections, jobs, and value to all stakeholders. Programming events include Town Halls, Informal Meetups, the Smart Cities New York conference, workshops, lectures/panels and more.
November 2021
SCNY Urban Tech Summit
At the SCNY Tech Summit, a diverse group of urban tech innovators, thought leaders, and advocates from around the world came together to explore how breakthroughs and big ideas in urban technology will shape the recovery from the pandemic and aid in building a more inclusive, sustainable future.
SCNY Urban Tech Summit
The Summit was streamed virtually from Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus and featured panels with DUS team members Emily Dabish and Paul Riser and DUS partners Bryan Boyer, Director of Urban Technology at University of Michigan Taubman, and Janice Gates, Director for the Equitable Internet Initiative at Allied Media.
December 2021
Detroit Urban Leaders Happy Hour
DUS co-hosted the culminating event of the Urban Transformation Summit in December 2021, at which Detroit community members who are invested in the city’s urban and economic future discussed the developing framework for the Centre for Urban Transformation in Detroit.
Detroit Urban Leaders Happy Hour
Attendees were asked to consider:
- What lessons can be shared across communities as takeaways from the inaugural Summit?
- How can Detroiters use the platform of the World Economic Forum to develop and deploy solutions relevant to the community?
This event featured a fireside style discussion with Detroit community leaders, and opportunities for guests to share their unique perspectives.
Civic User Testing Groups
Civic User Testing is part of a comprehensive model of programming including Neighborhood Civic Studios, Civic User Testing Groups, and Neighborhood Events designed to bridge the gap between developers of civic and urban tech solutions and city residents.
Goals for civic user testing:
Value-driven outcomes that contribute to healthier, sustainable, and more equitable cities.
Urban tech product development and deployment that considers and incorporates citizen needs and lived experiences.
Laying the foundation for sustained conversations and communication between residents, developers, and policy makers.
