A Tale of Two Cities: Leaders from Detroit and San Francisco Discuss How to Strengthen Communities

Summary: San Francisco and Detroit are each home to highly diverse and vibrant communities with strong community leaders and anchor institutions, but they suffer from historic disinvestment and are in need of greater economic vitality, more investments, updated infrastructure and civic attention—especially for issues relating to children. In neighborhoods across these two geographies, community leaders, advocates and policymakers are seeking solutions and looking for equitable development strategies that can allow communities to thrive. In this forum, Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, and Tonya Allen, CEO of Detroit’s Skillman Foundation, will discuss with KQED’s Mina Kim how they have attempted to tackle the enduring challenge of strengthening communities in their regions. What have they learned? What went well? What would they do differently?