Third Thursday Speaker Series: Tale of Two Cities

July 19 2018 | 6:00pm to July 20 2018 | 7:55pm

Detroit: A Tale of Two Cities by Peter Werbe and Harvey Ovshinsky

“Detroit has been the beneficiary of one of the most remarkable rebrandings in recent history,” wrote the Detroit News’s Michael Hodges in his essay, How Detroit Got Its Groove Back. A front-page article in the travel section of the New York Times asks “Detroit, the Most Exciting City in America?” and gushes that the Motor City is “revving back to life.” But is the city’s comeback story an inspiring model for urban recovery or is it a textbook lesson on the negative impact redevelopment and gentrification has on poor and neglected communities? 

Local media veterans and award-winning urban storytellers Peter Werbe and Harvey Ovshinsky will host a panel discussion exploring both sides of the issue. The list of panelists that will be featured includes:

  • Chastity Pratt Dawsey, journalist from Bridge Magazine.
  • Tawana Honeycomb Petty, a native Detroiter and social justice organizer, youth advocate, poet and author.
  • Michael Hodges, fine arts writer for The Detroit News.
  • Kevin Johnson, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation President and CEO.

Attendance is free, but pre-registration is encouraged, as space is limited. To register for a presentation, please contact Charnae Sanders, Public Programs Coordinator, at 313.833.0277 or charnaes@detroithistorical.org.