Michigan Chronicle Creates a Table Where Power 50 Leaders Confronts Detroit’s Defining Questions

December 4, 2025

The Michigan Chronicle hosted its Power 50 dinner at Detroit's Harmonie Club, bringing together 50 influential Black leaders from Southeast Michigan to address critical issues facing the city during a pivotal mayoral transition. Publisher Hiram E. Jackson convened this diverse group of business executives, judges, philanthropic leaders, and public safety officials to move beyond celebration and engage in substantive problem-solving.

Who is affected

Black communities in Detroit and Southeast Michigan
Young people in Detroit's education systems
Detroiters experiencing intergenerational poverty
Communities impacted by real estate development decisions
The 50 Black leaders selected for the Power 50 list (including Dennis Archer Jr., Latrice McLendon, Chief Todd Bettison, Michigan Supreme Court Justices Kyra Bolden and Noah Hood, James Grady, Wendy Jackson, and Butch Holloway)
Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media
Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield's incoming administration

What action is being taken

The Michigan Chronicle is convening the Power 50 leaders for ongoing conversations throughout the year
The group is examining issues of real estate development versus economic development
Leaders are discussing education systems and youth support structures
The group is addressing intergenerational poverty through policy and investment discussions
Butch Holloway is serving as Chief of Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield's "Rise Higher" transition team

Why it matters

This gathering is significant because it occurs during a critical transition period with a new mayor being elected in Detroit, creating an opportunity for coordinated leadership response to systemic challenges. The event brings together Black leaders who possess both decision-making authority and lived understanding of the community's challenges, enabling them to shape policy and direct resources effectively. It represents accountability beyond symbolic recognition, establishing a framework for collective impact across sectors that directly affect Detroiters' daily lives. The convening addresses deeply entrenched structural barriers that have persisted across multiple administrations, and the composition of participants suggests genuine potential for substantive change rather than superficial engagement.

What's next

The Michigan Chronicle will engage Power 50 honorees in conversations throughout the year
The organization will ask honorees for help in curating tangible solutions for Detroit's most pressing issues
Leaders are expected to return to future convenings with progress reports and continued work commitments

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle