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Sheffield Announces ‘Community Centered’ Mayoral Transition Effort

November 5, 2025

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has established Rise Higher Detroit, a transition initiative led by attorney Melvin Butch Hollowell, to prepare for her incoming administration. The effort aims to center community input through an extensive engagement process including citywide surveys, neighborhood events, and transition committees comprising policy experts and community advocates. Rather than using public or campaign money, the transition is funded through a collaborative fund housed at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan with support from various philanthropic organizations.

Who is affected

  • Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield
  • Attorney Melvin Butch Hollowell (transition chair and managing partner of The Miller Law Firm Detroit)
  • Detroit residents across all Council districts
  • Policy experts, civic leaders, youth and community advocates serving on transition committees
  • Detroit's philanthropic community and foundations
  • Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
  • City departments
  • Potential job candidates for the new administration

What action is being taken

  • Rise Higher Detroit is conducting a citywide survey reaching residents in every Council district through online and on-the-ground canvassing
  • The transition team is convening committees made up of policy experts, civic leaders, and community advocates to interpret survey results and translate them into actionable recommendations
  • The group is hosting community events across all neighborhoods where residents can share ideas and solutions
  • The transition is currently collecting resumes to match skills and experiences to upcoming administration roles
  • Detroit's philanthropic community is funding the transition effort through a fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Why it matters

  • This represents what organizers describe as Detroit's most ambitious and community-centered transition effort in the city's history. The initiative prioritizes direct community input in shaping government priorities rather than top-down decision-making, ensuring that residents have meaningful influence over the direction of their city's leadership. The funding structure, which relies on philanthropic support rather than public dollars, demonstrates an alternative model for governmental transitions while preserving taxpayer resources. The comprehensive approach aims to create an administration responsive to actual community needs and establish immediate momentum through a 100-day action plan.

What's next

  • Specific positions will be posted on the RiseHigherDetroit.com website periodically
  • Mayor-elect Sheffield will begin implementing a finalized list of 100-day priorities on her first day in office
  • Residents can visit RiseHigherDetroit.com to sign up for updates on future opportunities and submit resumes to join the transition team

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle