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The 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference: Chart Michigan’s Future

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After a year’s hiatus, the premier annual gathering of policymakers and thought leaders considers how Michigan can rebound from the pandemic as a healthier and more prosperous place for all people

A full and busy day is ahead of those on Mackinac Island.

Tuesday Agenda Highlights
Theatre Programming

11:45 a.m. Opening Remarks 

12:20 p.m. A Tribute to Carl Levin

12:40 p.m. A Discussion with Mark Reuss and Joe White

1:20 p.m. Economy, Growth and Sustainable Finance with Jay Farner, Harold Ford Jr., John Tuttle, and Suzzane Shank

2:25 p.m. A Discussion with Douglas Brinkley

3:00 p.m. A Discussion with Nicholas Christakis

3:25 p.m. How COVID-19 Changed the Business Landscape with Wright Lassiter III, Ryan Maibach, Sandy Pierce, and Rick Albin

4:00 p.m. A Discussion with Mike Duggan


Interested organizations are invited to share the livestream of the proceedings made available
through Thursday by the Detroit Regional Chamber and Detroit Public TV 

The 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference runs September 20-23. Hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber, the conference focuses on the future of Michigan, as viewed through the lens of three important social pillars: 

·        Accelerate COVID-19 economic recovery and sustainability

·        Advance racial justice and equity for all

·        Invest in the health of people and communities  

Tuesday at the Mackinac Policy Conference  

Mayor Duggan, Mark Reuss, David Brinkley, Darienne Hudson, Jocelyn Benson and a tribute to Carl Levin

highlight the first full day of the annual convening of thought leaders and policymakers 

Detroit Public TV offers live coverage through Thursday at onedetroitpbs.org/mpc21 and Facebook Live  

The Detroit Regional Chamber brings the conference back after a COVID-related hiatus, and for the 11th year DPTV makes it all available to the public, media and other organizations.

DPTV’s One Detroit team of Christy McDonaldStephen Henderson and Nolan Finley cover the debates and conduct VIP interviews on the conference’s main themes — accelerating economic recovery, advancing racial justice and equity for all, and investing in the health of our communities today through Thursday.

Mark your calendars for these highlights on Tuesday: 

·       Tuesday, 9 a.m. ET: Kim Trent, deputy director of prosperity at Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, monitors an important discourse with Anika Goss, Detroit Future City CEO; Darrick Hamilton, founder of the Institute on Race and Political Economy at The New School Milano in NYC; and Andre M. Perry, senior fellow at the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, on the responsibility of public and private sectors to rectify centuries of systemic racism and create real economic equity today and in the future.

·       Tuesday, 12:40 p.m. ET: General Motors President Mark Reuss talks with Joe White, global auto industry editor of Reuters, about the impact of advanced technology, evolving consumer demands and the pandemic on future employment opportunities in the automotive industry.

·       Tuesday, 12:20 p.m. ET: Paul W. Smith, host, WJR NewsTalk 760 AM, moderates a tribute to Sen. Carl Levin who died this year, after representing Michigan in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 2015. Dennis W. Archer Sr., former mayor of Detroit, and Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, participate in the tribute.

·       Tuesday, 2:25 p.m. ET: Michigan Radio’s program director, Zoe Clark, leads a discussion with best-selling author and CNN presidential historian, Douglas Brinkley, whose books include “The Nixon Tapes,” “Cronkite” and “The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

·       Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. ET: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Antoine Bryant, director of the Detroit Planning and Development Department, talk about the future of the city in a conversation moderated by WJR NewsTalk news analyst, Lloyd Jackson. This discussion will be introduced by  Arn Tellem, vice chairman of Pistons Sports and Entertainment and the chair of next year’s Mackinac Policy Conference.

·       Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. ET: Steve Ogden, senior vice president of Government Affairs, Rock Central moderates a panel discussion on women and leadership with Secretary of State Jocelyn BensonElizabeth Hertel, director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Darienne Hudson, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan; and Nicole Nystrom, president and CEO, Midwest Strategy Group

DPTV’s coverage dates and times:

1.     Monday, September 20:                    2:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET

2.     Tuesday, September 21:                    9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET

3.     Wednesday, September 22:              7:30 AM – 6:00 PM ET

4.     Thursday, September 23:                   8:45 AM – 9:00 AM ET

The Detroit Regional Chamber is to be commended for bringing this important annual event back to Michigan and doing so with the health and safety of all attendees foremost in consideration.

Instructions for livestreaming options: 

Add the player to your website to share with your viewer: 

1)      Visit https://livestream.com/detroitpublictv/events/9820388

2)      Select the arrow icon for sharing

3)      Click on the embed code link 

Crosspost the live video on Facebook: 

To establish a crossposting relationship with the Detroit Public TV Facebook page, contact Colleen O’Donnell at codonnell@dptv.org 

             Join DPTV in sharing the state’s most important convening.

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