City Institute

10/16/2026

We have the most exciting learning journey on October 21st! It’s the Shining Light Awards Impact Tour with MAC - Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, SEMCOG City Institute, Detroit Free Press and the amazing Shining Light Awardees. Best part is there are still a handful of tickets left!

This tour will highlight the role of the Shining Light honorees and their organizations in making a positive impact on our region while Jeanette Pierce puts things in context along the way. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what it takes to make meaningful change and connect with opportunities to support these efforts.

The tour will begin at TechTown Detroit . Then…
- At the recently restored Lee Plaza (read all about it on HistoricDetroit.org ) you will hear about the work of historian and chronicler, Dan Austin and the affordable housing that the building will provide.
- At Curtis Jones Park part of Northwest Goldberg Cares, you will learn about the work of Laura Grannemann and her work toward systemic change through investments large and small and you will hear from Jeremiah Steen, who works to ensure young people are influential players in city institutions.
- At the Henry Ford Future of Health Development in New Center, you will hear from Robert Riney about his vision for the future of healthcare and the importance of thinking holistically about how to elevate people and learn how Henry Ford has partnered with Laura Grannemann and the Gilbert Family Foundation to create the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute
Lunch will be provided following the tour at TechTown.

Tickets and more info here: https://lnkd.in/gfaQx23G and in bio!

10/16/2026

From Detroit’s east side to the west side, we covered a lot of ground with our latest group! 🚌

We recently welcomed visitors from Philadelphia as part of Joyride, a civic and cultural exchange program created by Detroit expat Kelsey Hubbell that connects people through weekends of adventures celebrating community, creativity and urban life.

For Joyride’s first trip to Detroit, we designed an experience that took the group across the city, from meeting the team at E. Warren Development Corp and visiting Morningside Cafe to spending time on Livernois Avenue of Fashion and stopping at one of our favorite local businesses Good Cakes and Bakes Every time we welcome visitors from another city, we learn something from their perspectives, too.

And while some of our favorite moments happen when we get off the bus to meet people and hear their stories, the ride itself is part of the experience. Our guides share Detroit’s history, point out landmarks and provide context about the neighborhoods and developments along the way. It’s how we help groups connect the dots between the places they visit.

Thinking about bringing your team or group together in 2027? Send us a message to start planning!

Photos by Joe Kotwick

10/14/2026

Our last West Dearborn Walking Tour of the season has been RESCHEDULED to 10/31. We have a few spots left so register for FREE here:

This free tour series is generously sponsored by American Arab Chamber of Commerce / Tejara.The city of Dearborn has traditionally been known for its connections to the Ford Motor Company, which brought people from all across the world to the Metro Detroit region. The influence of the automotive ind...

10/12/2026

We love showing off our city especially to great folks like Holly Campbell and the wives and girlfriends of Detroit Lions -
Throwing it back to last month’s tour for them is a great way to celebrate

10/12/2026

We’re back with our biggest event yet!! Our next New Economy Initiative Small Business Social Hour is headed to Greektown!

Join us Thursday, October 22 at Delux Bar & Lounge for an evening with small business owners, entrepreneurs and people working to support Detroit's neighborhood business districts.

This month we're partnering with the Downtown Detroit Partnership and Greektown Detroit as we celebrate Greektown's small business community and the newly transformed Monroe Street, with its wider sidewalks, outdoor dining spaces and new greenery.

Come meet someone new, catch up with someone you know and spend an evening supporting local.

📅 Thursday, October 22
📍 Delux Bar and Lounge
⏰ 4-7pm

RSVP for FREE: https://app.gopassage.com/events/42441

10/05/2026

October is the final month for our FREE Small Business Walking Tours! 🍂

If you've been meaning to join us in Greektown, Dearborn or Royal Oak, now's the time.

These tours are a chance to hear directly from local business owners, learn how their neighborhoods have changed and find a few places you'll want to come back to on your own.

10/10 - Greektown Detroit Small Business Walking Tour
10/17 - West Dearborn Downtown Walking Tour
10/24 - Royal Oak Small Business Tour: West Downtown

Plus check out our Detroit in Context Downtown Walking tour on 10/18.

🎟️ Register here: https://www.thecityinstitute.com/public-tours

10/01/2026

09/28/2026

Fall might be our favorite time to walk Detroit. 🍂

The weather is cooler, the neighborhoods are changing with the season, and there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and learn something new about the city.

Join us this weekend for two tours -
Saturday, Oct 3: Black History by the People that Lived It: Downtown Detroit Walking Tour
Sunday, Oct 4: Detroit in Context Downtown Walking Tour

Spend a couple of hours hearing the stories behind the places you pass, meeting the people who help shape the community and getting a little more context about the city around you.

Haven't joined a City Institute tour yet this year? There's still time.

🎟️ Register for this weekend's tour at the link in our bio.

09/25/2026

Want to get to know more of Detroit? Pick a neighborhood and build a day around it:

☕ Start at a locally owned coffee shop.
🍽️ Try somewhere new for lunch.
🛍️ Stop into a shop you've passed but never visited.
🌳 Spend some time in a nearby park or public space.
🍹 Finish with dinner or a drink.

The Detroit Checklist includes more than 1,000 locally owned bars and restaurants across Detroit, so you've got plenty of options to get you started.

Where are you getting to know this weekend?

📥 Download the Checklist here: https://www.thecityinstitute.com/detroit-checklist