Wayne State University, along with Michigan State Historic Preservation Office and Michigan State Housing Development Authority, is a major sponsor of Neighborhoods in America’s Legacy Cities: A Dialogue in Detroit, coming to our campus September 13-16, 2016.
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This conference will build upon the conversations about historic preservation in America’s Legacy Cities that began in Cleveland in 2014. Professionals, advocates, decision-makers and academics will come together to discuss America’s Legacy Cities—where devastating population loss and long-term economic decline present complicated challenges for the future of invaluable historic resources and significant cultural heritage. The conference will focus on the following areas:
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• Using Preservation as a Planning Tool to achieve stability in the neighborhoods and drive economic progress
•  Legacy Cities Today and Tomorrow—what they are, how they developed, how they’ve evolved, and what their post-industrial future holds
• Neighborhood Transformation—how the neighborhoods in America’s Legacy Cities are evolving and changing as populations grow, shrink and move
• Preservation and Public Health—the effects of mass-scale demolition, lead hazards, energy efficiency expectations, walkability and more.

There will be panel discussions related to the topic areas as well as concurrent sessions that will take a closer look at the innovative projects and initiatives that are revitalizing Legacy Cities throughout the country.

We invite you to participate in this exciting conference. Your voice and experience would be a welcome addition to the discussion. We strongly feel that you and your colleagues will be energized by the opportunity to share best practices and to craft a common agenda alongside others working to solve issues in Legacy City neighborhoods around the country. 

Thanks to the generosity of MSHDA and other financial sponsors, a student rate for the Neighborhoods in America’s Legacy Cities: A Dialogue in Detroit conference is now being offered. The registration fee for currently enrolled students with ID is $65. This is an outstanding opportunity at a great value to hear from and network with professionals, decision-makers, academics, and advocates who care about the future of America’s legacy cities. Register today! www.dialogueindetroit.org

In addition, Wayne State University’s Office of the Vice President for Research is pleased to offer registration sponsorship for a limited number of WSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and representatives from community organizations. To be considered for registration sponsorship for this conference, WSU students must be nominated by a WSU faculty member; faculty and staff must be nominated by a department chair or supervisor; alumni must be nominated by WSU’s alumni office; and a representative from a community organization must be nominated by the organization director. Nominations should be sent to Sarah James at rifs@wayne.edu and include the name and email of potential registrant and status (WSU student, faculty, staff, alumni, or a representative from a community organization).

Please take a look at the conference program and registration site  www.dialogueindetroit.org for more information and to register! 

We hope you can attend!

Special celebration for the public on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Join us for this opening day to celebrate and BRING YOUR CHESS PIECES!

In conjunction with Sit on it Detroit and Young Detroit Thinkers, People for Palmer Park (PFPP) will reopen “Chess Row” at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27th. After years without this popular activity in the park, the community will once again see rows of chess tables in the beautiful southeast end of one of Detroit’s most vibrant green spaces, Palmer Park.
 
At the August 27 reopening, members of Young Detroit Thinkers, an award-winning chess team that teaches chess to young people while at the same time instilling life skills and values, will be present from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. to teach kids the game and challenge them to matches. 
 
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
 
“We have a partnership with Young Detroit Thinkers, an organization dedicated to teaching young people the skills to play chess. We plan to work with the organization’s president, Kevin Fite to bring chess players to Palmer Park, and even host a tournament one day soon,” stated PFPP board member, Lee King.

“Both Sit On It Detroit and Young Detroit Thinkers are key partners in assisting with the revitalization of Chess Row, another step toward  improving Palmer Park and bringing youth to the park for fun and positive, educational experiences.”
​LOCATION: Chess Row is at the SE end of Palmer Park, near Merrill Fountain, behind the Tennis Courts. 
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