DATE: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

EVENT: Cities have made a remarkable comeback, however large swaths of their populations are being left behind. The Building Better Futures: Innovations in Equitable Development conference at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning brings together academics, developers, journalists and practitioners to address how we create, finance, teach and talk about equitable development.

“No one profession can tackle this issue; however, in collaboration and with community voices we can find elements of a solutions for communities in Detroit and beyond," said Marc Norman, Taubman College associate professor of practice and conference chair.

The event is free and open to the public. It begins Thursday at 6 p.m. with a keynote speech by Carlo Ratti of the MIT Senseable City Lab and Carlo Ratti Associati. A leading voice in the debate on new technologies’ impact on urban life, his work has been exhibited in several venues worldwide, including the Venice Biennale, New York’s MoMA, London’s Science Museum and Barcelona’s Design Museum.

On Friday, panel discussions include equitable engagement and Detroit, policy and curriculum. And at 11:15 a.m., Maurice Cox, Detroit city planner, will speak followed by a Q&A session.

Guest Speakers Include:

Oscar Perry Abello, Next City

Chase Cantrell, Building Community Value

Sam Butler, Doing Development Differently

RJ Wolney, Bedrock

Kevin Ryan, Ford Foundation

Julie Schneider, City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department

Ann Yoachim, Tulane School of Architecture Small Center

Jess Zimbabwe, Rose Center for Public Leadership

PLACE: U-M Taubman College Art + Architecture Building, Room: The Commons, 2000 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor

REGISTER: Building Better Futures agenda and registration

SPONSORS: Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, U-M Poverty Solutions, Michigan Ross Real Estate Club, Urban Land Institute