City Institute

01/07/2025

Have you met Joe ? As the Executive Director of the he’s been instrumental in transforming the community. Many of our tours in 2024 featured the Corporation’s remarkable work. What do you do with a corridor that has just 36 percent occupancy? This is part one of that conversation, where we hear from leaders making real changes in the city we all call home.

01/03/2025

We concluded the year with a private tour for , , and team members. Our private tours help teams understand and appreciate where they live and work, and are available for companies, organizations, and groups of all sizes. The bus tour included stops Book Tower, New Lab, Michigan Central and finished at Garden Bowl the oldest operating bowling alley in Detroit.

Have you been to Garden Bowl before?

01/02/2025

The You can in Michigan Tour

This tour was apart of a 3 part field trip taking college students on a guided tour of Detroit to explore historic places, great opportunities and all that Michigan has to offer - featuring stops at the Book Tower ,Third Man Records, and Michigan Central.
The Goal: Growing the population
In partnership with the

12/30/2024

2024 was an incredible year of Tours at City Institute! In Part One of our favorite tours recap, we highlight three standout experiences:

Ally brought Jennifer Hudson to explore Detroit's vibrant communities with 50 HBCU students. Our Leadership Detroit tour connected local leaders with transformative neighborhood initiatives. The Midwest Innovation with Dug Song Duo Security was transformational for the indivduals who attended.

Stay tuned for Part Two featuring more memorable tours that shaped our year of community engagement and learning!

12/27/2024

We're thrilled with the success of our three-part field trip series! Watching students discover the vibrant spirit of Flint and connect with local entrepreneurs and artists was truly inspiring. A huge thank you to all the students who participated and our amazing partners who made these tours possible.

The enthusiasm and engagement we witnessed throughout these visits remind us why we do this work. From the creative energy at the Flint Institute of Arts to the innovative spirit at 100K Ideas, every stop showcased what makes our community special.

If you'd like to stay updated about future opportunities to explore Michigan's vibrant communities with us, make sure to follow us here.

12/25/2024

Happy Holiday from The City Institute Team. Please take this to slow down and show gratitude. We can’t wait to see you in 2025.

12/20/2024

We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour experience! Our goal is to create engaging, personalized tours that both inform and entertain. Thank you for your wonderful feedback - it means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience soon!

12/19/2024

Welcome to one of our most requested and favorite stops! is a community and economic nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the E. Warren corridor. They help local and small businesses grow and thrive.

Currently, they’re transforming a former Pizza Hut into a community kitchen.

12/11/2024

Step into ParadiseValley, where innovation meets community care! We're building more than just a resource center - we're cultivating a sustainable future for Highland Park. 🌱

Our three pillars of impact:

- 🍽️ Food Security
- 🏘️ Community Welfare
- 📚 Education

We're embracing eco-friendly technology to enhance neighborhood living:

- ☀️ Solar energy powering our future
- 💧 Blue infrastructure for smart water management
- 🌱 100% organic farming - no harsh chemicals, just natural goodness!

Join us in revitalizing this beautiful city, one sustainable step at a time! 💚

12/09/2024

Challenge Detroit
Since the program's inception, we've taken all cohorts on this full-day tour. Our recent journey began with a chartered bus ride to Morningside Cafe, where we heard from Joe of .WarrenDevelopment. We then supported Next Chapter Books and explored The Shepherd. After lunch and enjoying delightful sweet and savory drinks from Rosa, we concluded our day at Parker's Village. This tour showcased local businesses making meaningful impacts in our community.

12/06/2024

🙏 We're deeply touched by this heartfelt review! It's feedback like this that reminds us why we do what we do.

Want to experience Detroit through a new lens? Book a tour today and discover the stories that make our city truly unique!

12/02/2024

We had the opportunity to take top leaders from Cleveland on a tour of our favorite businesses along 6 Mile. The Live6 Alliance is revitalizing the Livernois-6 Mile commercial corridors as anchors for locally-driven, neighborhood-based development in Northwest Detroit. Our stops included Detroit Pizza Bar , Live6 Neighborhood homebase, and Sit On It Detroit . These vital businesses serve essential roles in the community. Seeing how they operate within their neighborhood provided valuable insights for the visiting leaders.

11/29/2024

Were just a few days away!

Want to experince all that Flint has to offer for FREE?

Want to experience all that Flint has to offer for FREE?

Join us next Thursday, December 5 for the You Can in Flint rally! We've teamed up with City Institute, the Flint & Genesee Group, and the City of Flint to give students from around the state the chance to visit Flint and experience the great places, great opportunities, and welcoming communities that make this city an ideal place to call home.

Use code "YouCan2024" to get your ticket for free!

Register here: https://app.gopassage.com/events/you-can-in-flint-rally

11/25/2024

Thanks to Connect Macomb for partnering with us for the Downtown Utica walking tour.

What a turnout! Visitors got to taste the fares of Vino & Vibes Wine Bar, Papas Shawarma, and Northern Grind Coffee and learn about the rich history of Utica.

11/25/2024

Such a great tour. Lovely city.

11/22/2024

The cat is out the bag and now we can speak about it. We had the opportunitThe Jennifer Hudson Show as she surprised 50 HBCU students as part of Ally’s Moguls in the Making event. We took her to Symphony Orchestra , Motown Museum and Detroit Pizza Bar .

Check out the video here. Thank you to Ally andDetroit Symphony Orchestra .
https://youtu.be/eWF8OYNLEuE?si=A--IacTKOTJMOQv0

11/19/2024

🍽️ Discover the flavors of Downtown Utica

Join us for a delightful Small Business Tasting Tour this Saturday, November 23rd, from 2-5 PM. Taste samples from three amazing local spots:

- 🍷 Vino and Vibes
- ☕ Northern Grind Coffee Shop
- 🥙 Papa Shawarma

Experience the unique tastes and charm of Utica while learning about local businesses. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

Don't miss this chance to see one of Macomb County’s most walkable districts! 🌆

Book your spot now: https://cca.connectmacomb.com/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=MISTER&evtid=10796791&class=E

In Partnership with Connect Macomb

11/18/2024

Have you secured your ticket yet? This Thursday marks the last tour of 2024, and it's our most sought-after experience—the Detroit in Context Tour. On this journey, you'll explore the city in a climate-controlled executive coach, guided by an expert who'll offer rich context and local insights into Detroit's neighborhoods, small businesses, and community projects. This tour aims to help you understand how Detroit's history has shaped its present, connect with current happenings, and equip you to engage in its future.

Don't miss out—grab your tickets now and prepare to discover things about Detroit you never knew!

https://www.thecityinstitute.com/public-tours