Harvard students hold forum to discuss city’s progress
Diversity, politics, education and jobs among topics discussed
Students from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School were in Warren on Saturday to meet with community leaders and residents and learn what issues are important to voters in the November 2024 election.
“We are polling on everything from immigration to the economy to foreign policy and we are here today to get more of a qualitative angle on our poll data,” said Anil Cacodcar, Chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project. “When it comes to numbers, you can only get so far so we are here to talk to people today and hear their stories so we can understand what is happening here in Michigan on the ground.”
The Harvard Public Opinion Project focuses on the political opinions and civic attitudes of Americans ages 18-29.
The round table discussion was held in a meeting room at the Warren Community Center and moderated by community advocate and former Warren Planning Commission Chair Jocelyn Howard. Other community leaders in attendance included Warren City Councilman Hal Newnan, former Democratic Black Caucus President Joel Rutherford, attorney Dawn McCloud, and State Rep. Donovan McKinney (D-Detroit).
Much of the discussion focused on the increasing diversity of Warren and Macomb County and the reasons why that has been such a long time coming.
Rutherford, who grew up
in Ypsilanti but has lived in Warren for several years, pointed out that city elected its first Black mayor in 1967. By contrast, when Mayor Lori Stone was elected in November 2024 she became the first non-white male to hold that office.
“This is a different world,” said Rutherford. “Warren is the third largest city in Michigan, but it doesn’t have that feel.”
“I think for many years, Warren could not get out of its own way, but that is changing and progress is being made, even though it is being made slowly.”
Howard talked about the city revamping its master plan five years ago, something she was very involved with as the head of the Planning Commission.
“The plan is really good, but most of it has not been implemented,” said Howard. “It is not about emotion; it is about economics.
“Look around us; development is happening all around us, everywhere except Warren.”
Education was another topic that elicited much discussion. Participants agreed college and trade school options should be available to everyone and that at all levels, education should be matched with what is best for the student.
That flowed into a discussion about the automotive industry’s impact on Warren and how jobs in that industry have evolved. The industry may have become global over the years, but the majority of innovation still happens in metro Detroit.
“It is really amazing getting to talk to people who have been here for so long and are able to see the changes happening in front of their eyes when it comes to job opportunities,” said Cacodcar. “People are concerned not just about a particular job, but about the idea of having a steady, stable career.
“That is something that I think is going to be super important to developing economic policy in the future.”
Cacodcar said his group has visited Dearborn, Rochester Hills and is staying in Detroit in Corktown. It is the first visit to Michigan for the Lafayette, La. native and he sees similarities between Detroit and his hometown.
“I’ve learned that family and generational connection is so important here,” said Cacodcar. “There is a strong emphasis on parents and children and the way values are passed on and I would say this is a tight-knit community and that reminds me of where I’m from.”