News & Events
July 2006
Cool Connections
It was an unusual venue for a discussion about urban redevelopment. I was sitting on a bus next to Dr. Soji Adelaja, the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Land Policy at Michigan State University , taking a tour of northern Michigan orchards. Amid the churn of farm machinery and the smells of earth, we chatted about metropolitanism, theories of governance and indicators of urban success. His passion for cities was as clear as the northern Michigan sky that surrounded us.
This, it turns out, is not unusual among Michigan academics. There seems to be a strong recognition of the vital role cities play in our development among researchers and teachers. Michigan is graced with one of the country's best higher education systems, and the connectivity between academia and municipalities deserves to be strengthened. Linking the expertise in both cities and universities can catalyze cutting-edge research that is rooted in pragmatism. It also can provide that essential training ground for emerging municipal professionals to test their skills and measure theory against reality.
Given Michigan's economy, urban development and municipal administration are among the most challenging and complicated fields - as well as the most essential to Michigan's ultimate success. The regions of this country that are thriving pride themselves on strong cities that offer a keen sense of place as well as significant economic opportunity for any eager would-be resident. Southeast Michigan should be no different.
Dr. George Fulton from the University of Michigan has been conducting research into Michigan's shifting economy, trying to understand where the opportunities lie for job growth and industry development. He notes that Michigan has a particular opportunity to capture high tech industry jobs. The question remains, though, what kind of towns will best attract the creative-class workers that will fill those positions? Whatever direction we take, our position will be strengthened if it is rooted in research that illuminates the complex interactions of our economy, our environment and our social fabric.
At the Suburbs Alliance, we have launched the UniverCities Connection project, which seeks to lessen the divide between the thinkers and the actors. The project works to elevate the daily challenges facing city leaders as important research topics for Michigan's academics. Simultaneously, we're drawing graduate and undergraduate students into the municipal environment, challenging them to deepen their understanding of how cities work and what human dynamics impact policy development and implementation.
Whenever I talk to university students or professors, I'm always impressed with the energetic way they approach problem solving. It certainly bodes well for our cities if we can capture some of their gusto. Dr. Robin Boyle from Wayne State University echoes that enthusiasm. Universities, he says, can be great change agents. As we work to integrate their research agenda with our Metropolitan Agenda over the coming year, we'll test that proposition and - cross our fingers - begin to propel the first tier suburbs of southeast Michigan to new heights.
