The mission of Equitable Detroit Coalition is to foster beneficial relationships between developers and the Detroit community by facilitating open and honest dialogue and to assist developers funded by public dollars to become corporate neighbors who are transparent in their relationship with the community. We believe that public investment entitles residents to be stakeholders.
Community Benefits 3.0
In October of 2019, Detroiters gathered for the 3rd Community Benefits Conference hosted by Equitable Detroit, the citywide CBA Coalition, Detroit People's Platform, The Sugar Law Center and Detroit Justice Center. The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Andre Perry served as the Keynote and the day was focused on networking, sharing skill sand learning with one another about elements of a good community benefits agreement, the role of arts and culture in authentic and vibrant community engagement, community led planning and advocacy, community centered negotiations training and many other topics.
Equitable Detroit Coalition, the Citywide Community Benefits Coalition.
The Equitable Detroit Coalition (EDC) was founded in 2013 in response to the need to build community capacity to respond to the growing investment of public resources in private economic development projects in downtown and midtown. The coalition was formed through the merger of two earlier groups, North End Woodward Transit Justice Coalition established by members of the Storehouse of Hope Emergency Food Pantry and The Whole Foods Community Engagement Collaborative.
EDC adopted as its primary mission the passage of a citywide Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) Ordinance that strengthens the voice and negotiating power of Detroiters through a legally binding agreement with private developers receiving public funds for large scale projects.
Since EDC’s founding in 2013, the coalition has expanded from the original ten (10) members to include a membership roster of 32 resident and organizational leaders and allies groups from across the seven (7) city council districts. Equitable Detroit Coalition (EDC) organizes in neighborhoods along side resident leaders to fight for neighborhood driven development while advocating for public policies that are rooted in racial equity and economic justice.
EDC has spearheaded campaigns that include public education and training, corporate accountability, and served as volunteers in the CBA ballot initiative. EDC regularly engages with Detroiters committed to centering the needs of long time Detroiters through fair and equitable development.
Dear Ford
Motor Co.
On behalf of our constituent base, we urge Ford representatives to return to the table and renegotiate a real and legally-binding CBA with community. We challenge Ford Motor Co. to go further and agree to a CBA that is worthy of a $17 billion, multinational corporation. If Ford wants to create tomorrow together, let’s get real today with a legitimate CBA.
#Real CBO Press Conference
November 10, 2017 - Equitable Detroit Coalition and Detroit People's Platform hosted a press conference announcing that they are stepping up the fight for real Community Benefits. Their announcement comes one year after Detroiters faced a confusing choice between Proposal A and Proposal B at the polls. For the past year the group has been documenting the failure of Proposal B and are demanding that City Council take action to create a Community Benefits Ordinance that is fair and equitable for all Detroiters.