The non-profit, online news outlet Bridge Michigan is hosting a summit, with conversations led by journalists about the biggest issues shaping Michigan’s future.
The inaugural Issues Summit is a half-day event, with various speakers from across the state. It will touch on issues that directly impact Michiganders, related to healthcare, the environment, education and economy.
"We really wanted to turn to our readers and really understand in this point in time what are the most pressing issues impacting Michiganders and how that is playing out in the campaigns," Kathy Kieliszewski, Bridge Michigan's executive editor of innovation, said during an interview with WCMU.
She said the topics were pulled from an initiative Bridge conducted to hear from Michiganders about what they're seeing in the front lines of their life.
"I hope that people leave feeling that they have a well-rounded view on some of these major issues in Michigan," Kelly House, senior environment reporter at Bridge, said.
She said although the event won't cover every issue on the mind of residents, they're going to do their best to give people a sense of the major issues.
House is moderating a panel at the summit about data centers, one of the most hot-button issues this campaign season.
"We'll be bringing in experts who know about the utility regulation and can speak to how it's gone down in other states, you know, local officials who have dealt with data center proposals, business leaders who can speak to the business case for these things," she said.
The event will run from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by an hour of networking. In-person registration has sold out at the Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit. However, people will be able to engage with the event via a livestream, courtesy of Detroit PBS.
Additionally, Kieliszewski said Bridge will be hosting a satellite viewing event at Alpena Community College for those who weren't able to register or travel for the event.
"They'll be watching the livestream, but then hosting a conversation after the four panels have completed to talk about how those issues really reflect in Northwest and Northern Michigan," she said.
WCMU is an official media partner for Bridge Michigan's Issues Summit.
