(MENAFNEditorial) July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cass Tech High School graduate and iconic comedienne Lily Tomlin will accept the Detroit Homecoming award and a key to the city at a spectacular event at the Michigan Central Train Station as the kickoff to Detroit Homecoming IV, Sept. 13-15. Homecoming will be the first event in the Station in more than 30 years.
"We are anxious to see the reaction from the expats and dignitaries when they walk into Michigan Central Station on September 13. The new windows on the 13th floor offer spectacular views of the city," said Matthew Moroun.
At a news conference today, Homecoming Director Mary Kramer announced several Homecoming IV speakers with ties to Detroit or Michigan including philanthropist Stephen Ross, Golden State Warrior Draymond Green and TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot.
At the press conference, Expat and Hall of Fame gymnast Wendy Hilliard, founder and CEO, Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, shared how her attendance at the first Homecoming inspired her to open a youth gymnastics center on Detroit's northwest side. She is now operating out of the Joe Dumars Fieldhouse and looking for a permanent site in that same area of the city.
"My Detroit Homecoming experience brought together the enthusiasm and resources I needed to make my dream of a gymnastics center a reality," said Hilliard.
"The connections people like Wendy make at events like Homecoming make all the difference," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "This event continues to attract some of Detroit's most accomplished alumni who haven't forgotten their roots. They are passionate about our city and are investing time, intellectual capital and millions of dollars to help revitalize Detroit."
The event brings some of the region's most successful "expats" – from CEOs to entertainers – back to Detroit so they can reconnect and reinvest in their hometown. Expatriates also share ideas and perspectives on how to continue Detroit's rebirth. Since the inaugural event in 2014, Detroit expats have committed to investing more than $300 million in city projects and businesses.
The theme of this year's Detroit Homecoming – connections – will highlight the critical synergies necessary to bring a city back to world class status.
At the suggestion of past expats, Homecoming IV will focus on Detroit's neighborhoods and include immersions in three Detroit areas: Brightmoor, Livernois/6 Mile and the area around Central High School where Detroit's civil unrest began in 1967. Another morning will include a product showcase where 15 entrepreneurs will highlight their concepts to the attendees at The Factory in Corktown, a new development by Expat Robbie Buhl. The group will also pay tribute to Artist Charles McGee with a new video from Expat Mike Ellison and experience a progressive dinner on the QLINE that includes a stop at the new Little Caesar's Arena and entertainment at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
"When we launched the Homecoming idea in 2014, we weren't sure what to expect since the city was still in bankruptcy then," said Kramer. "It is so energizing to think about all the new things we have to share this year. Our goal continues to be to have the expats fall in love with their hometown all over again and find ways to re-engage and reinvest."
Said Jim Hayes, Detroit Homecoming founder: ""The Detroit Homecoming was a simple idea that turned out to be of great value for Detroit. At the outset we had no idea we were building a template for other cities, as well. This year Flint and Erie, Pennsylvania, are hosting homecomings following our model. Other cities like Baltimore continue to contact us for advice. I suspect more cities will eventually host homecomings. It can be a powerful economic development tool."
In addition to Wendy Hilliard's gymnastics center, other expat initiatives include Will Leather Goods, The Platform, technology incubators and angel investments in startup businesses across the city. Individual expats have also made private investments in projects such as Orleans Landing, DuCharme Place and the Foundation Hotel,
Detroit Homecoming and its nonprofit fiduciary partner, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, are grateful to the sponsors and partners who have committed to support the initiative so far this year: Ford Foundation, William Davidson Foundation, Kresge Foundation,Urban Science, DTE Energy Foundation, General Motors, Meridian, Quicken Loans/Bedrock/Jack Entertainment, Atlas Industries, CBI, CBRE, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Detroit Pistons, Display Group, Henry Ford Health System, Honigman, Huntington, Ilitch Holdings, Infused PR & Events, Michigan State University, Octane Design, Robar PR, Rosetti, Rush Trucking, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and WXYZ.
For more information on Detroit Homecoming, visit . The event is invitation-only. It is open to working media.
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