Highlights from the Chronology of FoodPLUS|Detroit from Early Conceptualization to the Present
Innoversity engagement initiated
2005
- Chris Peterson became TransForum International Advisory Board member working to analyze innovation principles and strategies for transfer to global cities, 2005
- Chris Peterson continued work with TransForum during their 6-year project period
January – May, 2010
- Rick Foster transitions to MSU as Director of Green Michigan Institute, MSU Extension
- MSU President Simon expresses commitment to greater MSU presence in Detroit and linkages to global land-grant mission
- Conceptualization of a Detroit based food systems development framework as a venue to address blight and abandonment and increase economic development
- Development of a plan for MSU engagement in Detroit for connecting local with regional and global food systems and a global food platform
- Conversations with numerous Detroit community food organizations and activities
September 2010
- Discussion continues to think about Regional food Systems work that includes both Flint and Detroit
- USA delegation (Metro Detroit, Flint, MSU) attended 1st Global Summit on Metropolitan Agriculture hosted in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (TransForum) to share innovations in metropolitan agriculture, September 28-30
- Delegations from: USA (Detroit/Flint), The Netherlands, Sao Paulo, London, Chennai, Johannesburg
October 2010 to December 2010
- REOS, co-host of the first Global Summit on Metropolitan Agriculture, facilitated post-summit dialog in USA to debrief and discuss next steps, November
January 2011 to May 2011
- Meeting with elected officials at state and Federal levels (Kory Hall, Senator Stabenow’s office, etc.)
- Meeting with MEDC regarding regional food systems economics
- Meetings with Mayor Bing and City Council (i.e.; Green Task Force, etc.)
- Meetings with Henry Ford Academy and DPS on educational reform and charter school possibilities
- Meeting with potential funders
- Meetings with Sustainable Water Works, Riverfront Conservancy, Wayne State University, etc.
- Exploring new production systems for both land based systems and in-door systems
MSU Innoversity leadership established
June 2011
- MSU assumed Innoversity leadership at an Innoversity meeting in Frankfurt, Germany; Chris Peterson was appointed as Director, June 2011
- Change in Innoversity home base necessitated by the required sunset of the TransForum program in the Netherlands
- MSU Leadership Team formed: Co-Directors Foster and Peterson; Team members: S. Pueppke, C. Geith, M. Hamm
- MSU Leadership Team responsibility modified: Rick Foster appointed as Director of MetroFood+ Innovation Coalition @ Detroit
- Coalition building leadership and approach modified: Work designed to be performed within the geographical context of a metropolitan area; Rick Foster continues working primarily with Detroit; other MSU sponsored activities still in Flint and Detroit.
- Nov. 2011
- USA delegation (Detroit, MSU) convened at a global fair in Amsterdam in the Netherlands on learning journey about high tech growing systems; Detroit Delegates: Kathryn Underwood (representative), Eugene Barnes, Mike Score; MSU Delegates: Rick Foster, Chris Petersen, Christine Geith, Steve Pueppke, Mike Hamm; TransForum Host/Facilitators: Henk van Latesteijn and Sander Mager from the Netherlands
December 2011
- TransForum hosted dinner tours in Detroit and Flint to explore partnership possibilities
January 2012 to May 2012
- Coalition building and fund development activities continued by lead convener
- Continued meetings in Detroit and on MSU campus
- D-Town Farms
- Eastern Market Corporation
- Henry Ford Academy
- Henry Ford Health Systems
- RecoveryPark
- Sustainable Water Works/Tech Town
- Detroit Based funders, etc.
Authorization to engage in Detroit established
June 2012
- City of Detroit and MSU enter into MOU authorizing MSU to explore the establishment of an Innovation Coalition and an Innovation & Research Center within Detroit
- Presentation to MEDC – Thriving in the 21st Century: The Global Food Platform and Michigan’s Future by Rick Foster, June 22
Multi-stakeholder constituent engagement initiated
July 2012
- MSU hosted convening in Novi to engage Metropolitan Detroit constituents in establishing an Innovation Coalition; facilitated by former TransForum consultants Henk van Latesteijn and Sander Mager from the Netherlands, July 11-July 12
- Values, Governance and Agenda work groups formed during the Novi convening were charged with continuing the creation of the organizing framework for the Innovation Coalition
Innovation Coalition formation initiated
August 2012 to December 2012
- First work group meetings facilitated by Rick Foster (all) and co-facilitated with Chris Peterson (governance); October 17
- Coalition building and fund development activities continued by lead convener
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College delegation tours Detroit and gets introduced to innovation coalition concept, facilitated by Rick Foster; October 23 (first of three meetings between KVCC and Detroit interests)
- National Sustainable Communities Coalition (NSCC) meeting in Detroit hosted/facilitated by MSU, December 4
- Detroit presenters: MSU/FoodPLUS|Detroit (Rick Foster) (Emile Lauzzana), Eastern Market (Dan Carmody), City of Detroit City Planning Commission (Kathryn Underwood), City of Detroit Department of Planning and Development (Rob Anderson), LEAP (Khalil Ligon), GenesisHOPE (Jeanine Hatcher), Recovery Park (George Gardiner), Henry Ford Health System (Jordan Cox), Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (Eugene Barnes), WARM Training Center (Jacob Corvidae), Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance and Detroit Collaborative Design Center (Bloody Run) (Todd Scott, Virginia Stanard)
- Open dialogue on how Detroit, NSCC and MSU could partner to establish regional sustainable economic development efforts around the principles of Full Spectrum Sustainability and with an innovative framework of food, water, and energy AND Next Steps
- NSCC funding strategies meeting in DC attended by Detroit Delegates: Foster, Carmody, Warbach; December, 2012
January 2013
- Monthly work group meetings schedule established; Meetings facilitated by Rick Foster and Chris Peterson
- Meeting with Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation regarding Global Innoversity
February 2013
- MSU engages Renee Wallace of Doers Consulting Alliance to serve as FoodPLUS|Detroit Program Manager, February
- NSCC meeting in Cleveland attended by Detroit Delegates: Foster, Warbach, Witter; Forming the “Lake Erie Crescent”
- Global Innoversity 1st convening in Detroit; Feb. 24 to Feb. 28
- Delegations from: Detroit – Rick Foster, Kathryn Underwood, Malik Yakini, James Reimer
- Detroit Staff: Renee Wallace
- Detroit hosted activities
- Multi-stakeholder panel discussion
- Food and Community in Detroit tour
- Monthly work group meeting schedule intensified to advance framework development; Facilitators: Rick Foster, Renee Wallace
- Name changed to FoodPLUS|Detroit
- Coalition building and fund Development activities continued
March 2013 to June 2013
- Monthly work group meetings facilitated by Rick Foster and Renee Wallace; July meeting suspended for convening planning and outreach activities
- Mission, Vision and Values document developed and approved
- Coalition Building and Fund Development activities continued
- Global Innoversity convening debriefing – Detroit delegation; March 28
- Planning and outreach for 1st annual FoodPLUS|Detroit convening initiated; April
July 2013 to August 2013
- Monthly work group meeting facilitated by Rick Foster and Renee Wallace; agenda — convening planning and outreach activities
- Coalition Building and Fund Development activities continued
September 2013
- Monthly work group meeting facilitated by Rick Foster and Renee Wallace; agenda — convening planning and outreach activities
- First annual FoodPLUS|Detroit convening in Detroit, September 24, 2013; includes introduction of proposed inaugural projects
NEXT
- Establish engagement relationships
- Form Board taskforce and work groups to complete Innovation Coalition legal formation
- Form initiating project teams and develop business cases for proposed projects
- Solidify funding base and organizational framework for FoodPLUS|Detroit