A few years ago, I was recruited from Washington, D.C. to spend two years living and working in Detroit. I’ll admit—at the time, it felt like a leap. But it turned out to be one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional and personal life.

Detroit gets under your skin in the best possible way. From the music that seems to pour out of its history and into its streets, to a food scene that rivals any major city, to art that is bold, honest, and unmistakably local—Detroit has depth. The Riverwalk alone is enough to make you fall in love: expansive, welcoming, and alive with energy. And yes—it’s walkable. You can move from incredible restaurants to galleries to live music to the water without ever feeling disconnected from the pulse of the city. So when I started at ATSA, it felt perfectly natural that the very first place I took a board meeting was Detroit. I wanted the board to experience what I had experienced—to see the vitality, the momentum, the unmistakable sense of forward movement. And they loved it. The city delivered exactly what I knew it would: authenticity, creativity, and optimism grounded in hard work.

There is something extra special about visiting a city in renaissance. Detroit knows what it means to rebuild. To hit a low point and choose—not passively hope, but actively choose—to rise again. You can feel it in the entrepreneurs opening new storefronts, in the preservation of historic architecture, in the investment along the riverfront, and in the pride of the people who call it home.

That spirit mirrors so much of the work our clients do. Many of the organizations and leaders we serve are in their own seasons of rebuilding, transformation, or reinvention. They are strengthening foundations, restoring trust, reclaiming vision, and positioning themselves for sustainable growth. Renaissance is not easy work. It requires resilience, humility, and belief in what’s possible.

Detroit embodies that. Which is why I could not be more excited that this October, we will bring the full ATSA membership there for our conference. And over the next few months in Catalyst, I’ll be sharing a special “Did You Know?” series about Detroit—highlighting things to do, hidden gems, and some of the amazing features that make the city so dynamic. Whether it’s can’t-miss restaurants, cultural landmarks, or unexpected experiences, I’m excited to give you a preview of what awaits.

I can’t wait for you to see the city in action—to walk the Riverwalk, to experience the food and music firsthand, to feel the creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit that define this moment in Detroit’s story. There is no better backdrop for conversations about growth, impact, and the future of our field than a city actively demonstrating what renewal looks like.

In October, Detroit won’t just host our conference—it will model the very resilience, innovation, and forward momentum that define our work.

We can’t wait to share it with you.