The Detroit Studies Symposium seeks to bring together scholars, community leaders, and activists to explore Detroit’s complex history and ongoing transformation. Drawing from interdisciplinary approaches within urban studies, architecture, art and design, anthropology, and history the symposium will critically examine themes of urban decline, racial justice, economic restructuring, and the prospects for building a more equitable city. By engaging with Detroit-focused research and fostering dialogue on community-led solutions, the symposium aims to deepen our understanding of how Detroit studies can inform practical policy changes and social equity in post-industrial cities.
This symposium honors the historical work of the Institute for Detroit Studies formerly housed at Marygrove College.
Detroit Studies Symposium 2026: Understanding Urban Transformation and Research Justice
The Detroit Studies Symposium seeks to bring together scholars, community leaders, and activists to explore Detroit’s complex history and ongoing transformation.
Detroit Studies 