Learning Journey to Pittsburgh: The Quiet Infrastructure of Transformational Cities
By Anjana Schroeder, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
I recently had the privilege of representing the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) on an unforgettable learning journey to Pittsburgh led by Jeanette Pierce, founder of City Institute, alongside an incredibly diverse group of Metro Detroit civic, business, philanthropic, non-profit, higher education, and community leaders. With the generous support of The Heinz Endowments and Song United, and of course our gracious hosts, we explored the city’s public spaces, arts and culture, neighborhoods, innovation districts, and learned from the people and partners making it all happen.
I went expecting to return with a list of projects and ideas to use as a model – from strategic placemaking and activating a riverfront, to creating innovation districts and driving neighborhood investments. Instead, I came home with a much bigger idea/concept that I think can be radically transformative, and one that Detroit, and the DDP in particular, is already doing.
Alignment around a shared vision.
Pittsburgh is leading advanced and cutting-edge innovation districts dedicated to specialized robotics, biotech, and research – remarkable achievements that can easily be seen as some of the city’s greatest achievements. However, I began wondering about the role alignment around a shared vision plays in transformational cities.
The projects were undeniably impressive, especially in the AI and robotics world. In just one example, I saw a quadruped robot dog being fine-tuned for fire departments to deploy into hazardous or structurally comprised buildings to not only assist first responders navigate the space but also share the vital signs of any victims inside. The next step for this project is for the machine to be able to inject life-saving medication for critically injured victims. I mean, this is beyond impressive, and the list of these types of innovations we witnessed around the city is very long.
One observation stayed with me throughout the entire trip. Many of the projects appeared to be the outcome of something deeper – intentional collaboration, trusted relationships, and long-term investment around common goals.
As I continued to reflect on that observation, I realized this wasn’t a new idea. In a recent podcast, DDP CEO Eric B. Larson was asked how a city maintains a long-term vision when administrations and corporate leaders inevitably change. His answer wasn’t about a single project, but about institutions with sustained endurance. Additionally, he talked about the importance of organizations like the Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Midtown Detroit Inc., and Detroit’s philanthropic community who have and will continue to consistently convene partners around shared priorities.
For more than 100 years, the DDP has looked for ways to partner with organizations to combine resources to execute projects in the most efficient way possible, removing redundancies without removing ownership. In that way, we can build trust and focus on the greater good. Hearing similar themes in Pittsburgh made me appreciate the importance of these relationships even more.
Alignment isn’t accidental.
In Pittsburgh, we learned from many of the civic, business, academic, and nonprofit partners working together to make it all happen. Every leader I met spoke from the same playbook. They are intentionally and collaboratively working together to make a better Pittsburgh where everyone prospers and belongs. This was accomplished in a variety of ways, and organizations focused on their unique role within the collective. No one was trying to own it all, and everyone contributed to the agreed upon and shared visions/goals, that ranged from workforce development, housing, and neighborhoods to talent retention and investment in the next generation.
Detroit already has many of the ingredients that communities nationwide admire, including strong institutions, committed leadership, world-renowned public spaces, philanthropic investment, and strong momentum. I was struck by how often Detroit entered the conversation, including, Campus Martius Park being one of the inspirations for Pittsburgh’s newest public spaces celebrating arts and culture. Hearing that reminded me that Detroit is influencing peer cities in meaningful ways.
Trust is economic development in action.
A quote from Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato really stuck with me throughout the trip, and still. “Progress moves at the speed of trust.”
Ideas move from concept to completion because relationships already existed and trust was built. It seems to go a little like this: organizations trust each other, leaders are comfortable sharing ideas and vision, foundations trust and invest in the institutions; government trusts all partners involved, and trust accelerates decision making.
One theme I heard repeatedly was that many of Pittsburgh’s long-term successes were rooted in a shared regional vision over several decades. This clarity seemed to build confidence among philanthropic, public, and private partners. I also learned that, like most cities, Pittsburgh faced and continues to face challenges, but I left appreciating how, despite the challenges, alignment helped to sustain the momentum over time.
What could Detroit’s next chapter look like?
Pittsburgh grew into a leader in AI, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and more. On this trip, I learned that this was a vision from decades ago that is now coming to fruition.
A question I asked myself on the flight home was: What will Detroit’s defining innovation story be over the next 20 years after the “comeback story” is fully forgotten?
- Leader in Downtown vibrancy and stewardship
- World-class city coveted for hosing large-scale events
- Safety collaboration
- Mobility innovation
- Placemaking and public space management
- Adaptive reuse projects
- Sports and entertainment districts
- Developing strong small business corridors and ecosystems
It is an honor to work at a longstanding organization that not only understands the importance of steady leadership and trust but is a leader in that way of thinking. The DDP isn’t shy to get things done either and has been for more than 100 years. The list is long: from place management, safety, mobility, data analytics, economic development and small business support to urban innovation, infrastructure leadership, large-scale events execution and community engagement. DDP is dedicated to creating a thriving, safe, inclusive, and welcoming Downtown neighborhood for the benefit of everyone – residents, workers, businesses, and visitors.
It is clear that Detroit has extraordinary leaders with equally extraordinary vision, world-class institutions, and strong momentum. Experiences like this are a reminder that there is value in learning from peers, strengthening relationships, and asking how we can continue improving and building together.
Anjana Schroeder is DDP’s senior director of marketing and communications with a focus on the organization’s branding and creative strategy.
