How to Bring Radical Truth & Joy to City-Building

Moderator:
Orlando P. Bailey / Detroit
Twitter: @orlandopbailey

A lifelong Detroiter, Orlando P. Bailey learned how to practice community development in the neighborhood where he was born. Passionate about providing platforms for Black people to express their power and expertise, Bailey is Engagement Director for BridgeDetroit, host of Urban Consulate, co-host of the podcast Authentically Detroit, and guest contributor to American Black Journal. He traveled across Europe with The German Marshall Fund of the United States, was selected as an Emerging City Champion by Knight Foundation and 880 Cities, and was named a 2020 BMe Community Fellow. Rooted in his faith and radical love for his community, Bailey is an advocate for city residents as experts in their lived experience.

Panelists:
Andre M. Perry / Washington D.C.
Twitter: @andreperryedu

Andre M. Perry is a senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, a scholar-in-residence at American University, and a columnist for the Hechinger Report. He is the author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities. A nationally known and respected commentator on race, structural inequality, and education, Perry is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has been published by The New York Times, The Nation, The Washington Post, TheRoot.com and CNN.com. He’s also a board member with Next City. Perry’s scholarship has been featured on HBO, ABC, CNN, PBS, National Public Radio, NBC and in the Wall Street Journal. His research focuses on race and structural inequality, education, and economic inclusion. Perry’s recent scholarship at Brookings has analyzed Black-majority cities and institutions in America, focusing on valuable assets worthy of increased investment.

Naimah Bilal / Cincinnati
Twitter: @nbilal

Naimah Bilal carries a unique blend of executive fundraising, arts administration, and equity strategy expertise. As Chief Development Officer of the Children's Literacy Initiative, Bilal provides leadership, strategic vision, and direction to expand philanthropic support in service of Black and Latinx students. As co-host of Urban Consulate Cincinnati, Bilal works within a cohort of thought leaders to convene and moderate discussions about social and civic life as examined through the lens of racial equity. Together, they curate cross-city dialogues with local and global luminaries to amplify voices and ideas while promoting a culture of learning and vital civic exchange.

Shauen Pearce / Minneapolis

Shauen Pearce is Economic Development & Inclusion Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey, City of Minneapolis. Born into justice work in Hyde Park, Chicago, Pearce previously worked for Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), the oldest and largest peace organization addressing civil and human rights issues through nonviolent activism, advocacy, education, and grassroots organizing. Her work with FOR took her to New York, Minnesota⁠, Colombia, Venezuela and Iran. Today, her work is focused on growing an inclusive economy through intentional strategies that address the historical foundations that have kept people of color in positions where they have been exploited and excluded from society.