This 2026 City to City Learning Journey spearheaded by City Institute brought together a cohort of Detroit’s best cross-sector leaders to Pittsburgh for a 2.5 day, in-depth experience on the city’s tech and startup innovation, arts, culture and public space strategies, impactful public-private partnerships, neighborhood investments and more.

Attendees included over 25 leaders from University of Michigan, Erb Foundation, Detroit Regional Chamber, New Lab, Oakland County Economic Development, Joe Louis Greenway Partnership, City of Detroit Mayor’s Office, Invest Detroit, ThermoVerse, W Advisors & Co, Better Venture Lab, City of Harper Woods, Union Heritage, Cinnaire, Downtown Detroit Partnership, and more.

The program’s goal was for each Detroit-based leader to return to the city with new practices, frameworks and relationships to apply to their work in region.

This program was brought to you by City Institute with special thanks to our Planning Partners The Heinz Endowments and Song United.

2026 City to City Learning Journey - Detroit to Pittsburgh #DET2PGH

PROGRAM AGENDA

Monday, July 13th - Arrival Day

• 6:00 PM - Optional Happy Hour Meet Up

Tuesday, July 14th - Investing in Art, Culture and Public Space

• Opening Session with Pittsburgh Mayor O’Connor

• Downtown and Riverfront Walk and Talk with

  •  Jeremy Waldrup, CEO, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

  • Kendra Ingram, CEO, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

  • Matthew Galluzzo, CEO, Riverlife

• Lunch with Shusheela Nemani-Stanger, CEO, Urban Redevelopment Authority 

• Mario Rossero, CEO, Warhol Museum and Pop District

• Preserving Culture conversation at Heinz History Center with Andrew Masich, CEO

• Dinner with speakers and other community leaders from Pittsburgh

Wednesday, July 15th - Investing in Innovation

• Breakfast with Allegheny County Executive, Sara Innamorato and Chris DeCardy, President, Heinz Endowments

• Robotics Row including tour of NREC

  • Kick off by Meredith Grelli, Vice Provost, Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University and Amy Klinke, Assistant Vice President, Business Engagement, CMU

  • Tour by Jeff Legault, Associate Director NREC and Founder, Carnegie Foundry and Amy Bellas, Business Development, NREC

• Tour of Avista Therapuetics at Bridgeside Biotech Hub

• Lunch at Mill 19 with Jorgen Pedersen, CEO, ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute

• Hazelwood Green Tour including demos at Robotics Innovation Center and Manufacturing Futures Institute at Mill 19

• Walking Tour of historic Hazelwood Neighborhood

• Happy Hour Reception with Pittsburgh Innovation Ecosystem

Thursday, July 16th - Investing in People and Neighborhoods

• Breakfast and Day Two Debrief

• The Hill District Tour and Granada Theater

• Tour with East Liberty CDC of Catapult and Kelly Strayhorn Theater with Pam Lewis, Hillman Foundation

• Lunch and panel on Culture-Led Development: Community, Arts & Entrepreneurship

  at Pittsburgh Glass Center hosted by the Heinz Endowments

• 1:30 PM Program Ends - Optional Activities/Tours TBD