AA Spark: Rules of Attraction – Bringing the Brightest and Best to Michigan

In a featured conversation at SXSW 2021’s Michigan House, panelists share how diverse Michigan communities support innovation, talent, and the opportunity for both large and small businesses to sustain and grow.

Michigan House recently served as a platform for the state’s innovators and creatives, delivering compelling insights to the SXSW 2021 global audience. While numerous foreign nations present similar programs in the hopes of building a bridge conference attendees, Michigan is the only state with such a reliably robust presence.

Part of the Michigan House program was Rules of Attraction: Bringing the Brightest and Best to Michigan. Panelists representing Michigan’s broad range of communities — from restorative shore towns to Detroit’s vibrant urban landscape — discussed the different strategies regions are adopting to attract new talent, including a focused effort to build inclusive and welcoming communities.

Opening the session was the State of Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist who spoke on the abundance of natural ecosystems for recreation, conservation, and inspiration as well as support for innovation, talent, and the opportunity for both large and small businesses to sustain and grow.

PANELISTS

  • Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist — State of Michigan (Introduction)
  • Anindita Partington — Ann Arbor SPARK (Moderator)
  • Camille Hoisington — Michigan’s Creative Coast
  • Ryan Hundt — Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Tifini McClyde-Blythe — Interlochen Center for the Arts
  • Joe Thiel — Innovate Marquette SmartZone