Executive Committee Meeting 10-15-24

President's Report

Page 21 of 95

DETROITERS, AND PROUD!

Matthew Rossetti: architect, designer

Your favorite place in Detroit? Financial District where Detroit’s boom began. It's a hub where you can sense the energy of the city and admire the beauty of the architecture, including the sublime Guardian Building. And your favorite place to eat? Without hesitation, I'd say the Suprême ( T p. 101) , a French brasserie, my favorite dining spot! Three good reasons to live in Detroit? 1 As a huge fan of diving and sailing, I would say the access to all the water around here, with our rivers and the Great Lakes. 2 Its spirit of community and mutual support. Everyone pulls together to promote Detroit’s unique style and identity. It’s a rare and precious thing! 3 The city is progressive, there is a cultural, ethnic, and gastronomic mix that creates a magical cosmopolitan energy. Detroit is a one-off and so multifaceted, it’s impossible not to feel it: come and find out for yourself (laughs)!

nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award for four years in a row. During the pandemic in 2020, I created a food initiative that provided more than 1,400 meals a day for free to Detroiters. I went on to expand my restaurant while preserving its soul— Arabian-Mediterranean cuisine—and its values: fine flavors, generosity, and a love of sharing! Your favorite place in Detroit? I’d say Morningside for its architecture and the friendly folk who live there; and Eastern Market ( T p. 36) , where it all began for me. A place to lunch? A food truck! Explore our cultural diversity through our street food! For a truly gourmet experiences, Warda Pâtisserie ( T p. 91) , a top bakery. Three good reasons to live in Detroit? 1 Its fighting spirit, summed up in the local leitmotif: Detroit hustles harder. It captures that spirit of being part of a tight-knit, proud community! 2 Its incredible cultural diversity. From its origins with the American Indian Anishinaabe nation to contemporary African-American, Arab, Yemeni, and Pakistani ethnicities. What a beautiful mix! 3 Feeling completely at home... I grew up and have lived elsewhere in the US, but I never felt truly integrated until I came to live here. No other American city has made me feel so appreciated and welcomed.

I'm the third generation of a family of architects from Detroit. In their day, my grandfather and father were involved in the city's expansion. Believe it or not, I wasn't planning to go into architecture or design. I started studying oceanography, massively influenced by the exploits of Jacques Cousteau! But someone had to take up the family torch, and it has been without regret; since then I've had the privilege of playing a part in Detroit's urban and architectural renewal. Our city suffered a severe economic recession in the late 1970s-1980s. I moved to Los Angeles and to New York, places where everything design related was happening. But Detroit is in my veins and, from 2010, at the initiative of businessman Dan Gilbert ( T p. 25) , our firm was commissioned to review urban development here, transforming the city center with the development of Campus Martius Park in particular, and renovating historic buildings such as the magnificent Federal Building, where our offices are also located. Since then, Detroit has experienced a fantastic cultural, artistic and above all human renaissance of which I am very proud. Detroiters are passionate about burnishing their city's reputation. I've worked all over the country, in Europe and in the Middle East, where so many opportunities have been put my way, but I always come back to my roots, and I'll stay true to Detroit.

Farrah Skeiky

Omar Anani: chef and owner of restaurant Saffron de Twah My connection to Detroit began with my passion for U.S. history, which even pre-dated my love of cooking (laughs)! Native of Rockville in Maryland, I’ve always been interested in the Underground Railroad ( T p. 45) . Detroit, a rebel city, was the last passageway to freedom on the other side of the Canadian border. This spirit has always intrigued me. I went there to pursue my culinary dream, and I loved it so much that I never left! I started by opening my food truck near Eastern Market. Half Egyptian, half Palestinian, the colors and flavors of the Arab world have always been part of my life. One thing leading to another, I've been on TV shows, and I opened my restaurant in a working class neighborhood in East Detroit, where residents weren't used to seeing trendy foodies. I care about the environment and sustainability is important, so I source my ingredients from local producers, and I compost, recycle, and use every part of an ingredient to make marinades, brines, and preserves. I had the honor of being

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