Too often Detroit’s neighborhoods are hiding in plain sight. Many are experiencing dramatic investment, a robust housing market, new retail and more.

They have left their past behind as buildings have been rehabbed, blight eliminated and new construction has popped up. Their future is bright.

If you want to learn more about the past, present and future of Detroit and its neighborhoods the Detroit Orientation Institute and the Detroit Experience Factory can make that happen.

On Thursday, October 26 you can take a tour though some Detroit neighborhoods including Midtown, Downtown, the Riverfront, West Village, the Heidelberg Project, Eastern Market, the Avenue of Fashion,Livernois/6 Mile and Palmer Park with stops at:

• West Village Retail
• Detroit RiverFront Conservancy
• Avenue of Fashion

The tour includes lunch and a group dialogue facilitated by Graig Donnelly from the WSU Office of Economic Development & TechTown Detroit. Featured guests joining the discussion include:

• Shaffwan Ahmed, ‎system change manager at Global Detroit and a Detroit Revitalization Fellow
• Don Jones, associate director, New Economy Initiative
• Sarida Scott, executive director, Community Development Advocates of Detroit

The tour will be led by Jeanette Pierce, executive director of the Detroit Experience Factory. It begins at TechTown Detroit,440 Burroughs.

Here’s the schedule:

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration & Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Welcome & Introductions

8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Tour: Neighborhoods in Context, Myths Dispelled

12:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Lunch & Interactive Dialogue

Space is limited. Early bird tickets are $100.

Limited scholarships are available. Please inquire directly.

For more information please visit www.doi.wayne.edu.

  Detroit Experience Factory, Detroit Orientation Institute, downtown, Eastern Market, Livernois/6 Mile, midtown, Palmer Park, the Avenue of Fashion, The Heidelberg Project, the Riverfront, West Village