![COORDINATING FROM THE CORNER Inside of the trainer’s room, Greenhills’ Health Service Coordinator Christine Gajar works to make sure that all Greenhills staff are ready in case of emergency. “When we hire coaches or when we're onboarding coaches, we'll ask for their [training] certificates,” said Gajar, “if they don't have them, then we’ll provide that training.”](https://greenhillsalcove.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/nurse.jpg)
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan visited Greenhills Nov. 20 for a panel engaging in conversation with students as part of the League for Civil Discourse’s 2024 Fall Symposium of Ideas. He spoke about topics ranging from Detroit’s resurgence to political polarization. I spoke with Mayor Duggan, after the panel, about ways that Greenhills students can get involved in Detroit, his time in office, and his plans for the future.
Eva Bernstein: What role do you see young people taking in fostering Detroit’s momentum as a growing city?
Mayor Duggan: “It’s the young people that are providing the energy. They come down on nights and weekends. In the Detroit that I worked in for most of my life, people drove in at 8:30 in the morning, they left at 5:30 at night, and it was dead in between. Now, the vibrancy downtown from young people is what’s driving our recovery.”
EB: What opportunities exist for Greenhills students to engage in Detroit?
MD: “We run summer internship programs out of the mayor’s office. My son’s senior project was in the homicide unit of the Detroit police department. There are plenty of opportunities for senior projects in Detroit.”
EB: What do you think has been your biggest accomplishment as mayor?
MD: “We’ve gotten Detroiters to move away from the ‘us vs. them’ politics.’ That’s how the city has grown so effectively. Now that’s become part of the city’s DNA, that we’re unified.”
EB: What about being the mayor of Detroit surprised you?
MD: “I’m surprised by how supportive people have been to me for 11 straight years. If you were with me, no matter where I go, whether it be the store or the gas station, they’ll come up to hug me and take a picture. Then they’ll tell me about the dead tree in front of their house that they want fixed, but I’m amazed by how supportive they’ve been.”
Editor’s Note: Duggan announced he will not run for reelection as mayor of Detroit Nov. 13, the office he has held since 2014. On Dec. 4, Duggan announced he plans to seek to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Lansing. While he serves as mayor as a Democrat, he said he will run for governor as an independant candidate in 2026.
