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Homecoming event links expats to the city's revitalization.
Adam Finkel I Contributing Writer
r
or the second year, Detroit
expats gathered in the city
for a Detroit Homecoming
event to experience the positive
changes within their hometown
— and to see how they can sup-
port the revitalization from wher-
ever they live now.
The inaugural event last year
set a high bar — since then, more
than $240 million of investment
and donation activity has either
been planned or under way,
including $10 million pledged by
expat Adam Levinson, an alterna-
tive asset fund CEO in Singapore,
for youth programs in Detroit.
On Sept. 30, a largely new
group of 170 top expats came
back to Detroit for the three-day
Homecoming.
Perry Teicher, who works on
impact investments in New York
City, was one of few first-year
expats to be invited back again.
He said the second Homecoming
built upon last year's energy and
was about more than bringing
together leaders and activists to
discuss Detroit.
"Instead, Homecoming cul-
tivates a community of action:'
Teicher said. "It's wonderful to see
the continued growth of networks
and individuals committed to
inclusive development in Detroit,
in conjunction with the exciting
activity happening across the city:'
Teicher also planned an eve-
ning get-together for the several
dozen Jewish expats who visited
Detroit and local young Jewish
adults. The reception showcased
initiatives being organized within
the city by those in the Jewish
community, and the gathering
provided an opportunity to share
experiences, memories and new
ideas to cultivate a renewed
vision of Detroit.
Guests at the Jewish expat
reception included former Sen.
Carl Levin; journalist Mitch
Albom, who spoke about the
importance of volunteering and
highlighted attendee Treger
Strasberg, founder of Humble
DETROIT
HoMEcoM
Ari Tolwin of New York pitches his company for a business grant; he won $75,000 to bring his beverage
company, Happy Tree, home to Detroit.
Design; and multiplatinum
singer/songwriter/producer Mike
Posner, an expat who sang at the
Homecoming dinner and at the
Jewish reception.
Entrepreneur Ari Tolwin lives in
New York, but grew up in Detroit
and is the son of Aish HaTorah
Rabbi Alon Tolwin. He was
intrigued with opportunities in
his hometown and thinks the city
has reached a tipping point, from
"Hey, there may be some opportu-
nity here" to "We may miss out if
we don't act now:' he said.
"Only Detroit can bring togeth-
er hundreds of its most successful
expats to share their common
passion and excitement for our
Tolwin said.
"As an entrepreneur, it's very
powerful to have the support of
community, and I feel that here
in Detroit. There's a reason every
sports team plays better at home
— community support matters
— and the Jewish and broader
communities here in Detroit
provide that support to the busi-
nesses here:"
Tolwin, who created the bever-
age company Happy Tree to bring
locally sourced maple water to
market, submitted his startup to
an expat pitch competition that
grants funds to expats who open
an office or move their business
to the city of Detroit.
In the closing few minutes of
the Homecoming event, Tolwin
learned his company had become
one of the winners of the startup
competition, winning a $75,000
grant to return to his hometown.
"We are excited to come home
to Detroit:' he said. "We are look-
ing for office space now and, by
2017, plan to source our maple
water Up North and build a bot-
tling facility in Detroit."
!XPAT IMPRESSIONS
Before the event, Dennis Bernard
of Bernard Financial provided a
real estate tour for expats inter-
ested in investment activity.
The Homecoming agenda
included panels, lectures and
entertainment to educate partici-
pants about the current state of
their hometown.
Speakers included Under
Armour founder Kevin Plank and
serial entrepreneurs, investors
and philanthropists Brad Keywell
and Eric Lefkofsky, expats liv-
ing in Chicago. Former Fortune
Publisher Jim Hayes and Crain's
Detroit Publisher Mary Kramer
co-chaired the invite-only event.
Dave Eisenberg of Boston, a
senior vice president at Acxiom,
said, "While I've always felt a con-
nection to Detroit and the strong
values it represents, it's been years
since I've been this close to details
of the business transformation
and physical renovation under
way in our hometown:'
Southfield native Andy
Krafsur, now living in Texas, said,
"All I know for sure is that I want
to remain connected as closely
as possible to Detroit. You can
count on me to be an advocate
for all things Detroit. There is a
return of energy in Detroit that
may make it the most intriguing
city on the planet at this moment.
There is a spirit of cooperation
and excitement that is rarely seen
in modern American life:'
Krafsur, CEO of Spira Footwear,
said he really appreciates the
unselfish spirit of the young
people committed to Detroit's
revitalization. He also noted the
cooperative spirit of the govern-
mental leaders in attendance.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
and Gov. Rick Snyder both gave
updates about the city.
"When your Republican gov-
ernor referred to the Democratic
mayor of Detroit as his partner, I
was euphoric:' Krafsur said. "You
rarely see this in our modern-
day partisan political discourse.
It demonstrates that it is not
Republican versus Democrat; it is
constructive versus destructive.
"I was also incredibly
impressed with the Improve
Detroit app the mayor shared
with us. I have downloaded it
and plan to share it with our local
government leaders in El Paso.
The idea that you can commu-
nicate so directly and expect a
response within a couple of days
is extraordinary even in the best-
run cities in the world:'
After attending the 2014
Homecoming, expat Scott Raskin,
now of San Francisco and son
of JN columnist Danny Raskin,
returned this year intent to offer
his expertise to help the city.
The CEO of Mindjet, the larg-
est software purveyor in the
innovation industry, donated
time and resources within his
company to help "crowd source"
challenge questions posed by
the mayor this year. On the
CrowdRise platform, expats
donated more than $56,000 to
support seven Detroit charities.
The feedback from the expat
community showed how the
event struck an emotional chord
within many visitors.
When Krafsur was 8, he
attended the Jewish Community
Center sports camp at the old
facility on Meyers in Detroit.
One day, he went to see the Lions
preseason practice at Cranbrook
continued on page 12
10 October 15 • 2015