In this episode of The Common Wealth, we dive into the complex and far-reaching impact of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project on Southwest Detroit. From promises of revitalization to concerns about displacement, our conversation explores both the benefits and the burdens this massive infrastructure project has brought to the community.

We’re joined by three deeply knowledgeable and passionate guests:

Theresa Landrum, longtime Delray resident and environmental activist,

Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din, Former President and CEO of the Southwest Detroit Business Association, and

Simone Sagovac, Project Director of the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition.

Together, they unpack the meaning of “community benefits,” the Community Benefits Agreement tied to the bridge, and how area residents and small businesses—especially in the Delray neighborhood in Southwest Detroit—are navigating the economic fallout and opportunities that have come with this development.

Tune in for a candid conversation about equity, resilience, and the real cost of progress.

Professor Dana Thompson’s UM Law Faculty page – https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/dana-thompson

Professor Dana Thompson’s LinkedIn page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-thompson-jd-aba10b22/

University of Michigan Law School’s Community Enterprise Clinic – https://michigan.law.umich.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/community-enterprise-clinic-0

Theresa Landrum – https://caphedetroit.sph.umich.edu/project/theresa-landrum/

Simone Sagovac – https://www.detroiturc.org/southwest-detroit-community-benefits-coalition

Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din -https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-chavez-wazeerud-din-842b18191/

Gordie Howe Bridge Community Benefits – https://swdetroitcbc.org/about-us/

Gordie Howe Bridge – https://gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/