Women across Detroit have been carrying entire communities on their backs for generations. On November 21, that truth moves from the margins to center stage as Communities First, Inc. brings its Community Candor Live series to the Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center for a morning conversation rooted in power, purpose, and real-world leadership.
The event, titled “Women in Power: Leading with Authenticity,” gathers a lineup of women whose work reaches across philanthropy, corporate leadership, sports, energy, and community development. From 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., Detroiters will hear directly from women who have shaped major institutions and built ladders for others to rise.
Community Candor Live has built a reputation for honest, grounded conversations that leave room for both truth-telling and real solutions.
Glenn Wilson, Co-Founder and President and CEO of Communities First, Inc., says that this next gathering continues that mission. “Community Candor Live is all about open, honest dialogue that drives progress,” he said. “This conversation will celebrate women leading with courage, empathy, and integrity, qualities our communities need now more than ever.”
Essence Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer at Communities First, Inc., will moderate the panel. Her work in community development has shaped neighborhoods across Flint and Detroit, giving her the insight and lived experience to guide a meaningful conversation. Joining her are four leaders whose stories reflect both the responsibility and resilience that define women’s leadership today.
Linh Song, Chair of the Song Foundation, brings a philanthropic lens grounded in equity and community investment. Tonya Berry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CMS Energy Corporation and Consumers Energy Company, offers the perspective of a woman steering operational decisions that impact millions of households. Melanie Harris, President of Business Operations for the Detroit Pistons, represents the growing influence of women in sports leadership. Vivian Pickard, President and CEO of The Pickard Group, adds decades of corporate, civic, and nonprofit leadership to the conversation.
Each woman has navigated rooms where their presence wasn’t always expected but was absolutely necessary. The panel invites Detroiters to learn from those paths, the pivots, the breakthroughs, and the commitment to authenticity along the way. Attendees will also have the chance to connect directly through a live Q&A session.
The morning includes a light breakfast and an opportunity to network with other leaders, entrepreneurs, and residents invested in community-driven progress.
The recommended ticket price is $25, with registration available at tinyurl.com/CCLiveDetroit.
Communities First, Inc. continues to expand its footprint across Michigan and Indiana, serving over 35,000 people through economic development, affordable housing, education, environmental initiatives, and arts programming. The organization’s work rests on the belief that healthy communities are built through collaboration, shared resources, and intentional investment in people.
The upcoming Community Candor Live event is supported by Comerica Bank, Ford Motor Company, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Detroit Pistons — a reflection of how cross-sector partnerships fuel long-term community growth.
Detroit shows up strong when women lead. This event is one more space where that power will be felt, named, and celebrated.
