The 20th anniversary of Pancakes and Politics set the tone for a year that demands intentionality, accountability, and action. Leaders from Detroit’s most influential industries—healthcare, finance, and manufacturing—took the stage to engage in the kind of conversation that doesn’t just highlight problems but demands solutions. The voices in the room were inescapably laying out blueprints for the future of Detroit and beyond.
Dennis Archer Jr. led the discussion with the weight of two decades of discourse behind him. The panelists—Tricia Keith of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sylvester Hester of LM Manufacturing, Gary Torgow of The Huntington National Bank, and Robert Riney of Henry Ford Health—brought an urgency to the conversation that reflected the realities Detroiters face every day.
Riney made it clear that healthcare is more than hospitals and insurance. “There is no great city that does not have a world-class healthcare campus,” he said as he spoke on the impact that Henry Ford Healthcare is taking over the city of Detroit with its new developments in the midtown area. “Now we will have the environment and space, and that’s going to put Detroit on a level to really compete.” His words underscored what’s at stake. Healthcare access shapes everything from life expectancy to economic stability. Detroit’s ability to attract top-tier medical talent, create jobs, and ensure quality care for its residents isn’t just a necessity—it’s a requirement for growth.
The interconnectedness of business, elected leadership, and philanthropy is something Detroit has witnessed firsthand. Hester recalled wisdom passed down from his mentor. “It’s all about people. Where they work determines where they live and how they play,” he said. Detroit is a city where work has historically defined community identity, from the auto plants to the storefronts lining the neighborhoods. It’s why his company, LM Manufacturing, has taken an active role in developing Detroit’s workforce beyond just hiring. “When we focus on community, we think of the kids. We are part of the DPSCD partnerships. We’ve hired over 15 kids to come back after their internships,” Hester continued. This isn’t charity—it’s investment.
Keith emphasized the power of passion when it comes to making an impact. “It’s all about impact, and when you value it, you need to put your energy, time, and passion into that thing,” she said. “What we find is that we can get energy from each other. It’s important for us to push each other as leaders but have a passion for the community to drive it.” There’s a reason why Pancakes and Politics has thrived for two decades—it has never been about maintaining the status quo. Every forum has pressed for solutions, demanded more from leaders, and challenged the community to engage in change.
Torgow connected the dots between financial investment and community health. “The health of the community really resides in the things that we do for each other,” he said. A thriving city requires strong financial backing, and that backing has to be reinvested into the people who live there. Torgow pointed to the partnership between him and Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and Michigan Chronicle publisher, for SWAG (Students Wired for Achievement and Growth), a program investing directly in youth. “It starts with children in the community. We are a successful company, and we make a lot of profit, and we’re taking that and pouring into the community,” he said.
Detroit’s transformation isn’t just about big investments—it’s about ensuring that those investments reach the people who need them the most. “The more you do for the community, the more successful you are,” Torgow added. The homeownership program is one example. “We are living in a city that believes that. Just look at the homeownership program. If we have people that have tools to lift themselves up, the community lifts up as well.”
Public education remains at the heart of the city’s future. “We have to start with the Detroit Public Schools,” Torgow said. “If the schools grow and flourish, that is the future of our companies.” There’s no sidestepping the reality—education determines economic mobility, and economic mobility determines the trajectory of Detroit’s next generation.
Riney took the conversation deeper, shifting the focus to the holistic well-being of Detroit’s neighborhoods. He spoke about engaging with communities through living room meetings—a grassroots approach to understanding residents’ concerns firsthand. “It was all things that benefit a community aside from physical healthcare, like mental health, economic health, job creation,” he said. This is where the conversation went beyond policy and touched the heartbeat of the city. If Detroit is going to thrive, it can’t just be about hospitals, banks, or businesses operating in silos. The approach has to be comprehensive.
As the conversation inevitably shifted toward politics, panelists made it clear that leadership is bigger than any one election cycle. The Detroit mayoral race was on everyone’s minds, but Torgow reframed the discussion to emphasize long-term vision over political distractions. “America is a great country, and we’ve got the best healthcare system in the world,” he said. “It’s our job to produce the healthcare community the tools to assist our community. America is bigger than anyone who sits in office. Detroit is bigger than one person.”
That perspective was echoed throughout the room. The work required to build a stronger city doesn’t begin or end with a single administration. It’s about consistent investment in education, infrastructure, and community development. “In order for us to grow as a city, as a state, we must invest in our children and our teachers,” Torgow said. “We have to encourage our families, we have to do after-school programs, we have to make sure they go to college, and if they can’t, we must invest and get them there. We have to invest. It’s up to us.”
“They need to have a both-and mentality rather than an either-or approach. The attributes required to lead and upscale the city are not singular—they must coexist,” said Riney. “Behavior is contagious. When people collectively believe that progress is possible, we can move to the next level. Optimism is what’s needed.”
Keith emphasized the power of collaboration, highlighting the importance of bringing people together under a shared vision. “People are electing leaders they want to follow, so it’s critical to set the vision and bring others along,” she said.
Torgow stressed the significance of inspiration and leadership, particularly in shaping the future of Detroit. “We need someone who can inspire, lead the younger generation, and celebrate the progress that’s already been made while pushing Detroit toward becoming a top-ten city. We have a strong pool of candidates,” he said.
Hester added that empathy and work ethic must be at the forefront. “The next mayor has to focus on transportation, childcare, and job creation. You have to meet people where they are,” he said.
These qualities—vision, collaboration, optimism, empathy, and a commitment to economic and social infrastructure—are what the panelists agree the next mayor of Detroit must embody to drive the city forward.
The message from the panel was clear. There’s no waiting for someone else to solve the problems facing Detroit. The leaders in the room have a responsibility, and so does the community. Progress comes from action, from intentionality, from understanding that investment in people is the foundation of a thriving city.
As the opening forum of the 20th season of Pancakes and Politics unfolded, the conversation wasn’t just about where Detroit is—it was about where it’s going. This city has always been built on resilience, ingenuity, and community. The work ahead is about making sure that every investment—whether in healthcare, finance, or education—translates into real change that people can see, feel, and live.
The challenge now is to take these discussions and turn them into movement. Detroit has the blueprint. It has the leadership. It has the drive. The next step is action.
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