(Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit NAACP; Gary Torgow, executive chairman of TCF Financial Corporation; and Carla Walker-Miller, founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services)
“Raising hell to bring some heaven.” This poignant statement is how Rev. Wendell Anthony describes the actions of peaceful protesters engaged locally in the social justice movement. And the statement also was part of the engaging dialogue that took place Thursday (Aug. 6) morning during the Michigan Chronicle’s “Pancakes & Politics” forum.
“Pancakes & Politics,” the Chronicle’s signature public affairs event, is now in its 15th year. PNC Bank was the presenting sponsor of Thursday’s forum—the third of the year—which focused on social justice and corporate responsibility. The program featured a diverse panel including Anthony, senior pastor of Fellowship Chapel and president of the Detroit NAACP; Jeffrey Lambert, CEO of Lambert & Company; Kelley Root, executive director of Crain’s Detroit Business; Gary Torgow, executive chairman of TCF Financial Corporation; and Carla Walker-Miller, founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services.
In June, Anthony was the driving force behind a news conference that brought Detroit business leaders together with Mayor Mike Duggan to condemn racism. Anthony read a powerful letter written by Torgow to his employees following the killing of George Floyd. During Pancakes & Politics Forum III, which took place a day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared racism a public health crisis, Anthony defined the link between peaceful freedom fighters and activists—past and present.
“I salute, I commend, I’m proud of all of the young people and the older folk who have been marching, protesting and raising their voice,” said Anthony, in response to a question from WWJ Newsradio 950 reporter Vickie Thomas, a co-host of the event along with Dennis Archer Jr. “It’s the same type of energy and force that we had in the Civil Rights Movement…What you have are two traditions of one movement…So, I’m very optimistic. I have a lot of faith because I see the change occurring. We’re at a moment where we’ve never been before, but we must keep it up. And the protests must be changed into policy.”
An example of words being transformed into impactful deeds has come from Anthony’s fellow panelist Torgow and TCF Bank, which recently committed to making $1 billion in loans to minority- and female-owned businesses.
“A billion dollars is a lot of money and a lot of power to be able to do some really great things,” said Torgow, who explained to a live online audience that TCF Bank would work with the community and the appropriate agencies to identify small businesses that have been denied access to capital in the past.
Torgow also discussed the importance of policy that leads to job creation, and that position was shared by Root.
“Journalists all across the country are demanding more representation internally,” said Root, who joined Crain’s in March after holding a series of senior editor roles with the Detroit News. “We’re talking about changes in beat coverage and the need to reflect more of the community we serve. And one of my goals as executive editor is to ensure that we are more reflective of who we cover…We are eager to improve in that area for sure.”
The comments from Root and all panelists were welcomed by Walker-Miller, who shared her hopes and dreams for her city and community in a much talked about open letter to CEOs, which appeared in the Michigan Chronicle. In the letter, she shared some of her company’s policies that promote equity including a $15-an-hour minimum wage; fair chance hiring practices for citizens returning from incarceration; setting a goal of hiring Detroiters for 60 percent of the jobs at her company’s Detroit headquarters; and installing a procurement process to ensure money is spent with diverse local businesses.
At Pancakes & Politics Forum III, Walker-Miller said she continues to draw strength from the ongoing social justice movement.
“I welcome everyone who is speaking up right now because it makes me more fearless than I have ever been,” said Walker-Miller, whose 20-year-old company is committed to a core value of inclusive stewardship. “Some people want to say where have you all been? And I like to say, now that you’re here, let’s do this because there is so much work to do.”
And the forum’s emphasis on impactful policies will undoubtedly receive an ongoing helping hand from panelist Lambert, who has applied his considerable marketing expertise to the cause, including launching AMERICANTBREATHE, a movement aimed at investing in nonprofits and businesses serving communities of color and fighting racial inequities in America.
“Corporations are made up of individuals and individuals have the responsibility,” said Lambert, whose efforts have included purchasing four billboards, including two in Detroit (Woodward Ave. and 1-75), as a way of drawing attention to his initiative. “My response was to tell the Black community: I see you and I’m going to have impact and take action.”
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