Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield Launches “Rise Higher Detroit” Transition Effort
Transition launch includes a new website where people can learn about job opportunities and make their voices heard
DETROIT - After her historic victory Tuesday night, Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield is wasting no time. Today, Sheffield launched her transition effort, Rise Higher Detroit, chaired by Melvin Butch Hollowell, managing partner of The Miller Law Firm Detroit and former Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit.
Rise Higher Detroit’s mission is to deliver on Mayor-elect Sheffield’s vision of a talented administration whose priorities and policies are rooted in the needs of the community. This effort is the boldest and most community-centered transition Detroit has ever seen and is guided by the same values that have defined Sheffield’s leadership: collaboration, equity, and opportunity for all.
The Rise Higher Detroit transition is about creating an open, people-powered process that listens to every voice and turns community priorities into action. Mayor-elect Sheffield is launching the most ambitious and inclusive transition engagement effort in the city’s history, designed to ensure that Detroiters are shaping the path forward.
“This transition is about listening, learning, and building together. We’re giving every Detroiter a seat at the table as we shape the future of this city,” Sheffield said. “This is about partnership and ensuring Detroit’s progress is shared by everyone who calls this city home.”
As the Mayor-elect prepares to take office, Rise Higher Detroit will:
Conduct a citywide survey reaching residents in every Council district—both online and through on-the-ground canvassing—to capture real information about Detroiters’ own priorities.
Convene transition committees, made up of policy experts, civic leaders, and youth and community advocates, to interpret survey results, translate them into actionable recommendations, and collaborate with city departments to vet and refine policy ideas. The committees will also focus on finalizing a bold and actionable list of 100-day priorities, which Mayor-elect Sheffield will begin implementing the very day she takes office.
Host community events across all neighborhoods where residents can see priorities clearly displayed and share their ideas, stories, and solutions for how City government can better serve them.
The Rise Higher Detroit transition effort will ultimately help Mayor-elect Sheffield assemble an administration of talented and passionate leaders ready to move Detroit forward. Specific positions will be posted on the website periodically, but the transition is collecting resumes now to match Detroiters’ skills and experiences to upcoming roles in the administration.
No public or campaign dollars are being used to fund the activities of the Rise Higher Detroit transition committee. The Mayor-elect and Detroit’s philanthropic community have collaborated to create a fund, established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and supported by a variety of foundations and other civic institutions, to fund transition efforts, including community engagement and talent acquisition.
Visit RiseHigherDetroit.com to sign up to stay informed about future opportunities, submit your resume, share your perspective or register to join us at an upcoming community meeting.
About Rise Higher Detroit
Rise Higher Detroit, the official transition initiative of Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield, aims to be the boldest and most inclusive engagement effort in Detroit’s history. The transition will help develop an official Transition Action Plan—a roadmap that reflects the voices, values, and aspirations of Detroiters. Together, we will help Mayor-Elect Sheffield realize her vision of an administration built on the voices and priorities of the people.