Elections, data centers, education take center stage at Bridge Issues Summit

Bridge Michigan held its inaugural Issues Summit on Wednesday at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit
Panels drew from the newsroom’s yearlong reporting initiative, Bridge Listens, and were moderated by Bridge reporters
Topics included health, education, the environment, the economy and affordability

Bridge Michigan held its inaugural Issues Summit on Wednesday afternoon, bringing together civic leaders, policymakers and subject-matter experts to discuss some of the most pressing issues in the state.

Held on the campus of Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit, the event was also livestreamed for an online audience that included a watch party at Alpena Community College. Bridge journalists moderated panels about education, healthcare and data centers.

More than 375 people attended the event either in person or virtually.

People stop by a Bridge Michigan event table — Bridge Michigan Outdoors Life reporter Laura Herberg talks with attendees during Bridge Michigan’s Issues Summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2026. (Brian Widdis for Bridge Michigan)

The summit grew out of Bridge Michigan’s yearlong Bridge Listens initiative, which asked readers what issues matter most to them in this election year.

“For 15 years, Bridge Michigan has been working to make Michigan better through our high-quality, nonpartisan journalism and public engagement,” Katy Locker, CEO of Center for Michigan, said to kick off the summit.

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“We believe good information matters, listening matters and Michigan needs more spaces like this one, where people with different perspectives can come together for thoughtful, respectful conversations about the issues shaping our future.”

With Election Day two weeks out, the summit included panels and discussions about the political races, policies and candidates that will help shape the future of Michigan and the country.

A man and a woman hold microphones while seated onstage — Bridge Michigan’s senior Capitol reporter Lauren Gibbons, right, and BridgeDetroit Executive Advisor Stephen Henderson talk about the US Senate race during Bridge Michigan’s Issues Summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2026. (Brian Widdis for Bridge Michigan)

Senior Capitol Reporter Lauren Gibbons, who has covered the US Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, gave her insight on the race of national significance that has set campaign fundraising records.

“I keep telling people, everyone is asking, and this is most likely going to be a toss-up race,” she told Stephen Henderson, founder and executive advisor of BridgeDetroit and host of “Michigan: We Need to Talk.”

A man and woman chat during a reception — Author, journalist and event emcee Devin Scillian attends the opening reception of the Bridge Michigan’s Issues Summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2026. (Brian Widdis for Bridge Michigan)

Capitol Reporter Simon Schuster spoke on stage with Henderson about the race between Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican US Rep. John James to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Senior Health Reporter Robin Erb moderated a panel focused on why healthcare costs are climbing and how consolidation and drug prices are affecting coverage.

“We all remember the game of tug-of-war as a kid,” said Dr. Deidre Hurse, a public health researcher and medical educator. “And we have families that are just trying to be healthy. They’re trying to get their kids to school. They’re trying to go to work, and opposing them is a complicated health system that isn’t giving them the grace to be healthy.”

five panelists on stage — Bridge Michigan’s education reporter Isabel Lohman, far left, leads a discussion around education during Bridge Michigan’s Issues Summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2026. The panel called ‘The Talent Pipeline: Balancing Early Literacy with Postsecondary Goals’ focused on early literacy and other issues affecting K-12 education. (Brian Widdis for Bridge Michigan)

Capitol Reporter Jordyn Hermani moderated a panel on how affordability challenges shape Michigan’s economic outlook, from housing costs to wages to the ways the state can start addressing the issues.

Senior Environment Reporter Kelly House facilitated a discussion about one of the most controversial topics that will play a factor in races up and down the ballot: Data centers.

a woman gestures at an event registration desk — BridgeDetroit Managing Editor Christine Ferretti talks with an attendee at Bridge Michigan’s Issues Summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit on Oct. 21, 2026. (Brian Widdis for Bridge Michigan)

And Education Reporter Isabel Lohman moderated a panel about how Michigan can build a 21st-century workforce when its K-12 foundation is struggling.

Venessa Keesler, president and CEO of Launch Michigan, said the state is capable of fixing its education system.

“But we have to be really honest about the fact that Michigan starts and stops and starts and stops and starts and stops and we let politics come in. We make policy competitive and not collaborative. And who pays for that is our kids.”

Matt Mencarini is a Report for America corps member who covers data and accountability for Bridge Michigan.