Each spring, the Detroit Regional Chamber convenes the state’s most influential political and business minds for the Mackinac Policy Conference – a marquee event meant to shape Michigan’s future. In 2025, the Chamber doubled down on themes like talent retention, economic growth, and infrastructure, wrapping it all under the banner of “Michigan’s Equation for Impact.” And while the high-level conversations were relevant, smart, and often hopeful, one thing was clear to many: the equation for real impact is incomplete without more diverse voices at the table.

At its best, the conference lived up to its billing. Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered a strong address, focusing on bipartisan unity and forward-looking goals such as improving literacy, supporting military infrastructure, and attra

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