On Friday, Nov. 1, Governor Tim Walz met with prominent leaders from Detroit’s African American community at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris’ Opportunity Agenda, with a focus on the Opportunity Agenda for Black Men. The meeting, part of the Harris-Walz campaign’s outreach efforts, underscored the importance of addressing economic and systemic challenges facing Black communities.
Governor Walz highlighted the Vice President’s Opportunity Economy, which seeks to provide equitable opportunities for success, including initiatives aimed at lowering costs, expanding home ownership, and fostering entrepreneurship.
“We’ve made it very clear there are two very, very different visions for this country,” said Walz. “One that’s very dark, devoid of any plans… [and] the Vice President, laying out a very clear vision of unity, being very willing to work together, but also laying out some very clear plans to make sure that every community is served.”
Attendees included key advisors like Brian E. Nelson from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Trey Baker of the Harris/Walz Campaign, along with business leaders such as Lane Coleman, Founder, President, and CEO of Strike Group LLC and Board Chair of the Detroit Institute of Arts; Shauna Vercher-Morrow, COO of Mario Morrow & Associates; and Charity Dean, President and CEO of the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA).
Dean, representing 1,700 Black-owned businesses across the state, voiced her enthusiasm for Harris’ small business proposals. “You don’t often hear that in a presidential campaign, an actual agenda for small business,” said Dean. “I just want to hear more about that… after we win on Tuesday.”
The discussion also addressed concerns about the younger generation’s skepticism toward Harris’ record on criminal justice.
Reginald Hartsfield, President of Advantage Management Group, shared a disheartening interaction he had with a young voter. “He said, ‘I’ve had issues with the criminal justice system all my life, and she represents that,'” Hartsfield recounted. Despite the young man’s reservations, Hartsfield emphasized the stakes of the election: “If Trump is president, he’s gonna be over all the court system as well… it’s gonna be worse.”
Governor Walz acknowledged the historical barriers to financial opportunities for Black communities, stressing the importance of trusted institutions. He cited the example of a Black-owned bank in Minnesota that effectively distributed loans during COVID-19, demonstrating the value of working with established community organizations to build trust.
The Harris-Walz campaign is making a final push to engage Black voters in Michigan, recognizing their crucial role in the election. The meeting underscored the campaign’s commitment to tackling longstanding disparities and uplifting Black entrepreneurs and community leaders. As Walz explained, “Why are resources going here? Because they have been underserved.”
Walz’s visit to the Detroit area also included a stop at the United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 1A Union Hall in Taylor, Michigan, where he spoke about protecting workers’ rights and boosting the auto industry. He contrasted the Trump administration’s record—280,000 manufacturing jobs lost, including 9,000 in the auto industry—with the Harris-Walz administration’s creation of over 400,000 jobs in Michigan.
Joining Walz at the UAW event were Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II (D-MI), and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI). Each delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of voter turnout and union strength. “When unions are strong, America is strong,” Walz declared.
As Election Day approaches, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are intensifying their efforts in Michigan, with Harris making stops in Detroit, Pontiac, and East Lansing. On Election Eve, Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz will participate in a final rally in Detroit, part of a nationwide push to mobilize voters in all seven battleground states.
