Mission Statement

Detroit Equity Report is a nonprofit conceived by Bishop Edgar Vann and developed in partnership with attorney and civic leader Bertram Marks dedicated to helping Detroit’s corporate community utilize data to craft solutions to help disadvantaged communities break the cycle of poverty and access economic mobility.

Detroit Equity Report has partnered with Wayne State University's Damon J. Keith School of Civil Rights to gather relevant data on equity gaps in Michigan and present those findings to businesses, civic leaders and other institutions along with data driven solutions to increase equity and prosperity in our community. These areas include but are not limited to healthcare, representation in corporations, representation in purchasing and vending, K-12 education, auto and home insurance, and access to capital. 

  36%

• Detroit residents live below the poverty line which is $23,000 for a family of four.

5

Detroit is ranked #5 of impoverished communities.

200,000

African American residents in Detroit live in poverty.

12%

African Americans make up 12% of the American population.

3.2%

Only 3.2% of senior leadership of large corporations are African American.

  8%

African Americans make up only 8% of Fortune 500 CEO positions.

Why Our Mission is So Important

Metro Detroit remains one of the most racially segregated areas in the country. African
Americans make up more than 80% of Detroit’s population. 200,000 African American
Detroiters live in poverty.

Wayne State University’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights describes the Metro Detroit
region as “ground zero” for spatial-structural racism. The Coronavirus pandemic underscores
the fact that these issues are matters of life and death for our community. The recent outcries
over the murders of George Floyd and so many other incidents of injustice have once again put
a spotlight on the need for racial justice, equity and inclusion in all aspects of American life.
 

Board of Directors