Lessons from Detroit: Politics, Perspective & Penny Reds

Pictured: Tonya Schumaker, former State Representative and MPLP co-leader; Craig DeRoche, former State Representative and MPLP Grad; and Rudy Hobbs, former State Representative and MPLP co-leader.

The Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) takes up a lot of my free time—once a month, for ten months, I meet with my cohort and we dive deep into all things political. It’s a big commitment, but I can already tell it’s one of those “you get out what you put in” experiences. And five sessions in, I’m really starting to feel the magic of it.

This past weekend, our session was in Detroit, and it was packed with insight, tough conversations, and surprising moments of personal growth.

Learning from Mistakes (Even Big Ones)

One of the more sobering parts of the weekend was hearing from leaders who made serious missteps in their careers or personal lives.

• Craig DeRoche, a former Speaker of the Michigan House, shared openly about how his struggle with alcoholism eventually brought him down. Fun Fact: He’s and MPLP Alum!

• Andre Spivey, a former Detroit City Councilman, talked about unethical decisions he made while serving the public.

It was heavy, but powerful. What I took away from those conversations was this: it's easy to say, "That would never be me." But the truth is, we all need to know where our line is and hold it firmly.

One questionable decision, then another, and another… if no one says anything, it snowballs. That little snowball can turn into an avalanche before you even realize it. And it reminded me just how important accountability and integrity are, especially in public service.

Pictured: Rudy Hobbs and Andre Spivey.

Real Talk: Balancing MPLP with Real Life

Let me just say: I really like this program. But if I could go back in time, I wish I’d done it when I was younger. Balancing family, work, and disappearing for 20+ hours once a month while Jake works weekends? It’s no small thing.

I’m not saying it’s impossible, but if you’re deep in the thick of life like I am, you’ve got to be intentional. This isn’t a passive class, you’ll only get the most out of it if you really give the most to it.

If you’re younger and even thinking about politics: do it. This program is a no-brainer. Here’s the link to apply: https://ippsr.msu.edu/political-leadership/michigan-political-leadership-program-mplp/apply

Pictured: Some of my MPLP Pals

Friday Night Fun at the Brakeman

After presentations, my cohort and I headed out Friday night and ended up at The Brakeman—an open-concept bar with multiple drink stations where you purchased drink tokens prior to ordering. I ordered a hot honey chicken sandwich from Penny Reds, and made a hot beer, (where you take hot sauce and rim your lawnmower beer, I learned this from my colleague Todd Olson and I’ve never looked back!) and let me tell you, it hit the spot.

Confession: I haven’t really spent time in Downtown Detroit since I was a kid—aside from a couple Tigers and Lions games. I mean, let’s be real, the West Side is the best side! 😄 But this night gave me a whole new appreciation. The summer air, the energy, the vibe… it honestly reminded me a lot of Miami. (I know that sounds weird, but go there on a warm night and tell me you don’t feel it too.)

Pictured: Some of my MPLP pals.

A Table of Perspectives

So there I was, sitting at the table with three of my MPLP friends—naturally talking politics, as we do.

• To my left, my pal, a Christian, married to a Muslim.

• Across from me, my atheist friend.

• To my right, my buddy who practices Hinduism.

And I had this moment. Like, when else in my life would I organically build friendships with this mix of people?

That’s when I really found a deeper appreciation for this program. I love being challenged. I love learning new perspectives. And not once did I feel like I had to prove anything—I just wanted to connect. It could have been my “hot” beer, but it really just felt a little magical.

Pictured: Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon enjoying the walking tour of Downtown Detroit.

Other Highlights from the Weekend

• Chuck Marshall, VP of Transmission Planning at ITC Holdings Corp., gave us insight on energy infrastructure.

• We took a Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Detroit with journalist Ken Coleman from Michigan Advance, an awesome way to ground our learning in local history.

• We also heard from a panel discussing the Detroit Mayoral Race. It was thought-provoking!

Final Thoughts

This weekend reminded me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being curious, humble, and grounded in your values. Whether it’s through open conversation, learning from mistakes, or finding common ground with people who see the world differently, I’m grateful for every messy, meaningful moment.

If you’re thinking about getting involved in public leadership, MPLP is a gift—and I’m honored to be in it.