Mackinac Policy Conference: what exactly is this? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s a gathering of the state’s decision-makers and covers the local, county and state levels. It’s also a gathering that included Fusion, the group of which I’m a member. It’s the group for young professionals that is under the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. I attended to represent Mi Estilo, as well as Latinos, especially young, professionals such as me.

I will tell you that I felt a tremendous sense of purpose.  This wasn’t just about me but about us as a community. As I expected, there wasn’t much Latino representation. From what I saw, it turned out to be true. It’s hard to say if there were more or the reasons why. Nonetheless, I was there and I knew my purpose: I had to represent you-our present and future readers.

As the Conference progressed, I was getting tons of things done. Each and every person that I spoke with, heard about Mi Estilo. I wasn’t so much selling the magazine itself as I was the ideas that I want to see in it. I talked about the broad and progressive voice that I know we’re capable of having. To me, it’s a simple idea: let’s all start talking. I’ll tell you what-just about every person that heard this lit up when I told them. Latinos and non-Latinos alike were digging this simple but powerful idea.

Beside meeting some big names such as Ari Emanuel, I met some great people-fellow Fusion members that, in some cases, I hadn’t met until the Conference. As far as I’m concerned, these are the best and brightest that your region has to offer. I met some people that I can easily see becoming friends with. Not only did we have some serious questions and conversations about our region’s problems but lighter conversations as well. These serious and not-so-serious conversations could have only been possible with my fellow Fusion members.

As time passes and I see what fruit springs up from these seeds that I’ve planted, I hope that I’ve made all of you proud. I hope that I was able to be the spokesperson that I set out to be. What I can suggest is that if you ever get the opportunity to attend this conference that it will be one of the best things that you could ever do. The access to policymakers, businesspeople, etc is second to none. I want for next year to see more Latinos. I want to see more of everybody. These people need to hear what we have to say!

So as I wrap up this letter to you, I ask you to read some of what I wrote about the sessions that I sat in on. They were great and lots of ideas were shared with the audience. Take some of these and use them as seeds for what you will do. We need business. We need entrepreneurs. We need risk-takers. We need to find and nurture those leaders that will lift us out of these challenging times. We also need soldiers that are willing to do the hard work that is necessary to drive this revolution and to support the leaders. No matter which you are, I ask for you to step up.  Are you ready?

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez

Photo: Renee Gonyeau