State of Play Southeast Michigan
ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME 1 SCOREBOARD 2 THE 8 PLAYS 6 CALL FOR LEADERSHIP 22 GAME CHANGER 26 The Promise of Pro Teams IDEAS 28 APPENDICES 30 ENDNOTES 40 Report funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, with guidance provided by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan THE VISION Southeast Michigan communities in which all children have the opportunity to be active through sports WELCOME Southeast Michigan is one of the most diverse regions in the United States, from any number of perspectives. It covers broad swatches of farmland, suburbs, and urban neighborhoods. The region is also home to both affluent and low-income neighborhoods. Half of the state’s population lives in Metro Detroit, where families of many types and ethnicities—African American, Arab American/Middle Eastern, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, whites, and many others—pursue their slice of the evolving, often elusive American Dream. The region features riverfront and inland parks, 17 Fortune 500 corporations, world-class universities, and professional sports teams in four of the major leagues. Opportunity and diversity of challenge are the defining features of youth sports in the region, as well. This report offers an independent assessment of the state of play for kids and sports in the seven-county region comprising Southeast Michi- gan—Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, and St. Clair counties. It is anchored in the notion that all stakeholders will benefit if all children in the region, regardless of zip code or ability, are provided access to a quality sport experience. We know this from the body of research that has emerged over the past decade establishing the myriad benefits of physical activity.
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