Detroit People Mover Champions

Each month, the Detroit People Mover celebrates a local hero who keeps our city moving – through education, health, joy, arts, business, or activism.

Jeanette Pierce

Jeanette Pierce is a lifelong Detroiter, social entrepreneur, and the Founder and President of City Institute, an organization that strengthens cities by helping residents and newcomers understand—and care deeply about—the places where they live and work. A self‑described data nerd and engaging storyteller, Jeanette has introduced more than 150,000 people to Detroit’s small businesses, historic neighborhoods, planning policies, and innovative solutions through experiential learning tours that blend statistics, history, and first‑person narratives. Her insights have been featured on stages such as Atlantic Magazine’s CityLab and the Governor’s Economic Summit, and her impact has earned her honors including the Detroit Free Press Shining Light Future Leader Award, Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40,” DBusiness “30 in Their 30s,” and the 2022 “Top 50 Women Leaders of Michigan.” Jeanette serves on the boards of the Michigan Municipal League Foundation and the Detroit Historical Society, holds a B.A. in communication from Aquinas College, and lives on Detroit’s Eastside with her husband and four‑year‑old triplets.