Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, 07/12/12

Former Governor of Michigan, Faculty at UC Berkeley, Host of "The War Room with Jennifer Granholm" on Current TV

Bain Capital took jobs away, closed companies, devastated communities. And to add insult to injury, Mitt Romney made millions off those empty desks, foreclosed homes, displaced families and shattered dreams.

Paul Ruth, 07/13/12

Secondary English teacher

I can remember going to the Detroit Institute of Arts for the first time on a school trip. Art plays an important role in free society. Art is seeing what isn't there, and art education provides creative thinking skills.

Vince Carducci, 07/12/12

Assistant Dean and Interim Chair of Fine Arts, College for Creative Studies

While most art institutions have wound down for the summer, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit has been busy cranking things up. The companion exhibitions now on view are arguably the most timely and thought-provoking in recent memory.

Patrick Geans-Ali, 07/13/12

Communications coordinator, East Michigan Environmental Action Council

Having the state live up to its legally binding obligations to the city is worth fighting for. That is especially so when the alternative amounts to a complete abandonment of every principle that has made our society worth living in.

Stephanie Penn, 07/13/12

Editor at DailyVenusDiva.com

Last month, Full & Fabulous Organization hosted "A Rose Is Still A Rose" debutante ball, presenting 13 metro Detroit girls as poised young women with a renewed sense of self-esteem.

Jason Lorimer, 07/10/12

Interaction Designer & Lead Strategist @Dandelion

A vibrant downtown is not, by itself, the answer to Detroit's problems. However, few would argue that it's not of particular importance as an anchor point for a significantly improved local economy.

John Corso, 07/12/12

Art critic

Detroit has no venues like NYC's The Kitchen, and Performa never makes its way to Michigan. But perhaps the appearance of The Hinterlands at MOCAD marks an important milestone in our city's cultural offerings.

Rabbi Jason Miller, 07/13/12

Entrepreneurial Rabbi, Technologist & Rabbi Without Borders

I thought of the Moses-Joshua relationship and the Torah's concept of inheritance and succession as I watched Prince Fielder hoist his Home Run Derby trophy high above his head. His sons flanked him on either side. His father was no where in sight.

Richard Schiffman, 07/12/12

Journalist

Republicans are right, of course: cleaning up the air can be expensive. But as president Obama -- and even Mitt Romney in his better moments -- must realize, it is not nearly so costly as failing to act.

Anne Maxfield, 07/12/12

Entrepreneur, Blogger at Accidental Locavore

Since it's getting to be peak Farmers' Market season, I talked to a couple of farmers who have been at the various Greenmarkets in New York City for years. As you can imagine, they've seen it all.

Arianna Huffington, 07/09/12

We cannot overestimate the devastating human consequences of our unemployment crisis. But we also must not miss out on spotlighting what is working. That's the belief behind the new jobs section we're launching today, Opportunity: What Is Working.

Alex French and Howie Kahn, 07/10/12

On July 1, 1987, WFAN, a 24-hour sports talk radio station, broadcasting out of a sub-basement in Queens, hit the air. It didn't come out of nowhere, exactly. The format had been evolving.

Ann Brenoff, 07/10/12

Senior Writer, The Huffington Post

Tell me more about what it was like back then, my son urged. Well, I never rode in a car seat as a baby, I told him. In fact, my mom held me on her lap, juggling me and a cigarette at the same time.

Craig Newmark, 07/09/12

Founder, craigslist and craigconnects.org

Now we've got the Internet, held together with code, infrastructure where people can build tools which unite regular people for collective influence. The Net tends to level the playing field, and that tendency only increases over time. That is, the Internet is dramatically lowering the cost of influence and power.