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Mayor Duggan names city’s first Director of Sustainability

Detroit has hired a new sustainability director who will guide the city’s efforts to strengthen the economic, social and environmental well-being of the city’s residents, neighborhoods and businesses. Joel Howrani Heeres began his new position on Monday, May 22. In this role, he will lead a new sustainability office, which will work to strengthen coordination among Detroit’s municipal departments; build partnerships with neighborhoods, businesses and philanthropic and non-governmental organizations; secure new funding for the city, achieve operational savings for the city.

In Detroit, sustainability issues have a direct effect on residents’ daily lives, from public transit options. Detroit has achieved several sustainability-related milestones in recent years, including the launch of the QLine streetcar, conversion of the city’s 59,000 streetlights to LEDs, adoption of green demolition practices for vacant home demolitions, securing $9 million in federal funding to enhance the city’s resiliency, opening a 10-acre solar array at O’Shea Park, and $11.7 million in investments to renovate 40 city parks and playgrounds. Howarani Heeres’ appointment and the creation of a sustainability office will support and accelerate these types of projects.

More than 150 cities nationwide have established sustainability offices, and Howrani Heeres will build on the experience of those cities to bring best practices to Detroit. Howrani Heeres was chosen from among a field of more than 200 applicants from across the country. A Detroit resident for 13 years, he has served in multiple roles in municipal government, non-profit organizations and the corporate sector, including his most recent role leading the City of Detroit’s efforts to improve its enterprise data governance and expand public access to City information as Director of Open Data and Analysis in the city’s department of Innovation and Technology.

David Manardo, group executive for operations expressed his feelings saying that he is excited to have Joel join the team and look forward to him developing sustainability programs and policies that will tangibly improve the lives of all those who live and work the city.

Howrani Heeres received a master’s degree in urban planning and a bachelor’s degree in economics and anthropology from the University of Michigan.

 
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