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A powerful story, told around the world.

Meet Jeanette, the founder and president of City Institute in Detroit. For more than 20 years, she has dedicated her life’s work to helping people better understand where they live and work — leading immersive tours and learning journeys that celebrate Detroit’s past, present, and future.

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Jeanette believes that Detroit is a living story shaped by relationships and resilience. City Institute invites people to see the city beyond headlines and misconceptions to offer context, history, and inspiration that encourage deeper community engagement.

Instituting real change in Detroit.

Instituting real change in Detroit.

City Institute was built on a powerful belief: the more we understand our city, the more we want to invest in it. For Jeanette, community starts with truly knowing the people around you — neighbors, small business owners, and local leaders — and feeling connected to something larger than yourself.
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“There’s a lot of misinformation about Detroit that’s been shared,” Jeanette explains. “What we do is provide context so people understand how we got here, how to engage in what’s happening now, and how to be part of creating what comes next.”
 
City Institute has taken more than 160,000 people on experiential tours around the city. And as a result, Detroit has become a model for others. Leaders from around the country and the world now choose City Institute to participate in learning journeys, carrying the lessons of Detroit back to their communities to spark positive change.

The people of Detroit inspire me every day. There are so many individuals in the city who have done so much with so little and made such a huge impact. And I’m honored to hear their stories.

Empowering the mission.

Empowering the mission.

Jeanette needed funding to expand and meet the increasing demand for new national and global audiences. But when she started shopping around to find a partner, her previous big bank wasn’t willing to help.
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“Lake Trust came to the rescue,” she says. With the support of our business loan options and business banking team, Jeanette has been able to multiply the positive impact of City Institute on a larger scale than ever before. Lake Trust team members even joined a City Institute tour to learn firsthand about Detroit’s neighborhoods and understand Jeanette’s mission, values, and long-term business goals.

It’s been incredible to see Lake Trust invest intentionally in Detroit and be a barrier breaker for small businesses and nonprofits. It’s amazing to know that we are part of something bigger in the Lake Trust community across Michigan.

Fueled by financial wellbeing.

Fueled by financial wellbeing.

Growing and sustaining the impact of City Institute requires financial clarity and support. Lake Trust has also been a partner in helping Jeanette navigate the financial side of growth and feel confident in the decisions ahead.

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Jeanette now has a team at Lake Trust who take the time to listen, answer questions, and help her understand her finances. This sense of financial wellbeing has given her the freedom to focus on connecting people to the evolving story of Detroit. Supported by a strong financial foundation, City Institute is now perfectly poised to help even more communities around the globe.

That’s the power of telling your story.

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