Former Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer to Release Memoir

DETROIT, Dec. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit is the comeback city of the millennium, and a new book by former Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer recounts how his eight-year administration manifested its slogan to "Let the Future Begin" — by laying the foundation for Detroit as it's celebrated today. Let the Future Begin documents former Mayor Archer's life story and his role in promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, as well as his role in restoring Detroit to its former glory. 

"I wrote this story for my grandsons and for youth from all walks of life to show, that with education and hard work, you can rise above difficult circumstances and become successful in ways that uplift yourself, your family, and your community," said the former Detroit mayor. "That's why I chose the title Let the Future Begin because it serves as my official record of how our citizens joined our leaders in government, business and the nonprofit sector in a collaboration to rebuild Detroit." 

Throughout his eight years as mayor, the Archer administration was responsible for developing multiple projects throughout the city such as Campus Martius, the city's three casinos, Ford Field, Comerica Park, the General Motors world headquarters in the Renaissance Center, the Compuware Building that is now called One Campus Martius, the RiverWalk, along with many projects throughout Detroit's neighborhoods.

"An inflection point in history occurred when Dennis Archer was elected mayor…We wanted to make voting for Dennis Archer a vote for what the future could be," said David Axelrod, former Chief Strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns and present CNN Commentator. "So, when we said, 'Let the Future Begin!' it was really not about him. It was about Detroit. And it was about what the city and community could do together to build a better future."

Written in collaboration with bestselling Detroit author, journalist and TV host Elizabeth Ann Atkins, the book is published by Atkins & Greenspan Writing and is available in hardcover, paperback and eBook format. The cover features a painting of Mayor Archer by the late international artist and feminist Patricia Hill Burnett, a renowned portrait artist who has painted notable names such as Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Michelle Engler and the original Edsel Ford.

Mr. Archer served as the mayor of Detroit from 1994 through 2001. Prior to that, he was an associate justice on the Michigan Supreme Court (1986-90). In 2003, he made history as the first person of color to become president of the 400,000-member American Bar Association, which once banned African Americans.  He was also the first person of color to become president of the State Bar of Michigan (1984-85), and was president of the Wolverine Bar Association (1979-80), National Bar Association (1983-84), and the National League of Cities (1994-2001). Let the Future Begin will officially be released today.  It will be available for purchase on amazon.com, and will soon be available on bn.com and at several Metro Detroit bookstores.

SOURCE Dennis W. Archer