Pitch your idea for Detroit
The Public Allies Civic Slam funds what Detroiters already want to build. Bring your team, bring your plan, and pitch it live! Two winning projects take home up to $8,000 each — plus a year of hands-on support to implement their Civic Action Projects in Detroit.
Concept videos are due September 27, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern.
The challenge
One stage, two categories.
Art as Civic Action
Use creative work as a civic tool! Think visual art, music, storytelling, performance, media, and more. Use it to open dialogue, tell the truth about something, shift a narrative, preserve culture, or bring more people into democracy.
Award: up to $8,000
Civic Action for the Public Good
Community organizing and collective action through mutual aid, advocacy, public education, leadership development, community problem-solving, or coalition building. Work that strengthens a community and grows its collective power.
Award: up to $8,000
Whichever track you choose, your Civic Action Project (opens in a new tab) needs to address at least one of these:
- Stronger DemocracyEngaging people in civic life and protecting the democratic process.
- Economic OpportunityPathways to stability through organizing, workforce innovation, and community enterprise.
- A Stronger Safety NetExpanding access to essential supports where systems fall short.
Eligibility & how it works
Your team needs
- Up to 8 people
- At least one Public Allies Detroit alum Don't know one? That's OK — email detroitoffice@publicallies.org (opens in a new tab) and we'll connect you.
- A project focused on the City of Detroit Your project has to serve opportunities inside the city limits, but team members are welcome to live anywhere.
- No age or education requirements
- An original concept — name anyone outside the team who helped shape it
- Under $10,000 in revenue to date
Introduce your team, the community issue, and your solution. Share it as a public link. Anything over five minutes is disqualified. Advancing teams announced October 5.
Not sure what to pitch? See examples of Civic Action Projects (opens in a new tab).
Five minutes to present slides, a skit, a rap, a prototype, your call! Then up to five minutes of questions from the judges. Finalist teams get a $250 stipend to prepare.
Rules, rubric, & FAQ
Read the official rules (opens in a new tab), the judging rubric (opens in a new tab), and our frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab) before you apply.
Awards & in-kind support
Twelve months of in-kind support from Public Allies through coaching, storytelling and communications help, grant writing, organizing guidance, and connections across the national Public Allies Alumni network.
"Changing the face of leadership in Detroit."
Ismael Ahmed launched Public Allies Detroit in 2013 in partnership with the University of Michigan–Dearborn, and envisioned 10,000 Public Allies alumni across the city. The Civic Slam is a step toward that.
Show up for
your city
Explore our Civic Action Program (opens in a new tab)
Have a question? Check out this FAQ (opens in a new tab) or reach out to detroitoffice@publicallies.org (opens in a new tab)
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