A national advocate for the importance of historic preservation in urban development will speak at Wayne State University Wednesday, June 21. Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will deliver the keynote address at the Richard C. Van Dusen Forum on Urban Issues.

To be held in historic St. Andrews Hall on the WSU campus, the program will begin at 9 a.m. and adjourn at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free.

Moe, an attorney who has held top administrative positions in city, state and national government, believes historic preservation can be a cost-effective economic development tool. He is co-author of Changing Places, a book that examines the causes of urban decline and how historic preservation can be used as a tool for revitalization. Under his leadership, the National Trust has become an outspoken advocate of controlling urban sprawl.

Moe will discuss the connection between historic preservation and the strengthening of urban communities. He strongly advocates using the legacy of buildings, spaces and places in planning and designing for the future and for creating a sense of community.

The Greater Downtown Partnership is cooperating with WSU's College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs in sponsorship of the forum. The event is made possible by an endowment from friends and family of the late Richard Van Dusen, a prominent lawyer, legislator, government administrator and civic activist who believed that the private and public sectors should work together to enhance the quality of urban life.

Early arrivals will enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. Advance confirmation of attendance at the forum is required.

For more information and a parking map, and to confirm attendance, call (313) 577-5071.