The D-9, a group of prominent Detroit-area speakers, returned to Wayne State for the 15th anniversary of the Wayne State University Alumni Association's Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives lecture series on Nov. 13.

The group discussed the topic "Detroit: City Upon a Hill." In 1630, Puritan John Winthrop predicted his Massachusetts Bay Colony would be become a city upon a hill, and admired by all. The panel addressed the issues and opportunities facing Detroit's own ascension to be a city upon a hill.

(Seated left to right) Judge Damon J. Keith, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; Cynthia Pasky, president, Strategic Staffing Solutions; Arthur L. Johnson, for whom the lecture series is named; David DiChiera, director general, Michigan Opera Theatre; and Graham Beal, director and CEO, Detroit Institute of Arts. (Standing left to right) Paul Hillegonds, senior vice president for corporate affairs, DTE Energy; Samuel Logan, publisher, Michigan Chronicle; Denise Ilitch, publisher, Ambassador magazine; Chacona Johnson, wife of Johnson; James Garavaglia, president, Wayne State University Alumni Association board of directors; Connie Calloway, superintendent, Detroit Public Schools; and moderator Craig Fahle, host of Detroit public radio station WDET's Detroit Today.

Detroit Deputy Mayor Saul Green, not pictured, also was a member of the panel discussion.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students.