Coleman Young statue effort gains momentum

• An event Tuesday at the Wright Museum of African American History will celebrate progress and invite the public to help finish fundraising.
• It'll also seek support for the foundation's scholarship and job development work.

What to expect: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Mayor Mary Sheffield and other leaders are scheduled to speak — as well as the commissioned sculptor, Austen Brantley.

• All living Detroit mayors are slated to attend, according to Khary Turner, the foundation's executive director.

Context: The bronze Young statue would join the Capitol building's National Statuary Hall Collection with 100 historical figures from U.S. states.

• Michigan is replacing its marble statue of Lewis Cass, the territorial governor who supported slavery. Michigan's other statue is of former President Gerald Ford.

Follow the money: The statue's financial supporters include the DTE Foundation, businesspeople John A. James and Suzanne Shank, the Ilitch family and Dan Gilbert's Bedrock.

• Turner estimates the cost of the statue at about $1 million and says "we're close."
• He expects the statue to be unveiled as soon as late 2027.

Flashback: Detroit's longest-serving and first Black mayor led the city for two decades starting in 1974. He died in 1997.

• Young left behind a sweeping legacy, including integrating the police, driving development and creating "unprecedented opportunity" for Black employees and businesses, according to the foundation.

What's next: Stream the announcement at 5pm Tuesday on the foundation's Facebook page.