Anika Goss

About

Anika Goss is the Chief Executive Officer of Detroit Future City (DFC), a think-and-do tank focused on land use and sustainability, community and economic development, and economic equity in Detroit. Anika leads a team of experts to implement the DFC Strategic Framework, a comprehensive 50-year guide to decision making and investment in Detroit. Anika Goss is a leading force and visionary in Detroit’s revitalization, playing a crucial role in Detroit as an advocate for an equitable and sustainable future for the city.

Since taking the helm of DFC, Anika has repositioned the organization to be laser-focused on the equitable implementation of its community and economic development and land use and sustainability departments and launched the Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research. Anika has led the development of several significant research studies, including the 2019 release of “Growing Detroit’s African-American Middle Class” and the 2021 release of “The State of Economic Equity in Detroit” along with a web-based dashboard that tracks overtime six indicators that illustrate the deep disparities that exist in Detroit and the region. She also has helped bolster the future of Detroit’s land use and sustainability through awarding over $330,000 in grants aimed at accelerating vacant land revitalization in Detroit and developing a dynamic community educational network of nearly 50 neighborhood leaders and nonprofits to develop standardized green stormwater infrastructure practices.

Anika joined the DFC after nearly 25 years of leadership in national and local roles in community development and non-profit management. Anika worked at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) for 16 years, with her most recent post as Vice President of the Midwest Region. In this role, Anika provided leadership, strategic and technical support for seven LISC offices in cities across the Midwest that reported directly to her. Her role included forging new partnerships, fund development support, program design and administrative leadership for LISC nationally. Before this, Anika served as LISC’s Vice President of Sustainable Communities, where she led the organization’s new strategic efforts to implement comprehensive community development as part of its Building Sustainable Communities program.

Anika’s work with LISC began in Detroit, where she served as the Detroit office executive director. She was noted for several major achievements while in this position, including managing a $40 million community development campaign, and designing and leading the campaign for the city’s first Land Bank Authority.

Anika also worked with the City of Detroit as its Director of Philanthropic Affairs and Executive Director of Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, leading an effort to transform six Detroit neighborhoods by improving city services and incorporating redevelopment strategies through public-private partnerships.

Anika’s leadership has been recognized in Detroit and nationally. Crain’s Detroit Business honored Anika as a Most Influential Women, a Notable Women in Non-Profits and a Forty under 40, The Michigan Chronicle recognized Anika as a Woman of Excellence, and she was awarded by Corps! Magazine as a Diversity Champion. Anika also serves on the board of national and local organizations including, The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program Network for Economic Inclusion, Tech Town, Connect Detroit, Michigan Future, Inc. and BMW-Herbert Quandt Responsible Leaders Network. She also serves on the Governor Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council, a state commission focusing on population growth.

Anika has had numerous speaking engagements, including her recent TED Talk “Detroit’s climate crisis—and how to build a resilient future everywhere.”

Anika has a master’s of social work in community organizing degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s of sociology and African-American studies degree from Purdue University.