Detroit Homecoming encourages born-and-raised talent to come home

DETROIT (WJBK) - Leaders in business and politics converged Wednesday at the 5th annual Detroit Homecoming event at Little Caesars Arena.

The goal is to get Detroit-born and raised talent, people that have moved elsewhere and succeeded, and bring that right back here to the city. 

"We are open for business both within our existing facilities but also perhaps for new facilities as well," said Bill Ford Jr. 

Since the event started, the meeting of minds is credited with generating 300 million in investments into the city.

"It's really happening here. It feels very vital when I come," said Sara Jayne Boyers.

Los Angeles based photographer Sara Jayne Boyers was born in Detroit  but moved to California with her family when she was a year old, but in 2011 she took a pilgrimage back to Detroit, photographing her first house. Since then she's been hooked. 

"If I didn't have a major attachment before I definitely do now," she said.

Boyers has been a part of Detroit Homecoming since it's started.

"I grew up thinking everything comes out of California, the innovation. I've thought in the last few years everything is coming out of Detroit," she said.

Most importantly she says, Detroit Homecoming encourages these people to spread the story of Detroit around the world. 

"We who live in areas outside of Detroit are taking back the story of Detroit to those cities."