Northwest Wayne News

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has announced the appointment of Tepfirah Rushdan as the new Director of the Office of Sustainability, effective April 12. Rushdan will be succeeding Jack Akinlosotu, who is stepping down to pursue a new opportunity in the field of climate change and sustainability.

Rushdan, who currently serves as Detroit’s Director of Urban Agriculture, has been actively involved in promoting urban farming initiatives and enhancing city policies to support local agriculture. Mayor Duggan expressed confidence in Rushdan's abilities, stating, "Tepfirah’s life’s work has been environmental stewardship and with her outstanding leadership skills, she is the perfect person to lead our sustainability office forward."

In her new role, Rushdan will oversee the implementation of the city’s solar neighborhood project and other initiatives outlined in the Detroit Climate Strategy. She will also continue her work in urban agriculture, with a focus on selecting a new Director to lead those efforts under her guidance.

Reflecting on her appointment, Rushdan shared her enthusiasm for Detroit's potential to become a national leader in municipal sustainability, stating, “Detroiters are creative and resilient, and I believe we have real potential to become a national leader in municipal sustainability. I’m humbled to have the opportunity to steward our city’s efforts at a very exciting time in this journey.”

Acknowledging Akinlosotu's contributions, Chief Strategy Officer Trisha Stein remarked, “Jack has helped lay the foundation for the work that will continue for years to come. We greatly appreciate his contributions to creating a more sustainable Detroit.”

Rushdan's immediate focus will be on the city’s solar neighborhood project, which aims to repurpose vacant land with solar arrays to power municipal buildings. She will work closely with residents and vendors involved in the project as Detroit moves towards a more sustainable future under her leadership.