His calling is clear: to provide platforms for Black people to express their power and expertise. Rooted in his faith and radical love for his community, Orlando P. Bailey is a passionate advocate for Detroiters as experts in their lived experience.

Meet Orlando P. Bailey, a lifelong Detroiter who learned how to practice community building and storytelling in the neighborhood where he was born.

Passionate about shifting the narrative of Black cities and neighborhoods, Bailey is an Emmy Award winning journalist, Director of Engagement for BridgeDetroit, co-host of the podcast Authentically Detroit, and host of Urban Consulate, bringing people together to share ideas for more just and equitable communities. Previously, he worked for nearly a decade in community engagement and development at Eastside Community Network, where he now serves on the board.

A sought-after voice for community dialogues and media, Bailey has appeared on stages and screens for American Black Journal on Detroit Public TV, The Aspen Institute, SXSW, Next City, Canadian Urban Institute, The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers, The Neighborhoods and more.

In February 2023, he was invited to The White House to meet with the Biden Administration and Vice President Kamala Harris for a series of roundtables with Black trailblazers on advancing equity and opportunity for the future.

About This Session

In this Urban Consulate masterclass, Bailey shares the urgency of the griot, the importance of documenting the observation, and the need to get more Black voices on the record, including lessons on:

Shifting the Narrative
Telling Your Story
Practicing Community Storytelling
How to Conduct An Interview
Equitable Media Sourcing

How To Watch

Watch on your own time, at your own pace — or invite friends or colleagues to watch together and discuss! Share your favorite wisdom by tagging @UrbanConsulate hashtag #InSession. We’d love to hear what lessons inspire, challenge, and enlighten you most.

This class is available for free to the public thanks to generous support from the Ford Foundation. With deep gratitude to Orlando for sharing his knowledge and expertise.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

In 2010, Bailey was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from Eastern Michigan University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Since then, Bailey has had the privilege to interview hundreds of visionaries and changemakers, including Dr. Cornel West, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, Dr. Andre M. Perry and more.

In 2015, he was selected as an Emerging City Champion by Knight Foundation and 880 Cities in Toronto. In 2019, Bailey traveled across Europe with The German Marshall Fund of the United States. In 2020, he was named a BMe Vanguard Fellow.

Bailey has served on the boards of One Detroit Credit Union, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Teen Hype, Jefferson East, Inc. and Eastside Community Network. He resides on the Eastside of Detroit.