Abstract:
The twin cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, have long been known for manufacturing, particularly Whirlpool Corp., and racial tension. Prominent accounts--including journalist Alex Kotlowitz's "The Other Side of the River"--account for racially motivated incidents and tragedies between two cities in which one, Benton Harbor, is predominantly African-American, while the other, St. Joseph, is principally white. This case tells the story of Whirlpool's elaborate and well-funded multi-year effort to stimulate economic development, racial reconciliation, and encourage tolerance. Whirlpool executives feared that the cities' reputation was impacting their ability to recruit top talent. The Whirlpool-funded Council for World-Class Communities was designed to use citizen-driven discussion, and planning, to create recommendations that would improve conditions in lower-income areas and make the metropolitan area more welcoming. In an ironic and sobering post-script, these efforts are undercut by a series of riots in Benton Harbor, which occur in the summer of 2003. These riots raise questions about the Council's effectiveness, and how it should proceed.
Learning Objective:
The case prompts discussion about community tolerance and diversity, business-government-community relations, the structure and effectiveness of citizen-based planning efforts, and economic development strategies for older industrial communities. See also Part B (1714.0).
