Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland Mayor to Join Nation's Mayors in a Special Audience with Dalai Lama

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Rd. | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Mayor to Join Nation's Mayors in a Special Audience with Dalai Lama

The world renowned spiritual leader is scheduled to speak to US mayors about how to instill compassion in their cities. His speech comes in the wake of the recent violence in Orlando and elsewhere in the US.

Westland Mayor William R. Wild will be joining mayors from across the country in Indianapolis this week for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

"This is a unique opportunity to not only share ideas and discuss major issues affecting cities across the country," said Mayor Wild, "but it is important time in our history to focus on the role that compassion can play in building social innovation."

The Dalai Lama's keynote remarks will focus on the global significance of building kind and compassionate cities through Mayor's actions at the local level.

In addition to the keynote address, His Holiness will answer questions from

U.S. Mayors during a Q&A session following his remarks.

This is Wild's second meeting with the Dalai Lama. After their first meeting in 2012 in Louisville at the Festival of Faith, Mayor Wild was inspired to create Westland's own Compassionate City Program and Westland was the first city in Michigan to sign the Charter for Compassion.

The United States Conference of Mayors 84th Annual Meeting takes place Friday, June 24 - Monday, June 27.

Following the presentation, the Dalai Lama will be joined by singer and activist Lady Gaga for an onstage conversation. There will be an opportunity to ask both questions.

In addition, Each of the Presidential candidates has been invited to address the meeting, and to discuss The 2016 Mayors' Compact for a Better America: A Call to Action, which prioritizes urban issues, as well as their vision to strengthen the federal-local partnership and build strong cities and metro economies.

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.

The City of Westland is the 10th largest city in Michigan with a population of over 84,000. The city's residential development is an excellent blend of single family homes, apartments and condominiums. The broad selection of housing opportunities is complimented by over 1500 acres of well-maintained parks and nature trails as well as a highly rated municipal golf course. Also available is a skate park, ice arena, a state-of-the-art Library and novel city park themes that are fun and family-friendly.

Westland has the location, land, infrastructure, and leadership, under Mayor William R. Wild to attract new industry and help existing businesses redevelop properties and to maintain competitiveness in today's global economy. Six modern platted industrial parks on 320 acres are served by class "A" internal roads, with up to date utilities and rail access available within two of the parks. Westland is conveniently located within the center of southeastern Michigan's expressway system, minutes north of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and ideally located between downtown Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Westland is the area's premier "Shopping and Dining Destination". Westland Shopping center, one of the country's original four regional malls, boasts 80 retail stores and has anchored Westland's commercial district for more than 30 years. Westland's diversity and progressive planning offers residents a wide variety of life experiences, and make Westland truly the "All American City".