In June of 2021, Mary Sheffield passed a resolution in support of Reparations and started a working group to move the cause forward. Then, partnering with the Michigan Democratic Black Caucus, a Reparations Task Force ballot initiative was established which garnered over 80% of the vote during the election in November of 2021. The mission of the task force is to help further exploration of the feasibility and ability of the City of Detroit to create, develop, and implement community reparations for the mass historic unjust treatment of Detroit's majority Black population by making recommendations for housing and economic development programs that address historical discrimination against the Black community in Detroit.

The Task Force consists of thirteen (13) members. An Executive Committee of three (3) ad hoc working coordinators and nine (9) Members at large. The Reparations Task Force shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the City Council no later than the date that is eighteen (18) months from the date of the first meeting of the Reparations Task Force, which was in June of 2023.

Through the City's first-ever Homeless Task Force, created by Sheffield the city has implemented a housing-first approach to servicing individual's experiencing homelessness. However, there is still a need to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness are still afforded every right most residents enjoy. It is her mission that individuals experiencing homelessness are not treated as second-class citizens.

Thus, she introduced a resolution creating a "Homeless Bill of Rights" that codifies certain rights for homeless individuals staying in publicly funded temporary shelters. Some of the rights we will be intentional about affording those experiencing homelessness which include the ability to move about free of harassment or intimidation, access to emergency medical care, equal access to voting, access to employment opportunities, and access to supportive housing.

Prison labor and the exploitation of inmate workers is the modern-day form of slavery in America. In the spirit of the original chapter in the City Code dealing with slavery disclosures, Sheffield thought it would be prudent and in line with the City's values to require potential contractors to disclose any relationships with prisons and amended the code to require this new affidavit.

Council President Mary Sheffield has always been a staunch advocate for small businesses. In that vein, in 2024 she created and allocated funding for the City's first ever Detroit Legacy Business Fund. The Detroit Legacy Business Project aims to preserve and support small businesses that have operated in Detroit for over 30 years, contributing significantly to the city's cultural identity and character through their products, services, and customer service. The program will offer financial and technical assistance to these longstanding businesses to ensure their continued success and impact on the community.

In May 2023, Sheffield sponsored the Juneteenth Paid City Holiday Ordinance which establishes Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city employees. This day is crucial to recognize and commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. It not only acknowledges the historical significance of this day, but also demonstrates a commitment to equality and justice for all. Providing a paid day off honors the ongoing struggle for civil rights and foster inclusivity in our society. Together with the city's Law Department and the OCFO, she able to do this in a way that has a lower impact on the city financially. As the City Council President of one of the blackest cities in America, it is imperative that Detroit acknowledges the sacrifices and successes of Black ancestors.

The CROWN Act was developed to extend the provisions of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, with the goal of promoting a more respectful environment for natural hair. The CROWN Coalition is a partnership with Dove, National Urban League, Color of Change and Western Center on Law and Poverty that is dedicated to ending their hair bias discrimination in the workplace. By prohibiting race-based hair discrimination, the Crown Act promotes equality and inclusivity in schools and workplaces. It recognizes the cultural significance of diverse hairstyles and protects individuals from being unfairly judged or treated differently due to their natural hair texture or style choice. On August 14, 2023, Council President Mary Sheffield made a request for the inclusion of this Act into the Detroit City Code, which would safeguard City of Detroit employees against discrimination based on their race-related hairstyles.

In November 2021, City Council passed the Industry Standards Board Ordinance, sponsored by Council President Sheffield. This ordinance allows for the creation of a 9-member Industry Standards Board that will conduct outreach, investigate local working conditions, and report to City Council with recommendations to improve workplace environments to strengthen our workforce. In Spring of 2023, Council approved the establishment of the nation's first ever Industry Standards Board for Sports Arenas. Anyone looking to establish an Industry Standards Board in their field must start by picking up a petition packet from the City Clerk.

The ordinance, authored and sponsored by Council President Sheffield, in partnership with the Laborer's International Union of North America and Local 1191, provides two (2) new voluntary 6% equalization credits for contractors who pay living wages, give employees benefits and provide retirement benefits, and for contractors who have registered apprenticeship programs for their employees. In addition, the ordinance requires clearances calling on Contractors to affirm they have the requisite licensing and workplace safety training for employees performing covered work under City of Detroit contracts. As evident by a recent U of M study, workers have been left behind during Detroit's resurgence and the Responsible Contracting Ordinance attempts to inject our values, with respect to workers, into the hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts the City of Detroit procures every year.