Monday mornings here in Detroit, I wake up at 8am and am downstairs unlocking my bike at 8:45, or more likely a few minutes later. Chris and I bike on Cass to work along with David and Liza and Divya and Ben, our back packs bouncing from the uneven side walks and construction we navigate. We split off to our separate non-profits at Burroughs and wish each other a good day. Chris and I stroll into the NextEnergy atrium, thankful for the ac and excited for free food at the 9am company wide breakfast meeting. It's always cool to see Jean, the CEO, in action leading the meeting and all the NextEnergy employees participating in one of Kyle's ice breakers before sharing updates. At 10am, I settle into my desk and catch up on weekend emails and review my calendar for the day. Most likely, I'll have a meeting with Gina sharing my latest recommendations for how NextEnergy could better tell its story or a meeting with Charlie to learn about the latest technology updates in the NextHome. I spend the rest of the morning doing independent work and periodically finding excuses to go the kitchen to fill up my water bottle or make myself tea for an extra caffeine boost. Right at noon I grab my lunch, usually a spinach salad or dinner leftovers, and head outside with Chris to meet David and Liza who work across the street. We walk a few blocks to a sitting area in a small corner park across from the Fisher building where we find Divya and Ben. Days that we all get to eat together outside are so much fun, the perfect break from a desk job. Usually we'll vote on which restaurant to go for Tuesday's dinner outing or play around sending silly pictures in our group me. Getting back to NextEnergy at 1pm, Chris and I will meet in the atrium to work on one of our group projects such as doing calculations together for a one pager or practicing our smart city presentation. Then we'll grind out a few hours of independent work amidst trips to the snack drawer, conveniently located right by our desks. At 5pm, we shoot each other a text to see if we are ready to pack it up and then we head out to our bikes and chat animatedly as we cruise back to University Tower. Back in the girls room, I change out of work clothes and begin to map out the adventure of preparing dinner. Lately my go-to has been shrimp and veggies in sweet thai chili sauce. We all hang out while Liza plays country music and I catch up some Netflix to unwind a bit. Then most of us are off to slow roll, the Monday evening bike ride where thousands of Detroiters come together to bike through a neighborhood on all different bikes from wacky to fancy to our creaky old ones. We chit chat as we roll along, trying not to tip over from going to slow, try to follow someone with big speakers. When our roll comes to an end, I shower and eat my dinner and try to rally the group to watch a movie together. My movie choice usually gets vetoed by David, but on a good day I can usually get someone to respond to my suggestion on group me. Then its popcorn time or even better, on a girls movie night, time to dive into the cookie dough stash!
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Later that night, we talked about the controversy of Detroit's ruins. There is no doubt that ruins of every era captivate people and attract attention. Detroit's Michigan Central Station has been hailed the equivalent to Rome's Colosseum. But for a city that has fallen so quickly so recently, the 20th century urban ruins are also a reminder of Detroit's decay. The ruins are both a lens to a much greater time and should be treasured, but they are also a stark reminder of Detroit's problems and hindrance to revitalization. This has sparked debate about how to engage with people who come to Detroit to gawk at the ruins and what should be done with the urban decay. I find this debate very interesting because no one is running around Rome calling for the demolition of the Colosseum or the Roman Forum. Does it take time to make Detroit's ruins great and worth saving? Or is it rather a story a of public relations gone wrong? At the DukeEngage academy, we were asked to think about how depict the communities we're serving in and how to do it in a truthful way without perpetuating stereotypes. As a DukeEngage Detroit group, we have seen firsthand how there is so much more to Detroit than vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and urban decay. But all stereotypes are seeded in a small amount of truth. The truth is that the recent ruins in Detroit are still very much a part of the city today. Current city policy still very much revolves around how to fight blight, when to demolish buildings, when to restore them, and how do we fund both of those initiatives. {Full article about the Packard Plant and its undetermined fate} The debate how to handle the ruins themselves goes much deeper than just wanting to demolish them or renovate them. Demolishing buildings is extremely costly and razing the Packard Plant is about as expensive as it gets. On the other hand, turning the Packard Plant into functional space- whether it be commercial, residential, or multi-use- is also expensive and many are skeptical that development of the Packard Plant site will spark economic revitalization in that area. The city has also had higher priorities. While the Packard Plant is the largest blighted area in Detroit, a bankrupt city can't fix all problems all at once. The plant was recently sold to a developer at a Wayne County property auction. The plant is currently owned by Spanish developer Fernando Palazuelo, who has plans to turn into a multi-purpose space, a mix of commercial and residential space. He claims the vision will come to life in the next 10-15 years and renovations will cost about $120 per sq ft. However, residents near the abandoned plant are disgusted with the city's inaction before the auction and would rather see the plant razed. This connects to the issue of democracy in Detroit's rebirth and discussion around private revitalization leaving key voices out of the conversation. Despite the debate on what should be done, a common belief is that something needs to be done. Detroit's ruins cannot be separated from its reputation of decline, no matter what revitalization occurs in Downtown, Midtown, and Corktown. The Packard Plant and other blighted areas are still the tired dominant story in Detroit's PR campaign and will continue to overshadow the already significant progress. If you notice the first picture in this post, you notice the decaying buildings of the Packard Plant are in the foreground, while the Downtown skyline is in the background. This is a symbolic representation of how people view Detroit. I, personally, would like to see the Packard Plant renovated into a new space with as much of the original kept as possible. This plant is a part of Detroit's history, and it's fall into ruin a small part of Detroit's truth that should not be lost. But this small truth should not overpower the many other wonderful things about Detroit and it's history. Below are pictures of Detroit's larger truth. Pictured below are a variety of neighborhoods and Detroit experiences like the Slow Roll and the Motown Museum. Last week, my older sister and a Duke friend coincidentally sent me links to the same New York Times article. The article, titled, “Last stop on the L Train: Detroit,” by Jennifer Conlin, explains and contextualizes the migration of many New Yorkers to Detroit (here’s the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/fashion/last-stop-on-the-l-train-detroit.html?_r=0). While the subject matter intrigued me, it’s the individuals featured in the article that stood out to me. They did a great job of verbalizing some of my own thoughts in the six weeks I’ve been here.
One of the New Yorkers, Ben Wolf, moved to Detroit in response to Brooklyn’s soaring housing prices. He viewed Detroit’s affordable real estate as an opportunity to start a business, and a few years in Detroit have made him a profitable entrepreneur. Since coming to Detroit though, Wolf has altered his perception, saying, “I came here thinking I might help save Detroit, and instead it has saved me.” Though dramatic, that quote really struck me as I, too, have been humbled by my experience here. When we arrived on June 6th, our cohort had the impression that we could save Detroit. And why not? For many Duke students, accomplishing goals has always come easy…making a tangible, positive impact on a community would be no different. We couldn’t wait to save the city and further its revitalization; however, I soon realized how one-sided my views were. Here I was, coming into Detroit as an outsider, expecting to bring my own knowledge and skills to better the city. What I didn’t anticipate was how much the city would better me. “Newcomers need to realize Detroit residents have been working to find solutions to the city’s problems for decades and should respectfully join natives’ efforts, rather than presume to have the answers.” This quote from the Conlin's article perfectly sums up my shift in mindset. I came here so ready for the city to embrace my work that it didn’t occur to me to take a step back and embrace the city that already exists. Whether its Corktown, the New Center, or the abandoned Packard factory, every mile of Detroit has a story behind it, and I’ve begun to realize that listening to those stories is more important than rolling up the sleeves and saying, “I’m ready to help.” I’ve since learned how misguided and disrespectful it is to come to an existing community almost assuming that what you have to offer is more valuable than what’s already been done there. Toby Barlow, another former New Yorker who migrated to Detroit, also raises a great point that has helped hone my ambition. He realized that “Because the city has been through so much, we are ahead of the nation on all the big conversations like race and class.” That’s such an understated takeaway from Detroit. Yes, there are some racial tensions (i.e. the predominantly white, upper-class area of Grosse Pointe building walls to separate itself from Detroit, http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/newly-constructed-barrier-appears-to-separate-grosse-pointe-park-detroit/26703588), but overall, Detroit is striving to be an example for other cities when it comes to racial integration. You’d never know that until you got here though. When I arrived, I was ready to tackle racial tensions and help fix socioeconomic problems; on the contrary, the conversations I’ve had with Detroiters have made me more conscientious of race, social status, and the issues that grip most large cities. The reality that I’ve experienced is this: Detroiters couldn’t care less about your race, where you’re from, or what you’ve done. They care about the work you’re doing here and the motives behind that work. That’s how it should be, and it really doesn’t need any fixing. Detroit has done more for me than I could possibly do for the city. Whether its becoming more aware of my surroundings or placing myself in others’ shoes, the biggest impact I’ve seen since being here is that which I’ve experienced in my own perceptions and character. So thank you, Detroit. Thank you for challenging myself and changing my world. The article “Soup Kitchen”, published in Detroit Art City, stood out in its unique perspective in examining the state of entrepreneurship and the issue of revitalization in Detroit. “Soup Kitchen” reveals the unknown and ugly side of being an entrepreneur in Detroit and questions the stigma around soup kitchen. The author himself, despite having published several novels, written for Detroit News and Deadline Detroit, and been active in the conversation around Detroit revitalization, has been homeless twice in his life. Even after he managed to save up a sufficient amount of money to find a lodging, he struggled with keeping a healthy and balanced diet and sometimes relied on soup kitchens for a hearty meal. We praise entrepreneurs for their ingenuity and glorify the profession as the creative outlet of people who are unsatisfied with the status quo and who are willing to take risks to make a change. This article sheds light on the aspect of entrepreneurship that nobody likes to face: that it is difficult to work for oneself; that the outward appearance of success doesn’t always correspond with material wealth. As a result, many people dress and behave like they are on top of life, but in fact, they are struggling to make their basic ends meet. Therefore, the author is calling for an end to the stigmatization of soup kitchen. Instead, we should give these facilities more attention and treat them more as “community kitchens” than somewhere that lethargic people go to rummage for free food, so people who go there seeking nutritional meals won’t feel ashamed. Reading this article gives me a new lens through which to look at the revitalization of Detroit. While focusing on the economic development is important, providing basic necessity to people in need is also an essential step in rebuilding the city. Although the philanthropic effort might still be lacking, there are definitely initiatives taken by Detroiters to solve the problem of food insecurity. Through my project with Detroit Food Academy -- interviewing its mentors who are mostly Detroit food entrepreneurs -- I get the opportunity to talk to many amazing entrepreneurs who are striving to introduce local, fresh and innovative food product to Detroit. One organization, Forgotten Harvest, is “rescuing” food by collecting surplus prepared and perishable food from local grocery stores and redistributes them to emergency food providers in metro Detroit Area. Others, like Fresh Corner Café, is selling affordable, prepared meals, such as wraps and salad, in gas station stores and corner shops around Detroit to provide cheap healthy food to people with financial difficulties. Detroit, in its process of resurgence, faces a multitude of problems that need to be tackled simultaneously to reach an ideal outcome. Yet, the number of issues are too numerous and too complex to be addressed all at once. The most realistic approach is to keep an open mind, take all perspectives into account, and proceed cautiously forward. Luckily, Detroit social entrepreneurs have been keeping a keen eye on the various struggles faced by the disadvantaged population in the city. Although the help provided may not be adequate for all who is in need, the aid provided is a sign of hope, a beginning that allows for more infrastructure to be built. AnThis week, I happened to notice TechTown posted an article on their facebook page about female entrepreneurs in Detroit. The article states young women will be the real builders of Detroit and play a key role in the city's economic and cultural revival. During my time here in Detroit, I have witnessed firsthand many female entrepreneurs making their mark on the city. While attending Shop Talk, a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs at a local barbershop, I met Melissa Butler, founder and owner of the all-natural lipstick company “The Lip Bar”. She left a job on Wall Street to return to her home city of Detroit and start her own company. Then I met Julie Andreae, co-founder of Secure Beginnings, a Detroit based manufacturer of breathable crib mattresses. Her story was personal; she was motivated to start this company after she lost a loved one to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). At the Forward Cities convening, I listened to Carolyn Cassin speak about her experience and commitment to furthering women’s entrepreneurship in Michigan. As an entrepreneur herself, she revolutionized the way people die in the United States by helping to start the Hospice of Michigan and the Jacob Perlow Hospice in New York. She currently serves as the president and CEO of the Michigan Women’s Foundation, an organization devoted to fostering Michigan women’s economic empowerment through microloans and other programs. Carloyn is also is the managing partner of a venture capital fund for startups with at least one female founder called Belle Capital. Perhaps the most inspiring female entrepreneurs I've met in Detroit are some of our wonderful Venture for America mentors. Angela's mentor Clare works at SocialProof, an online reviews startup in Detroit that’s bringing word-of-mouth online for service professionals. Liz's mentor Kate is an associate at Endeavor Detroit, a non-profit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs around the world. Shelby's mentor Lauren works at another Detroit-based incubator called PonyRide. All of these people have shown me that entrepreneurship can be an important tool for empowering the lives of young women. Programs like the Michigan Women's Foundation and Venture for America are crucial to helping not only their participants, but those around them who are directly and indirectly affected by the work of entrepreneurs.
Five days ago, I read an article about a baby that was shot in a Detroit drive-by. Three adults and the child were shot in Detroit’s west side. It was on the “front page” of The Detroit News website, and upon further searching, I found a slightly more explanatory article on CBS Detroit, the only difference between the two articles being that the CBS one indicates that the baby is expected to survive. What surprised me is how few details were offered in the article. In the news that I’m used to reading, insufficient articles like this are usually published in the immediate aftermath of an event, but with time, more and more information is added in order to offer a full, fleshy, comprehensive story of a given traumatic event. That not a single news development has been made on this already barely-there article in the past five days is either extremely indicative of the almost commonplace nature of this event or a reflection of poor journalistic standards. The journalist has an obligation to follow up with their readers and to finish a story (a story being the journalistic coverage of an event). In these times of sensationalized journalism, we tend to believe that journalists also have a responsibility of humanizing a story. However, for what it’s worth, this article made me rethink that. I probably don’t need a video of the grandmother sobbing or a time-line of the one-year-old boy’s first few months of life thus far. These are things I would get from some of the news companies that I’m familiar with. However, at the very least, I think that knowing the identities and potential motives of the suspects is necessary to gain even the most basic understanding of the event. On the writer’s part, including this information would be in accordance with even the most fundamental journalistic standards. In my books, this journalist failed, but I think there’s a bigger picture to look at.
I think the purpose of this blog prompt was to pick something we saw on the news that made us upset in its representation of Detroit. Detroit isn’t all crime, it isn’t all blight, it isn’t all desolation. This is true. But crime, blight, and desolation still exist in Detroit. Just because we live and work in Midtown, far away from it, doesn’t mean it’s not there and that it’s not an inherent, indelible part of Detroit’s past and present. News companies can’t be expected to shove that stuff under a rug. Sure, nobody who loves Detroit wants it to be known for its crime. That doesn’t change the fact that crime exists here, just like it does everywhere, and that one of the jobs of a news reporter is to objectively and comprehensively report on crimes in the area. Sometimes, this means putting heartbreaking, morbidly interesting, and generally terrifying news on the front lines. If a baby is shot, Detroit media corporations darn well better put it on the front page. That would be a headline anywhere in America. What disturbs me is how short, matter-of-fact, unaffected, and distant the article is. This is not a story. It’s a cold and unfeeling depiction of an event. Some might argue that, lack of informative value notwithstanding, this is exactly what makes it true, essential, and unsensationalized journalism, but all I can say is that this is not what I’m used to. This article’s scant detail and complete lack of follow-up make it almost ridiculous. I wouldn’t have even known that the baby was “grazed” unless I saw the URL. It makes me angry. This is not to say that Detroit journalism is subpar. One article is not necessarily indicative of an entire industry and value system. I’ve read plenty of wonderful articles on these same news websites, and I’ve read plenty of awful articles on non-Detroit news websites. However, they say you’re only as strong as your weakest link, and I happen to be looking at what seems to be very weak link indeed—a single snippet of data I found on the internet one day. It’s a snippet that stuck with me, even though I’ll probably never know the ending of the story. At least we know that the baby and the three adult victims will be okay, whatever that means. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/07/15/police-4-shot-in-detroit-including-1-year-old-grazed-by-bullet/ When I ventured onto the internet to try to find an article to write about for my blog this week, I didn’t really know what I expected to find. Initially, I was hoping to stumble upon something written about vacant land because that is what the majority of my work has dealt with and it would be fairly easy for me to talk about. Instead, I ended up discovering a completely different article. The Detroit Free Press recently did a piece on the late Frank Murphy, a Detroit Mayor in the early half of the twentieth century. The article made the claim that Murphy was one of Detroit’s great mayors and after reading the work, I would have to agree.
The Free Press starts by listing some of the significant accomplishments of the mayor. Before his time in the city office, he was the judge of the monumental Ossian Sweet trial, where an African-American man was acquitted of all charges for defending his home against a white mob. Shortly after this case, Murphy was elected Mayor of Detroit. A position that he held for 3 years. Although it was a short time, Murphy made an incredibly large impact. He was working as mayor during the peak of the Great Depression, during which he managed to keep Detroit afloat and did a great deal to make sure that every Detroiter was cared for. Despite being Mayor a little less than a century ago, many of Murphy’s policies and decisions were reflective of a much more modern era. He “Sponsored vegetable gardens to feed the hungry. He ramped up the city’s welfare agencies and pressured the gas and electric utilities and telephone companies to lower their rates for the city’s struggling residents.” These are ideas that people want in place today, particularly in relation to the water control. For a mayor almost a hundred years ago to come up with ideas that were so progressive is astounding. Although I found the article fascinating, I also thought that it was a bit shallow. It really didn’t discuss too many of his opinions on other crucial aspects of city life. I am really intrigued to find out what his thoughts were on education and public transportation, especially during a time when the auto industry had such a strong hold on the city. Regardless, I think that a lot can be learned from this piece. I think that it is a necessity that any good city keeps the needs of the less well-off in constant consideration. Although I am no expert in Detroit politics, or any form of politics for that matter, I believe that Mayor Duggan is doing a good job of this, especially with regards to education. A couple of weeks ago, our DukeEngage group went to the Green Garage, a local office for budding enterprises, for a talk that was being given by Mayor Duggan. Admittedly, I knew very little about the mayor before coming to this talk. I was, however, very impressed when he stated his intent on improving the education system in Detroit. I was especially happy when, during the conversation, exposed the hypocrisy of the charter schools, which were claiming to not discriminate against children based on income levels. Mayor Duggan took the time to point out the fact that these charter schools, whether or not it was by design, were placing themselves out of walking distance of many of the underprivileged neighborhoods. Because many people of lower income levels do not have access to vehicles and Detroit’s public transportation is such a mess, these charter schools have effectively cut off a number of students from receiving their education that they claim to be offering to everyone. It is the qualities like this, a genuine concern for the people of the community, that I think makes a great leader. I believe that Mayor Murphy had it, I think Mayor Duggan can prove he has it, and I know that there are countless people throughout Detroit who have it. http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/07/19/frank-murphy-detroit-history/30381049/ There’s just something special about local products. They’re usually well made, unique, and have proceeds that get circulated back into the community. Shinola is one of those Detroit brands. With products at the “entry point of luxury”, they are well known for their stylized watches, bicycles, and other handcrafted leather goods. My family visited last weekend and I told them that I wanted to show them around the store. When they asked me what kind of store it was, I couldn’t really put my finger on it. There’s such a wide variety, you really just have to see for yourself. Then again, that’s pretty representative of Detroit as a whole.
This blog is based off of an article I recently read about Shinola and what it represents: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/opinion/joe-nocera-is-motown-getting-its-groove-back.html?_r=0 I chose to write about Shinola for two reasons. One, it’s just plain cool. I’m a big fan of bikes, and they definitely had some intriguing ones. Two, the store and its backstory really illustrate the trend of entrepreneurs moving into the city and starting small businesses. People from outside of Detroit are seeing the vast amounts of opportunity in the city, anywhere from low property values to high availabilities of labor. To many, it may seem like these circumstances are the main reasons people are coming. For the majority, however, these seem to simply be a secondary benefit. Tom Kartsotis, founder of Shinola, described his decision to start here as a “philanthropic impulse.” This may not be the best wording, as I believe that a positive future for the city depends on working with Detroiters, rather than simply goodwill; nevertheless, it exemplifies the reason behind such entrepreneurs. They are coming to contribute first hand to the regeneration of the city. All of these occurrences are fostering a sense of entrepreneurship as a whole. Detroit has become the fourth-largest city in the nation for minority-owned businesses and ninth largest for small businesses in general. Resources such as coworking spaces, idea accelerators, and funding opportunities are becoming readily available to a wide range of entrepreneurs, both local and nonnative. While Detroit is still known publicly as The Motor City, the name is gradually becoming synonymous with innovation. This trend is not only bringing in talented newcomers, but also providing many more opportunities to passionate citizens with the desire to contribute to Detroit’s future. This sense of ingenuity is undeniably making a positive impact in the employment sector. The real difference, however, is the alteration of the mindset. People are openly proud of where they come from and live. I can’t tell you the amount of people who have told me to get out the “real story” of Detroit: it’s not as the media portrays. Yes, there are still massive amounts of change that need to come, but there other aspects that are much more worthy of coverage. Everyone sees what’s wrong- it’s the people taking charge and making a change that are worth watching. To throw in a couple of quotes, Jacques Panis, president of Shinola, said: “I’m proud of what this company stands for.” And Howard Thurman, an American philosopher and activist, said: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” To me, that’s why and how I see Detroit moving into its future. People are responding creatively to problems around them and creating an aura where people who seek to innovate are met with praise. It’s becoming a place where people can come and aspire. Where people truly have a chance to make their own life, and create a real change while doing it. Article I read for this blog post: http://www.cnn.com/video/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown/season-2/detroit/index.html
Article I read earlier this summer: http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/7170/battle_rages_over_bourdain_s_portrayal_of_detroit I remember reading an article earlier this summer about Anthony Bourdain’s trip to Detroit, where he toured a range of Detroit’s restaurants with Fox 2’s Pullitzer prize-winning journalist, Charlie Leduff (well-known on the Internet for this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDqu8tXrQWU). Many Detroiters complained that the episode only illustrated the bad side of Detroit, like his trip to the Packard Plant, a dilapidated factory where Studebakers were once made. While the Packard company is an important part of Detroit’s history, Detroiters pointed out that Bourdain failed to visit places like Eastern Market that show off the great food places that Detroit does have. Our Duke Engage cohort is well aware of the bad rap that Detroit gets thanks to countless conversations about our summer with family and friends prior to our arrival. Media exaggerates and embellishes the idea that Detroit is just a city full of decrepit buildings and homeless people. However, after reading Anthony Bourdain’s response, he offers a great counterargument on why we should show the bad and the good sides of Detroit. Bourdain’s message is that the ruin porn is part of what defines Detroit and makes it such a great city. It makes it unique and beautiful, and it says a lot about the people of Detroit who suffered through the hard times of the fall of the manufacturing industry and the collapse of the economy. My last post was about the ~30 year cycle of bankrupt cities; Bourdain declares that you only need to look at New York’s Lower East Side or the Meat District to get a glimpse of what is in store for Detroit. He compares the Detroit spirit to that of New Orleans: a “born and bred, ain’t never leaving” vitality. It’s the same Detroit vs. Everybody sentiment I mentioned in my first blog post, and the one that drew me to Detroit in the first place. Bourdain argues that the show didn’t purposefully highlight ruin porn because that makes good T.V., but rather because it showcases what Detroiters have that makes the city special: hope. Tourists flock to ancient ruins in Greece and Rome; Detroit is just a pioneer in having modern ruins. The ruin porn is a constant reminder of failure to Detroit, but it should not be hidden because it represents where the American dream was forged and symbolizes the Detroiters’ will to keep fighting until they get theirs. |
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