Ryan Hoecker-week 1 entry

Shocked. Astonished. Taken-aback. These are some of the words I would use to describe the reactions of people when I told them that I would be spending the summer in Detroit. Even some of my friends at Duke were confused when I told them that, out of all the possible DukeEngage programs to apply to, I had chosen Detroit. It’s a place notorious for crime, portrayed to be downtrodden and broken. I was surprised to find an experience in which relatively none of these preconceived notions were immediately present.

View of Ambassador Bridge to Canada from the Detroit River

Detroit has suffered many casualties, both literally and economically. What the media fails to capture, however, is the underlying spirit of the city. The drive. The recognition of problems and the direct action to overcome them. Detroit is becoming a hotbed for innovation, a place in which both local residents and newcomers are congregating to tackle pressing problems. Various interactions with local entrepreneurs and community change makers will give me the opportunity to experience this firsthand. 

Two local entrepreneurs discuss their work at "Shop Talk", a unique community discussion.

My first exposure to this came during a group bus tour of the city. We came upon a stretch of a neighborhood that seemed to be in a sort of controlled disarray: bright dots covered the buildings and a multitude of debris was strewn about the lawns. Our tour guide informed us that we had entered The Heidelberg Project. Decades ago, an artist by the name of Tyree Guyton returned from serving in the Army to find that the mid 1960’s riots had caused his neighborhood to drastically deteriorate. He immediately began to “decorate” the area in order to bring attention to its needs. Clocks purposefully stand out among the debris as the most prominent item, with the mantra “it’s always time to act.” The area has faced demolition multiple times over the years, but still stands as a symbol of Detroit’s resilience today.

My internship will provide another unique insight into the entrepreneurial community. I have been given the opportunity to work with Build Institute, a local nonprofit that serves as a resource hub for aspiring small-business owners. A wealth of people from all walks of life come to learn how they can turn their ideas into an effective contribution to their community. I hope to gain new perspectives on the outlook of Detroit and the best procedures into the future of the city through interactions with these change makers.

These are just some of the countless innovations occurring throughout Detroit, and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to experience even a fraction of them. However, it is also becoming exceedingly apparent that the city has been carved into a variety of segments. Midtown, Downtown, and Corktown are just some of the names that have been given to these separate sections, with a variance of characteristics assigned to each. These individual portions combine to make up the greater Detroit area, but each community is viewed very distinctly from the next.

Many rejuvenations occurring across this city are being unevenly distributed. Certain segments benefit far more than others. Innovators have the right idea: it's time to take action. In order for true regeneration to take place, they must place extra care on the inclusion of ALL people of Detroit, not just the demographically favored. Although my time here has just begun, I look forward to joining Detroiters as they strive towards their future.