In many introductions to new people, I’m always asked where I’m from. For the first 18 years of my life I said without thinking, “I’m from Birmingham, MI” because most people I meet are from the state and are familiar with the area. Moving to school, I’ve had to rephrase my response to “I’m from Detroit” but am hesitant because I’ve only been in and out briefly for shows and dinners as a child. I was always a little embarrassed that I couldn’t say much about the booming city 16 miles away from my home.
There are so many hidden treasures of Detroit I had never heard of even only being a couple miles up Woodward. The Heidelberg project surprised me and had such an important message. Through all the different art pieces and clocks crafted from trash, we are constantly reminded that “the time is now” to make a change, a difference, and to start giving back to Detroit. Right now is my time to work with Street Democracy. I hope to aid the amazing president and partnered lawyers of Street Democracy to help convince the courts that waiving fines people are unable to pay will help them escape the homeless cycle. Along with my partner Aaron, we are evaluation the program to see how Street Democracy has changed their prospects for their families and their future.
One of my favorite quotes that I’ve heard so far is “Detroit is big enough to matter and small enough to make a difference.” When people ask how the first few days of this experience has been, I always make the effort to tell them how revitalized Detroit has become just in the past few years. Between Midtown and Downtown, you pass new constructions on every block. There’s a build for a new Wayne State business school, another for a new restaurant/small shop/performance hybrid building, and many apartment buildings to bring new residents to the area. You can only imagine the future and attention it will bring to the city and it’s so exciting!
After the first four days of living in midtown, I can navigate my way around main streets, have a general direction of where at least 20 buildings or restaurants are, and give a couple recommendations of some of the amazing places we’ve been to. Along with this exploring has changed my impression of Detroit tremendously. Just in the past 10 years, buildings have been revitalized, the streets are bustling around Campus Martius, and people are excited to explore the city. It’s nothing like it used to be when I remember looking out the car window, mesmerized, the last time I drove to the Detroit Science Center (now the Michigan Science Center) as a kid. The ingeniously designed buildings with historical architecture are being renovated and modernized for use. There’s construction ALL over the place. As a resident of Michigan, we NEVER stop complaining constriction, but this week I stopped complaining as I saw the potential it could bring to the motor city.
There are so many hidden treasures of Detroit I had never heard of even only being a couple miles up Woodward. The Heidelberg project surprised me and had such an important message. Through all the different art pieces and clocks crafted from trash, we are constantly reminded that “the time is now” to make a change, a difference, and to start giving back to Detroit. Right now is my time to work with Street Democracy. I hope to aid the amazing president and partnered lawyers of Street Democracy to help convince the courts that waiving fines people are unable to pay will help them escape the homeless cycle. Along with my partner Aaron, we are evaluation the program to see how Street Democracy has changed their prospects for their families and their future.
One of my favorite quotes that I’ve heard so far is “Detroit is big enough to matter and small enough to make a difference.” When people ask how the first few days of this experience has been, I always make the effort to tell them how revitalized Detroit has become just in the past few years. Between Midtown and Downtown, you pass new constructions on every block. There’s a build for a new Wayne State business school, another for a new restaurant/small shop/performance hybrid building, and many apartment buildings to bring new residents to the area. You can only imagine the future and attention it will bring to the city and it’s so exciting!
After the first four days of living in midtown, I can navigate my way around main streets, have a general direction of where at least 20 buildings or restaurants are, and give a couple recommendations of some of the amazing places we’ve been to. Along with this exploring has changed my impression of Detroit tremendously. Just in the past 10 years, buildings have been revitalized, the streets are bustling around Campus Martius, and people are excited to explore the city. It’s nothing like it used to be when I remember looking out the car window, mesmerized, the last time I drove to the Detroit Science Center (now the Michigan Science Center) as a kid. The ingeniously designed buildings with historical architecture are being renovated and modernized for use. There’s construction ALL over the place. As a resident of Michigan, we NEVER stop complaining constriction, but this week I stopped complaining as I saw the potential it could bring to the motor city.
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