When I visit a new city, and want to immerse myself into the culture, I think of exploring downtown, going to all the hot new restaurants, and going to any pop up events. I’ve realized that’s the smallest part of getting to know your surroundings.
The first few weeks and group trips were focused in downtown Detroit, which is only 7.2 square miles. But what about the other 131.8 miles that makes up the rest of Detroit? It’s composed of suburbs, people, and incredible stories we are so lucky if we get to uncover and explore a little bit of.
This summer at Street Democracy, we are interviewing their past 250 clients that have gone through the Street Outreach Court Detroit program. Instead of paying what seems like endless amounts of traffic fines and court fees, low income and impoverished individuals are able to take an alternative sentence of becoming involved in their community, enrolling in job training programs, and doing anything to show effort of becoming a more productive citizen and bettering themselves.
The first few weeks and group trips were focused in downtown Detroit, which is only 7.2 square miles. But what about the other 131.8 miles that makes up the rest of Detroit? It’s composed of suburbs, people, and incredible stories we are so lucky if we get to uncover and explore a little bit of.
This summer at Street Democracy, we are interviewing their past 250 clients that have gone through the Street Outreach Court Detroit program. Instead of paying what seems like endless amounts of traffic fines and court fees, low income and impoverished individuals are able to take an alternative sentence of becoming involved in their community, enrolling in job training programs, and doing anything to show effort of becoming a more productive citizen and bettering themselves.
One of these treasures came from outside the 7.2 square miles of downtown Detroit we were so narrowly focused on getting to know. Reginald was $13,000 in debt to the courts due to countless traffic fines and driving on a suspended license. It would have taken him 20 years to pay these off. Street Democracy helped him get his license back and waved his fines, and now he is thriving and you can’t wipe the smile off his face. It was such an honor to speak with Reginald and hear how he now has stable income, housing, he volunteers at his church twice a week, and is now able to get a liver transplant. Aaron and I walked out of the interview so inspired and impressed we couldn’t put into words to Jayesh how incredible the past 15 minutes had been speaking with Reginald.
I encourage anyone exploring a new city to look beyond the small square mileage of the downtown area and see what the people around the city do and how they inspire the rest of the city.
I encourage anyone exploring a new city to look beyond the small square mileage of the downtown area and see what the people around the city do and how they inspire the rest of the city.
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