The front of Love Travels Imports is a testament to community involvement.
Hanging in the window of the store on Livernois is a 12 ft. x 9 ft. Community Art Project made of ceramic pieces created by neighborhood residents, shoppers and young women from Alternatives For Girls. All the pieces were fired by local artist Katie Bramlage, owner of make.do.studio., and Art in Motion. Bramlage strung the pieces for hanging.
“It came out beautifully,” says Yvette Jenkins, owner of Love Travels Imports and a member of the group coordinating the project. “It is a wonderful story and testament. It describes hope, creativity and community – how working creates a tighter community.
More than 80 people made pieces for the project, the majority of who live in Detroit. Young women ages 7-14 from Alternatives For Girls came for a field trip in August and they made lots of pieces, Jenkins says.
“Making these pieces gave them confidence,” she says. “One of girls created bone-shaped piece and wrote on it ‘Bad to the Bone.’ She has moxie – a strong young woman.”
During their stay Jenkins gave a motivation talk to young women 10-14 years old, telling her story of the trauma she faced as a 12-year-old.
“It helped make me be a very resilient person to deal with those challenges,” she says. I” shared my story to help them overcome their individual challenges. I want to let them known they are not alone. Others have had experiences as well and have a good life.”
Alternatives For Girls helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation. The goal is to help them explore and access the support, resources and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong and to make positive choices in their lives.
“Simple things can make an impact and educate them,” Jenkins says. “That makes a huge impact on the community. There is a way we can give support and create strength within our girls. With compassion for all children we can make a difference in our world and community. Something as simple as education and hope makes that difference.”
She says the next step is to auction off the piece and give two-thirds of the proceeds to Alternative For Girls.
“The Detroit Design Corridor has agreed to work with us to make this a reality,” she says.
DDC is an advocate and supporter of the project, Jenkins says. The sample piece was part of DDC’s Design Festival held in September.
Jenkins says the group would also like to see a donor, such as corporation, buy the piece. It would look good hanging in an office, she says. Bramlage will install it.
If no donor steps forward, the art will be auctioned off in the first quarter next year. Jenkins says the fair market value is $1,200 to $1,500.
Any interested donors please contact Yvette Jenkins at Love Travels Imports (313) 623-5800 or Alexandria Armstrong, annual fund manager, Alternative For Girls (313)-361-4000 x223.
The community project will be up at Love Travels Imports at I9452 Livernois Ave. into January.
“Some may have made a small piece … when you look at as a whole it is amazing,” Jenkins says. “I believe anything created like this is full of energy.”
That energy has certainly been transferred to the community and the young women.
Editor’s Note: This Small Shops feature is supported by Bank of America.
To learn more about Bank of America’s many programs and resources for small business owners visit: https://www.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness/business-financing.go
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