My community development path started, unbeknownst to me, at age 8 or 9. I spent a lot of time with my grandma who led a block club and sat on many organizational boards throughout Brooklyn. Because of all the time I spent with her, I also spent a significant amount of time in government officials’ offices […]
Every neighborhood needs more local problem solvers. And, for some, new arrivals are anticipated soon. Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) is making a national push to lift 13 urban communities through an AmeriCorps program hoped to develop and deploy neighborhood change agents. A $3 million investment has been devoted to dispatching 165 AmeriCorps members, including 14 […]
Krystal Spears had paid her rent diligently but still received an eviction notice because, unbeknownst to her, the landlord had failed to pay the property taxes on the home in southwest Detroit. The notice came nearly four years ago. It began a very stressful time for Krystal, worrying about where she and her two children […]
The uptick in Detroit’s downtown and neighborhood property values is good news to many, but not for all. With rental rates rising and less property available in prime locations, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for millenials, seniors and low-income families to afford to live in the desirable neighborhoods they would like to call home. The cost […]
Selfies and summer’s favorite treat – the combination sounds like fun all by itself. Throw in a year’s supply of ice cream as the prize and it’s easy to see why the United Dairy Industry of Michigan’s new contest is generating a buzz. Just by posting an original photo of an “ice cream moment” involving […]
Born and raised Detroiter Albert Williams says he’s a fan of Mayor Mike Duggan because he thinks “he’s sticking up for the neighborhoods.” His mother Tommie Williams lives next door to her son in the Greenview neighborhood. She is more skeptical of Duggan. “We’ll see,” is all she will say. Albert and Tommie Williams are […]
Detroit’s superheroes don’t wear capes. They don’t bend steel with their bare hands or leap tall buildings in a single bound. They’re mild-mannered and unassuming, like the legendary comic book reporter, Clark Kent. Or like real-life Southwest Detroit community advocate Kathy Wendler. But, make no mistake about it, Wendler has her own set of special […]
There’s no arguing that zero bills – or, at least, fewer bills – are every household’s preference, no matter the income status. The next best luxury behind eliminating monthly debt is paying it conveniently. As checkbooks continue to grow obsolete and money order purchases include added transaction fees, utility users are more and more open […]
Music for the enjoyment of music-lovers can be traced to time immemorial. But music as a tool to promote visual art, as one North Rosedale Park organization uses it, takes creativity beyond the stage and into the community. Supported by Pro Musica of Detroit, Music for Arts’ Sake will feature North Rosedale Park’s own classical […]
Mayor Mike Duggan promises a “city for everyone.” But getting from “here” to “there” in a city that has more than 10,000 homeless and a whopping one third of residents living below the poverty level is admittedly going to be a challenging task. In order to be successful, Duggan must bridge the gap between the […]