inequity detroit works

http://www.freep.com/article/99999999/NEWS01/120412018

33000 vacant buildings

The Detroit Works Project: Community Development Detroit-Style

Colleagues: check out the post below. If it speaks to any of you and you wanna possibly collaborate / contribute to future posts, help with maps, graphics etc it would be awesome! This is certainly overlapping with my major media project.

The Detroit story is fascinating and the current chapter is no exception. Although I have not been present for previous “urban renewal” efforts, based upon my personal experiences and observations it seems that few lessons have been learned from the failures of the past. These conclusions arose after reading an article by Rochelle Riley in the Detroit Free Press’ Sunday, February 19 edition. In "City Finding A Way to Make Detroit Works Project Actually Work   ( http://on.freep.com/yPfDwb) Riley covers the Detroit Works’ Project (DWP)* - Detroit’s latest urban renewal initiative. It seems that fear and anxiety (and maybe hubris) are contributing to yet another wave of bad decisions for Detroiters. Much is illustrated when we follow the money – here, the $58 million dollars to be spent in the next 24 months.

First, a little about Detroit: Detroit is a gigantic city! 139 square miles! Boston, Manhattan and San Francisco could all fit within the borders of Detroit and there would still be 20 square miles remaining. These boundaries were calculated based upon an expectation of 2.2 million Detroit residents. At the last census count Detroit had 713,000 residents. But, the world must not be deluded – Detroit still has many amazing neighborhoods nestled within this amazingly huge city. I live in one.

My neighborhood, Corktown, in Southwest Detroit (or sometimes in downtown…depending on whose interests are involved) is remarkably similar to Detroit’s overall cityscape. Like other parts of Detroit (the Villages, Grandmont-Rosedale, Morningside to name three) , Corktown has dense neighborhoods with impeccably kept homes and beautiful, meticulously managed yards as well as blocks where one, two or three homes may be speckled across a five block area where pheasants outnumber humans. We also have and streets with a mixture of both. However, Corktown is remarkably different from other parts of Detroit.

Unlike ANY other part of Detroit, because of significant political and economic changes in Detroit and Michigan, Corktown’s future growth and prosperity is all but assured. No other Detroit community boasts of such an ideal strategic location. It is nestled between Detroit’s thriving “Mexicantown” community, the Detroit River, Wayne State University and downtown Detroit. Corktown has stable neighborhoods, an educated and civic-minded citizenry and an up and coming commercial district. Corktown has 3-5 new businesses opening up in the next three months. Certainly our needs are far less than other Detroit neighborhoods sprinkled across our giant city. But, most importantly, and these are the essential questions: who will benefit, who will lose and will decision-makers use this opportunity to do great things for Detroit that can be the model for the rest of the city as well as the rest of the world?

From my brief six years’ experience living and serving in Corktown while keenly observing (and sometimes participating) in the City’s political scene, I believe that Detroit’s neighborhoods have suffered due to bad politics, bad governance and bad community development.  I fear that, once again, Detroit’s residents (of who should be served first) will be harmed by the latest “urban renewal” initiative driven by the Bing, Snyder and Obama Administrations along with the foundation community.

A strong bit of evidence suggests more problematic (to be kind) Detroit community development is just around the corner. In Riley’s piece, through interviews with Karla Henderson, the City of Detroit Group Executive for Planning and Facilities and Detroit Mayor Bing, the onion that is the Bing Administration’s strategy and tactics concerning the implementation of DWP begins to reveal its core. Unless additional strategic course adjustments (guided by higher values and morals) are made soon longsuffering Detroiters (713,000, 85% African-American) will be, once again, left behind. Policymakers, foundations, and others must always remember that the DWP must be first and foremost, about people living in Detroit now. Not land, efficiency or short-term results.

Superficially, Riley’s article (especially to outsiders) could easily be interpreted as "Detroit is making progress" and “things are looking good” as implementation of the DWP moves forward. This blog post is being written now before the hysteria surrounding likely upcoming DWP-related announcements drown out the truth.

Although serious reservations about the DWP exist, some great things are happening in Detroit and the metro-Detroit region. These types of intelligent, reasoned and deliberate changes are good examples of a properly functioning American democracy. For instance,

·         The “Big 3” seem to be back on firm footing thanks to the Obama Administrations remarkable interventions

·         Civic minded Detroiters revised the Detroit City Charter and among the most important revisions is the way Detroiters elect their City Council. Now, voters will choose council people for 7 separate districts plus 2 at-large council people

·         The Kilpatrick Administration is gone from Detroit politics and the far-reaching Kilpatrick dynasty is facing a slew of federal criminal charges

·         A fair-minded, above reproach federal prosecutor, Barbara McQueen, continues to root out corruption within other Detroit / metro-Detroit governments and institutions, and

·         A new can-do attitude exists that is attracting new people and new investments.

These things were needed. They were good. They will improve the metro-Detroit economy and the lives of people living in Detroit’s neighborhoods. These structural and institutional changes exemplify the United States’ greatness – democratic institutions / processes at work, rule of law applied to make government work better and hard working civic-minded Detroiters tirelessly working to make their city better. Detroit, Michigan and the United States succeed when its democracy and institutions function properly. Similarly, for the City of Detroit to succeed, best practices relating to community development must be slowly and deliberately applied.

Here, community development Detroit-style begins with $58 million dollars.

According to Riley’s article, the future use of the above-mentioned monies seemingly began with an “a-ha!” moment. According to Henderson, when the City of Detroit discovered that Detroit (not only) “didn’t have $53 million in Housing and Urban Development money to dole out, but was instead in the hole $53 million” a new approach to community development in Detroit arose. Henderson characterized this new approach as “more strategic.”

In my next blog posts I will do the following:

·         Examine the myriad of issues surrounding the who, what, when, where and why relating to the spending of $87 million dollars in the next two years

·         Discuss the implications of the Detroit Works Project on Detroit’s democracy and whether it will lead to a more transparent, functional government for the people. In particular, whether the Obama Administrations directives regarding government transparency and accountability are being followed

·         Explore whether this is “good stewardship” of huge federal resources? Is it equitable?

·         Analyze whether the plan to spend the $87 million abides by the Obama Administration’s Strong Cities, Strong Communities policies which call for ground up, not top down urban development?

·         Provide photos, maps and other helpful graphics to illustrate the Corktown / Detroit landscape as well as provide facts about existing projects and initiatives currently in progress that would significantly stabilize our community and support existing entrepreneurial and other community-based initiatives.

Now is the time for re-imagining in Detroit. The opportunities to create dynamic, green communities that exist to lift up all Detroiters while promoting economic development are within reach. The “Best Practices” for good community development exist. Detroiters possess the vision and the knowledge. Let’s hope and pray this opportunity doesn’t disappear.

* Go to this link to learn about the Detroit Works Project: http://detroitworksproject.com/for-detroit-to-work-we-need-action-today/

Serving Detroiters

 Check out the link below to hear about my experiences with the large Detroit Non-Governmental Organizations discussed tonight at the Hearings at St. Peter's Episcopal Church...my experiences suggests the issues are power and money. Read in particular March 3, 2011 post Sections 1.1 - 1.3. Link is below

http://jeffdebruyn.posterous.com/archive/3/2011

This afternoon I had a great meeting with Rick Feldman of the Boggs Center. We discussed the history and impact of different approaches to community organizing. When our conversation concluded he suggested I share my experiences and lessons. There have been many lessons learned. I will write more but for now what I've concluded Detroit needs is what groups like the Boggs Center, the triumvirate of the Digital Justice Coalition (Detroit Food Justice Task Force, East Michigan Environmental Action Council and Detroit Future Media) and select others are doing.  Thus, that is the direction I am moving.

"to possess a vision is to profess it..." Dorothy Day

"to possess a vision is to profess it..." Dorothy Day

Assignment #1: Project Development: A Major Media Project

What is your vision statement for your major project?
 I believe that media-based organizing can help to ensure that the desperately needed changes in Detroit benefit existing Detroiters. I seek to design and implement an effective media plan that will engage and activate community members. In order for Detroit to move forward in a healthy, sustainable way restoration must occur - the stories of the past must integrate into the stories of the present and remedies must be incorporated to ensure that the mistakes of the past aren't repeated. Conversations around the idea of the "Commons" are an important piece of this vision.


What ideas do you have for your major project?

The present story of Detroit is about two things: land and people. The two are inextricably connected. However, people must come first. For my major media project I intend to tell stories of the people in my neighborhood and connect the stories to the land in my neighborhood: Corktown.

What are you planning to investigate and how does it support your vision of Detroit’s Future?

Investigate Defined:  
in·ves·ti·gate verb (used with object) 1.to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail. 2.to search out and examine the particulars of in an attempt to learn the facts about something hidden, unique, or complex, especially in an attempt to find a motive, cause, or culprit: 

I intend to systematically gather and record the stories of the people in my neighborhood in order to tell the stories about their home - the land.

What media skills do you need/want for to complete your major project?

I will need guidance about the best way to design and implement a media-based project that will allow for the gathering and dissemination of these important stories.

  What am I doing? What is this blog? Why?

Quick Introduction: I and about 30 other applicants have been accepted to the Detroit Future Media's program which is part of the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition. To learn more, follow this link:  http://detroitfuture.org/

To learn more about the course, follow this link:  http://media.detroitfuture.org/news/dfm-2012-kickoff-and-orientation

The above link says, " Congratulations to DFM 2012 participants! In the next 20 weeks participants will be learning and creating through their major tracks, working with media to express their vision of Detroit and building new networks".

I will be participating in the Media and Organizing Track with a focus on Video. I am doing this because I passionately believe in the internet's power to change the world. Here, I hope to use it to make Detroiit a better place. Stay tuned for more details.
The blog will be used, for the most part, to tell Detroit-based stories. However, to make it a bit more meaningful let me tell you a personal story.. It might illuminate why I do what I do.

A little about me...

I am an accidental organizer / activist / leader. I did not come to Detroit with the intention of doing what I’ve been doing for the last four years relating to community organizing and political activism. However, once I began my organizing / activism work I realized that my passion is easily traced to experiences I had when I was in high school in western Michigan. Now that I am well positioned to have an impact in my community I believe I have an opportunity to make a difference in Detroit...by empowering others...by hearing and sharing their stories.

                                           

When I was in high school, my mother “came out of the closet.” At the time I was attending a fundamentalist Christian school in conservative western Michigan. This was during the socially conservative Reagan years. I experienced the pain and suffering of discrimination and hate. The "Moral Majority" controlled the narrative. The Moral Majority and the Reagan Administration, as well as my immediate community culture, spewed hateful rhetoric about the gay community as well as passed policies that were unfair and unkind. Having been raised in a "Christian" community I was certainly confused because my understanding of Jesus' gospel was that it was built upon the concept of Love. I was confused. How could these people that spewed hatred about my mother hold themselves out as good, pious Christians and pass government policies that seemed in contradiction to Christ's message? My social conscience was awakened.

It is those experiences that inform my work now – my passion to give power to the voiceless. There are many parallels to the anti-gay narrative of the 80's (and, of course now too) and the prevailing Detroit narrative. Today, the long tiime Detroiters living in the neighborhoods are the ones that will be (and are being) hurt. My work is to advocate for those folks...I know them well.

I currently live in and help operate a shelter for woman and children in Corktown as well as assist in the operation of a Corktown-based soup kitchen called Manna Community Meals. Furthermore, I’ve been active on community-wide level with the Corktown Residents’ Council (CRC). My experience with the CRC taught me the power of authentic engagement as well as the fact that many voices had not been heard. The Detroiters in the neighborhoods need advocates!!!

I am seriously concerned about two important matters: first, that my neighborhood is going to gentrify; and second, that Detroiter’s rights and dignity will be hurt by the Detroit Works Project (DWP).

I really need to acquire the necessary skills, tools and resources that will be necessary to ensure that Corktown develops equitably. The skills, tools and resources offered through the Detroit Future Media Program will assist me in my community work. 

The Detroit Future Media (DFM) folks along with the other partners of the Detroit Digital Justice coalition are doing great work in Detroit. I also hope to build long-lasting relationships with these groups.

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My first brief post is below.

Tonight was spent talking with other active community members to ensure that the Detroit Future Media plan's Major Media Project that we are working to create is consistent with and collaborative with other Corktown-based initiatives.