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.