This week I think was the first week that I really began to get into my work and also understand how much there is left to do. Before I was feeling absolutely unproductive because I couldn’t approach the material, and now I feel like though I am productive, I have so much left to do! Though it’s been stressful I think I’m really ready for this change and to be finally striking out on a path, whether it is the right one or not.
I also had my first experience with phonebanking this week. If you’re not familiar with it, it basically consists of me calling all of our members and asking if they would be interesting in joining us for an event. By the end of three long days of calling hundreds of strangers, I don’t think I’m ever going to forget the “Rap”: …wanted to let you know about an exciting local event…hosting a discussion on the true value of food… yada yada.
After all of this 
though, I think the most important thing that I discovered this week is that I’m falling in love with Detroit. There are so many beautiful things to do and see, and the most amazing part is that no one even knows about it.
I think I’ll finish off with something I’ve been thinking about for a while now, that you shouldn’t read too much into. A metaphor of Detroit: to me, detroit feels like a freshly dug hole. It once was nice clean, freshly cut grass just like all the grass that expands around it. But one day something drastic happened and the grass got torn up and the dirt strewn out. But the wonderful thing about a freshly dug hole is that it’s still beautiful.The smell is intoxicating and it’s teeming with just as much life as in the grass that lay there before. And that’s when you have to ask yourself, would you ever want to fill such a beautiful hole with the grass and dirt that was there before. Maybe it won’t lie right and end up looking like a mound of ugly dirt. Maybe it will kill all the inspiring life that lives beneath the ground. Maybe it would all be a waste.
I am truly excited to hear you are falling in love with my city, Detroit. There is much to love and many historical landmarks here for you to explore and enjoy so do not stop now. Feel free to eat many of our products like Faygo, Vernos, Bettermade Chips, and Coney Islands. It is also good that you are finally feeling like a valuable asset to your program just like I am after my supervisor had very kind words about me during a meeting.
This is the most adorable post! I totally understand what you mean, I’ve been having my own sort of love story with Detroit as well 🙂 I just love this whole project that all of us are doing. It can be hard work and sometimes you can’t really see if what you’re doing affects anyone/anything, but it all does matter. Just working for the community and having these long term visions is really amazing. Hope to hear more about your love story! 😉
I love all of your pictures! I am glad that you are feeling more productive at work and are appreciating Detroit.
Great metaphor! I love that. I am glad you are enjoying Detroit and seeing it for its true worth.
I really know what you mean. Detroit gets such horrible publicity that most people are never willing to see all of the great things that go on here! Getting to know the city has been really fascinating, especially how the reality of the present situation is far more complicated and intricate than I ever would have thought.
I am glad that you are seeing the real detroit, the detroit everyone exploits as murder capital, even after we are no longer rated there. Detroit is beautiful. And it is beautiful just the way it is. People come in and think we need to change it. As if what is already here isnt good enough, well it is. It is our culture and its who we are. Yeah it would be nice to have some improvement on things but only the basics resources that every city has a right to. Nothing else. People think we cant take care of our city but we can and we do. It would be a lot easier if others werent always trying to come in and tell us how to change, but accepted us for who we are and be a part of how we want to grow 🙂 good metaphor.
It warms my heart to read this! I go really hard for my city because it’s criticized so harshly and there is such a dark and negative association with Detroit, which is so unfair. The media spends so much time highlighting the negative aspects of Detroit that all the positive aspects go unnoticed. You don’t have to be born and raised here to appreciate it and I am so happy you have been able to connect with my home.