During these past 6 weeks, my eyes have been opened to so much information, inspiration, and knowledge about the city of Detroit and its inhabitants. Being raised in Detroit has prepared me for the best of things, and the worst of things. I have grown to love my city even more.
At my placement, I am the youngest one. With that being said, I have to really be attentive and the pressure is on. In the midst of trying to create a job that has never been done before, I take the initiative to talk to the children in the SW Detroit area. It amazes me how they were so much like me when i was a little girl. Many of the homes in SW Detroit are broken, meaning, there are a lot of single parent homes, or separations within the family. It was also pretty cool to learn that many of the youth spend their time doing art as a means of escape from their everyday lives. When I go through the neighborhoods, I see lots of graffiti, murals, posters, and hand-painted billboards. Many of the poster serve as a means of the voice of the people. The messages are addressed to the people who oppress them, or hold them back for not giving them the necessities that they need. It’s pretty cool how Summer in the City really emphasizes the arts as a means of recreational activity. Expressing one’s thoughts into a form of art can convey so many hidden ideas.
Detroit is known for its artistic capabilities. From music, to art, to writing, it has captivated the world through its own culture. In college, I often write my papers regarding my life in Detroit. I want to convey the true view of a Detroiter. So many people have such negative implications and opinions of Detroit, I feel the need to not negate it, but to defend it. Although I’m not entirely offended, sharing the true tales and worth of Detroit has been a passion of mines and as been enhanced even more being in the DCBRP.
The DCBRP has taught me so much about partnership, community involvement/engagement, and being aware of the public issues around us. I have never been so informed about Detroit and its inhabitants. I never knew of all the non-profit organizations that work to serve the community and create projects to help the citizens in the city. The more I learn about these things, the more I am appreciative of not only Detroit, but of the program itself.
