Dear Audrey,
It still hasn’t been a week since you moved into Detroit, I know, crazy. You’re starting to get pretty good at the whole moving in and out of new places thing and this was a big move. You were pretty worried about not getting out and taking advantage of the city, which is easy to do, but the first day showed you there’s nothing to worry about in that department. Day 1 and you already got to venture from Midtown all the way to the river. Day 2 continued the streak with that fantastic trip to Belle Isle and your first time grocery shopping for yourself (successfully). The new roommates seem awesome and will make this summer an even better experience for you as well as everyone in the program. This program is going to be so great for you. Procrastination will no longer be an option so hopefully that habit will be long gone by the end of the summer (miracles can happen, right??) and you’ll have the eight hour work day figured out. Mostly, I hope you’re able to connect with the community at Parkside since I know it’s so important to you. There are some great people there and I know you have a lot to offer to their community, but even better is what the community has to offer for you.
Everyone talks about how Detroit is this great new city that is being revived and, though that is true in some places, there are still hundreds of thousands of people struggling to survive on a daily basis. Be careful to never forget about those people. Detroit is beautiful and rich with history and culture, and there are definitely exciting things to do there, both new and old. However, the people that make up the heart and soul of Detroit have been here for decades. They live in neighborhoods full of blight and have had to deal with their water being cut off and decrepit schools. Many of the real Detroiters have spent their lives being abandoned by their own people, the government, and the country as a whole. Make sure to never forget that you are a visitor to the city and the communities you are entering. Much like your hometown of Flint, Detroiters are a special kind of people. They are resilient. The system has failed these people but they persevere in a way that gives you hope for the world. Your work with Friends of Parkside will help better the community in small ways but the people of Detroit will impact you in a big way. If you leave this program with nothing else, you will leave with a greater respect and love for the people that make the city of Detroit.
Love,
Audrey
