Through Fresh Corner, I feel like I’ve been observing both of the “two Detroits” that are often mentioned. On one hand, we’ve been going into Detroit communities for pop-ups and to visit our gas station stores. I’ve loved being able to engage with the people here and talk with them. Some of my favorite experiences have been at our Focus Hope pop-up where we actually run the stands and talk to every customer who comes in. Food is a great conversation starter and something that everyone can relate to so many people come in eager to talk about cooking and eating, which often progresses into conversations on other topics. Besides just hearing interesting stories and learning about the communities, it’s nice to engage with the customers because they often validate that the projects we are working on are really helping them have access to healthy food and make better choices.
Another way I’ve observed Detroit is by going to the kitchen that Fresh Corner works out of. The kitchen is located in a small grocery store in a Detroit neighborhood and they share the space with a few other small businesses who make different food products like jams, juice, and mitten bites. Meeting these owners and seeing the work they do shows the passion that many native Detroiters have for food and social justice and their hometown. They really exemplify the ideas that Devita mentioned on Tuesday about how food is a good way to build communities from within.
While I feel like I am getting a glimpse of the “real Detroit”, I am very much seeing the other side too. Our office is located at the Green Garage, which is a co-working space in mid-town. It was developed by a couple from outside Detroit who was interested in creating a space for people who were running businesses that were triple bottom line focused. They also redeveloped a nearby old apartment building and are working on a retail building and park down the street. Their buildings are all sooo beautiful and environmentally friendly and I think the idea of building community while focusing on triple bottom line ideals is great, but the way the founders talked about the work they were doing reminded me of the activity we did about someone coming in and cleaning your house. Hearing from other people in the program who have grown up in the city has really made me more aware of how gentrification is impacting long time residents. I have mixed feelings because the Green Garage is really a great, beautiful space to work and I think many of the businesses are doing really good things for Detroit as a whole, not just mid and downtown, but it can still feel like I am working within the “second Detroit” of gentrification.
One other random thing that I’ve observed here is that many people here have crazy bikes that are covered in different colored lights, sparkles, and have huge built in stereo systems, which is something I’ve never seen before.
