As I reflect on my first blog post, I did not expect to make a profound change in my line of thinking about the city. I have grown up in Detroit; it has been my home for the past nineteen years. However, there were many small things that helped me understand my view of Detroit better. From the Black Scrolls Tour to the 1967 exhibit at the historical museum to the countless discussions of our animosity towards Dan Gilbert, I come out with a clearer mind of what my city needs from me, and it encourages me to continue on my path of activism and government work so that I can change how our city operates for its residents from the inside out.
I think when I look back at my old post, I don’t give myself enough credit. I posted my fears about adapting to a nine-to-five job and cooking for myself on a consistent basis, but now I realize that I had the tenacity and ability to do these things all along. Now these are second-nature, and I have to keep in mind that I can adapt to new environments better than I think and these are things that I can do later in confidence.
When I look back at my job and what goals I had specifically, I also realize that I accomplished these goals without even paying much attention to them. I learned about the formation of Focus: HOPE and the “behind-the-scenes” of how they manage to create and maintain so many programs that assist Detroiters, while also realizing that accomplishing these things take a lot of logistical work, money, and sometimes having to be flexible and changing plans. I also learned through my work with the HOPE Village Initiative (HVI) how I can make a change in my communities, and it all starts with listening to others. I learned that HVI works through its engagement with the community, not working as a separate entity but through having many of the residents work with planning and logistics. I learned that, you don’t have to know everything or be a savior to my community; I just have to listen and to give thanks and cooperate with those who know their communities and needs best.
