June 2023

I feel as if I’ve learned a lot about Detroit in a short period of time. Sure, we’ve only been here for 3 weeks, but from reading How To Kill a City, going out with peers, and talking with the CEO of the Historical Society, I’ve gotten a sense of a city which is both […]

The main takeaway I have learned about Detroit so far is its vibrant culture and deep commitment to bettering the lives of people in the city. After being here for only three weeks, it’s clear that most of the discussions I’ve heard about Detroit are from people who aren’t integrated or invested in this community.

I’ve been exposed to many different parts of Detroit over the past three weeks, and have been lucky enough to talk with a variety of community members in Brightmoor through my internship. One of the most interesting lessons occurred just today, as I toured the Brightmoor Farmway (an area of the neighborhood with an abundance

As the third week is coming to an end, I’m realizing that I do not know as much as I thought I did about Detroit. Despite living only 30 minutes away, I wasn’t aware of how big the community is, but through my DCERP fellows and community organization, I’ve been able to learn slightly more.

From working with my community organization to talking with other DCERP fellows about their projects, I feel like I’ve learned (and am still learning) so much about Detroit, its rich history, its vibrant communities, and the countless organizations working within the city. As someone who is not from Michigan, I’ve already begun realizing how skewed

For so long, the stereotypes  and media representations of Detroit had influenced my own outlook about what this city actually was. When the news cameras rolled and showed the blighted neighborhoods, the empty ransacked homes and vacant lots, these images continually reinforced in my mind that Detroit was a city that was unable to stand

The Detroit Food Academy (DFA) supports young students in Detroit to encourage healthy eating habits, social-emotional learning, and financial literacy. One thing that was really nice to learn more about is DFA’s Small Batch Detroit pathway. This sector of the Detroit Food Academy allows students to learn and be exposed to essential entrepreneurial skills. The

Something new I have learned about Detroit is the issue of property tax when conducting background research for my placement. It definitely opened my eyes to the problems of housing that go beyond just landlords and renting. Researching the history of housing and how tax foreclosure is a common cause of why residents lose their

Hello again! A little bit of a recap, I get the opportunity to work within the Dream of Detroit organization and community, also with the Muslim Center they are currently based out of. And, like I introduced them last week, DREAM is a non-profit organization that focuses on neighborhood revitalization, community engagement, aiding the formerly

Assalamu Alaikum (peace be unto you) everyone, I’m super excited to blog for week two! The community organization I am working with for the summer is Southwest Detroit Community Justice Center (SWDCJC). SWDCJC is a jail diversion and community center that helps people avoid incarceration and its associated issues, such as trauma, unemployment, and weak