Author Archives:
As the event begins to wrap up, I’ve been thinking about my personal “take-a-away” from the day.
In December, I decided that my resolution for 2010 was to start a blog highlighting my personal insights about urban planning, racial reconciliation and Detroit’s future. The thought that I had both the ability and power to say something [...]
Reverend Simmons, chair of the Brightmoor Pastoral Alliance, points out that media does have a responsibility to portray the “reality” of Detroit. He said that city is about more than restaurants and the riverwalk, but also about crime.
However, one audience stated that “gatekeepers” prevent more positive stories from being told in traditional media outlets.
It seems [...]
Here are some suggestions:
1. Stories about youth development- slam poetry, you tube, stories about the high achieving and the “not-so-high” achievers, peace zones.
2. Stories about community power- alternative to collapse, housing collectives, community gardens, community recycling programs and clothing swaps.
3. Stories about people- living, working, surviving, thriving in Detroit.
Traditional media can’t be everywhere especially during [...]
Nicole Christian, drafter of the Detroit Declaration and Director of Communications for TechTown, and Bill Mitchell from Poynter Institute lead conference attendees in a discussion regarding the missed opportunities for collaboration in regards to finding, reporting and telling more balanced stories regarding Detroit.
“Every human being and every organization is potentially a global publisher.”
Kirk Cheyfitz, CEO, Story Worldwide
Given his statement, how can social media be used to “take charge of Detroit’s story?”
Myth: Being poor in Detroit is the same as being poor in other neighboring communities such as Troy, Livonia and Westland.
Fact: According to Dr. Marcella Wilson of Matrix Human Services, those in poverty in Detroit do not have the same degree of access to jobs, grocery stores and other establishments to serve their needs due [...]
Myth: Government is ineffective and people improved their station in life through their hard work.
Fact: The Federal Housing Administration helped to create post-war affluence by subsidizing home mortgages that enabled potential home buyers to access capital cheaply for the first time. These programs helped many immigrants buy homes and move from the city to middle [...]
Myth: Mayor Coleman Young was the cause of racial fragmentation in Detroit.
Fact: According to Malcom Dade, previous staffer for the former mayor, Young believed in multi-racial partnerships. He described Young as a “race man” because he believed in the contributions of African-Americans.
Additionally, this myth does not provide an accurate depiction of the disease of systematic [...]
Sugrue points out that the answer cannot be solely attributed to the riots, racialized politics, economic restructuring or the lack of personal responsibility.
Instead, Sugrue emphasizes the impact of the following three factors on metro-Detroit.
1. Flight of capital and jobs away from the city.
2. Persistent racial discrimination which limited employment options.
3. Persistent segregation in housing by [...]
Sugrue begins his time on the mic by telling a story that is familiar to most. He weaves a story about a neighborhood on the Westside that was once lined with well-kept bungalows tended by Irish immigrants, such as his own grandparents. However, this microcosm of Detroit, located between Santa Rosa and Chalfonte, is now [...]
