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NEIGHBORHOODS DAY UNITES THE CITY, SUBURBS AND PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS
By Luther Keith
Executive Director, ARISE Detroit!
If you've logged on to the ARISE Detroit! website, or seen our flyers promoting the 9th annual Neighborhood Day, maybe you have been struck by the photos of two men looking over plans that apparently involve constructing a house.
One of the men is black. One is white. They are working together for Habitat Humanity of Detroit on an east side home build as part of last year's Neighborhoods Day.
In partnership with community groups and future homeowners, Habitat for Humanity of Detroit has been part of every Neighborhoods Day since it began in 2007 and will be again for the 9th annual city wide event on Saturday, August 1st.
With all the racial strife we see today, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that most people work harmoniously together with the common understanding that we really do all need each other to make our world, our city, our neighborhood and our block a better place.
That's what I love about the photo taken of Habitat for Humanity's Roland Porter and AmeriCorps member Matthew Eaton, taken Neighborhoods Day last year at a home construction site on the east side.
Look at the photo: One is black, one is white, but both are focused deciphering building plans that will literally help a neighborhood rise. That's what happens on Neighborhoods Day - our city rises. It truly brings out the best in Detroit, as a city and as a people.
I was in Chicago recently for a major conference on improving that city and organizers invited me to share the story about ARISE Detroit! and Neighborhoods Day. They were truly amazed with how our city comes together on this breathtaking display of community pride with scores of community improvement projects in nearly every zip code involving thousands of volunteers.
"How can we do this in Chicago," I was repeatedly asked.
Detroit, the world is watching. Let's make the 9th annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Day the biggest and best ever. We need you to register your community group, church, block club or business today. For the $50 registration fee, we will provide custom made banners for your group, t-shirts, project supplies, such as cleanup bags and more.
Spread the word and register today!
Click here to register