E

very day in Detroit, all over the city, there are

thousands of people quietly working for change in
hopes of creating a better life for their children and
families.
For the most part, this is done without fanfare, without
big newspaper headlines or stories that are likely to lead
your afternoon or evening newscasts.
Welcome to Detroits Transformation Community, the
name that I use for the unsung heroes in hundreds of
schools, churches, neighborhood block clubs and busi-
nesses determined to transform Detroit no matter how
daunting the task.
These are the people -- some of whom are paid and
many of whom are not -- who mentor, tutor, preach
against violence and for personal responsibility, volun-
teer in schools, clean up neighborhoods, participate in
CB patrols, and do a thousand other tasks.
They do more than simply care, or complain, about our
problems. They are committed to being part of the solu-
tion.
These are the people ARISE Detroit! was created to
serve, inspire and celebrate.
Viewed individually, the efforts of one person or organi-
zation can be overlooked, or seen as a relatively meager
accomplishment.
However, when viewed as a collective think of an
army of worker ants sweeping over a feld-- this Transfor-
mation Community can be seen as powerful movement
of unlimited potential.
In addition to growing the ranks of volunteers in the
movement, it is important that people see, hear and
touch the impact of its work thereby inspiring others to
RISING SUMMIT NEIGHBORHOODS DAY
continued on page 2
Detroit residents, like Kim Tandy, to partici-
pate in workshops and strategies to improve
their communities; hear Detroit Works
Project presentation on redefining neighbor-
hoods Page 3
Thousands of volunteers spread out over the city
for a day of volunteerism whose ultimate goal
was to bring neighborhoods closer together.
Page 4
Detroit rising!
rising action
Group motivates hundreds
of organizations, thousands
of people across Detroit
City Year Detroit volunteers help out on Neighborhoods Day.
2
October 2012 October 2012
If there ever was a time when able Detroiters
have stepped up to help, it pales in comparison to
what ARISE Detroit! is and can do.
Rochelle Riley, columnist, Detroit Free Press
A Stunning Ascent
become actively engaged.
Thats why ARISE Detroit! has a con-
certed media strategy, utilizing our
media partners, podcasts, website,
e-newsletter and other resources, to raise
the public profle of Detroits Transforma-
tion Community to produce more stories
of hope and inspiration.
If you think Detroit can do better by
uniting behind a common vision for
transformation, that we need to encour-
age more people to become part of the
solution and that we need more positive
media messages and images to promote
hope in our community, we invite you to
become Part of the Change with ARISE
Detroit!
Luther Keith, Executive Director
Detroit Rising continued from cover
When I look at our city and the many people and organizations doing wonderful work here, I always think of ARISE Detroit! and its passion for the things that every day
Detroiters do. ARISE Detroit has been instrumental in changing Detroits view of itself.
--Dan Pitera, Director, Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning.
Since it began in 2006, with funding from
the Skillman Foundation, ARISE Detroit!
has grown from 22 founding organizations
to over 400 community partners, including
non-profits, businesses, churches and media
outlets. ARISE Detroit! in action:
Volunteerism: Generated thousands
volunteers for scores of community pro-
grams, including partnering with the City
of Detroit on Angels Night and the Motor
City Makeover
Neighborhoods Day: Established ARISE
Detroit! Neighborhoods Day in 2007,
the first Saturday of every August, a day
when thousands of Detroiters engage in
volunteer and community service projects
throughout the city.
Community Service: Grown from 55
Neighborhoods Day community service
and improvement events in 2007 to more
than 200 in 2012. The annual event has
become a new tradition for city neigh-
borhoods and has included community
cleanups, anti-crime marches, volunteer
signups, construction of new housing,
educational events and free health screen-
ings.
Promoting community: Marketed and pro-
moted over 1,000 programs and events on
behalf of children and families, including
mentoring, tutoring efforts, anti-violence
initiatives and school-based community
service programs.
Faith-based support: Won the support of
the faith-based community, including the
Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit &
Vicinity, Rev. Wendell Anthony, pastor of
Fellowship Chapel and president Detroit
chapter, NAACP; Rev. Edgar Vann, pastor
of Second Ebenezer church and others.
Lemonade Day: Partnered with Hunting-
ton Bank to bring Lemonade Day to De-
troit, a program that teaches young people
entrepreneurial skills by selling lemonade.
Over 7,000 youngsters have participated
over the past two years.
Donations: Partnered with Waste Manage-
ment of Michigan to get over 5,000 trash
bags donated to neighborhood organiza-
tions for community cleanups.
Boosting Image: Served as an ambassador
for Detroits image by working with local,
national and international media to con-
nect them to positive stories on organi-
zations and people working to improve
Detroit.
Cosby Support: Hosted three events by
Dr. Bill Cosby who has praised ARISE De-
troit! as one of the nations best examples
of grassroots community activism.
Neighborhood Summit:
Established the ARISE Detroit! Neighbor-
hoods Rising Summit, a day of workshops
and neighborhood-improvement resourc-
es for hundreds of residents.
Fighting crime: Supported numer-
ous anti-crime initiatives with
groups like Detroit 300, the
Detroit Community Initiative, the
Detroit Parent Network and
the United Communities
of America.
School partner-
ships: Partnered
with Detroit
Public Schools to
arrange adopt-a-
school programs
with Wayne
State University, Wayne County Commu-
nity College District and other institutions.
Collaborations: Facilitated numerous
community meetings with the Detroit
Works Project Long Term Planning initia-
tive to see that the voices of thousands
of Detroiters are included in efforts to
reshape the city.
News source: Partnered with the Detroit
Regional News Hub to establish the
Detroit Information Network, a news-wiki
that reports and archives stories on groups
and organizations working to transform
Detroit. Wiki link:
wiki.thedetroithub.
com
Luther Keith with Bill Cosby,
an early supporter of ARISE Detroit!
3
October 2012
A
key leader of the Detroit Works
Project Long Term planning initia-
tive will share information and ideas
gathered from community residents as part
of the third annual ARISE Detroit! Neigh-
borhoods Rising Summit on Saturday, Nov.
3, at the downtown campus of Wayne
County Community College District.
The presentation will be made by Charles
Cross, director of integration for civic
engagement, who has been involved in
months of discussions, research and thou-
sands of community interactions as part
of the Detroit Works Project Long Term
Planning initiative, which is developing a
strategic framework plan to improve the
quality of life in city neighborhoods.
Sponsored by the Kresge Foundation, the
Summit will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m at
the downtown campus of WCCCD located
at 1001 W. Fort Street, 48226.
The summit will also feature 10 workshops
offering information and strategies to help
residents improve their neighborhoods
in areas ranging from fighting crime and
forming block clubs, to developing youth
programs, establishing community gardens,
developing farmers markets, and obtaining
mini-grants for neighborhood programs.
Community leaders working on the front
lines of change in Detroit will share success
stories and offer advice to participants.
Summit panelists will include:
Dalton Roberson of Michigan Community
Resources, who will discuss mini-grant pro-
gram opportunities for community groups.
Shirley Burch of Community United for
Progress, who has forged a strong commu-
nity/business relationship with the Belmont
Shopping Center in northeast Detroit.
Tepfirah Rushdan of the Greening of
Detroit, which has helped beautify neigh-
borhoods by planting thousands of trees.
Tim Addy Jr. of Handyman Ministries,
who has donated hundreds of volunteer
hours to maintain and renovate homes
in Detroit. He will lead a workshop on
home repairs and home maintenance.
Tom Staton, program manager for Crime
Stoppers Project Safe Campus program.
Marsha Lemieux of Bright Recycling on
community recycling programs.
Lt. Brian Fountain of the Detroit Police
Department community relations office,
who will offer practical crime-fighting
tips.
In addition, there will be community
organization exhibitors and vendors with
information and resources to help neigh-
borhood residents.
The event is free and open to the public.
It will include a continental breakfast and
lunch.
However, all participants are urged to
register at www.arisedetroit.org to secure
a spot in the workshops. They can also
phone 313-921-1955.
Funded by the Kresge Foundation, ARISE
Detroit! is a coalition more than 400 com-
munity organizations promoting volun-
teerism, community activism and positive
media images to create a better Detroit.
WHAT: Third Annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Rising Summit
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m
WHERE: Downtown campus,
Wayne County Community College District,
1001 W. Fort Street, Detroit
PROGRAM: A whole day of workshops on how to improve your
neighborhood, ranging from fighting crime to forming
block clubs, creating urban farms, developing youth
programs and more. Includes continental breakfast and
lunch.
COST: Free, but you must register at www.arisedetroit.org,
or phone, 313-921-1955.
THI RD ANNUAL ARI SE DETROI T! NEI GHBORHOODS RI SI NG SUMMI T I S NOV. 3
DETROIT RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES;
HEAR DETROIT WORKS PROJECT PRESENTATION ON REDEFINING NEIGHBORHOODS
I work with civic organizations all over the country and I can say ARISE Detroit! is one
of the strongest, most visionary and forward looking organizations in the country. We
need more organizations like ARISE Detroit!
Richard Harwood, founder of the Maryland-based Harwood Institute.
Luther Keith with Bill Cosby,
an early supporter of ARISE Detroit!
Kim Tandy of
University Commons
4
October 2012 October 2012
ARISE Detroit! lets us get more volunteers involved, neighborhood residents and people from the suburbs working together. Its a great experience.
Brittany Moore, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp
Because of ARISE Detroit! we got students to volunteer on Neighborhoods Day and adopt one of
our public schools and build an ongoing partnership. ARISE Detroit! is connecting the dots across
Detroit, getting businesses and neighborhood groups to work together.
Victor Green director community affairs, Wayne State University
Neighborhoods day
By Santiago Esparza
Detroit Information Network
T
housands of volunteers spread out over the city for a
day of volunteerism whose ultimate goal was to bring
neighborhoods closer together.
Community groups, activists, residents and suburban
neighbors came together under the umbrella of the 6th
annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Day on Aug. 4,
2012, to clear vacant lots, demolish vacant houses, paint
murals, raise money for school supplies and remind the
nation and the world that the city of Detroit still has a
strong heartbeat.
Neighborhoods Day is really a tribute to the people
of Detroit and how much they love their city, said
Luther Keith, executive director of ARISE! Detroit. Its a
spectacular demonstration that people want to make a
difference in their community in neighborhoods all over
the city.
Events started at 9 a.m. and stretched into the evening
as the event celebrated the citys resiliency and commit-
ment to its rebirth.
Neighborhoods Day, held the first Saturday of every
August, started in 2007 with 55 community groups and a
few hundred volunteers. It has steadily grown and there
were at least 200 groups with thousands volunteering
their time this year.
Virtually no corner of the city was left untouched as
the groups spread out across neighborhoods, helping
residents think big but act in small ways that make a dif-
ference. Here are few of their stories.
SOUTHWEST DETROIT
Glen Taylor and a crew of about a dozen
staffers from the fledgling WAY (Widening
Advancements for Youth) Academy cleared
lots and mowed lawns for residents near
the school at West Vernor and Lawn-
dale.
The school caters to at-risk youth and
opens in the fall. Taylor said the
crews first experience with Neigh-
borhoods Day is one they want to
keep going.
Wed like to take over empty lots (in
the neighborhood) and create commu-
nity gardens, he said before sweeping
a weed whacker over knee-high weeds
in one such lot. We can work in
math and science and the language
arts with it. They can learn and do
something positive in the commu-
nity.
The school has 20 neighbor-
hood students enrolled who
will take classes online and
in school beginning in the
fall. The program has
1,300 students across
the state enrolled,
Taylor said.
continued on page 5
Thousands turn out for volunteer projects to improve
community during annual citywide event.
5
October 2012
ARISE Detroit! lets us get more volunteers involved, neighborhood residents and people from the suburbs working together. Its a great experience.
Brittany Moore, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp
continued from page 4
continued on page 6
Judy Colbeck has lived in the neighborhood for more
than 40 years. She watched as the volunteers cleared a
vacant lot near her home. She said the work makes her
feel safer.
I think it is wonderful, she said of the work. It would
be great if the school took over the lot.
NORTHWEST DETROIT
About a dozen people were sweating in the morning
heat and humidity as they took a house apart so the
materials could be reused. They were helping Motor
City Blight Busters take down eight such homes over
two blocks in the Grand River and Lahser area so the
space can become an urban farm. Another vacant
house will be used for a farmhouse when the project is
done, Blight Busters founder John George said.
I love it, George said while guiding volunteers
around the site. I love the city. I love to make some-
thing out of nothing.
Erin Gray counted at least five loads of debris cleared
by lunchtime, Trevor Bridges twisted an ankle and
Shoushana Flowers was just a bit pooped as they
helped George.
I wanted to serve and to give something back, Flow-
ers of St. Clair Shores said. It is a lot of hard work and
a lot of dust.
WEST SIDE
There was a lot of jumping around on Livernois near
Seven Mile as kids jumped on one foot and then two
on colorful hopscotch squares. The squares were
drawn by volunteers from Wedge Detroit.
Its a nice way to get people excited, said Ajoonie
Sethi as she helped draw the squares with large pieces
of chalk. It is for Detroit to come together and set a
record. It is pretty exciting.
Wedge Detroit is a start up design company for start up
companies. Sethi said hopscotch is a fun way to bring
people together and to create a sense of unity.
EAST SIDE
Think of them as carpenter clergymen. Handyman Min-
istries renovated 11 homes, boarded up 25 houses and
cleared 40 yards during a week of volunteering in the
Mack and Alter roads in the Clark Elementary School
area. It was one of eight public schools that were ad-
opted by organizations and businesses for community
service projects on Neighborhoods Day.
Handyman also built new porches, planted flowers and
made plans to create a community garden for the Clark
Elementary School students to tend and learn from.
Over 300 volunteers came from the neighborhood,
General Motors Corp. and around Metro Detroit to
The annual Crary St. Marys parade is part of Neighborhoods Day.
The Detroit Childrens Choir
Carol Goss, CEO of the Skillman Foundation
The W.O.W.S. Group
Handyman Ministries volunteers
6
October 2012 October 2012
pitch in to beautify a neighborhood peppered
with well-kept brick homes, tidy lawns and
some vacant structures.
This is my area, said Tim Addy, founder of
Handyman, who organized the event. My
older brother went to this school (Clark). I
plan on staying here my whole life. My heart
is for Detroit.
Addy and other volunteers renovated an
entire block in the neighborhood last year
and he said he wants to up the ante each year
moving forward.
It wont be hard for him to find people in
need. He has a waiting list of 1,200 homes
and the list gets longer after each volunteer
event.
We do this all year, said Addy, a building
contractor. It is a great opportunity to do
something better.
Essie Jones has seen nine children go through
Clark school and a grandchild will attend
classes there in the fall. She is on the waiting
list for roof repairs.
This is a blessing, she said of the volunteers
work. One of the houses they boarded up
caught fire right after I reported seeing people
in it. Their work makes me feel safer.
MIDTOWN
A steady bass thump could be heard on
West Grand Boulevard at Second Avenue as
some of the areas hottest techno DJs spun
music to raise money for school supplies and
backpacks for kids. The SCP Backpack Music
Festival had the crowd dancing, bobbing their
heads to the beat and DJs happy to help the
cause. For the past six years the festival has
raised $30,000 for backpacks and supplies.
Founder Judith Shelton said she was hoping
to raise that much through the end of this year
with the festival netting the biggest chunk of
the money.
Shelton said she got the idea for the festi-
val after noticing groups of schoolchildren
walking around with folders and notebooks
jammed in thin, plastic shopping bags.
There are a lot of kids that dont have the
supplies necessary to start school, she said.
We have to really focus on that.
Corey Willyard of Clarkston was enjoying
the festival with buddies. He said the positive
vibe of the festival and knowing it would help
schoolchildren made him feel great about at-
tending the event.
It is great to see the inventors of techno give
back, he said of pioneering techno DJs such
as Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Eddie Fowl-
kes who participated in the event. They must
have really big hearts.
Neighborhoods Day continued from page 5
-Whats refreshing about ARISE Detroit! is that its message and its work offers common ground for all who care
about the city. ARISE Detroit! is a banner the entire community should rally behind.
John Telford, Detroit School Board interim president.
WHAT IS IT:
Detroits only day that honors the work of neigh-
borhoods groups, organizations and people. Held
the first Saturday of every August.
WHAT HAPPENS:
Block clubs, community groups, churches and
business host community service and improve-
ment projects, ranging from cleanups, home-
builds, planting gardens, festival, back to school
events and more.
WHEN:
The seventh annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods
Day will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013.
HOW TO BE INVOLVED AS A SPONSOR
OR PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION:
Phone 313-921-1955.
ARISE DETROIT! NEIGHBORHOODS DAY
7
October 2012
Funded by the Kresge Foundation, ARISE Detroit! is
a non-profit 501 c3 coalition of more than 400 block
clubs, community organizations, churches, businesses
and media outlets promoting volunteerism, commu-
nity activism and positive media images to create a
better Detroit. ARISE is an acronym for ACTIVATING
RESOURCES and INSPIRING SERVICE and EMPOWER-
MENT.
Our Mission: To inspire a community of active en-
gagement, personal responsibility and hope by connect-
ing people to opportunities and resources to transform
the quality of life for all Detroiters.
Our Vision: Detroit will be a city where children are
loved and mentored, families are healthy and strong,
and everyone is instilled with a spirit of hope and en-
gaged in community service.
MAKING THE CHANGE REAL: WHAT WE DO
1. Connect people who want to volunteer to any of the
hundreds of worthwhile community programs, rang-
ing from mentoring and tutoring to anti-violence,
domestic violence programs and many more.
2. Connect businesses and organizations to community
service projects.
3. Recruit volunteers for needy community programs.
4. Promote and market events and programs on behalf
of our partner organizations to help them grow stron-
ger with additional volunteers and other resources.
5. Work with our media partners and use our own
media resources, including ARISE Detroit newsletter,
to produce more stories of hope and inspiration.
SKILLMAN FOUNDATION
KRESGE FOUNDATION
ERB FOUNDATION
COMERCA BANK
COMPUWARE
CITIZENS INSURANCE
PNC BANK
HUNTINGTON BANK
WWJ RADIO
MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
KNIGHT FOUNDATION
RADIO ONE
WDET
MY TV 20
HEALTH ALLIANCE PLAN
DETROIT MEDIA PARTNERSHIP
MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS
WASTE MANAGEMENT OF MICHIGAN
DETROIT REGIONAL NEWS HUB
AFPD
HACIENDA MEXICAN FOODS
UNITED WAY
COMCAST
AARP
DMC SINAI GRACE
ROBERTS RIVERWALK HOTEL
LAW OFFICE OF ATTORNEY JOUMANA
KAYROUZ
MICHIGAN STATE HOUSING DEVELOP-
MENT AUTHORITY
MGM GRAND DETROIT
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHI-
GAN
CVS CAREMARK
MY ALTERNATIVEED.COM
DUNKING DONUTS
LEAP, LOWER EAST SIDE ACTION PLAN
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS
BLACK FAMILY DEVELOPMENT
LISC DETROIT
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT
DETROIT WORKS PROJECT LONG TERM
PLANNING
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
ACCESS
ACOS
ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS
ART OF LEADERSHIP
BEL AIR THEATER
BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY
CHILDREN AID SOCIETY
CITY YEAR DETROIT
THE YES FOUNDATION
VSA ARTS
COMMUNITY UNITED FOR PROGRESS
MORNINGSIDE
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
DETROIT FREE PRESS
DETROIT COMMUNITY INITATIVE, DCI
YOUTHVILLE DETROIT
DETROIT COLLEGE PROMISE
DIAMONDZ HOUSE OF CARE
DOWNTOWN BOXING GYM
DETROIT PARENT NETWORK
FAMILY ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE
GENESIS HOPE
HAUL (recycling)
HEART OF JESUS
HOPE UNITED
LELAND COMMUNTY AFFAIRS
INSIDE OUT LITERARY ARTS
KERIS CORNER
LEAP
ASAP
AKEBULAN VILLAGE
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY RESOURCES
METRO PARENT
MISSION OF PEACE
BOYS HOPE, GIRLS HOPE
DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY
PEACE COMMUNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER
SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA
SOUTHWEST SOLUTIONS
UNIVERSITY COMMONS
BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS
DAPCEP
FOCUS: HOPE
RAVENDALE COMMUNITY
VANGUARD CDC
CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY
We truly appreciate the volunteers efforts to help do something about the blight in the Beckham Academy community. Weve received several calls thanking the
volunteers for boarding up the abandoned home in front of our school.
--Philip T. Van Hooks, Principal, William J. Beckham Academy, adopted by volunteers of attorney Joumana Kayrouz, on Neighborhoods Day 2012.
ABOUT ARISE DETROIT!
ARISE Detroit! is located inside the Samaritan Center at 5555
Conner, Suite 1233, Detroit, Mi. 48213. Phone 313-921-1955.
Website, www.arisedetroit.org; email, info@arisedetroit.org.
LOG ON: Go to www.arisedetroit.org, for details
JOIN THE ARISE DETROIT! MOVEMENT AS A VOLUNTEER,
PARTNER ORGANIZATION OR FINANCIAL SUPPORTER!
SIGN UP: To receive the ARISE Detroit! weekly e-newsletter.
Its packed with information on community resources, volunteer
and community service opportunities and more. Go to www.
arisedetroit.org.
LISTEN: To the ARISE Detroit community report every
Wednesday at 12:55 p.m. on the Angelo Henderson show on
radio station WCHB, 1200 AM.
DONATE: --Make a tax deductible donation, payable to
ARISE Detroit!, online at www.arisedetroit.org, or by check to
ARISE Detroit! 5555 Conner, Suite 1233, Detroit, Mi. 48213
Some of
Our Partners
sponsors and
supporters
{
{
I cannot think of another community organization that would or could bring groups all over the city together like ARISE
Detroit! It is forcing people to go beyond dialogue and meetings and do something.
-- George Swan, vice chancellor, Wayne County Community College District.
The 6th Annual ARISE DETROIT! Neighborhoods Day, Saturday, August 4, 2012
A Day that Changed Detroit
DETROIT, THIS IS WHAT YOU
DID:
Held more than 200 community
service and improvement projects
Helped clean up in more than 50
neighborhoods
Boarded up nearly 100 vacant build-
ings
Helped create safe school routes and
renovate eight Detroit public schools
Provided thousands of kids with
bookbags and school supplies
Gave scores of people free health
screenings
Gave hundreds of kids positive expe-
riences in sports programs
COMMUNITY ACCLAIM FOR NEIGHBORHOODS DAY
Neighborhoods Day is creating something that is lasting. You have people of all kinds
working together, educations, business people and others. It gives bad news a black
eye. It makes everyones small efforts so much bigger.
Madeline Black, Widening Advancement for Youth
Neighborhoods Day brings the whole city together. It promotes unity.
Linda Allen, Holistic Development Community Center
Neighborhoods Day was probably the best team building experience weve ever had. It
did a lot for our team of volunteers and also helped the community.
Paul Schonshack, General Motors Corp.
Neighborhoods Day was amazing. We were thrilled to be part of a day that brings
change and happiness to hundreds of kids.
Tracey Jones, Paving the Way for Youth
From left: Marcus Harris, ARISE Detroit! opera-
tions officer; Marge Sorge board member; Louise
Guyton, board member; Luther Keith, executive
director; Randy McNeil, board chair; Sarida
Scott, board member; Judith Jackson, board
member.