Sorry I haven't written in awhile. I had to start back up to work and graduate school, so I won't be able to post as often now. Plus, it has been about a month since I have been back home, so I need to plan a trip soon.
I had an incredible experience this week. In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the University of Dayton brought in educational reformist Geoffrey Canada, from Waiting for Superman fame. A friend of mine and I attended, and I could not help but think of Detroit Public Schools as I was sitting in the audience.
Canada is famous for reforming a section of Harlem's schools. He is really a brilliant man. As I am currently studying Educational Leadership, his words really resonated with me.
There is no silver bullet to cure the ills of America's Public Schools. And anyone who attempts to say that there is is a fool. There is no cure-all panacea or formula that will resurrect our dysfunctional system. Actually, Dayton, Ohio has a ton of innovative programs going on, and has for years - Charter Schools, School Vouchers, etc. Sadly, however, Dayton Public Schools still remain some of the lowest academic performing ones in the state. But one can have hope. Hope to make small changes. Hope that if enough creative leaders make small changes, like Geoffrey Canada, then a revolution will occur.
Canada knew he could not go in and save all the children in Harlem, although he of course wanted to. He knew that was an impossible feat. Since compulsory education began in America, we have always had a drop out rate of near 30 percent. This is nothing new. People just don't realize it is part of the history of American Public Schools. Inner city schools have a drop out rate of near 50 percent. This is a true problem that is going to haunt our nation for years unless we do something about it!
Canada started with 11,000 children in one section of Harlem. There was no rhyme or reason as to why these children. It was luck of the draw. He could not save all, so he just picked an area in Harlem to work on reform. He said that he started with one block at a time.
He also said that you cannot go in with some program and let it run its course and be done. This inevitably fails. Everyone goes back to the way it was before. Those short term projects always fail. He stared with these kids in preschool and stayed with them until college. This is what we have to do. We cannot focus just on preschool, or just on middle school, or when it is just too late in high school. We have to commit to these kids as a life long educational project.
Canada is brilliant. The most brilliant thing he said though is that our kids are just lacking faith. Sure, everyone blames this on the separation of church and state in the Constitution. Well, the First Amendment does not even use those words. Thomas Jefferson coined them in a letter. They are nowhere in the Constitution. But, Canada was not talking about faith in God, really. He was talking about reigniting children's faith in themselves, in America, and in school. We have to have them believe in themselves, their schools, their country, their future.
So, one step Detroit Public Schools could take is to start small. Be committed. And don't give up. Have faith in our children, our schools, our country, our city, and our future. After all, what else do we have if we do not have faith?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Chevy Volt
Glad to see that the Chevy Volt won highest honors at the International Auto Show! It is good that Detroit has finally embraced electronic vehicles. And, I hope to see more and more on the roads as the years progress. It also won the Green Car of the year for 2011.
However, I do have some issues. First, it is only offered in seven markets. Second, it is very expensive. I really do not think that a car should be priced more than most people's yearly salaries. However, with gas prices creeping up to $4 a gallon, or maybe even higher, economists say that the car is a good investment in the long run. And hopefully, with everything electronic, maybe in the future, they will become more available all over the USA and will be more affordable.
Go Detroit! Here is to a comeback! Nice job with the Autoshow. Wish I could have come this year.
However, I do have some issues. First, it is only offered in seven markets. Second, it is very expensive. I really do not think that a car should be priced more than most people's yearly salaries. However, with gas prices creeping up to $4 a gallon, or maybe even higher, economists say that the car is a good investment in the long run. And hopefully, with everything electronic, maybe in the future, they will become more available all over the USA and will be more affordable.
Go Detroit! Here is to a comeback! Nice job with the Autoshow. Wish I could have come this year.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hockeytown
This post is dedicated to two beloved hockey players in my life: "Old hockey players never die, they just reach their final goals."
Well, like the rest of the Northeast, this winter has been tough on Detroit. The snow keeps falling, the flights get canceled, and the road are covered in ice. In the Detroit spirit, however, let the winter sports commence.
Detroit is Hockeytown, USA. (Okay, in my research I read that there are many towns that make that claim in both the US and Canada -- a town in Massachusetts actually is named that -- but only one is my hometown - so it wins for this blog post). Growing up in Detroit, hockey and ice skating are just second nature.
My best friend from the neighborhood's dad use to make an ice rink every winter. We would skate around every day, warming up with hot cocoa by the fire. In middle school, I used to spend countless weekends watching my friend compete in ice skating competitions at a local rink. My father loved hockey so much that I was raised with pictures of the Virgin Mary, the Pope, and Gordy Howe hanging in reverence in our house. Needless to say, my sister married an avid hockey player. As you can see, skating is an integral part of life in Detroit.
Then there are the RedWings. I grew up in the days of dreamie Stevie Yzerman and the Russian Five Red Army. Detroit has won the most Stanley Cups out of an American team -- 11 (only two Canadian teams have topped that -- Montreal and Toronto). We were a bit hockey crazed growing up. Attending an all girl school, instead of the usual dating antics of adolescence, my friends use to actually drive up and down Woodward Ave. just to catch a glimpse of one of the Red Wings who lived in our town.
Hockey is the perfect symbol to represent Detroit. It is a team sport. Players have to be quick, smart, and tough. And, even when the weather outside is frightful, you can always catch a pick up game somewhere. Hockey players also are great emblems of Detroiters, after all, they can walk on water! Go Wings.
Well, like the rest of the Northeast, this winter has been tough on Detroit. The snow keeps falling, the flights get canceled, and the road are covered in ice. In the Detroit spirit, however, let the winter sports commence.
Detroit is Hockeytown, USA. (Okay, in my research I read that there are many towns that make that claim in both the US and Canada -- a town in Massachusetts actually is named that -- but only one is my hometown - so it wins for this blog post). Growing up in Detroit, hockey and ice skating are just second nature.
My best friend from the neighborhood's dad use to make an ice rink every winter. We would skate around every day, warming up with hot cocoa by the fire. In middle school, I used to spend countless weekends watching my friend compete in ice skating competitions at a local rink. My father loved hockey so much that I was raised with pictures of the Virgin Mary, the Pope, and Gordy Howe hanging in reverence in our house. Needless to say, my sister married an avid hockey player. As you can see, skating is an integral part of life in Detroit.
Then there are the RedWings. I grew up in the days of dreamie Stevie Yzerman and the Russian Five Red Army. Detroit has won the most Stanley Cups out of an American team -- 11 (only two Canadian teams have topped that -- Montreal and Toronto). We were a bit hockey crazed growing up. Attending an all girl school, instead of the usual dating antics of adolescence, my friends use to actually drive up and down Woodward Ave. just to catch a glimpse of one of the Red Wings who lived in our town.
Hockey is the perfect symbol to represent Detroit. It is a team sport. Players have to be quick, smart, and tough. And, even when the weather outside is frightful, you can always catch a pick up game somewhere. Hockey players also are great emblems of Detroiters, after all, they can walk on water! Go Wings.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Oh How I Wish again that I was in Michigan
I don't usually get homesick. Well, occasionally I do, but I have not really lived in Detroit for eighteen years or something. But this holiday season and beginning of the new year, I am homesick. I count my blessings that I am only four hours away and not a plane ride. But, away is away. It is very hard to be away when people you love are sick and others may need you.
It's not that I ever wanted to move away from metro-Detroit. It is in fact quite the opposite. I tried to land a job up there in '95. I didn't get one. Sure, I could have substitute taught, but I was offered a classroom in Ohio, so I thought, I will just teach here a year or two and then go home.
Well, needless to say, one year has turned into many. And now, to be honest, Southern Ohio is as much my home as Detroit. And my support system is great. But, it still does not make it easy to not live in the place where I was born, where my family is, and where my parents are. It used to be easy. Fun in fact - a quick get away. Hop in the car and three hours later, I was home. But now, a husband, two kids, and bagel hound later, it is not so easy. First there's the kennel. Then the pack n' play, stuffed aniimals, and suitcases that weigh down the minivan. Sounding like a Harry Chapin song now.
Plus, I bring chaos. My baggage includes the excess energy of a six year old, the cries in the middle of the night and toddles of a nine month old, and the sleepless agitation of middle-aged parents. So, out of respect, sometimes I stay put.
But, because of social media, I know I am not alone. So many of my friends from growing up have moved away from Michigan. And, I am sure that many of them share the same story. We would love to still live in the mitten, but really, it is just not on our path, for some reason or another. The old cliche is true - you can never go back. But, sometimes I wish I could put on my red, ruby slippers.
It's not that I ever wanted to move away from metro-Detroit. It is in fact quite the opposite. I tried to land a job up there in '95. I didn't get one. Sure, I could have substitute taught, but I was offered a classroom in Ohio, so I thought, I will just teach here a year or two and then go home.
Well, needless to say, one year has turned into many. And now, to be honest, Southern Ohio is as much my home as Detroit. And my support system is great. But, it still does not make it easy to not live in the place where I was born, where my family is, and where my parents are. It used to be easy. Fun in fact - a quick get away. Hop in the car and three hours later, I was home. But now, a husband, two kids, and bagel hound later, it is not so easy. First there's the kennel. Then the pack n' play, stuffed aniimals, and suitcases that weigh down the minivan. Sounding like a Harry Chapin song now.
Plus, I bring chaos. My baggage includes the excess energy of a six year old, the cries in the middle of the night and toddles of a nine month old, and the sleepless agitation of middle-aged parents. So, out of respect, sometimes I stay put.
But, because of social media, I know I am not alone. So many of my friends from growing up have moved away from Michigan. And, I am sure that many of them share the same story. We would love to still live in the mitten, but really, it is just not on our path, for some reason or another. The old cliche is true - you can never go back. But, sometimes I wish I could put on my red, ruby slippers.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Heidelberg Project
I am involved with the arts community in Dayton, Ohio. I am lucky enough to teach at a unique learning space called ArtStreet Village, and because of this opportunity, I get to meet and work with artists of all kinds. Over the fall, I kept hearing buzz about these painted houses in Detroit. So, I decided to investigate them myself. It is entitled The Heidelberg Project. Below is a link about its origination. On Heidelberg Street, artists has turned abandoned houses into living sculpture. This is really invigorating parts of the city and bringing art into the everyday experiences of Detroiters. Kids are learning about art in their own world.
There is talk of trying to do this kind of project in Dayton also. Lord knows that there is no shortage of abandoned houses in America of the present. If cities are not going to tear these down, then the residents will use creativity to try to bring life to neighborhoods.
Economist Richard Florida has been arguing for years about the emergence of "The Creative Class" in America, even prior to the 2008 recession. He argues that we are headed into a two-tier class system of a post-materialistic world: the Creative and the Service Classes. Pundits argue daily over the disappearing middle class. Maybe Florida's reality is truly coming into being.
The two-tier system will not be about money though, like the current class, or caste, system in America is. It will be about meeting the ever-changing and complex challenges of our world today with creativity. Only through creativity can America dig itself out of this gigantic hole that we are in today. It was creativity that made America great in the first place. At one time, Dayton had 500 patent lawyers. Today, there are none in town. We need to revitalize creative juices to bring Detroit and America back. And, projects like the Heidelberg Project are doing exactly this!
There is talk of trying to do this kind of project in Dayton also. Lord knows that there is no shortage of abandoned houses in America of the present. If cities are not going to tear these down, then the residents will use creativity to try to bring life to neighborhoods.
Economist Richard Florida has been arguing for years about the emergence of "The Creative Class" in America, even prior to the 2008 recession. He argues that we are headed into a two-tier class system of a post-materialistic world: the Creative and the Service Classes. Pundits argue daily over the disappearing middle class. Maybe Florida's reality is truly coming into being.
The two-tier system will not be about money though, like the current class, or caste, system in America is. It will be about meeting the ever-changing and complex challenges of our world today with creativity. Only through creativity can America dig itself out of this gigantic hole that we are in today. It was creativity that made America great in the first place. At one time, Dayton had 500 patent lawyers. Today, there are none in town. We need to revitalize creative juices to bring Detroit and America back. And, projects like the Heidelberg Project are doing exactly this!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Eastern Market's Fresh Food Share
http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com/page.php?p=1&s=106
Right as the economy started to unravel, all eyes immediately went to Detroit. GM was collapsing, Chrysler was folding, and the press moved into the city to capture the devastation. I remember seeing a news story from that time period that really moved me. It was about bringing fresh produce to city neighborhoods.
As anyone who has ever spent time in an American inner city knows, fresh produce is hard to come by. Liquor stores where cigarettes and junk food cover the shelves are on every corner, neighbored by instant lottery and payday advance places. However, there is never any grocery store to buy fresh food. Kids can walk to the corner and buy drugs, but they cannot find an orange to save their lives.
Well, the Eastern Market in Detroit is trying to change this. Their Fresh Food Share Program trucks in fresh produce to area neighborhoods that otherwise would not have access to it. They buy local, helping both the economy and the environment. The trucks bring the food directly into the neighborhoods, so that people have easy access to it. What a great idea. Again - Detroit innovation can set the template for other cities to follow.
Right as the economy started to unravel, all eyes immediately went to Detroit. GM was collapsing, Chrysler was folding, and the press moved into the city to capture the devastation. I remember seeing a news story from that time period that really moved me. It was about bringing fresh produce to city neighborhoods.
As anyone who has ever spent time in an American inner city knows, fresh produce is hard to come by. Liquor stores where cigarettes and junk food cover the shelves are on every corner, neighbored by instant lottery and payday advance places. However, there is never any grocery store to buy fresh food. Kids can walk to the corner and buy drugs, but they cannot find an orange to save their lives.
Well, the Eastern Market in Detroit is trying to change this. Their Fresh Food Share Program trucks in fresh produce to area neighborhoods that otherwise would not have access to it. They buy local, helping both the economy and the environment. The trucks bring the food directly into the neighborhoods, so that people have easy access to it. What a great idea. Again - Detroit innovation can set the template for other cities to follow.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Amiya Detroiter?
http://www.amiyasdancebus.com/
I remember hearing about this story on the news. A ten year old girl is fighting the obesity epidemic in Detroit by bringing a mobile dance studio into the city's neighborhoods. If a ten year old can do this, surely adults in the Detroit metro area and rest of the nation can get motivated to get the city back on its feet.
Amiya has a school bus that she has converted to a dance floor. It is all decked out in pink. She brings it into neighborhoods where kids have little to no exposure to dance or any kind or art or physical activity. I took ballet all throughout my childhood, and now, my daughter is following in my toe shoes. I cannot imagine a childhood without ballet. This little girl is really a hero. She is bringing hope to those who most need it, children!
Here is her mission:
"The Amiya Mobile Dance Academy’s (AMDA) mission is to further the art of dance in an extended cultural community which will provide dance training and community programs for all youth.
I remember hearing about this story on the news. A ten year old girl is fighting the obesity epidemic in Detroit by bringing a mobile dance studio into the city's neighborhoods. If a ten year old can do this, surely adults in the Detroit metro area and rest of the nation can get motivated to get the city back on its feet.
Amiya has a school bus that she has converted to a dance floor. It is all decked out in pink. She brings it into neighborhoods where kids have little to no exposure to dance or any kind or art or physical activity. I took ballet all throughout my childhood, and now, my daughter is following in my toe shoes. I cannot imagine a childhood without ballet. This little girl is really a hero. She is bringing hope to those who most need it, children!
Here is her mission:
"The Amiya Mobile Dance Academy’s (AMDA) mission is to further the art of dance in an extended cultural community which will provide dance training and community programs for all youth.
This Academy plays an imperative social role using the creativity of the African American heritage along with other cultures to unite people of all races, ages, gender, and backgrounds.
AMDA provides professional beginner training to young new dancers. This Academy prepares new dancers with the basic skills and techniques to progress on to the next level of dance, while developing creativity, discipline, motivation, and self-confidence that all children need to conquer the challenges of today’s society."
We need more creative endeavors like this in Detroit and in all of America's inner cities to provide positive experiences for children! Again, this is the spirit of Detroit - and hopefully it is contagious.Thursday, January 6, 2011
Recovery
Well, I just read that Eminem's album "Recovery" was the best selling one of 2010. I told you it is hip to be from Detroit. Hopefully, with the upcoming Auto Show at Cobo, Detroit continues to get good press.
I used to love to go to the auto show. Some friends in high school use to model there. I never realized how very huge the Auto Show was until I actually started teaching college in Ohio. Sometimes you can only really understand a place once you leave it. Every year, it seems, some student misses class to go to the Auto Show -- be it his dad is exhibiting something or she is modeling, what have you. But, it really is the biggest Auto Show around and put Detroit on an international stage. It will showcase all that the Motor City has to offer.
Made in Detroit means more today than ever before. It means that you are a survivor. It means that you can handle the coldest winters only to blossom in the green spring. It means your spirit is cleansed and renewed with fresh water annually. It means that you have a rich history of creativity, hard work, freedom, endurance, teamwork, and dedication. It means you are made of steel and iron and can handle the bumps that life gives you. It means you can roll with the punches and merge on the freeway of life to get to a better destination. Detroit will recover.
I used to love to go to the auto show. Some friends in high school use to model there. I never realized how very huge the Auto Show was until I actually started teaching college in Ohio. Sometimes you can only really understand a place once you leave it. Every year, it seems, some student misses class to go to the Auto Show -- be it his dad is exhibiting something or she is modeling, what have you. But, it really is the biggest Auto Show around and put Detroit on an international stage. It will showcase all that the Motor City has to offer.
Made in Detroit means more today than ever before. It means that you are a survivor. It means that you can handle the coldest winters only to blossom in the green spring. It means your spirit is cleansed and renewed with fresh water annually. It means that you have a rich history of creativity, hard work, freedom, endurance, teamwork, and dedication. It means you are made of steel and iron and can handle the bumps that life gives you. It means you can roll with the punches and merge on the freeway of life to get to a better destination. Detroit will recover.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Detroit 1-8-7
Okay, so as I mentioned earlier, I watched my first episode of Detroit 1-8-7 last night. To be honest, I started watching it about ten minutes late, and, I cannot tell a lie, I actually fell asleep before it ended. I have a nine-month old baby who is teething, so sleep is sorta a luxury in my house. But, I did Tivo it, so I am rewatching it as I type.
Two things strike me as I watch it. First, the Hollywood producer said that Detroit had race problems. While this is true, Detroit is not alone. Almost every major city in America has race problems. Look at Chicago's Southside; East St. Louis, Illinois; or Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, if you don't believe me. Detroit is not alone. I see race problems all over America, including Dayton, Ohio.
I remember going South as a young girl and seeing separate drinking fountains from the Jim Crow era. I had not been exposed to these up North. I found them disturbing artifacts from a shameful American past. The North fought for freedom in the Civil War. Michigan was always a free state. Detroit offered economic freedom to people more than any other city. Just read Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon for an excellent account of going to Michigan for economic opportunity. It is such a great book.
Detroit is extremely diverse. I remember interviewing with Farmington Schools a decade or so ago. There were something like 80 languages in that district alone. Growing up, my best friend in first grade was black. In fact, many of my friends still are black. During middle school, my weekends were spent at bah and bar mitvahs. I dated a Jewish guy in high school. Many of my friends all throughout school were Chaldean. It was especially sad to go to class with them during the first Iraq War, as their relatives back in Iraq were experiencing the combat first hand. And, I have heard there are more Middle Eastern people in Detroit than anywhere else except maybe the Middle East.
So, this show had better stop with perpetuating the racist stereotypes in Detroit. No one needs that. Sure, the white flight is a well documented and tragic historical occurrence, but it had multiple causations- not solely bigotry. Safety, property values, and schooling all came into play. And it did not just happen in Detroit. Many cities in America share that shameful past.
The second thing that struck me was the artist in Corktown talking about urban exploration, and, as the character stated, although cool, some people are just exploiting the city with it. Burned out buildings have been in Detroit for forty years. Why now is it in vogue to photograph these? Where were these people for the last four decades? It is almost like kicking a guy when he is already down.
Just some thoughts on this show.
Two things strike me as I watch it. First, the Hollywood producer said that Detroit had race problems. While this is true, Detroit is not alone. Almost every major city in America has race problems. Look at Chicago's Southside; East St. Louis, Illinois; or Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, if you don't believe me. Detroit is not alone. I see race problems all over America, including Dayton, Ohio.
I remember going South as a young girl and seeing separate drinking fountains from the Jim Crow era. I had not been exposed to these up North. I found them disturbing artifacts from a shameful American past. The North fought for freedom in the Civil War. Michigan was always a free state. Detroit offered economic freedom to people more than any other city. Just read Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon for an excellent account of going to Michigan for economic opportunity. It is such a great book.
Detroit is extremely diverse. I remember interviewing with Farmington Schools a decade or so ago. There were something like 80 languages in that district alone. Growing up, my best friend in first grade was black. In fact, many of my friends still are black. During middle school, my weekends were spent at bah and bar mitvahs. I dated a Jewish guy in high school. Many of my friends all throughout school were Chaldean. It was especially sad to go to class with them during the first Iraq War, as their relatives back in Iraq were experiencing the combat first hand. And, I have heard there are more Middle Eastern people in Detroit than anywhere else except maybe the Middle East.
So, this show had better stop with perpetuating the racist stereotypes in Detroit. No one needs that. Sure, the white flight is a well documented and tragic historical occurrence, but it had multiple causations- not solely bigotry. Safety, property values, and schooling all came into play. And it did not just happen in Detroit. Many cities in America share that shameful past.
The second thing that struck me was the artist in Corktown talking about urban exploration, and, as the character stated, although cool, some people are just exploiting the city with it. Burned out buildings have been in Detroit for forty years. Why now is it in vogue to photograph these? Where were these people for the last four decades? It is almost like kicking a guy when he is already down.
Just some thoughts on this show.
Detroit's the Thing
I have to admit, even though things look dire at times for Motown, it seems to be more popular than ever. I think this shows that America, and the world for that matter, really does care about its northern sister. Hollywood is filming there, artists are creating there, and the press has moved in to document this chaotic time daily.
In many ways, it is cooler to be from Detroit now than ever. There is even a show on ABC now -- Detroit 1-8-7. I have to admit, I have avoided it like the plague. They had some really racist preview a few months back that turned my stomach, so I vowed to never watch it. But, in doing research for this blog, last night I thought I should check it out.
So, I watched. It was an okay show -- much like any other crime drama with Detroit as the backdrop. Of course there was a murder. It also had characters from Hollywood and such. It showed some of the art going on in Corktown. So, I guess I might watch it again. This one episode did not paint Detroit in too negative of a light.
So, even in this dire economic time, Detroit is offering a beacon of hope. America and the world know that Detroit is something special. Everyone is fascinated about it because of this. My father lived through the Depression. America got out of that. Detroit will bounce back from this also. It will be stronger and better because of it.
In many ways, it is cooler to be from Detroit now than ever. There is even a show on ABC now -- Detroit 1-8-7. I have to admit, I have avoided it like the plague. They had some really racist preview a few months back that turned my stomach, so I vowed to never watch it. But, in doing research for this blog, last night I thought I should check it out.
So, I watched. It was an okay show -- much like any other crime drama with Detroit as the backdrop. Of course there was a murder. It also had characters from Hollywood and such. It showed some of the art going on in Corktown. So, I guess I might watch it again. This one episode did not paint Detroit in too negative of a light.
So, even in this dire economic time, Detroit is offering a beacon of hope. America and the world know that Detroit is something special. Everyone is fascinated about it because of this. My father lived through the Depression. America got out of that. Detroit will bounce back from this also. It will be stronger and better because of it.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Economic Turn Around
Well today, the news showed that all three of the big three's stocks were up. I think Chrysler was up 17 percent, Ford 15 percent, and GM 7 percent or something. This is good news. But, I really don't know how Detroit will turn this around. I don't mean to be doom and gloom here. I just witnessed Telegraph Road last weekend. I wish I had millions of dollars to invest in Detroit. I would bring some Green business up there. I bought a Mega Millions ticket for tonight. Who knows. Maybe I won! :) Yeah right.
I moved from one GM town to another. I always say Dayton is a mini-Detroit (with a bit more Appalachian influence - Dayton, Ohio is a gas tank away from Kentucky -- literally). Two years ago, I saw the GM Truck and Bus Plant close in Moraine. This mammoth facility sits there empty. I do think there is currently a prospective buyer though.
It is so HUGE. Who ever thought the Truck and Bus plant would close. These documentarians from Yellow Springs, Ohio (great town by the way) even were nominated for an Oscar for a film on the closing: The Last Truck. It is a great film documenting the devastation that hit Dayton when GM pulled out. During this hard time, I read somewhere that for every plant job lost, there were at least 4 if not 10 other jobs lost in a town. This seems to be true for Detroit. Dayton is weathering the storm somehow. NCR has since pulled out, with other companies following. But, Detroit is just devastated. I think Dayton is bad, and then I drive four hours up 75 and see how terrible Detroit is.
On the news they say that Nevada has the highest unemployment rate. I think it is around 15 percent or something. Michigan and Ohio are hit pretty hard though. I only live like 20 minutes from Wilmington, where DHL pulled out. Rachel Ray actually documented the devastation that hit that town a year ago with a special Thanksgiving episode.
I see the city of Detroit as the epicenter of this financial blackhole though. It has got to have the highest unemployment rate of any major American city. Let's hope these car companies continue to grow in a positive direction. We want our city back!
I moved from one GM town to another. I always say Dayton is a mini-Detroit (with a bit more Appalachian influence - Dayton, Ohio is a gas tank away from Kentucky -- literally). Two years ago, I saw the GM Truck and Bus Plant close in Moraine. This mammoth facility sits there empty. I do think there is currently a prospective buyer though.
It is so HUGE. Who ever thought the Truck and Bus plant would close. These documentarians from Yellow Springs, Ohio (great town by the way) even were nominated for an Oscar for a film on the closing: The Last Truck. It is a great film documenting the devastation that hit Dayton when GM pulled out. During this hard time, I read somewhere that for every plant job lost, there were at least 4 if not 10 other jobs lost in a town. This seems to be true for Detroit. Dayton is weathering the storm somehow. NCR has since pulled out, with other companies following. But, Detroit is just devastated. I think Dayton is bad, and then I drive four hours up 75 and see how terrible Detroit is.
On the news they say that Nevada has the highest unemployment rate. I think it is around 15 percent or something. Michigan and Ohio are hit pretty hard though. I only live like 20 minutes from Wilmington, where DHL pulled out. Rachel Ray actually documented the devastation that hit that town a year ago with a special Thanksgiving episode.
I see the city of Detroit as the epicenter of this financial blackhole though. It has got to have the highest unemployment rate of any major American city. Let's hope these car companies continue to grow in a positive direction. We want our city back!
I Guess they are Reading about Positives of Detroit in Britain Afterall
I stand corrected. Another native Detroiter is writing about the music scene in Detroit for the Guardian/Observer in the UK. Here is a link to a post from October about the music scene in Motown.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/20/dirtbombs-detroit#start-of-comments
Of course there is still music in Detroit. It is Motown after all, home to Aretha Franklin - the Queen of Soul. The White Stripes are from Detroit. Bob Seager is from my hometown actually. I have already posted about Eminem and KidRock. Detroit Rock City produced Kiss, MC 5, and
Alice Cooper. Heck, Madonna is even from there. Detroit has always rocked and it will continue to do so even in these hard times. Even better music will come out of it!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/20/dirtbombs-detroit#start-of-comments
Of course there is still music in Detroit. It is Motown after all, home to Aretha Franklin - the Queen of Soul. The White Stripes are from Detroit. Bob Seager is from my hometown actually. I have already posted about Eminem and KidRock. Detroit Rock City produced Kiss, MC 5, and
Alice Cooper. Heck, Madonna is even from there. Detroit has always rocked and it will continue to do so even in these hard times. Even better music will come out of it!
Artists Capture Dilapitaded Buildings in Photographs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/jan/02/photography-detroit?%2F%3Fpicture=370173054&index=0
My friend, a cultural anthropologist, sent me this link today. It appeared in the UK Guardian a few days ago. It shows the decline of the once majestic city. Architectural masterpieces from a century ago sit in ruins. The remains of once gorgeous ceilings cover a century of decay. This is the Detroit the rest of America thinks of. It is not the one that I think of though.
Sad to say, but some of these buildings were probably like this when I was growing up there. I don't understand why the city does not level these. They really are an eyesore, plus are somewhat dangerous. I remember driving down Woodward as a child and seeing remnants of buildings left from the late 60 riots. They just sit there. Why?
Corrupt government? Sure, there is a history of that in Detroit. Lack of funds. Yes, I am sure demolishing these buildings takes a ton of money. But letting these buildings just rot away is not serving any purpose other than providing fodder for more anti-Detroit rhetoric that the media has had a love affair with for the past forty years.
There are still many cool things going on in Detroit. Are they reading about that though in the United Kingdom? Probably not.
My friend, a cultural anthropologist, sent me this link today. It appeared in the UK Guardian a few days ago. It shows the decline of the once majestic city. Architectural masterpieces from a century ago sit in ruins. The remains of once gorgeous ceilings cover a century of decay. This is the Detroit the rest of America thinks of. It is not the one that I think of though.
Sad to say, but some of these buildings were probably like this when I was growing up there. I don't understand why the city does not level these. They really are an eyesore, plus are somewhat dangerous. I remember driving down Woodward as a child and seeing remnants of buildings left from the late 60 riots. They just sit there. Why?
Corrupt government? Sure, there is a history of that in Detroit. Lack of funds. Yes, I am sure demolishing these buildings takes a ton of money. But letting these buildings just rot away is not serving any purpose other than providing fodder for more anti-Detroit rhetoric that the media has had a love affair with for the past forty years.
There are still many cool things going on in Detroit. Are they reading about that though in the United Kingdom? Probably not.
A U of D High Angel at Beaumont
As I posted earlier, my father was in Beaumont just prior to Christmas this year. On Dec. 18th, he decided to brave the Detroit winter on our asphalt driveway wearing only a t-shirt, shorts, and slippers. Mind you, the man is 81 years old and it had snowed about half a foot. Needless to say, he fell and broke his scapula. Surgery ensued, as did recovery at Woodward Hills Nursing Home. Glad to say he is on the mend, at home now healing.
My father is a great man, if I do say so myself. After working in the car industry for his entire life, during retirement, he decided to start donating his time at Beaumont Hospital. He even won the volunteer of the year award a few years back for the thousands of hours he has spent in his red blazer escorting people out of the hospital. This is actually where the U of D angel tale begins.
Turns out that the t-shirt my father was wearing during the tragic fall was a UD Jesuit Cubs one. It got all torn up during the fall. While he was at Beaumont, an employee who worked there noticed the UD Jesuit shirt. She saw it was torn to shreds.
This kind woman actually drove all the way down to UD Jesuit that evening and bought my dad a new t-shirt! As my dad would say, "Only a Cubbie!". This is the spirit of Detroit.
My father is a great man, if I do say so myself. After working in the car industry for his entire life, during retirement, he decided to start donating his time at Beaumont Hospital. He even won the volunteer of the year award a few years back for the thousands of hours he has spent in his red blazer escorting people out of the hospital. This is actually where the U of D angel tale begins.
Turns out that the t-shirt my father was wearing during the tragic fall was a UD Jesuit Cubs one. It got all torn up during the fall. While he was at Beaumont, an employee who worked there noticed the UD Jesuit shirt. She saw it was torn to shreds.
This kind woman actually drove all the way down to UD Jesuit that evening and bought my dad a new t-shirt! As my dad would say, "Only a Cubbie!". This is the spirit of Detroit.
John Grogan's "The Longest Trip Home"
Well, after only a day, the blog has reached fellow Detroiters. Impressive. Thanks for the support.
I am writing to fellow Detroiters to recommend John Grogan's The Longest Trip Home. He is the author of Marley & Me. He also grew up on the West Side. He writes about growing up in West Bloomfield. I loved the book and at times thought that he was living a parallel life with me.
I am very impressed with Mr. Grogan actually. I am an English instructor at a local University. I have my Masters in literature. I LOVE BOOKS, but I have never actually written a fan letter to an author before. But, after reading The Longest Trip Home, I actually sat down and wrote an email to John Grogan, fully expecting to hear nothing in return. But, being a fellow Detroiter, Mr. Grogan proved me wrong. Not only did her write me right back, but we actually exchanged quite a few emails. He is as nice a guy as he seems in the film. Being raised Catholic in metro Detroit, I loved the book, and I highly recommend it.
Warning -- some of my conservative Catholic friends did not LOVE the book. I, however, did. But, I think I lean a bit to the liberal side of things. Nonetheless, a great book about a great town!
I am writing to fellow Detroiters to recommend John Grogan's The Longest Trip Home. He is the author of Marley & Me. He also grew up on the West Side. He writes about growing up in West Bloomfield. I loved the book and at times thought that he was living a parallel life with me.
I am very impressed with Mr. Grogan actually. I am an English instructor at a local University. I have my Masters in literature. I LOVE BOOKS, but I have never actually written a fan letter to an author before. But, after reading The Longest Trip Home, I actually sat down and wrote an email to John Grogan, fully expecting to hear nothing in return. But, being a fellow Detroiter, Mr. Grogan proved me wrong. Not only did her write me right back, but we actually exchanged quite a few emails. He is as nice a guy as he seems in the film. Being raised Catholic in metro Detroit, I loved the book, and I highly recommend it.
Warning -- some of my conservative Catholic friends did not LOVE the book. I, however, did. But, I think I lean a bit to the liberal side of things. Nonetheless, a great book about a great town!
Monday, January 3, 2011
100 Abandoned Houses in Detroit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbauman/sets/72157600059407224/with/3
Above is a link a friend of mine sent me. It shows 100 abandoned houses in Detroit. He moved up to Pontiac just in time for the economic meltdown. Needless to say, he is now in Columbus, Ohio.
The irony is, that when the film 8 Mile came out, Eminem's house in Detroit was worth $120,000. Have you seen that movie? I remember reading that it was being auctioned off. That was in Detroit proper. Now, houses are going for less than $10,000. That is all within only a decade or so.
One of the reasons I never ended up back in Detroit after I graduated from college in 1995 was that I could not afford it. Real estate up there was so expensive. For example, my husband and I bought a house in 1999 in a suburb of Dayton for around $80,000. It is a small home -- a Sears Roebuck, 1929, 2 bedroom, bungalow. I remember walking down the streets of Birmingham the summer of 1999 to show my in-laws my hometown. We picked up a flier for the same exact house for sale in Birmingham, and it was listed at $800,000. Mind you, the house is only 726 square feet.
My husband was listening to NPR today, and they actually ran a story about real estate in Bloomfield Township. I guess a woman who was widowed did a short sale and got about $170,000 for her home. Now, this is a decent price in Dayton real estate; however, once you heard the whole story, it is actually tragic. The woman bought at the peak of the bubble, and she actually had paid over $700,000 for her home. Ouch.
This is where American greed comes into play. I know many things are to blame for this recession. Personally, I blame Osama Bin Laden the most, but that is another post if not an entirely different blog. But, Americans are also to blame. When did we start caring more about money than everything else? Let's hope that if one good thing comes out of this economic meltdown it is that we have a healthy respect for money, but that we value people more.
Above is a link a friend of mine sent me. It shows 100 abandoned houses in Detroit. He moved up to Pontiac just in time for the economic meltdown. Needless to say, he is now in Columbus, Ohio.
The irony is, that when the film 8 Mile came out, Eminem's house in Detroit was worth $120,000. Have you seen that movie? I remember reading that it was being auctioned off. That was in Detroit proper. Now, houses are going for less than $10,000. That is all within only a decade or so.
One of the reasons I never ended up back in Detroit after I graduated from college in 1995 was that I could not afford it. Real estate up there was so expensive. For example, my husband and I bought a house in 1999 in a suburb of Dayton for around $80,000. It is a small home -- a Sears Roebuck, 1929, 2 bedroom, bungalow. I remember walking down the streets of Birmingham the summer of 1999 to show my in-laws my hometown. We picked up a flier for the same exact house for sale in Birmingham, and it was listed at $800,000. Mind you, the house is only 726 square feet.
My husband was listening to NPR today, and they actually ran a story about real estate in Bloomfield Township. I guess a woman who was widowed did a short sale and got about $170,000 for her home. Now, this is a decent price in Dayton real estate; however, once you heard the whole story, it is actually tragic. The woman bought at the peak of the bubble, and she actually had paid over $700,000 for her home. Ouch.
This is where American greed comes into play. I know many things are to blame for this recession. Personally, I blame Osama Bin Laden the most, but that is another post if not an entirely different blog. But, Americans are also to blame. When did we start caring more about money than everything else? Let's hope that if one good thing comes out of this economic meltdown it is that we have a healthy respect for money, but that we value people more.
The Up Side
When I was up there last weekend, I did read an article about how many films are being shot in Detroit. Very cool. I also read about all of the art going on in the city. It really is a great city. I am so tired of what a bad rap it gets in the press. I know right now, it is going through very difficult times, but the media has given Detroit a bad rap for years now. Whenever I tell people that I am from Detroit, they say something snide like, "I am sorry." It does not help one bit that I live in the land of the Buckeye either.
I was struck by the accent up North this latest trip. It is quite charming really. Down here, people ask me all of the time if I am from New York. New York? Really? Seriously. No? I am from the Mitten!
On the radio I heard more KidRock and Eminem than I ever wanted to. It is like they were on every other song. I used to hate Eminem when I taught high school over a decade ago and he broke on the scene. I thought he was vulgar and a bad influence on my students. However, I have come to appreciate him as he matures. I always sort of liked Kid Rock a bit, but now, I see him as a Detroit treasure. He really cares about the place. He even started a brewery I think in the city to help job growth.
Michigan is really beautiful. The thing I miss the most about it, besides my family, is the water. The lakes are so breathtaking. I took them for granted when I grew up there. I did not realize that not everyone can walk a half a mile to go swimming whenever they want to. Now, I am surrounded by rivers. Just not the same. Over the holidays, the lakes gave off this dense fog. It was mysteriously ethereal. What a beautiful place to grow up. Now we just have to spread the word!
I was struck by the accent up North this latest trip. It is quite charming really. Down here, people ask me all of the time if I am from New York. New York? Really? Seriously. No? I am from the Mitten!
On the radio I heard more KidRock and Eminem than I ever wanted to. It is like they were on every other song. I used to hate Eminem when I taught high school over a decade ago and he broke on the scene. I thought he was vulgar and a bad influence on my students. However, I have come to appreciate him as he matures. I always sort of liked Kid Rock a bit, but now, I see him as a Detroit treasure. He really cares about the place. He even started a brewery I think in the city to help job growth.
Michigan is really beautiful. The thing I miss the most about it, besides my family, is the water. The lakes are so breathtaking. I took them for granted when I grew up there. I did not realize that not everyone can walk a half a mile to go swimming whenever they want to. Now, I am surrounded by rivers. Just not the same. Over the holidays, the lakes gave off this dense fog. It was mysteriously ethereal. What a beautiful place to grow up. Now we just have to spread the word!
Christmas Season In Detroit
Unfortunately, my father was hospitalized in Beaumont on Dec. 18th and then moved to a nursing home for Christmas. I have young children, one of whom was ill on Christmas day. So, we went home for New Year's instead.
This was a good trip home. I got to drive on three of the main roads of Detroit's Westside. As I mentioned in my first post, Telegraph is a ghost town. Orchard Lake is doing a bit better I guess, but I am happy to report that good ole' Woodward Avenue is actually hanging in there. This was refreshing to see, as it really is probably the most important road in the history of the Detroit Metro Area.
I got to stay at a very nice hotel in Farmington - at 12 and Orchard. The day before New Year's it was a bit barren. At breakfast, we were the only ones there. The waitress said that it is always slow now. She went on to tell me about how in her neighborhood in Northville, 20 houses were abandoned. That made my Dayton neighborhood, with only four empty houses, sound like paradise.
I am happy to say that things perked up at the hotel for New Year Eve. It seemed to have more people in it. It was relatively quite. We had a great stay. However, as we were packing our carto head back to Southwestern Ohio, my husband noticed a bullet hole in the glass window of the hotel stairway. That shook me up a bit. Who knows if it was really a bullet hole. My husband is convinced it was. Maybe revelers were just brining in the new year good ole' American style shooting bullets in the air.
We had a great visit with my family though. Somehow, we have all weathered this financial tsunami with relatively little scars. I contribute this to my mother's steadfast faith in god and daily prayers and of course, luck of the Irish.
This was a good trip home. I got to drive on three of the main roads of Detroit's Westside. As I mentioned in my first post, Telegraph is a ghost town. Orchard Lake is doing a bit better I guess, but I am happy to report that good ole' Woodward Avenue is actually hanging in there. This was refreshing to see, as it really is probably the most important road in the history of the Detroit Metro Area.
I got to stay at a very nice hotel in Farmington - at 12 and Orchard. The day before New Year's it was a bit barren. At breakfast, we were the only ones there. The waitress said that it is always slow now. She went on to tell me about how in her neighborhood in Northville, 20 houses were abandoned. That made my Dayton neighborhood, with only four empty houses, sound like paradise.
I am happy to say that things perked up at the hotel for New Year Eve. It seemed to have more people in it. It was relatively quite. We had a great stay. However, as we were packing our carto head back to Southwestern Ohio, my husband noticed a bullet hole in the glass window of the hotel stairway. That shook me up a bit. Who knows if it was really a bullet hole. My husband is convinced it was. Maybe revelers were just brining in the new year good ole' American style shooting bullets in the air.
We had a great visit with my family though. Somehow, we have all weathered this financial tsunami with relatively little scars. I contribute this to my mother's steadfast faith in god and daily prayers and of course, luck of the Irish.
Happy New Year
As the recession enters its third year, I feel a need to document it from the perspective of a girl from Detroit who now lives in Ohio. I have been wanting to do this for sometime, but as of late, I feel like I really need to do it - to give my city a voice that is missing.
First off, let me tell you a little bit about myself. My mom and dad grew up in Detroit during its heyday. My father, a Boston transplant, worked as a tool designer and contracted for the big three. My mom is a Detroit Catholic, whose faith never gets shaken.
I was raised until fifth grade in Southfield. Then, we moved to Bloomfield Hills. I did not live in the richest square mile in America, but just outside of it. I did, however, live in the richest county in America during my formative years. Oh, how times have changed.
For the past three years, I have gone home to find my city devastated. Actually, for about the last five years my family kept telling me how terrible it was. There was a mass exodus from not only the city, but also from the suburbs. Now, it has creeped all the way north to my hometown.
When we went home for Thanksgiving, we counted 24 for lease signs on the four mile stretch of Telegraph Road from 12 Mile to Quarton. My Gap, Barnes & Nobels, and Kroger are closed. This is surreal, and I must write about it for my own sanity.
First off, let me tell you a little bit about myself. My mom and dad grew up in Detroit during its heyday. My father, a Boston transplant, worked as a tool designer and contracted for the big three. My mom is a Detroit Catholic, whose faith never gets shaken.
I was raised until fifth grade in Southfield. Then, we moved to Bloomfield Hills. I did not live in the richest square mile in America, but just outside of it. I did, however, live in the richest county in America during my formative years. Oh, how times have changed.
For the past three years, I have gone home to find my city devastated. Actually, for about the last five years my family kept telling me how terrible it was. There was a mass exodus from not only the city, but also from the suburbs. Now, it has creeped all the way north to my hometown.
When we went home for Thanksgiving, we counted 24 for lease signs on the four mile stretch of Telegraph Road from 12 Mile to Quarton. My Gap, Barnes & Nobels, and Kroger are closed. This is surreal, and I must write about it for my own sanity.
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