The greater good; short term opportunity vs. long term sustainability

Remaking, or redefining, ones self takes some serious decision making.  Job or School?  Kids or Career?  A little bit of all of the above?  It seems to be a mish mash process to blend the events of a short term lifestyle with the goals of a long term horizon.  Looking at my choices for a next step, I must admit an equal pull between pursuit of a higher education within academia and reaching out to the community through a career in public service.    Research, thoughtful consideration and a bit of rolling the dice will make my path clear, I’m sure.

Within a larger context, when a city looks to reinvent itself, is short term gain/publicity/profit or long term planning/investing/cleansing more appropriate?  This debate rages around Detroit.  Having spent a considerable amount of time working in and around the abandoned building landscape of Detroit, I personally lean towards the latter.  A short term investment and hoopla make everyone feel OK for a time, but eventually, you drive a block or two and POOF! back into a neighborhood of decay and destitution.

Yesterday, the news about town excitedly broke that Mike Ilitch has expressed official interest in purchasing the Detroit Pistons from the Davidson family.  In the short term, this is a VERY good thing for the Pistons and the City itself- a local, successful sports owner taking interest in a dear entertainment enterprise and consolidating his own power base within a 2-mile radius.  Certainly, a move to bring the Pistons downtown will bring jobs, construction, vending, maintenance and operations, to the downtown Detroit entertainment district (I often think of it as Ilitch town).  In the long term, however, questions remain.

Ilitch Holdings at one time held the greatest number of abandoned buildings and vacant lots in downtown Detroit.  Common wisdom said that the holdings were to consolidate land for a new sports stadium, but if we look at where the buildings (not the lots) are located, that explanation falls short.   I wonder what Mr. Ilitch’s long term goal is for his land holdings scattered throughout the Detroit landscape?  Certainly, some for a stadium a good investment.  But what about the buildings (see United Artist Building and Madison Lenox Hotel, now lot) that show evidence of neglect, need for demolition and reuse?  How do those fit in with a long-term plan?

Both Mr. Ilitch and I should take the time to develop a long term plan that uses our short term opportunities for a greater good.

Iphone app trial

I just bought a new iphone… With the intention of using it to bridge the transition to my new, next self. Let’s see how writing using just my thumbs works out. I will try text and adding a recent photo.

The photo is taken with the front facing camera.

Arts and Culture, Detroit Style

Foundations are picking up the slack from private donors in funding arts and cultural organizations in Detroit.   The arts and cultural scene in Detroit has always been a gem for the region – I remember reading that Detroit has more theatre seats than anywhere in the county outside of Broadway.  Recently, two major foundations have funded programs and fellowships dedicated to the furthuring of the arts and cultural heritage we cherish.

Congratulations to the Kresge Fellows and the Nissan Foundation award recipients.  They celebrate dance, music, poetry, history, art, learning, dreaming, creation and production.  More than a simple “add-on,” cherishing the arts and sciences in any community builds a bond and common heritage that allows a metropolitan region to say “we are” instead of “I am.”

I find myself drawn to these foundations as members of our community.  Having spent considerable time learning the ins and outs of writing for government grants and tapping these sources of funding for private developers’ projects, I think a next logical step in professional development is learning, deciphering and creating funding sources for causes and organizations that contribute to the fabric of our society instead of the bones of it.

Hollywood Magic- How We Perceive Ourselves in Detroit

Last week, an article appeared in the Detroit Free Press reporting on a new ABC show, “Detroit 1-8-7” planned for filming entirely in Detroit (with the studio in Highland Park).  Besides being an obvious boon for the state’s “Hollywood” initiative based on massive tax credits, the show aims to create a “…symbiotic relationship between the show and the community.” (Ex. Producer David Zabel)

I thought of the perception developed of New York City from “Sex and the City” and “Law and Order,” of Chicago from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and North Dakota from “Fargo;”  what perception will the rest of the country, will we ourselves, see through the Hollywood lens?  My own perception of Detroit may be skewed towards seeing beauty in ruins and hope where there is despair.  Volunteering with Mosaic last week, before reading the article, I noticed the breathtaking view from the southern windows of their new space on the 15th floor of the Fisher Building.  The trees in the Boston Edison and Corktown Neighborhoods were in full bloom, the sun was reflecting off the Ren Cen and the houses and buildings, seen from aloft, showed a grid laid out to blend residential, commercial and industry – the model for the sprawling midwestern city C. 1900.  I saw beauty in design and nature and remarked on it to my new friends.  Their response was “Sure, from way up here.”

Perception.  Does it follow or create reality?  Is it up to us as Detroiters or to Hollywood to give us our next perception of ourselves?

*********************

For you summer readers out there, here are a couple of my most favorite reads set in, about and through the D:

• “Middlesex” by Jeffery Eugenides
• “Out of Sight” by Elmore Leonard

Do you have any others to add to the list?

Ineffectual Silos- More Harm than Good?

Detroit is in the midst of a renewal, albeit a messy one.  More spectacular ideas (greenways, urban gardens, broadband deployment, “right size” the City, etc.) emphasize the idea that out of Crisis comes Chaos AND Opportunity.  A recent article in the Non Profit Times discusses this point:

Detroit is fatigued right now by promises and plans that will dig us out,” Locker said. “As a grant-maker, we have to think about long-term strategies, but make sure they see short-term impact. I have to ensure the community that we make a difference physically on the ground in the day-to-day world of Detroit.-Katy Locker, Hudson-Webber Foundation

Silos within the City government are beginning to crumble and blend into new cooperative-based models.  I wonder if the Foundations and non profit corporations that are doing amazing projects within the City are learning to do the same?  Imagine the work that could be done if collaboration were the key…

Moved to WordPress

Well, day 3 of the blog has us moving over to wordpress.  This is a tester post, to make sure I did this right.  Thanks for all the vocal support.  A “real” post coming soon!

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!