On Tuesday, August 8, I took off on the first of many day trips, with my friend Karla, of Detroit. We're exploring Michigan, a highway at a time. She's from the city. I'm from the country. She's Gen Y, and I'm a borderline Boomer/X-er. Our political views are different . . . but as time will show, we are not as far apart as labels make it appear.
As we passed from Bloomfield Hills into Birmingham, and then into Ferndale, and finally across Eight-Mile Road and into Detroit, I will admit that I had feelings of hesitation, as I was not an experienced Detroit driver. And of course . . . we all know what gets reported, most of the time, in the news.
We made it into Highland Park. By this point, the signs of urban decay are everywhere. But that's only the side of the story that we hear too much of. Highland Park is a struggling city, yes. But there's an awful lot of new building and development, right there on the main drag. New retail, new restaurants. And Karla talked about people she knows, that live in Highland Park, and whom she has visited before.
It was lunchtime . . . so we selected the Woodward Coney Island about a block and a half from Hart Plaza. I have been watching my diet. But Karla, the "almost" vegan, told me I had to go full Coney if I was going to eat downtown. So I got the Coney Dog combo, covered with ground beef.
Our first trip, from one end of Woodward to the other, took about three hours, and involved seeing fascinating sights as the landscape changed from one community to the next. From Square Lake Road, to Hart Plaza, on a beautiful summer day, I learned a volume of things about Detroit. Just driving M-1, "Michigan's Main Street" represented one important barrier that I broke down.
But Karla was a skilled and warm tour guide. She had invited me, a few weeks before: "Let me show you my city."
We made it into Highland Park. By this point, the signs of urban decay are everywhere. But that's only the side of the story that we hear too much of. Highland Park is a struggling city, yes. But there's an awful lot of new building and development, right there on the main drag. New retail, new restaurants. And Karla talked about people she knows, that live in Highland Park, and whom she has visited before.
To get to the truth, between the lines, you have to show up. You have to see for yourself.
Once in Detroit, we saw the brand new Q-line making it's way up and down the avenue. The spires of the Ren Cen were up ahead. We passed the Detroit Library, the Detroit Institute of the Arts. The closer you get to the river, the more electricity you feel, of a lively, living, and safe city.
We talked about crime, and safety, in Detroit. Karla gave me a new insight. She said that, you are more safe, if people know you. In neighborhoods, you have to make sure your neighbors know who you are. Yes, there are neighborhoods where you should exercise care, that you should not venture into, by yourself, on foot, especially at night. But even then . . . go with a group, with people that are known; this will make you more safe.
But that's true anywhere, in any community. We all do that. We treat better, the people that we know.
So one key to fixing modern problems, is that we are going to have to get better acquainted. And to do that, you have to show up. See, and be seen.
We finished up on the river walk. What a happy, summery scene that was!
It was lunchtime . . . so we selected the Woodward Coney Island about a block and a half from Hart Plaza. I have been watching my diet. But Karla, the "almost" vegan, told me I had to go full Coney if I was going to eat downtown. So I got the Coney Dog combo, covered with ground beef.
It was delicious . . . the hot dog was clearly of top quality. And the best indicator of all, is that hours later, I did not regret that I had eaten it. This tells you a lot.
Once finished downtown, we took some photos, and departed back for our starting point. But Karla suggested we get off the main road and take Livernois up to the northern neighborhoods. This too was enlightening and fun. I realize that in some spots I was only blocks from one of "those" neighborhoods you hear about. But at this time of day, with this company, and with this knowledge, Detroit is definitely a city for all of us, that we can enjoy and support. Our Livernois jog took us past a retail section, that specializes in high fashion. Pretty cool.
With Woodward in the past, we now move up to the next highway. This would be US-2, in the UP. But this one is going to take some planning and fundraising. So, next week we will take on M-3, Gratiot Avenue, with a whole set of new issues and things to learn.
We believe that our venture has great value for our communities and our future. It will take us into every possible community imaginable, in Michigan. As we plan ahead, we hope to visit schools, churches, Chambers of Commerce, and neighborhood associations. But most of all, we will enjoy meeting our new friends and neighbors throughout the state.
I will set up a fundraising campaign as a tax-deductible program in which all tax-deductible funds received will be split three-ways 1) covering costs of our travels (we will not be able to do much without help. 2) Creation of a scholarship program for extended family, in which we adopt truly needy families into our own; and 3) Expansion of the Hudson Education Center into new communities.
My next blog post will come before our Gratiot trip, and will explain the fundraising piece in more detail.
Thanks for reading!!
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