Communities Across Detroit Will Show Pride During the 15th Annual Arise Detroit Neighborhoods Day – WDET

Arise Detroit

Arise Detroit will celebrate its 15th annual Neighborhoods Day Aug.7. Across the city, more than 150 community groups, block clubs and improvement projects will host a wide range of events for residents. Festivities will adhere to federal safety protocols regarding COVID-19 for the second year in a row. All events will take placeoutdoors.

Luther Keith, the executive director and founder of Arise Detroit,says it will be a special day for residents throughout the city. The organizations that participate are are engaged in many facets of community life aimed at making a difference in thecity.

One thing Id like to emphasize that Neighborhoods Day, though its one day, it really reflects what people in the neighborhoods do throughout the year, hesays.

We have some neighborhoods of Detroit that are really challenged in a lot of ways, economically with blight. We need a resurgence of this city economically, jobs for people, education generally, looking at the quality of life, a safer city. Luther Keith, AriseDetroit

These organizations and projects have always been there but havent been showcased,Keith says.In founding Arise Detroit, Keith, a journalist, says he was intentional about the organization being a vehicle to lift up and showcase the work of these communitygroups.

What I found out back when I was a columnist is that a lot of people dont know what [these groups are] doing, or they dont get the publicity. And we needed a vehicle to lift up andshowcase.

People also werent aware of all of the organizations and activitiesin the city, and by highlighting the work these groups are doing, it might inspire others to do the same in theircommunities.

Weve been able to simply tap into that. If more people learn about it, more people say, well, why cant we do this in our neighborhood? Why dont we have a Black Friday? Why dont we have a neighborhood cleanup? Why dont we have a school supply giveaway? And so by seeing that, it inspires other people and thats how [Neighborhoods Day] hasgrown.

Looking ahead at where Neighborhoods Day will be in 5-10 years, Keith says its not just about Neighborhoods Day but the city as a whole. We have some neighborhoods of Detroit that are really challenged in a lot of ways, economically with blight, he says. We need a resurgence of this city economically, jobs for people, education generally, looking at the quality of life, a safercity.

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Communities Across Detroit Will Show Pride During the 15th Annual Arise Detroit Neighborhoods Day - WDET