By Luther Keith
Executive Director, ARISE Detroit!
Now, more than ever, with Detroit in the midst of a fiscal crisis and struggling services …
Now, more than ever, with violent crime spiking and youth violence concerns …
Now, more than ever, with front page headlines and media broadcasts focused on our community ills …
Now, more than ever, we need you, Detroit, to step up and do more…step up and keep working … step up and not give up.
That’s why August 4, 2012 may be the most important ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Day in our city’s history.
It’s a day to showcase the hard work volunteers and others do throughout the year … often against great odds and without media fanfare… to make a better community.
It’s a day when hundreds of organizations and thousands of people will come together in neighborhoods all over the city.
It’s a day when volunteers will build houses, clean up neighborhoods, plant gardens and hold health fairs, concerts, back to school events, school supply giveaways and much more.
It’s a day when block clubs, churches, small businesses and other organizations will hold as many as 200 individual community service and community improvement events in every part of the city … from the Riverfront to Eight Mile Road … from the far east side to the far west side.
We started Neighborhoods Day with 55 events five years ago. Since then it has steadily grown in influence and impact to nearly 170 events last year. We will be adding new events, new organizations and some eye-popping changes so stay tuned for more. And, we will be pushing hard to get local media … radio, television, newspapers and bloggers … to report on this positive city-wide event, focusing on the people who are working on solutions to the city’s problems, and thereby inspiring others to get involved.
This year, we are opening registration a month ahead of last year, offering greater opportunity for more groups to be part of what we call “Detroit’s great new tradition.”
Everyone who wants a better Detroit should be part of this day. There will be scores of community service and community improvement opportunities with numerous churches, blocks clubs and other organizations.
It’s a day, and a movement, to put the Neighbor back in Neighborhood. Please join us on August 4.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS DAY, http://www.arisedetroit.org/neighborhood2009.aspx
HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL EVENT http://www.arisedetroit.org/Neighborhoods_Event_Sucess.aspx
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING http://www.arisedetroit.org/Neighborhoods_Day_Benefits_2009.aspx
ARISE Detroit! is a non-profit coalition of more than 400 organizations promoting volunteerism, community activism and positive media images to create a better Detroit. www.arisedetroit.org; 313-921-1955.
