Bagley Community Council, Inc.

Page 3

2011-10-01T16:19:00.001-04:00

5) Charter Revision Makes Promises It Can’t Fulfill Just to Make The Charter Look
Attractive To You.
a) The following provision in the revised charter “misleads” citizens to believe the City of
Detroit can bring back residency by enacting an ordinance. Everyone knows residency is
a “hot button” issue in Detroit. Detroiters want residency because they want people who
work for Detroit to live in Detroit and help build the economy. The provision in the new
charter on residency does nothing and means nothing:
Sec. 6-416 (Residency) States: Except as otherwise provided by law, the City may, by
ordinance, establish residency requirements for city employment.
b) The following provision in the revised charter “misleads” citizens to believe the city is
going to establish an insurance system:
Section 9-801 (City Sponsored Insurance Assistance) states: To the extent allowed by law, the
City of Detroit may establish an insurance system to provide, support, supplement or otherwise
assist in the provision of automobile and/or property insurance for City residents. Within 60
days “the Corporation Council shall advise the City Council and Mayor, in writing, on the legal
requirements necessary to implement the insurance systems contemplated by this chapter and
whether there exists any legal prohibition to implementing the insurance system.
Michigan ranks 12
th
in the country with an average auto insurance rate of $1,067. Melvin
Hollowell, Granholm’s insurance advocate, has been attempting to address insurance
disparity for years. He has not had any success. The following is what Hollowell had to
say in 2009 on mlive.com about insurance rates:
Favorable treatment in the legislature for insurance firms leave state regulators with less
authority to police the industry than insurance commissioners in other states enjoy.
Everyone knows that Detroit has less power than the state to reduce insurance premiums.
So don’t expect the City of Detroit to reduce your insurance premiums. It can’t because
of state legislation!
There are countless other reasons why you should vote the charter revision down. Educate your
family, neighbors and friends as to why Proposal C is bad for Detroit. Tell them to go to the polls
on November 8, 2011, and Vote No on Proposal C. If you want
to volunteer and help defeat Proposal C, contact 5-Detroit at 313.533.8764

Page 2

2011-10-01T16:18:00.001-04:00

2) City Council President and Pro Temp no longer selected by popular vote. The city
council member who gets the greatest number of votes and the second highest vote getter now
serve as city council president and city council president pro temp. Under the new charter, the
city council would decide who serves as council president and president pro temp. If something
were to happen to the mayor and he or she was forced to resign, the council president would
become interim mayor, even if the person received the least number of votes. The power to pick
the people’s leadership should belong to the people not to elected officials.
3) Detroit Doesn’t Need A New Charter. It Needs Officials to Abide by The Existing
Charter. Officials frequently violate the current charter. Things would be so much better in
Detroit if officials would simply do what the charter says. For example, the charter and state
constitution forbids Detroit from selling or transferring water department assets. But Detroit
officials said nothing and did nothing when the suburbs took the billion dollar Oakland Macomb
County (OMI) water interceptor. The charter says Detroit shall operate its Zoo, Art Institute, and
Historical Museums, yet city council entered into illegal agreements to allow outside non-profits
to control those assets.
4) The Charter Commission Is Deceiving Detroiters, Hoping They Will Vote for The Charter
Revision. The suburbs, often with help from Detroit City Council, took priceless assets from Detroit,
including the Detroit Zoo, billion dollar Detroit Institute of Art (DIA), Historical Museums, Eastern
Market, Cobo Hall, etc. The Charter Commission has introduced changes that will make it OK for
suburban non-profits to control Detroit institutions.
Here is how the current charter reads:
• The Historical Department shall maintain and operate the City’s historical museum.
• The Arts Department shall maintain and operate the Detroit Institute of Arts.
• The Zoological Parks Department shall maintain and operate the City’s zoological parks.
The new charter adds language that gives the suburbs the legal right to oversee Detroit institutions via an
operating agreement:
• The Historical Department shall maintain and operate the City’s historical museum [directly or
pursuant to an operating agreement].
• The Arts Department shall maintain and operate the Detroit Institute of Arts [directly or pursuant
to an operating agreement].
• The Zoological Parks Department shall maintain and operate the City’s zoological parks [directly
or pursuant to an operating agreement].
The operating agreements could be continually renewed, ensuring Detroiters would never again control
their assets. When Detroit loses assets, our citizens lose jobs, revenue, tax revenue, pride of ownership
and the options that come with controlling the things you own.

Vote no on City Charter?

2011-10-01T16:02:00.001-04:00

One of the most insidious devices used against the people of Detroit is the manipulation of the city charter it actually proposes to make you the voting citizen of Detroit stronger in city government when in actuality it weakens you as a voter and as a citizen of Detroit. Outlined here are some reasons why.

Five Reasons to Vote NO on Proposal C (Charter Revision)
November 8, 2011 Election
By Jerroll M. Sanders, former Detroit Mayoral Candidate
Proposal C: Proposal to Adopt A New City Charter
Shall the City of Detroit Home Rule Charter proposed by the Detroit Charter Revision Commission be
adopted?
Yes?
No?
Reasons You Should Vote No on Proposal C
1) It’s the final step in the Detroit Takeover. Efforts are underway by the suburbs to takeover Detroit.
Sixty-three days after Bing took office, he appeared on C-SPAN. He said he was having conversations
with the appropriate people about what to do with Detroit’s land. But the appropriate people have not
included the citizens of Detroit. Bing and those he is colluding with need the charter revision to pass in
order to complete their Detroit takeover plan. Here is what Bing said:
Host [to Mayor Dave Bing]: “Of the homes that are abandoned due to foreclosure, we have talked to officials
who [said] . . . they want to start urban areas and help [create] a new vision. I recall reading one as seeing Detroit
as the future and town centers with open space between them. What are your thoughts on that?”

Bing replied: “I have only been in office 63 days and trying to get my arms around the budget . . . . We have to
look at what the city will look at over the next five, 10 or 20 years. . . . We have 145 square miles and probably
only using half that space. So we have a lot of property to figure out what we will do down the road. There [is] a
lot of conversations with the appropriate people and other professionals to give us ideas of how to utilize that
land.”
Proposal C paves way for the mini-townships Bing talked about. Commissions and boards that are now
“at large” would be changed to include at least one person from each of the seven districts. As a result,
each district would have its own governing structure as part of Bing’s and his friends’ plan to break
Detroit into townships. Here’s what each district structure will look like if Prop C passes:
Other Members
Transportation Advisory
Recreation Advisory
Public Lighting Commissioner
Board of Police Commissioner
Board of Zoning Appeals
City Planning Commissioner
Historical Department Commissioner
Human Rights Division
Advisory Commissioner for Health

'via Blog this'

Supporting local business one taste at a time.

2011-09-28T17:52:00.000-04:00

This is a local restaurant that came out to supports us at one of our community forums

Changing How We Define Work

2011-09-27T11:36:00.000-04:00

Living for Change

Changing How We Define Work

By Grace Lee Boggs

Matthew Fox has captured the mission of our 2011 Re-Imagining Work gathering (10/28—1030) in his 1995 book The Re-Invention of Work.

“Today close to one billion human beings are out of work. In the U.S. alone more people are unemployed than at any time since the Depression…Of those who are employed, some work in jobs that are inimical to the health of our species and the planet, such as tearing down rain forests, killing endangered animals, selling drugs, or making armaments.

“Some politicians, looking for a quick fix, shout that we need Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! But such simplistic slogans… avoid the deeper questions that must be asked of Work at this critical juncture in human and Earth history…The planet has only eighteen years remaining unless human beings change their ways.

“Under the pressure of the world economic crunch that is creating a worldwide depression, the grave danger looms that we will seek only Jobs! Jobs! at any price---- and ignore the deeper questions of Work such as how, why, and for whom we do our Work. 

“We dare not miss the truly radical and creative moment in which we live--- one in which we are being asked to redefine Work itself. “There have been other momentous shifts such as this in human history. Consider the industrial revolution two hundred years ago or the agricultural revolution ten thousand years ago. “Until the agricultural revolution the basic work of the human species was hunting and gathering; with agriculture it became cultivating crops and breeding animals.

“With the industrial revolution Work itself was revolutionized. It moved from farm to city, from making clothes and growing food to buying clothes and buying food. Humans changed from producers to consumers. Our models and ideals of work became factory oriented; the worker became an assistant to a machine.

“This idea was reinforced by the prevailing cosmology of Newton, namely, that our universe is a machine. Descartes reinforced his idea by teaching that our bodies and machines are machines as well. In the Newtonian era, real labor meant making things by machine or fixing them by machine. In the twentieth century, this symbol was domesticated in the automobile… War became the ultimate machine in motion, and machinery became the engine that ran our economic systems and political rhetoric…

“Today this paradigm is undergoing radical re-evaluation. The system is not working. That is how a paradigm shift begins: the established way of seeing the world no longer functions. The workmachine is running out of steam, coming to an end, even in the so-called First World. The basics of human living, including work, health care, politics, education, and religion, are increasingly beyond our grasp. And so a new era is upon us.

“We are being challenged today--- in light of the wounded Earth, the one billion unemployed adults, the billions of despairing young people, who see no guarantees of either work or jobs, and the needs of other species around us---- to redefine Work. Our times need what the Bible calls metamoia, a change of heart, a change of ways.

“Changing our ways includes changing the way we define Work, the way we compensate Work, the ways we create Work, and the way we let go of Work and learn to infuse it with play and ritual. “We should not allow ourselves to be deceived that today’s crisis in Jobs is just about Jobs; it is not. The Job crisis is a symptom of something much deeper: a crisis in our relationship to Work and the challenge put to our species today to reinvent it.

“We must learn to speak of the difference between a Job and Work. We may be forced to take a Job serving food at a fast-food place for $4.25 an hour in order to pay our bills, but Work is something else. Work comes from inside out; work is an expression of our soul, our inner being. It is unique to the individual; it is creative. Work is an expression of the Spirit at work in the world through us. Work is that which puts us in touch with others, not so much at the level of personal interaction, but at the level of service in the community.

“Work is not just about getting paid. Indeed, so much Work in our culture is not paid at all, for example, raising children, cooking meals at home, organizing youth activities, singing in the choir, repairing one’s home, cleaning up one’s neighborhood, listening to a neighbor or friend who has undergone trauma, tending a garden, planting trees, or creating rituals that heal and celebrate.

“And yet, in a fuller critique of Work, the question needs to be asked: How might these examples of good work be rewarded so that they re indeed counted in our understanding of the gross national product (GNP)? “

reIMGAINING WORK Conference
Oct. 28-30
Focus:HOPE
1400 Oakman Blvd.
Detroit, MI
48238

REGISTER NOW!

Discover how your neighbors are Re-inventing Work and Building Community.

Join conversations with Gar Alperovitz, Vandana Shiva and many others.

'via Blog this'

2009-2012 Detroit Charter Revision Commission

2011-09-20T14:59:00.002-04:00

Proposed City Charter. ‎"Detroit voters on Nov. 8 will have an opportunity to approve or reject a new Charter for the City of Detroit. It includes a provision that requires that seven of the nine City Council members will be elected from districts.

Eastern Market Senior Day! Tuesday September 20th 1 pm - 3 pm

2011-09-19T14:04:00.002-04:00

Come join us for Eastern Market Senior Day!

Tuesday

September 20th

1 pm - 3 pm

Visit us on our new weekday market for an authentic shopping experience in a relaxed atmosphere. Plenty of seating, shade, fresh

fruit, veggies, baked goods, and more!

A great opportunity to use Senior Market FRESH Coupons!

2934 Russell St Detroit MI - 313.833.9300 - www.detroiteasternmarket.com

Fiona Colleen Ruddy

Alternative Food Program Coordinator

EASTERN MARKET CORPORATION

2934 Russell Street │Detroit, MI 48207

Tel 313.833.9300 ext. 113
Fax 313.833.9309

fruddy@detroiteasternmarket.com

Forwarded by Midtown Alliance

And by Central District Police/Community Relations Council

Per Leslie Malcolmson

313-831-7931

lrmalcolmson@gmail.com

for lmalcolmson@voyager.net

"The question is not 'Can you make a difference?' You already do make a difference.

It's just a matter of what kind of difference you want to make during your life on this planet."

– Julia Butterfly Hill

Hill is best known for living in a 180-foot (55 m)-tall, 600-year-old California Redwood tree for 738 days between December 10, 1997 to December 18, 1999. Hill lived in the tree, affectionately known as "Luna," to prevent loggers of the Pacific Lumber Company from cutting it down.

If you can make it.

2011-09-19T08:48:00.001-04:00

Meeting w/ Gateway Developers- arr. by city

Dear All,

First, if you can think of anyone else to include, please do.

organized by Greg Moots of City Planning, the meeting is at:

14th Congressional (D) Headquarters- on Livernois

corner of Prospect. Room holds about 25.

4 PM Monday, September 19

It is scheduled with the developers and Redico about

the arrangement on the site.

Thank you,

Karen Hammer

GWCA Board

Thinking for Ourselves

2011-09-19T08:34:00.002-04:00

Thinking for Ourselves

Economic Future

By Shea Howell

Last week President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress to press for the adoption of the American Jobs Act. He called for a combination of tax cuts and targeted spending designed to intervene in the continuing deterioration of our economy. He advocated incentives to businesses to hire veterans and people who have been out of work longer than 6 months. He proposed spending on infrastructure, including rebuilding roads and bridges, repairing schools and hiring teachers, police officers and fire fighters. He argued the proposed $447 billion package could be paid for without adding to the deficit. Many people who support President Obama greeted the speech with joy and relief.

Paul Krugman of the New York Times who was bitterly disappointed in the last stimulus effort said:

“First things first: I was favorably surprised by the new Obama jobs plan, which is significantly bolder and better than I expected. It’s not nearly as bold as the plan I’d want in an ideal world. But if it actually became law, it would probably make a significant dent in unemployment.”

Another commentator noted that this was “an enlivened President Obama…impassioned, indignant, non-professorial.” Others still called the speech “politically dexterous” and were glad it expressed “a fairly unquiet anger at Washington’s—meaning Congress’—failure to act.”

The Republican leadership, perhaps attentive to the polls that show their approval rating is lower than the President’s, greeted the speech with restraint. By the beginning of the week the opposition had rallied. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor slammed the recommendations on closing loopholes for oil and gas companies and tax breaks for the wealthiest. He called this a “massive tax increase.” Speaker John Boehner claimed the plan lacked “bipartisan spirit” and vowed to break it into several parts.

I welcomed the speech. We are facing a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression. Here in Michigan we are on the brink of a catastrophe. As a state we account for nearly half of all jobs lost in the country as a whole. Now we have a republican governor and legislature who are tearing apart the basic supports for the most vulnerable among us.

I applauded when the President said: “What we can’t do -- what I will not do -- is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades. I reject the idea that we need to ask people to choose between their jobs and their safety. I reject the argument that says for the economy to grow, we have to roll back protections that ban hidden fees by credit card companies, or rules that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury, or laws that prevent the health insurance industry from shortchanging patients. I reject the idea that we have to strip away collective bargaining rights to compete in a global economy. “

But more important than the fate of this specific proposal is the long term concern that President Obama raised. He said: “Now, the American Jobs Act answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. But we can’t stop there…We have to look beyond the immediate crisis and start building an economy that lasts into the future …

We now live in a world where technology has made it possible for companies to take their business anywhere. If we want them to start here and stay here and hire here, we have to be able to out-build and out-educate and out-innovate every other country on Earth.” This is the question we all need to urgently address: how do we create an economy that sustains our people, our communities and our planet? What do we think that future should be?

Rethinking work.

2011-09-19T08:33:00.001-04:00

We are the children of Martin and Malcolm,
       Black, brown, red and white,
Our birthright is to be creators of history,
Our Right, Our Duty
       To shake the world with
       A new dream!

At this time of mass unemployment and foreclosures, failing banks and failed states, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes and global warming that threatens all life on this planet, I often find myself recalling this poem and wanting to share it. I helped to write it in the spring of 1982, nearly 30 years ago.

Three of us, one African American, one Polish American and me, were sitting in my car following a National Organization for an American Revolution (NOAR) meeting. We were talking about and planning to participate in the June 12 March for Unilateral Disarmament in New York’s Central Park. Out of the blue one of us (I don’t remember which one) came up with the first line. The other lines then followed as naturally as water from a faucet. Our poem was published on the front page of the broadsheet that NOAR distributed at the Central Park March. A million people, about one out of every 250 Americans, participated.

Many historians believe it was the numbers and energy of these Americans that inspired Mickhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to initiate glasnot and perestroika at the 28th Congress of the party in 1986, thus contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Union five years later.

As T.S.Eliot put it, “History has many cunning passages.”

I share this poem now because it seems to me that we are at a time on the clock of the world when the children of Martin and Malcolm are beginning to shake the world with a new dream.

They/We are doing it in cities all over the country by growing our own food and by bringing the neighbor back into the ‘hood to create beloved communities.’

We/they are beginning to make a life, not just a living. We are also doing it by Re-imagining and Re-defining Work, so that in the words of Matthew Fox, our Work is “an expression of the spirit at work in the world through us.”

Over the last weekend in October the Boggs Center, together with over 15 community organizations, is hosting a gathering in Detroit to re-define and re-imagine Work. Individuals and groups from all walks of life will be showcasing and discussing the many ways in which we are being challenged by our “wounded Earth, the one billion unemployed, the billions of despairing young people who see no guarantee of either work or jobs, and the needs of other species around us to, as Fox writes, “shake the world with a new dream of Work.”

reIMAGINGING Work
October 28-30.

Community Forum – Voter information regarding Detroit City Charter and State redistricting

2011-09-11T12:24:00.001-04:00

Please share as we will all be voting on the charter changes come November 8^th. This is a great opportunity to be informed voters! Come with your questions!

Community Forum – Voter information regarding Detroit City Charter and State redistricting

When: September 15, 2011

Time: 6pm to 9pm

Place: Northwest Activities Center

18100 Meyers Road

Detroit, MI 48235

Community Forum:

1) Updates on the City Charter and City Council by Districts

2) Redistricting of voting districts

Be informed before you vote in November!

Invited Guests

- City Charter Commissioners

- City Council members

Sponsored by 12^th Precinct Neighborhood Coalition Legislative Committee and Bagley Community Council

We should be making more of what we consume.

2011-09-11T12:23:00.000-04:00

http://www.detroitmakeithere.com/article/20110901/DM01/110909997
Nathaniel McClure went to school in New York and launched a successful career in Los Angeles. But for the past two years, it's been metro Detroit that his video game development company has called home.

McClure, 36, left New York after school to pursue work in film and television. Once he got out to Los Angeles, though, he discovered that a childhood love of video games was turning into a new career path.

He began working at Activision Blizzard Inc., a video game publisher in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2001. After leaving in 2007, he formedEpicenter Studios, which he ran until 2010, when he sold it to Floor 84 Studio LLC in North Hollywood, Calif.

Incentives offered by the Michigan Film Officeare what inspired McClure to make the move to Michigan in 2009. He started Farmington Hills-based Scientifically Proven LLC that year.

"Man vs. Wild," based on the Discovery Channel show, was the first game Scientifically Proven produced.

An application for a $400,000 incentive for the "Man vs. Wild" game was initially denied based on the state's argument that the studio did not own all of the intellectual property rights to all of the material in the game. Scientifically Proven sued the state and won in Oakland County Circuit Court, but the state has appealed. (Look for a story in Crain's Detroit Businesslater this month on a proposal in the Michigan Legislature to allow incentives for projects of which all the IP rights are not held by the applicant.)

The studio was recently approved for an incentive of more than $400,000 to produce "Ghost Game." Scientifically Proven wrote the entire storyline for this game and therefore owns all of the intellectual property rights.

McClure said he tries to take different approach to the stories in his games. Instead of involving killing, games like "Real Heroes: Firefighter," which he created while at Epicenter, have the gamer saving lives.

The studio is also working on titles for medical, educational and military markets. Its educational titles will help children track their caloric intake and exercise minutes, while the military titles will train pilots to fly virtual drones.

Last year, McClure and his staff ventured into the realm of film and television production. One project, a low-budget horror movie, is in post-production right now, and McClure said viewers may see it within a few months.

"We wanted to do something and not break the bank up here to really test out" the availability of talent in the local area, McClure said. "It was kind of our first foray to figure some stuff out and it turned out really cool."

McClure shared more of his story in a conversation with Michelle Muñoz.

How did you get the funding to start Scientifically Proven?

It all came from my pocket.

Really?

Absolutely.

How much did it cost?

A good amount. A good amount. That was a huge part of the incentive. ... Typically we are a service industry. We have a product and then we have a royalty percent on that product, depending on how it does. Other than that, our margins are relatively tight. It's, here is a product for $1 million; $990,000 of that is my cost. So it's not a lot of profit.

The goal is to make good products that you can get royalties on. So here is an opportunity where I can come up here, develop these products for my clients, publishers or individual investors, and now have this incentive to either offer my investors or my publishing partners, or I can internalize and take after the project is done and use it to develop new IPs, develop new properties, hire more staff, all that good stuff.

When you look at my family moving, and I bought a house, all that stuff on my private side, it was relatively significant. ... Significant enough that I'd advise anyone to make a good plan and double check it but not significant enough where it's like, "Oh my god, no one can do that." I'm just another jerk just like everybody else. Just put a little knowledge and apply it.

Do you think it's easier out here in a less crowded environment?

It depends on how you look at it, I guess. Is it easier to run a business that has a proven clientele? Absolutely. Because as long as the money is coming in, the cost of living is cheaper up here for my employees, the cost of doing business is significantly cheaper for myself, so in that aspect absolutely, the real estate is cheaper and more available. You have much more options in that aspect, but also on the flip side of that, the talent pool is much smaller for what we do. And I don't have direct access to all my clients that I did in Los Angeles. ... There is the potential to be easier if you have some sort of installed base of clientele. Otherwise, I think it would be very tough to do what I do out of the gate up here.

What kind of people do you not have here that you need to make these games, and do you see more coming?

Just our core skills. Essentially we have producers, which are the managers, more or less ... We have art, which they create all the physical assets that go into the game. ... We have our designers who come up with core concepts, core design principles and ideas on how the game is going to work. Then we have our programmers that build the actual architecture that puts it all together.

When I first moved up here, I brought five guys with me that moved from Los Angeles who are now all full-time Michigan residents and have been for the past year and a half. And the rest are all locals. So I wanted to get a couple core guys because when I first moved up here I brought one guy, and we were like, "Ok, we need to find some veterans here. We can't go all green."

We stumbled a little bit, we found one and we decided there were a couple of guys in L.A. who really liked the opportunity to come up here. It's a better quality of life, better schools, potential to raise family ... so they came up.

For the rest we went to Michigan State, which we have a great relationship with. We actually sponsored their capstone program for the past two years working with all of their students. (University of Michigan), (Center for Creative Studies), Wayne (State University), you name it. There is an incredible feeder system up here between the major universities.

So is there a growing pool of talent?

Absolutely.

Do you think it's fueled by the Michigan Film Office incentives?

Absolutely. ... Just since I've been here in the past two years I've seen probably five or six startups pop up, some that I've had direct interaction with. And it's in large part due to the incentive. Now that the incentive is finally working for me I can go aggressively out there and look for development funds, opportunities with publishing partners and investors to start bringing money in here to grow even more. Unfortunately due to the lawsuit and that nonsense I'm behind in my original plan up here, but now that's finally starting to click and go, I feel much better we'll be able to gain ground quick.

Have you interacted with a lot of people who are thinking about moving away from Michigan and weighing the options?

Pretty much all of my employees. That was in almost every interview. When I originally hired, everybody was (saying), "If you weren't here, I wouldn't live here." Because they want to make games, they want to do what we do and there are very few choices up here. You apply to a couple, and if you don't get them, you have to go. In February, after Gov. Snyder's speech (regarding capping of the incentives at $25 million), that became another possible reality really quick because it kind of just tore the floor out of the incentive. All of our backers, all of our publishing partners, all of our out-of-state investors were like, "Well, the incentive is broke; why do we need to go there anymore?" Let's go to Louisiana or Georgia or North Carolina or something. But, with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, it's finally starting to get back on track.

Why don't you tell me a little about "Ghost Game"? I know it's based in Detroit, but where did the idea come from?

We're huge fans of the ghost-hunting genre. It's funny, we were just talking at lunch about how many believers and non-believers we have in the paranormal here. It's pretty even actually. But there are a lot of cool horror games that have existed over time — "Resident Evil" and all these great horror games — but there's not one that really represents the true ghost-hunting genre like a lot of television shows right now. There have been 20 shows in the last five years on television just about this aspect of it.

It's approached from an arguably scientific perspective of, "Hey, let's really try and debunk and figure this out. Do they exist or not exist?" ... It's not traditional in the fact that you are out there hunting in the form of killing or doing something like that. But there are a lot of investigation elements of it and a great murder-mystery that weaves between the whole thing.

It sounds fun to us. We sat down and ... the guys are brilliant, they come up with new ideas every day for games to make, and we try to match a great idea with what we think is a commercially viable product. It's like what's out there in this space? Alright, that's not a game in this space, but there's a huge following in terms of televisions shows. Three out of four people believe in some sort of paranormal in America. And that essentially generates a huge gap in this space — that wow, we can fulfill that need. And then we start coming up with a couple core ideas and a couple core concepts. And there you go, we get to work. Get some money and get to work.

When you first got started in the video game business, what were some of the games you worked on?

When I joined Activision I was particularly skilled in first-person shooters. So I went on "Return to Castle Wolfenstein" and worked on that for a while. And I got on the early evaluation team for "Call of Duty," the first one, before we ended up buying "Infinity Ward," the developer. Then I did "Call of Duty 1," 1 and a half, 2, 3, 4 and a million side mobile projects. ... It was pretty much "Call of Duty" for about five years straight, (and) "Wolfenstein," "True Crime," "Star Trek." I have a laundry list of them. What kind of games did you play as a kid? What was your favorite?

Oh, you name it. I was a huge Sega nut. Genesis was hands down my favorite. My first console was the Odyssey 2 and the "Pac-man" clones and all that stuff. But "Ghouls 'n Ghosts" was one of my favorite ever, "Mario" of course ... "Alex Kidd," "Wonder Boy," there's laundry lists.

I was never a Genesis kid. I was all Nintendo.

It's weird to see the split. There was a definitive split. My buddy, he was a Nintendo guy so he had (Nintendo Entertainment System), (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), all that, which was perfect. ... He had all his stuff and I had all my stuff.

2011 WAYNE COUNTY TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTION INFORMATION · SEPT. 16-22, 2011

2011-08-16T14:09:00.000-04:00

www.bid4assets.com/wayne. Greetings!:

The Wayne County Treasurer will be auctioning off tax-foreclosed properties in a series of two auctions, the first of which will take place on September 16-22, 2011. Please note that the 2011 auction of tax-foreclosed properties will not take place at the office of the Wayne County Treasurer. Instead, the auction will be held online atwww.bid4assets.com/wayne.

The current list of properties is linked here
If you have questions about the auction itself, please call 313.224.5990 or email WCTAuction@co.wayne.mi.us
Maps of the auction properties can be downloaded from the links below or in the left-side menu
Properties may be added or removed from the list in the days before the auction.

Dates to register online on the Bid4Assets website for this first auction are August 12-September 9, 2011. This is the first of two auctions; the second will take place from October 21-27, 2011 and will auction off properties remaining from the September auction.

The auction provides an opportunity for prospective buyers to purchase properties, with the minimum bid being the amount of back taxes owed. The fact that this auction is open to anyone who registers means that outcomes can result in a wide range of community control. For example, a concerned resident or Community Development Corporation may purchase a parcel for property expansion or redevelopment, or a speculator may purchase a property for investment.

Residents and local non-profit organizations can play a vital role in preventing auction properties from becoming negative influences on a neighborhood's quality of life. To do this, residents and local organizations might consider taking the following actions 1) be aware of which properties are up for auctioned, and 2) play an active role in monitoring the status and ownership of the property throughout both auctions. Moreover, it is possible that properties could be redeemed in the days leading to the auction and owners with back taxes may want to contact the Treasurer's office for more information on redemption.

To help your organizations identify auction properties, Community Legal Resources has mapped the properties the Wayne County Treasurer is auctioning off in three ways:

Map 1: Labeled with addresses
Map 2: Labeled with auction ID number
Map 3: Sorted by minimum bids and labeled with addresses

In order to participate in the auction, bidders must submit a $1,035.00 deposit ($35 for processing) in the form of a cashier's check or bank wireprior to September 13, 2010. If bidders are interested in bidding on more than one property, the deposit is $5,035.00. More information concerning auction logistics is online at www.bid4assets.com/wayne orhttp://www.waynecounty.com/5143.htm.

If you or someone you know will not have access to a computer but still would like to participate in the auction, call (1-877-427-7387) for more information about bidding without computer access.

If you have questions about the maps, please call or email us at 313.969.5488 or jtigan@clronline.org

Community spirit.

2011-08-16T13:46:00.001-04:00

Rail~Volution 2011: All Days

2011-08-16T13:17:00.000-04:00

What Is Rail~Volution?

Rail~Volution is a conference of passionate people, like you, who want to engage in thoughtful discussion about building livable communities with transit.

We are citizen activists, developers, business leaders, planners, local elected officials, transit operators, government officials and more. We come together each year, from more than 300 communities, towns and regions of all sizes and shapes, to share ideas and breakthroughs, frustrations and inspiration.

This year's conference brings us close to the policy and decision makers who will shape the dialogue in the coming election year. It allows us to delve into the big questions: "What is the next American dream?" and "Whose responsibility is livability?" It lets us explore the latest on authorization, as well as the successful local and regional efforts to create livable communities in and around the nation's capital.

Why Should You Attend?

Non-partisan. Not ideological. The more than 75 workshops, networking events, charrettes and toolbox sessions bring together some of the best minds on livability in the country and the world. They present concrete examples and dialogue to illustrate the rediscovery of community that is sweeping the country.

Whether an established expert or a new professional, attend Rail~Volution if you want to:

Jumpstart your project — with fresh ideas for both public and private sectors.
Engage your community — with useful tools for advocates and elected officials.
Expand your horizons — by meeting new clients or earning AICP CM credits.
Shape the future — with new contacts, skills, perspectives and concepts.
You will come away with knowledge, direction and a renewed sense of passion for creating vibrant, sustainable, livable places.

What Is Rail~Volution's History?

Rail~Volution started in 1989 as a series of outreach and advocacy events geared towards developing real advocates for the Portland metropolitan region's MAX Light Rail System. At the conference in 1994, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (District 3, Oregon) announced that in 1995, Rail~Volution would become a national conference. From this point, Rail~Volution acted as a loose federation of sponsoring Partners and Affiliates, united by common interests and dedication. In the year 2000, the National Steering Committee realized the need for a more formal organization, and a strategic planner was brought in to assist this process. The National Steering Committee decided Rail~Volution should develop into a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.

Rail~Volution 2011: All Days

What's it all about?

2011-08-12T11:44:00.000-04:00

Bagley community Council making it happen in our Neighborhood.

2011-08-11T22:20:00.000-04:00

SCHOLARSHIP FAIR TO AWARD MILLIONS TO DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

2011-08-08T07:55:00.002-04:00

Rae Glover

The Better Detroit Youth Movement

info@betterdetroityouth.org

Phone: 248.760.4814 / Fax: 313.342.6324

SCHOLARSHIP FAIR TO AWARD MILLIONS TO DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Detroit, Michigan –The Better Detroit Youth Movement and The Infinite Scholars Program are hosting The 3rd Annual Detroit Scholarship Fair at Cobo Hall on September 20, an event that annually awards millions in four-year college scholarships to Detroit area high school juniors and seniors.

As many as 40 colleges will be participating scholarships at this year’s event. Attending students need to bring multiple copies of their transcript with ACT/SAT score, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and an essay on “Why I want to go to college.” Students who register for the fair online at www.mohela.com/infinitescholar will automatically have their information forwarded to dozens of colleges linked to the website.

This free event will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Cobo Hall (Ambassador Room) in Downtown Detroit. Last year’s fair attracted more than 2,500 high school students throughout Southeast Michigan.

“We’re proud to bring this fair to Detroit because we want to celebrate the hard work of our high schools students. This is a perfect opportunity to help them engage recruiters from across the country so they can achieve the bright futures they deserve,” says BDYM co-director Rae Glover. She adds, “I also want to make sure students across Southeastern Michigan take advantage of the great opportunities this fair offers them.”

The BDYM is a non-profit coalition with a volunteer base of more than 250 caring Detroiters who have helped to positively impact the lives of more than 30,000 children, teens and young adults. The BDYM regularly hosts meetings and events to encourage volunteerism, mentoring and program support, and to engage the community-at-large. Past BDYM events include The Million Father March (scheduled for Labor Day, 2011), The March for Detroit Youth, The Motor City YouthFest and Live In Peace Art Parties.

To learn more about The Third Annual Detroit Scholarship Fair, call Rae Glover at 248.760.4814. To become an event sponsor, call Sharon Dean-Williams at 313.919.4356.

Bagley Community Council

2011-08-05T15:18:00.002-04:00

Please join your Bagley Community Council members as they gather at the corner of McNichols and Woodingham (parking lot area of Grandfather’s Place Resturant) to share information regarding

· clean and safe neighborhoods starting with organizing block clubs

· organize small teams to go door-to-door to register residents and block clubs

· organize our citizens patrol with the 12^th Police Precinct. Did you know we can text crime alerts directly to the police? Learn how on Saturday!!

· meet your neighbors, ask questions, get answers or directions and just enjoy an afternoon of fellowship.

Stop by anytime after 1pm at Grandfather’s Place (great Saturday buffett) located at the corner of McNichols and Woodingham.

More information about Neighborhoods Day: http://www.arisedetroit.org/neighborhoodsday.aspx

Check out the Bagley website/blog for pictures afterwards: http://bagleycommunity.blogspot.com/

Bagley Community Council, Inc.

Voicemail: 313.927.2674

Blog: http://bagleycommunity.blogspot.com/

Discussion and Announcements (residents only): http://groups.google.com/group/bagleycommunitycouncil

Student Scholarships.

2011-08-01T09:45:00.002-04:00

Top 2011 Scholarships For Black Students:

A
AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/aarp_foundation_womens_scholarship.html>
For women 40+ seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves.
Academic Competitiveness Grant <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/academic_competitiveness_grant.html>
For first-year and second-year college students who graduated from high school.
Actuarial Diversity Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/actuarial_diversity_scholarship.html>
For minority students pursuing a degree that may lead to a career in the actuarial profession.
Akash Kuruvilla Memorial Scholarship Fund <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/akash_kuruvilla_memorial_scholarship.html>
For students who demonstrate excellence in leadership, diversity, integrity and academia.
American Copy Editors Society Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/american_copy_editors_society_scholarship.html>
Available to junior, senior and graduate students who will take full-time copy editing jobs or internships.
AORN Foundation Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/aorn_foundation_scholarship.html>
For students studying to be nurses and perioperative nurses pursuing undergrad and grad degrees.
Automotive Hall of Fame Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/automotive_hall_fame_scholarships.html>
For students who indicate a sincere interest in an automotive related career.
AWG Minority Scholarship For Women <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/awg_minority_scholarship.html>
Encourages young minority women to pursue an education and later a career in the geosciences.
AXA Achievements Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/axa_achievements_scholarship.html>
Provides more than $600K in annual scholarships to 52 students - one from each state.
B
Beacon Partners Healthcare IT Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/beacon_partners_healthcare_it_scholarships.html>
Awarded to a student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in the IT Healthcare field.
Best Buy Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/best_buy_scholarship.html>
For students in grades 9-12 who plan to enter a full-time undergraduate program upon high school graduation.
Burger King Scholars Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/burger_king_scholars_program.html>
For high school seniors who have part-time jobs and excel academically in school.
C
CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/cia_undergraduate_scholarship_program.html>
Developed to assist minority and disabled students, but open to all who meet the requirements.
Coca-Cola Scholars Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/coca_cola_scholars_program.html>
Four-year achievement-based scholarships given to 250 high school seniors each year.
D
Davidson Fellows Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/davidson_fellows_scholarship.html>
Recognizes and awards the extraordinary who excel in math, science, and technology.
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/davis_putter_scholarship.html>
Need-based scholarships for college students are part of the progressive movement in their community.
Dell Scholars Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/dell_scholars_program.html>
For students who demonstrate a desire and ability to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.
Development Fund For Black Students in Science and Technology <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/development_fund_black_students_science_technology.html>
For students studying science or technology at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Discovery Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/discover_scholarship.html>
Annual scholarship for high school juniors to support continued education and training beyond high school.
E
Ed Bradley/ Ken Kashiwahara Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/ed_bradley_ken_kashiwahara_scholarships.html>
Open to full-time students who are pursuing careers in radio and television news.
EMPOWER Scholarship Award <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/empower_scholarship.html>
Designed to increase diversity in the medical rehabilitation field by awarding students of color.
ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Scholarship Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/esa_computer_video_game_scholarship.html>
For minority and female students majoring in a field related to computer and video game arts.
F
Fulbright Scholar Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/fulbright_scholar_program.html>
Sends faculty and professionals abroad each year to lecture and conduct research.
Future Engineers Scholarship Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/future_engineers_scholarship_program.html>
For students pursuing a career in engineering who shows outstanding academic performance.
G
Gates Millenium Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/gates_millennium_scholarship.html>
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; established to help low income minority students.
Go On Girl Book Club Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/go_on_girl_book_club_scholarships.html>
Supports authors of the Black African Diaspora who wan to write their way to college money.
Google Anita Borg Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/google_anita_borg_scholarship.html>
For women who excel in computing and technology, and are active role models and leaders.
H
Hallie Q. Brown Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/hallie_q_brown_scholarship.html>
For African American women who have a minimum C average, and can demonstrate financial need.
HBCU Study Abroad Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/hbcu_study_abroad_scholarships.html>
Provides travel opportunities for students of color who are traditionally under-represented in such programs.
J
Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/jacob_javits_fellowship.html>
Provides fellowships to students who excel in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Javits-Frasier Teacher Scholarship Fund <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/javits_frasier_teacher_scholarship.html>
To increase diverse students' access to talent development opportunities through teacher training.
Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/jeanette_rankin_womens_scholarship.html>
For low-income women who have a vision of how their education will benefit themselves and their community.
Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/joe_francis_haircare_scholarship.html>
For cosmetology and barber school students who can demonstrate a financial need.
K
KFC Colonel's Scholars Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/kfc_colonels_scholars_program.html>
For college-bound students who can demonstrate financial need, and have a GPA of at least 2.75.
L
Lincoln Forum Scholarship Essay Contest <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/lincoln_forum_scholarship_essay_contest.html>
A writing contest pertaining to the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era.
M
McKesson Pharmacy Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/mckesson_pharmacy_scholarship.html>
Designed to assist pharmacy students who plan to continue their education.
N
National Achievement Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/national_achievement_scholarship.html>
Established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding African American high school students.
National Black Police Association Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/black_police_association_scholarships.html>
For students pursuing careers in law enforcement, criminal justice, and other related areas.
National Institute of Grants For Women <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/grants_for_women.html>
Designed to help women and girls find funding for college education, and more.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/nih_undergraduate_scholarship.html>
For students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing science and health-related research.
National SMART Grant <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/national_smart_grant.html>
Available to full-time students who are majoring in science, math, technology, engineering, and more.
P
PMI Educational Foundation Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/pmi_educational_foundation_scholarships.html>
Established for students in the field of project management or a project management related field.
R
Ron Brown Scholar Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/ron_brown_scholar_program.html>
Seeks to identify African American high school seniors who will make significant contributions to society.
Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/ronald_reagan_college_leaders_scholarship.html>
Seeks to recognize outstanding young people who are promoting American values on college campuses.
S
Siemen Competition <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/siemens_competition.html>
Competition for individual or team research projects in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
T
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/thurgood_marshall_college_fund_scholarships.html>
For first-generation students majoring in business, finance, science, engineering, and more.
Tri-Delta Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/tri_delta_scholarships.html>
For students who excel in chapter and campus involvement, community service, academics, and more.
Tylenol Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/tylenol_scholarship.html>
For students pursuing a career in health care who can demonstrate leadership and academic qualities.
U
United Negro College Fund Scholarships <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/united_negro_college_fund_scholarships.html>
Administers 400 different scholarship programs so low-income families can afford college, tuition, and books.
U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/us_bank_internet_scholarship.html>
For high school seniors planning to enroll or college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors already enrolled.
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/usda_1890_national_scholars_program.html>
For students seeking a Bachelor's degree in agriculture, food, or natural resource sciences and related majors.
V
Vanguard Minority Scholarship Program <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/vanguard_minority_scholarship.html>
Provides merit-based scholarships to minority students studying business, finance, economics, and more.
W
William B. Ruggles Right To Work Journalism Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/william_b_ruggles_scholarship.html>
Available to undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in journalism or a related field.
Writer's Digest Annual Short Story Competition <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/writers_digest_short_story_competition.html>
Contest for writers who can compose the best fictional short story, written in 1,500 words or less.
X
Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship <http://blackstudents.blacknews.com/opportunities/xerox_technical_minority_scholarship.html>
For academic high-achievers in science, engineering, and information technology.

2011-07-29T18:02:00.000-04:00

Bing: Neighborhood health to determine city servicesChristine MacDonald/ The Detroit NewsDetroit— In two weeks, the health of Detroit neighborhoods will determine what services they get, according to a plan unveiled today by Mayor Dave Bing.The extraordinary effort to parse services geographically — from where codes are enforced, houses demolished, codes enforced, trees trimmed and street lights repaired, for instance — is a result of 14 months of study toward reshaping an aging city that is marked by wide pockets of despair. Bing says all neighborhoods will still get basic services, such as police and fire, EMS and garbage pickup.Yet Detroit's 61 percent population decline since the 1950s and declining infrastructure and budget health have prompted a rationing of services."We've got to take some quantum leaps so people can be satisfied with their return on investments," Bing said today. "Our entire city will benefit from this new market approach of service delivery. You deserve a city that works."Bing's citywide plan calls for dividing Detroit into three categories based on a neighborhood's health — steady, transitional and distressed — and then concentrating certain services in those areas. For example, building demolitions would be more common in "distressed" and "transitional" areas, while the "steady" neighborhoods would get more code enforcement and illegal dumping cleanups.A map issued by the city today essentially shows which areas of the city fall into which category, and Bing produced charts that show what services would be impacted based on a neighborhood's rating.The plan, which apparently doesn't need approval or appropriation from the City Council, drew mixed reviews.Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown said he was "cautiously optimistic that more details will present themselves to be able to form an opinion in the near future. Today's announcement raised as many new questions as answers."But Councilman James Tate was more supportive."I think it's wise to have targeted areas," Tate said. "We are going to study what works citywide."Rip Rapson, president of the Kresge foundation, also said he was pleased with the announcement and that the project is about City Hall being a "leader in the neighborhoods.""The mayor recognizes that you have to pursue short-term progress at the same time as a long-term vision."It's the first measure to come out of Bing's signature Detroit Works Project, an effort to reshape the city. It doesn't include encouraging residents to leave underpopulated neighborhoods for viable ones. Bing calls it a "short-term intervention strategy" to save neighborhoods and says that his team is still working on a longer term plan that will emerge in 2012.Bing made the announcement — with the rare use of a teleprompter — in Odd Fellows Hall in the Springwells neighborhood of southwest Detroit. The Detroit Works advisory committee met Tuesday night in a closed meeting so it could be briefed on the announcement, city officials said.Bing stressed that parts of the city "aren't being shut down" and that basic services are not being eliminated.His staff said people have been contacting the city about wanting to move to more stable neighborhoods, but they don't have a formal program to help people move.In an addition, three parts of the city will be singled out as "demonstration areas" to test the effectiveness of the new city services strategy. Those areas will get extra help through city partnerships with community housing groups, nonprofits, foundations and other government agencies. The areas are: Hubbard Farms/Southwest, Bagley/Detroit Golf Club/Green Acres/Palmer Woods/Sherwood Forest/University District and Boston Edison/North End/Virginia Park. The city will track data in those three areas in six months to see if the new focus is working.Bing had hoped to deliver by the end of the year a dramatic road map to streamline services and concentrate residents in seven to nine neighborhoods. But city officials said they were convinced after a series of Detroit Works public meetings that the city needed to move more quickly on immediate solutions. Today's announcement at Odd Fellows Hall was the result.Detroit Works consultants used a variety of data to divide the city into three "market types," including median sales homes sales, rentals, vacant land and foreclosures. According to the city press release, the categories are described as:— Steady: Homes in good physical condition with the majority being owner occupied. Homes in steady markets are typically valued high. There are limited vacancies in steady markets and a relatively stable population.Steady neighborhoods would see more code enforcement, debris clean-ups, street light repairs, business recruitment and commercial area improvements.— Transitional: Dynamics of the market are changing; has a relatively high presence of REO properties; a mix of rental and owner-occupied homes; and in a transitional market, there has been some vacancy and some population loss.Transitional areas would see more building demolitions, board-ups and road improvements. The city also would purchase bank-owned properties and do more residential rehabs in these areas.— Distressed: Shows signs of long-term physical decline; near absence of market activity; high vacancy rates; and high concentrations of vacant land.Distressed areas would see a concentration of demolitions, job training, recreational services, land assembly for reuse and money to enhance vacant lots.A fourth category was created for areas that were too diverse to fit into one of the three categories, said city spokesman Dan Lijana. It wasn't clear early today which city services will be focused on those areas. More details will be released about the mixed areas soon, officials said.Some community leaders and residents adopted a wait-and-see view of the announcement."I like the idea of increased collaboration," said state Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit. "I am just very uncertain of what that really means."Southwest Detroit resident Joe Rashid said the effort sounds positive and he likes that Hubbard Farms is being highlighted.One of the biggest issues in southwest Detroit is illegal dumping, Rashid said. He would like to see that addressed."If we could just clean up the neighborhood," Rashid said. "We have the vibrancy and people here."The city will hold a series of upcoming community meetings to discuss the plans with citizens, but officials didn't release dates this morning.Come back to detnews.com as this story develops.cmacdonald@detnews.com(313) 222-2396From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110727/METRO01/107270380/Bing--Neighborhood-health-to-determine-city-services#ixzz1TX7Gpp7U
Last Updated: July 27. 2011 6:17PM

Great resource map.

2011-07-29T17:55:00.000-04:00

This is a great resource map that brace in neighborhoods down in a way that makes it easy for everyone to understand.

CITY WIDE MTG W/POLICE CHIEF GODBEE - TODAY

2011-07-26T08:05:00.001-04:00

CITY-WIDE MEETING WITH CHIEF GODBEE, WILL BE HELD AT FELLOWSHIP CHURCH, WEST OUTER DRIVE AND LINDSEY, 6PM TUESDAY, 26 JULY 11. THIS IS TWO BLOCKS EAST OF SOUTHFIELD.

BILL WELBORNE, PRESIDENT
CITY WIDE POLICE COMM REL

Alicia Biggers
Ford Motor Company
Senior Data Research Supervisor
Knowledge Center
Phone: (313) 323-6678 Ask a Librarian
Room 909-910, WHQ abiggers@ford.com

Confidential Note:This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please delete this message.

FW: COMMUNITY RESOURCE FORUM, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011 10AM - 2PM @ NW ACTIVITIES CENTER

2011-07-14T08:10:00.000-04:00

From: Kenneth Scott [mailto:kenlscott@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 7:52 AM
To: KENNETH L SCOTT
Subject: COMMUNITY RESOURCE FORUM, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011 10AM - 2PM @ NW ACTIVITIES CENTER

Dear Community Resource Forum Community Partner:

Please pass on this information to membership organizations, the neighborhood associations, block clubs, businesses, schools, churches and residents in your communities.

We are writing you to announce our next Community Resource Forum, “Bringing Resources To Your Community, You Have Questions… We Have Answers” event, on Saturday, July 23, 2011 from 10:00am to 2:00pm, @ the Northwest Activities Center, located at 18100 Meyers Rd, Detroit, MI 48235, on the southeast corner of Curtis in Northwest Detroit.

Community Resource Forum is a 501c3 non profit whose mission is as follows:
To Empower, Stabilize And Transform Communities By Supplying Resources That Contribute To The Resident's Quality Of Life Via Education, Finance, Health, Housing, Jobs And Public Safety. Community Resource Forum's targeted cities are Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

Do You Need Help With:

Utility Bill Assistance, Weatherization, Housing, Foreclosure Prevention, Starting A Bank Account, Getting A Mortgage, Getting A GED, Computer Literacy, College Admissions, Jobs, Job Training, Job Placement, Resume Writing, Onsite Health Screenings, Starting A Business, Financing A Business, Organizing A Business, FREE Income Tax Assistance, Property Taxes, Building Demolition, Crime Prevention

On Hand To Help You:

Michigan Works, Youngbiz Michigan, Henry Ford Health Systems, DMC, Kaplan Career Institute, DTE, Wayne County Treasurer, Michigan Education Trust, The Detroit College Promise, Accounting Aid Society, Fifth Third Bank & Bank of America, Detroit Community Health Connection, Community Legal Resources, HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) and Crime Stoppers.

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Attached, you will find information on our Community Resource Forum III. Please contact us regarding your partnership and your participation

Please review and become a partner of Community Resource Forum!!!

Thank you,

Kenneth L. Scott
Executive Director
Community Resource Forum
17301 Livernois # 134
Detroit, Michigan 48221
(313) 819-7065

FW: Palmer Park Community Picnic Saturday, July 23rd

2011-07-13T08:20:00.000-04:00

Please share with friends and family!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Palmer Park People <info@peopleforpalmerpark.org>
Date: Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Subject: Palmer Park Community Picnic Saturday, July 23rd
To: Palmer Park People <info@peopleforpalmerpark.org>

Join The People For Palmer Park for a

Community Picnic in the Park

Saturday, July 23 1pm-

We'll bring the Hot Dogs and Fun

You bring the Friends and Family & a Snack to Pass Around.

Enjoy

-Hayrides on the trails

-Games for kids & adults

-Crafts

-Facepainting

-Bike Decorating Contest

-Bonfire

Hope to see you there!

Restroom Access Provided

Security Alert --- 4 Wheel Thefts Between Midnight & 5:00 a.m.

2011-07-12T08:43:00.001-04:00

Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 9:43 PM
To: James Ward
Subject: Greeacres Security Alert --- 4 Wheel Thefts Between Midnight & 5:00 a.m.

Attached is a Greenacres Incident Report regarding stolen wheels from a vehicle in Greenacres. This represents about 5 such incidents within the last 30 days and are occurring between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m.. If you have wheel locks, please do not leave the lock in your glove box since thieves are beginning to look there for them. Also, if you have a garage, PLEASE USE IT. Of course, what happens in Greenacres is not necessarily limited to our community and most likely applies to all communities in the 12th Precinct.

Jim

FW: Fifth Third's Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP)

2011-07-08T13:27:00.001-04:00

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: MOORE, LYKESHA <LYKESHA.MOORE@53.com>

Please be informed of the following:

NIP is a program that assists homeowners who are in need of minor home repairs. The program is a matching grant program that provides grants up to $7,500 to low to moderate-income City of Detroit homeowners only.

Applications can be picked up at Fifth Third Bank 3927 W 8 Mile Detroit, MI 48221

Feel free to contact me with any additional questions at the contact information listed below.

Lykesha

FIFTH THIRD BANK
Lykesha Moore
Assistant Vice President
Financial Center Manager
8 Mile & Livernois
MD JO5521
Tel 313-342-5783/ Fax 313-342-5782

From: James Ward [mailto:jamesawardjr@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 10:30 PM
To: James Ward
Subject: Earn and Learn program, Jobs for 18-24

The Earn and Learn program starts today. This is a subsidized employment program targeting 18-24 year olds who are out-of-school and/or high risk. This is a jobs program and is very positive in potential for our neighborhood residents. There are only 850 slots over the next 18 months but you can connect some of your young adults, especially young males of color, black and brown, with this employment option which is supported with learning opportunities and services.

To enroll, an applicant must visit a Detroit Workforce Development Department One-stop Shop and receive a referral. This is a quick process (as I have been told). These sites include the location at Conner and I94 multi-service center (on the east side); ACCESS employment center on Shaefer (in Dearborn but is the largest provider of employment services to Detroiters), and the center at Focus Hope ( Oakman and Linwood) in the NW corner of Northend. There are other one-stop shops as well.

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Community Potluck Picnic @ Palmer Park, Saturday July 23, 2011 @ 1pm

2011-07-08T10:11:00.001-04:00

Please join the People for Palmer Park on Saturday, July 23, 2011 between 1pm and 7pm for a community potluck picnic!

Where - Palmer Park @ Lake Francis near Log Cabin
When - Saturday, July 23rd between 1pm and 7pm
What - Community Potluck Picnic - bring 1 dish to share

Family fun including, but not limited to, a face painter, hay rides, Mounted Police, and of course, seeing your friends, family and neighbors!! Bring your favorite dish to share, your family picnic, chairs, blankets and plan on having fun.

People for Palmer Park wants everyone to come out as we say thank you for supporting the park, it's plan and our partners!!

FW: Notice of Gateway Marketplace Public Hearing

2011-07-06T08:03:00.000-04:00

This Public Hearing is for the development at Woodward and 8-Mile Road (Southwest East corner) for the proposed Meijer and other stores....

To obtain a copy of the proposal, please contact the Brownfield Authority and the information is listed in this email message. The hearing is Friday, July 8th @ 3pm @ the Renaissance Bowling on Woodward near 8 Mile Road.

Jennifer Kanalos
Brownfield Redevelopment Associate
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
500 Griswold, Suite 2200
Detroit, Michigan 48226
P. 313-483-4150
F. 313-963-8839

FW: Town Hall Meeting with Police Chief Ralph Godbee regarding Crime .

2011-07-05T15:26:00.001-04:00

Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 3:11 PM
To: James Ward
Subject: Town Hall Meeting with Police Chief Ralph Godbee regarding Crime .

Meeting with Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee and other pastors and spiritual
leaders on...

Monday, July 18, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Third New Hope Baptist Church. Please see
the attached signed letter from the Chief and Pastor E.L. Branch.

Chief Godbee has promised to meet regularly with church leaders in
Detroit to discuss and build collaborative ways in which to fight crime.
Your church is important to the chief as we all ban together to step up
the fight to significantly reduce crime in the community and throughout the
city.

Again, if you cannot attend, please designate an individual or individuals from
your ministerial or administrative staff...or from your congregation to attend.
(see attached confirmation form) If you have any questions, please contact me
at 313.258.9162 or at mastermediadj@sbcglobal.net. Thank you so much.

Best Regards,
Donald James
Crime Stoppers of Michigan

Looking at change differently

2011-07-03T14:30:00.001-04:00

“Reading Grace Lee Boggs

helps you glimpse a United States that is better and more beautiful that you thought it was.” - Michael Hardt

“When I first came upon James Boggs's writings three decades ago, it changed my life. Poring over each of the essays collected here by the indefatigable Stephen Ward, I know why he had such an impact. His work was always incisive, clear, dialectical, and genuinely revolutionary. A visionary thinker, Boggs is as relevant now as he ever was.”

- Robin D. G. Kelley

LIVING FOR CHANGE

Rethinking Schools

By Greg Smith

Greg Smith teaches in the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College. The following is from his review of TNAR in the current issue of Rethinking Schools

For two decades, Boggs has been inviting young people in Detroit to participate in restoration of the city’s social and natural environments. Youth work in urban gardens, paint public murals, help organize arts and health festivals, and learn building skills as they rehab deteriorating or abandoned houses. Detroit Summer organizers facilitate workshops and intergenerational conversations aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of what rebuilding Detroit will entail and the meaning of their activities for the broader society.

Drawing on this experience, Boggs asserts that education provides one of the most important vehicles for shaping the new world she believes we must build. Her vision of teaching and learning has little to do with what most children encounter in contemporary schools. She calls for a paradigm shift away from global competition, privatization, and the standardized testing associated with No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top.

Boggs’ educational proposals are informed by Dewey’s call for a diminished boundary between classrooms and communities; Gandhi’s recognition that human maturation requires the development of heart, hand, and head; and Freire’s belief that all people have the capacity to become social actors capable of creating more humane and equitable social relations. Schools she uses to illustrate what she has in mind give young people the opportunity to rehabilitate degraded riparian habitats, restore historic buildings, or use digital media to share their findings about pressing social issues.

Imagine what might happen if young people were treated as full-fledged citizens able to make genuine contributions to the welfare of those around them. For one, children and youth might come to see themselves as people who are valued, competent, and responsible rather than superfluous. Imagine, too, what our communities could become if the energy and intelligence of the young were directed to the challenges now facing humanity.

Since the 1990s, Detroit Summer has sparked a variety of community-based projects that have drawn the attention of writers such as Rebecca Solnit (2007), and filmmakers from the United States and England. The 2010 U.S. Social Forum chose to meet in Detroit in part because of the way activists there are demonstrating that it is truly possible, to borrow the old Wobbly refrain, “to build the new society within the shell of the old.

Community gardens have become widespread as residents have turned abandoned lots into sources of food and pride. Small locally owned businesses are providing livelihoods in communities abandoned by corporate America. People are coming together to write and make art, exploring their creative potential and enacting what it means to be human. Groups have formed to address issues like homelessness, health care, and education, drawing on their own intelligence and energy rather than the state and federal agencies that have become increasingly unable or unwilling to respond to the complex, interconnected problems facing urban populations.

None of this means that Detroit is an easy place to live or that the new world Boggs envisions has arrived. As she describes it, the city is a work in progress, but it is work that serves as a source of inspiration for others experiencing the consequences of a neoliberal global economy in which things and profits have become significantly more important than people.

Will her vision of locally based activism be enough to create the “great turning” she calls for? Probably not. But without work in our homes, neighborhoods, and cities, the deep shift in our relationships with one another and the planet is unlikely to happen. If humanity is to make the transition to a world where the needs of all people are met while preserving natural systems, change must become part of our blood and bones. This will only happen when we are participants in this process. Boggs calls for all of us to contribute whatever we can to the transformation of our understanding and our institutions to bring our species to the next level of evolution. She believes it is possible if we put our shoulders to the wheel, in the same way she has for nearly a century.

You can read Smith's entire review here.

THINKING FOR OURSELVES

Questions of Circumstance

By Shea Howell

The rapid-fire attacks on the people of Detroit feels personal. Now Emergency Financial Managers are accompanied by a new scheme, the Educational Achievement System. The city council, mayor and EFM are holding meetings, telling us how much they will cut, close and cancel.

All of this, they say, is forced by circumstance. We have no money. Our population is shrinking. Our schools are not performing. The powers that be have no choice.

Yet the financial crisis facing the city and state are a smokescreen for a much deeper political agenda.

If we step back from the immediate decisions that seem to pile one on top of the other, three very clear patterns emerge. These patterns have everything to do with political power, not budget short falls or low performing schools.

First, there is the assault on voting rights. For more than 70 years, conservative forces have been trying to turn back the expansion of democratic rights. Since the earliest days of the republic, when voting was restricted to a small group of white, male property owners, the rest of us have been organizing and pushing to expand that right to all of us. Whatever the shortcomings of President Obama, there is no question that his election represented the culmination of these struggles.

Now in Michigan, the right to vote is simply being “set aside.” State legislatures with the stroke of a single law have eliminated the bedrock of this electoral system—local elections. Meanwhile, as their redistricting efforts show, the republican dominated state legislature is twisting electoral districts to benefit their own power and to diminish the voice of cities in Lansing and Washington.

Second, there is the assault on community control of education. Along with the expansion of voting rights, one of the central accomplishments of the civil rights movement was community control of education. In cities and towns across the nation, prior to the 1960’s, public education was failing our children, forcing them to learn from outdated texts with irrelevant curriculum in wildly under funded schools.

The demands for community control resulted in some of our best practices in developing our children. Curriculum began to reflect the communities where people lived. Ideas about culture, conflict, ecology and peace were incorporated into daily studies and new kinds of alternative education emerged. People raised questions about what education is for and what role it should play in a democracy.

Now in Michigan, communities are told we cannot control our schools. After decades of cutting funding, resisting meaningful change and imposing rigid, often irrelevant standards, the State Legislature and the Governor are removing schools from the local public domain and placing them into the hands of a Governor appointed super EFM.

We are apparently all supposed to accept this because some kind foundations are promising to provide two-year college scholarships to our students if we go along with this plan.

Third, there is the assault on labor unions. The state has asserted the power to set aside or renegotiate contracts, conditions of work, pensions and basic protections for health and safety in the name of financial responsibility. Unions are demonized at every opportunity, so we are told that schools are in trouble because of teachers unions, business and government services are in trouble because of greedy workers.

Voting rights, community control and labor unions all evolved with contradictions. But with all their limitations, they are the result of struggles by people to make a more perfect union in this land.

Today, it is not economic circumstance that is dictating these assaults. It is a desire to consolidate political power in the hands of the few. These circumstances demand that we raise the real questions of what kind of country will we be? What values will we hold? What will democracy look like?

2011 Unsung Hero Recipients

2011-06-27T15:13:00.001-04:00

On behalf of University Commons and the 12th Precinct Neighborhood Coalition, we want to congratulate our 2011 "Unsung Heroes". The Unsung Hero Reception is an annual recognition for all residents, business, and partners who spend many, many hours working to develop and enhance our community. The 2011 recipients received recognition from the City of Detroit, Wayne County, University Commons and their individual associations. We thank you for all that you do and we look forward to our 2012 Unsung Heroes Reception.

For 2011 our heroes are…...

Bagley
Ruth Johnson
Karen Palmer

Detroit Golf Club
Nancy Varner

Fitzgerald
Margaret Harris

Greenacres
Maria Dickerson
Karen Hammer

Greenwich Park
Leon Washington

Martin Park
Brad Nichols
Doris Ray

Palmer Woods
Dale Morgan
Barbara Barefield

Pilgrim Village
Ellis Ross
William Ware

Sherwood Forest
Ernest Thompson
Gail & Gordon Rodwan

University District
Holly Clements
Tiffany Alexander

New Prospect
Charlie Primas

Northstar
Clifford Appling
Zeline Richard

Livernois Business Owners
Jamal Ambro - Mike's Fresh Market
Rufus Bartell - Simply Casual
Don Studvent - 1917 American Bistro

People for Palmer Park
Jim Meyers

PLEASE share this with your friends and neighbors!!

Meijer to sign lease for Detroit store

2011-06-27T14:13:00.001-04:00

Please share as it looks like new development may actually be coming to our area and soon…..

Meijer to sign lease for Detroit store
12:28 PM, Jun. 27, 2011 |
BY JOHN GALLAGHER
DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Filed Under
Business
Michigan Business

The grocery superstore chain Meijer is expected to sign a lease by mid-July for a new Detroit store at Woodward and 8 Mile Road, project developers said today.

Ken Till, vice-president of the Southfield-based development firm Redico, told the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meeting that Meijer is reviewing the final lease and should be signed in about two weeks. Meijer would be the anchor tenant of the long-planned Gateway Marketplace project.

Long-delayed but finally moving forward, the Gateway project would also feature a Marshalls store as well as a bank branch, a McDonald’s, and several other stores. Till told the authority that Redico is talking to retailers including Old Navy and PetSmart as possible tenants.

The retail project, on the southeast corner of Woodward and 8 Mile, is planned as 362,000 square feet of retail space on 36 acres. Key funding will include a loan from Detroit’s General Retirement System pension fund, as well as a variety of tax credits. Construction could begin later this year.

Contact John Gallagher: 313-222-5173 or gallagher99 @freepress.com

FW: Greenwich Park Association YARD SALE (June 24-26 )

2011-06-22T08:44:00.001-04:00

From: Greenwichparkdet@aol.com [mailto:Greenwichparkdet@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 12:14 AM
To: Greenwichparkdet@aol.com
Subject: Greenwich Park Association YARD SALE (June 24-26 )

JUNE 24-26, 2011

Greenwich Park Association YARD SALE

All are welcome to visit Greenwich Park, this Friday through Sunday for our 2011 YARD SALE! For the BEST DEALS in metro-Detroit...come to Greenwich Park, this weekend! Several homes throughout Greenwich Park will have items on display.

Tell your family and friends! Prepare to… BUY! BUY! BUY!

Greenwich Park is a community of 800-homes and 33-businesses. Boundaries: W. 7 Mile Rd. (north-side) to Pembroke (south-side) and Meyers (west-side) to Schaefer (east-side).

Thank You!
Walter Cole

Greenwich Park Association
President

313-864-0133

P.O. Box 351011

Detroit, MI 48235

GreenwichParkdet@aol.com

FW: Detroit's Finest Home Tour "Baker's Dozen Neighborhood & Home Tour"

2011-06-21T15:39:00.001-04:00

FYI - PLEASE share with your networks!!!!

From: kimsva@aol.com [mailto:kimsva@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 2:08 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: Fwd: Detroit's Finest Home Tour "Baker's Dozen Neighborhood & Home Tour"

PLEASE PASS THE WORD:

Thirteen Detroit Neighborhood Organizations, 12th Precinct Neighborhood Coalition, and University Commons Organization are sponsoring this 4th Annual event.

“Baker’s Dozen”* Homebuyer’s Tour

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Home tours 12 noon-4pm

Busses will leave from Windmill Market

Corner of Livernois and Lodge Fwy.

See attached Press Release and Flyer for more information.

For live or print media, interviews or answers to questions please contact: Kim Tandy 313-433-3549 or Lolita Haley 313-345-3818

RE: June Events & Reminders

2011-06-21T09:27:00.000-04:00

PLEASE share with your councils, communities, associations, neighborhoods, friends and influencers!!
University Commons Events:

Unsung Heroes Awards & Reception by University Commons June 25th @ 5pm to 7pm @ Marygrove College. Tickets are $30 each and support the work of University Commons. Tickets will be available @ the door (between 4:30 and 5pm) for $30 each or email abiggers3@comcast.net for a ticket prior to Saturday.
Home Tour June 25th 12pm – 4pm @ Windmill Market – community groups @ Windmill market starting @ 11am - Bus Tour is $5 - great way to show the neighborhood to perspective residents!! Will you group have a table representing all that is wonderful about your neighborhood?
Windmill Market is open every Saturday and Wednesday for fresh flowers, veggies and fruits!! (Windmill Market is located at the Lodge & Livernois - SW corner)

Palmer Park Events:

Monday Bike Rides in Palmer Park, Monday, June 20 at 7:00pm

Solstice Back Pack Lunch Hike...Tuesday, June 21 at 12:00pm

Park Playscape Area Cleanup, Saturday, June 25 at 9:30am

At Chiangrai Boutique..

2011-06-17T09:32:00.001-04:00

Welcome to AT CHIANGRAI BOUTIQUE

OPEN ON JUNE 2011

ห้องพักรายวัน รายเดือน สไตล์บูทิค ฟรี Wifi internet แอร์ เฟอร์นิเจอร์ น้ำร้อน ทีวี กล้องวงจรปิด พื้นแกรนิตโต
เปิดจองแล้ว โทร 053-151-061, 086-756-3163 ติดต่อคุณนก

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:29:55 GMT

June Events & Reminders

2011-06-15T10:52:00.001-04:00

PLEASE share with your councils, communities, associations, neighborhoods, friends and influencers!!
University Commons Events:

Unsung Heroes Awards & Reception by University Commons June 25th @ 5pm to 7pm @ Marygrove College. Tickets are $30 each and support the work of University Commons.
Home Tour June 25th 12pm – 4pm @ Windmill Market – community groups @ Windmill market starting @ 11am - Bus Tour is $5 - great way to show the neighborhood to perspective residents!!
Windmill Market is open every Saturday and Wednesday for fresh flowers, veggies and fruits!! (Windmill Market is located at the Lodge & Livernois - SW corner)

Palmer Park Events:

Monday Bike Rides in Palmer Park, Monday, June 20 at 7:00pm

Solstice Back Pack Lunch Hike...Tuesday, June 21 at 12:00pm

Park Playscape Area Cleanup, Saturday, June 25 at 9:30am

Avenue of passion: Pedestrian scale Livernois strip reloads for the future

2011-06-14T09:54:00.001-04:00

Great article about our local retail jewel!! Here is the link so you can see the pictures: http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/livernois611.aspx. Have you shopped the Livernois corridor lately??

Avenue of passion: Pedestrian scale Livernois strip reloads for the future
Veronica Grandison | Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Many know Livernois Avenue as the street that harbors hundreds of businesses. But for those old enough to remember, think back to when part of its northern corridor was one of the most popular shopping districts in Detroit.

Between 7 and 8 Mile roads, the commercial district known as the Avenue of Fashion used to be the "go to" place for the best apparel in town. It included a multitude of local businesses including retail shops, art galleries, bookstores, medical offices, hair salons and barbershops.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, the period when the district was thriving financially, tons of patrons could be seen strolling up and down the pavement of the Livernois strip, walking in and out of stores with bags in hand, investing money back into the community. Stores such as B. Siegel Company and historic venues like Baker's Keyboard Lounge were two of the most popular attractions in the area and kept the fashion district on its toes.

Fast-forward to 2011. The Avenue of Fashion is one of many commercial districts in the process of reshaping its image to appeal to a new generation of Detroiters who may not know about the quality shops that populate the area. Yet, unlike many other districts, the Avenue of Fashion has a rally of support that has never left its side -- the local champions of the community.

Reshaping Livernois

The Avenue of Fashion is surrounded by upscale Detroit neighborhoods the University District, Green Acres, Sherwood Forest, and Palmer Woods. The area also consists of two higher educational institutions – the University of Detroit Mercy and Marygrove College. The universities and neighborhoods provide support to the local businesses on Livernois in their work with University Commons, a community organization in Northwest Detroit that works to improve the residential and business environment in the area. The organization is comprised of UDM, Marygrove, Northstar Community Development Corporation, Shoppers Coop, local business associations, and local community organizations.

University Commons has also collaborated with the Restore Detroit program, which works with local businesses and residents to improve neighborhood commercial districts. The University Commons Business District is one of the five districts within Detroit that are receiving grants and technical assistance from the city.

The partnership between the city and University Commons has resulted in new facades for 10 businesses through the Façade Improvement Grant, which is a program that offers 50/50 matching grant dollars to eligible property owners.

Kim Tandy, the Executive director and program manager for University Commons says that the organization is in the process of revitalizing an entire block, which will serve as an example of what the rest of the strip will look like in the next few years.

"We have a great housing stock, there are very strong communities, and those neighborhoods need to have commercial districts that reflect that same type of things," Tandy says.

University Commons is also working with the Urban Land Institute's Daniel Rose Center for Public Leadership in Land Use to revitalize the area. The purpose of the project is to create a walkable, social corridor that draws residents from the area and citizens from the city to come and want to shop, walk around and visit.

Some of the goals that the organizations have for the Avenue of Fashion include improving the lighting, putting in new sidewalks and trees, providing better parking options, and redoing the signage of businesses to attract more customers. The organizations also plan to incorporate a program with DTE Energy to put solar panels on all the buildings. The beta site is estimated to be finished by the end of the year and, within the next five years, the entire Avenue of Fashion is set to be redesigned.

"We are hoping that through this process, we can help reinvigorate a strategy for 7 mile that can be a model for other commercial areas that we want to see throughout the city," says Olga Stella, Vice President for Business Development at Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and one of four Rose Center Fellows.

Older Businesses in the area

Lolita Haley, owner of Prime Financial Plus Realty located within the Avenue of Fashion, is one of the many business owners who has seen the commercial district thrive, decline and slowly rise up again. In addition to her real estate company, Haley also owned a beauty and nail salon in the area for many years, and serviced a diverse clientele from regular customers to prominent politicians.
"This whole strip was once a very sought after area and neighborhood to move in," says Haley.

Despite the loss in revenue and businesses, there are many shops within the area that are still successful have maintained a loyal clientele throughout the years.

Since its opening in 1994, Jo's Galley has continued to be a popular art venue and was the first art gallery to open in the Avenue of Fashion. The owner JoAnn Griffin says that the gallery attracts clients from all over the metro area with its unique figurines, graphic art, custom framing, and full line art service.

Terry's Enchanted Garden is a boutique that has been around since 1980, when it started as a small floral shop. Some of the businesses corporate clients include Compuware, MGM Grand Casino and Chrysler.

New Businesses

Right in the mix with older establishments are new businesses adding diversity to the commercial strip.

Times Square Men's Clothing opened in 2010 and has clientele ranging from ages eight to 80. Times Square owner Algernon Bartell is part of a long list of clothing shops along the strip, along with his brother Rufus Bartell, who currently has two stores within the Avenue of Fashion -- Simply Casual and Shoehouse Boulevard.

While clothing boutiques have always been at the heart of the Avenue of Fashion, food is another feature within the strip that is slowly gaining momentum, especially since 1917 American Bistro opened its doors in 2009. The upscale, yet affordable dining establishment has been receiving a ton of buzz for its elegant, intimate environment and European-inspired menu. The restaurant has also had an impact on the district, attracting more people to the area. Tandy says that since American Bistro opened, she has been working with three business owners who are interested in putting restaurants in the area.

Among the restaurants, retail shops and art galleries, there are a ton of beauty salons and barbershops within the area. Happy to be Nappy is one salon on Livernois that has garnered much attention, and is run by master hair stylist and entrepreneur Ewanda Ferguson. The hair salon attracts clients from all over the world.

"The one thing I like about the Avenue of Fashion is that celebrities or athletes or just regular customers are welcome on this block," said Ferguson. "And even though people have said you can relocate to the suburbs, I think people still feel comfortable when they come here because it gives them a sense of roots."

The Future

The vibrancy that once swept the streets of the Avenue of Fashion all year round is revived in part during the summer with such events as the annual Jazz on the Ave and the Livernois Walk-a-Thon. Both events encourage citizens to walk the Livernois area and visit the local shops. A parade also takes place annually and for the past few years, it has attracted thousands of people to the Avenue of Fashion.

"You can experience Livernois a little better with community events," says Tandy, who lives in the Sherwood Forest district and grew up in the area.

Tandy as well as other business owners in the area are working towards turning the Avenue of Fashion back into the thriving community it once was.

"I remember what it was and I know what it can be," Tandy says. "And I know it can be fabulous and we are going to make sure that it is going to be."

Veronica Grandison is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Re: [Bagley Community Council] Saturday, June 18th come celebrate with Bagley Community Council @ our annual scholarship awards @ Mayflower Church

2011-06-13T10:48:00.000-04:00

The additional information is taken in stride.

Essie Moore
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alicia Biggers (A.)" <abiggers@ford.com>
To: "bagleyinc posts" <bagleyinc.posts@blogger.com>, bagleycommunitycouncil@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 10:10:51 AM
Subject: [Bagley Community Council] Saturday, June 18th come celebrate with Bagley Community Council @ our annual scholarship awards @ Mayflower Church

Our next Bagley Community Council Meeting is THIS Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 10am at the Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ. 7301 Curtis St., Detroit, MI, 48221 . The regular business meeting will be postponed as we will be honoring our young people with financial scholarships, our support and of course, light refreshments to celebrate their success. We hope many residents can come out to support our young people as they continue their educational goals!

Regular BCCI meetings will resume on Saturday, September, 17, 2011 at the 12th Police Precinct Community Room.
Lee Gaddies, President
http://bagleycommunity.blogspot.com/

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bagley Community Council" group.
To post to this group, send email to bagleycommunitycouncil@googlegroups.com.
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For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bagleycommunitycouncil?hl=en.

Saturday, June 18th come celebrate with Bagley Community Council @ our annual scholarship awards @ Mayflower Church

2011-06-13T10:10:00.000-04:00

Regular BCCI meetings will resume on Saturday, September, 17, 2011 at the 12th Police Precinct Community Room.
Lee Gaddies, President
http://bagleycommunity.blogspot.com/

FW: [Bagley Community Council] Bagley community council 2011

2011-06-07T14:35:00.001-04:00

2011 marks my first year as Bagley Community Council president and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you and the Bagley community for all of your hard work and dedication to making our neighborhoods a better and safer place for all of us to live. I'd also like to thank the board for their continuing dedication to seeing that the work behind the scenes is carried on in the professional manner that we've come to expect from the residents of Bagley.

We also expect the residents of Bagley to become more actively involved. There are two ways that you can help to make Bagley a better, safer, more beautiful, and friendlier place to live. Number One: you can volunteer. We have several committees that need your skills and expertise. Number Two: you can give money by becoming a paying member of the Bagley Community Council. Your financial support not only helps to ensure that the critical work the board is doing continues on, but it also allows us to help children in our community through our scholarship fund.

There are also some things you can do by joining your local Block Club. Helping your neighbors beautify your block by cutting grass at abandoned houses on vacant lots, removing illegal signs, and supporting local businesses that support us are all good practices for maintaining our community. We know that the rebuilding of our community is not going to be easy, nor will it be quick. But this is the work that we do every day to keep control of our community, to make it a welcoming and friendly place for new families interested in purchasing a home here.

As one of the largest community councils in the city I take great pride in representing you at the Detroit City Council meetings and with the mayor's office. It's only with a concentrated effort on solutions for the problems that we face in the 21st Century that we can hope to come out on the other side better organized, stronger, and with a sense of purpose for the future of all residents of Bagley.

So won't you join us in being a part of that future? Bagley Community Council meetings are held the third Saturday of each month promptly at 10:00 AM at the 12th Precinct Headquarters on 7 Mile. There you'll hear from other Block Clubs, residents of Bagley, its board, and our elected officials on the State County and City levels.

Thank you very much,

Lee Gaddies, President, Bagley Community Council, Inc.

Detroit Local Civic Engagement Training

2011-06-07T13:42:00.001-04:00

Detroit Local Civic Engagement Training

Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, 1211 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48216

Wednesday, June 8th

10am-4pm

Michigan Voice and the Center for Progressive Leadership are excited to partner with LINC Community Revitalization to bring this exciting training to community organizations in Detroit. This training will help community based organizations to build power in your community on the issues that matter to you such as education funding, public safety, immigration policy, and local community issues.

This training will focus on:

- Telling your story. We will work on developing your public narrative, building a story of self, story of us, and story of now, to help connect your community issues to others and develop a sense of urgency.

- Building a leadership plan. Knowing what issue you want to see changed and building power in your community requires planning and strategy. We will help your organization develop this plan.

- Understanding the decision making process in government. Grasping where decisions are made is an important part of knowing who our communities must hold accountable for decisions that impact our lives.

- The importance of grassroots organizing. Working to build relationships and momentum around your issue with other leaders, organizations and members of your community in a strategic way can help advance the issues that are important to you and your community.

This training is open to staff, organizers and volunteers of 501(c)3 organizations. Lunch will be provided and the training is free. PLEASE REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE BY FRIDAY JUNE 3. Please contact Art Reyes @ 810-210-9745 orareyes@infoservicesgroup.net.

From the Police: THIRTEEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU

2011-06-07T12:29:00.001-04:00

THIRTEEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink and the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.

(Find it at http://amzn.to/jjgRKb )

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors. ( http://amzn.to/l9sL0B )

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again... If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources:

Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky.

Chris McGoey, security consultant, who runs http://www.crimedoctor.com

Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

ADDED PROTECTION FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME:

If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone’s evil plans for you. (I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.):

WASP SPRAY

A receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection.

Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life.

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

This would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. Carry your car keys when outside in case you fall outside. You can activate the car alarm and then someone will know there's a problem.

Channel 4 Radio Patrol Story About Greenacres

2011-06-06T09:11:00.001-04:00

Inspiring story about the power of a community organizing providing safety and security for all its residents. Does your community have an active citizens patrol??

From: James Ward [mailto:jamesawardjr@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 12:55 PM
To: James Ward
Subject: Channel 4 Radio Patrol Story About Greenacres

Here is a link to the story!

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/28115298/index.html

Detroit City Planning Meeting - June 16th

2011-06-03T09:33:00.001-04:00

From: Brenda Goss Andrews [mailto:b.gossandrews@era.com]

Some of you may have already received this flier. Please get word out in your organization and community to attend this evening City Planning meeting. Thank you.

Brenda  Goss Andrews 
Realtor 
Chair, 12th Precinct Vacant House Task Force  
Retired Deputy Chief of Police, Detroit Police Dept. 
ERA Majestic Realty  
23350 Greenfield 
Oak Park, Mi 48237 
Cell:  313-910-3860  
Office: (248)967-4663 Ext.137 
Fax:    (248) 967-4330  
Email:   b.gossandrews@era.com 
Specializing in residential  & commercial sales & leases; short sales; bank-owned/foreclosures; HUD  & government properties; investment portfolio consultations and real estate  workshops & seminars. 

FW: Community Parade scheduled for June 4th is postponed to September.

2011-06-03T09:27:00.001-04:00

Due to several issues we will be postponing the Community Parade scheduled for June 4th until September. This year we will be hosting a back to school parade. We will still host the family fun at Windmill Market and the opening day of the Market on Sat. June 4th. The Market will be open from 9am to 5pm and the family fun day event will be from 11am to 5pm. We will have bouncies and cartoon characters for the children. Come out and celebrate with the community on Sat. Get some fresh fruit and vegetables and enjoy. Sorry for any inconvinience. We will work to make the back to school parade just as nice as last years parade.

I you have any questions please feel free to email or call me.

Kim Tandy

313-433-3549 / kimsva@aol.com

FW: DPD READY TO DEPLOY SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT IN UNIFORM PROGRAM

2011-06-03T09:16:00.001-04:00

Dear Community Partners,

After months of preparation, it is with great pleasure that we
introduce the Detroit Police Department’s Secondary Employment in
Uniform Program to qualifying business and community entities within the
city of Detroit. This program has been established to provide the use
of off-duty sworn police officers to work in a law enforcement capacity
for qualified private employers or organizations located in the city of
Detroit, as established by city ordinance.

The Detroit Police Department is always seeking ways to enhance the
safety of its citizens and visitors, and this program is another
opportunity to do just that. The Secondary Employment in Uniform
Program will be managed by the Detroit Police Department and will make
available for hire, additional law enforcement resources to the
community where entities see a need or have a desire to receive above
baseline services. The services of the Secondary Employment in Uniform
Program will be tailored specifically to the needs of the customer
ranging from, but not limited to, crowd control, security, and limited
directed patrol activities.

“Detroit Police Department members are highly trained, familiar with
the City, its demographics, crime "hot-spots", venues and
establishments,” stated Chief of Police Ralph L. Godbee, Jr. “The
hiring of off-duty police officers through the Secondary Employment in
Uniform Program provides a higher degree of visible uniformed presence
within the community and will assist businesses and community
organizations in not only addressing the reality of crime but some of
the fear and perceptions of crime that our citizens and visitors
face.”

If this service is of interest to you or your organization, please
contact one of the Detroit Police Department’s Secondary Employment in
Uniform Coordinators at telephone number: (313) 596-2217, Monday through
Friday, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

City of Detroit - Police Department
Office of Public Information
1300 Beaubien, Room 203
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Office: 313-596-2200
Fax: 313-596-1450
email:Pubinfo@detroitmi.gov

Dave Bing, Mayor

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Bagley Community Council, Inc., General Membership Meeting is this Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10am @ Detroit's 12th Police Precinct

2011-05-20T13:56:00.001-04:00

Bagley Community Council, Inc., General Membership Meeting is this Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10am @ Detroit's 12^th Police Precinct (7 mile & Woodward)

Guest Speaker: Jim Ward, Greenacres Radio Patrol
Jim will share his advice and tips for organizing and sustaining a successful citizen's patrol which includes a strong relationship with the local precinct police officers!

Please bring a neighbor to this informative meeting. Membership to BCCI is $20 per family per year.
Contact Bagley Community Council Inc (BCCI) @Voicemail: 313.927.2674 or web: http://bagleycommunity.blogspot.com/ or Discussion & Announcements (residents only): http://groups.google.com/group/bagleycommunitycouncil

Lee Gaddies
Acting President, BCCI
<<Bagley Community Council Agenda 05_21_11.pdf>>

Belle Isle Plant Sale - This weekend!

2011-05-18T08:31:00.001-04:00

The Belle Isle Botanical Society and the Golightly Agri-Science Center will have their annual plant sale on Saturday 5/21 from 9AM-3PM and Sunday 5/22 Noon-3PM @ the Belle Isle greenhouses They offer a wide selection of perennials, annuals, organically grown vegetables and herbs, heirloom tomatoes, hanging baskets, miniature roses, geraniums and cacti. Proceeds benefit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and the Golightly (DPS) career center.

Plants are reasonably priced and are healthy, not like the ones in some of the big stores. You can write a check. For information (313) 331-7760.

FW: Clean Neighborhoods - May 23 from 6-8 pm at NDNI office

2011-05-17T13:41:00.001-04:00

Clean Neighborhoods: Empowerment, Education, Enforcement

What

What is city code? Why should we care? What can we do to help our

neighborhood standards align with the written code? How can we use

code to stabilize our neighborhoods?

Who

Join Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, East English Village Association,

Boston Edison Association, Focus Hope and Community Legal Resources

for information and discussion.

Panelists

Buildings and Safety Engineering - Kimberly James, Director

Community Access Centers - Lori Cunningham, Director

Department of Administrative Hearings - Douglas Monds, Hearing Officer

Department of Public Works - Ron Brundidge, Director

Detroit Police Community Relations

General Services Department - Brad Dick, Deputy Director

Where/When

Date: Monday, May 23, 2011

Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: 7310 Woodward Avenue, Fourth Floor

Contact: Helen Broughton, Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative

helenb@next-detroit.org

From: Helenb@next-detroit.org [mailto:Helenb@next-detroit.org]
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 12:46 PM
To: kimsva@aol.com; Alicia Biggers; Lori Heinz; rlento@dykema.com; Cathy Marks Marshall (cmarshall@grdc.org); tgoddeeris@grdc.org; bswanson@yahoo.com; Bill Swanson; Linda Smith; O'dell Tate; derone_buffington@yahoo.com; Nancy Varner; dewing@nepc.com; Vanderburg, Craig; info@palmerwoods.org; greencbc2@aol.com; G Rodwan; Rob Dewaelsche; Nate Ford; gonealgroup@att.net; Tiffany Alexander; Frank &/or Karen Hammer
Cc: monicas@next-detroit.org
Subject: Clean Neighborhoods - May 23 from 6-8 pm at NDNI office

Dear Community Leaders:

Please see the attached flyer that I offer for distribution to your neighborhood leaders (board, block captains, street reps, vacant property monitors) as you deem appropriate. This meeting will kick-off the educational program to train community leaders to effectively communicate with neighbors about property maintenance and city code.

This meeting is specifically targeted to neighborhoods where we are rolling out our Clean Neighborhoods teams, however we will welcome leaders from other communities for this session so that we can maximize the knowledge and experience of our city partners.

Although notice is short, an RSVP before Friday would be helpful.

Kind regards,

Helen Broughton
Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative
7310 Woodward Avenue #403
Detroit, MI 48202
313-394-1034 desk
313-938-9156 cell
313-394-1040 fax
helenb@next-detroit.org

FW: SCHEDULED EVENTS FOR POLICE WEEK A THE TWELFTH PRECINCT

2011-05-13T13:23:00.000-04:00

MAY Police Week is next week. Come out and support our police officers!!

May16 12th Police Precinct: 1441 W. 7 MILE ROAD

313-596-1200 FRONT DESK

313- 596-1221 COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Subject: POLICE WEEK: DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT EVENTS AT

THE TWELFTH PRECINCT STARTING MONDAY MAY 16, 2011

THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 20, 2011

From: Sergeant Sherley Bledsoe, Twelfth Precinct Community Relations

Detroit Police Twelfth Precinct invites the community and all police officers to join us at our Open House May 16, 2011 at the Twelfth Precinct, located at 1441 W. Seven Mile Road.

We will have Information Tables, Twelfth Precinct Station Tours, Student School Programs and much more.

Come on in and meet the officers that serve you and your community.

Below is a list of days and times of programs that are being presented.

If you have any questions please contact Twelfth Precinct Community Relations Office at (313) 596-1221

MONDAY MAY 16, 2011 10AM to 12PM

Open House at the Twelfth Precinct

Precinct Tours

ON DISPLAY -- STUDENTS ART WORK (police at work in the community)

INFORMATION TABLES:

Northwest District City Hall

Twelfth Precinct Youth Officer, Police Officer Caldwell

Twelfth Precinct Abandoned Vehicle Officer , Police Officer Michael Fudge

Report Abandon Autos in your neighborhood

Crime Stopper Call to Report Crime 1-800-Speak-Up, Representative Shirley Schuler

Twelfth Precinct Community Relations

Mr. Bill Welburne – President of the Detroit City Wide Community Relations

Join Your Community Relations at Twelfth Precinct

Start a Block Club, its simple and has proven to reduce crime.

Volunteer to be a Twelfth Precinct Greeter

Tours of the Twelfth Precinct

Children’s Aid Society Ms. Elmira Webb Social Worker

Stop Domestic Violence Glenda Cook Victim Advocate Coordinator

PROGRAM: Monday, May 16, 2011

9:00 am.

Thurgood Marshall Elementary School

15531 Linwood

Child Identification Kits (finger Prints)

11:00 am

No More Bullying Presentation DPD Officers

12:00 Lunch at the School w/ the students

PROGRAM: Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Pasteur Elementary School

19811 Stoepel Street

Twelfth Precinct Roll Call Room

10:00 am

Child Safety Magic Show DPD Investigator Brian Fountain

Twelfth Precinct Traffic Officers

Motor Cycle Demonstration

Bike Safety Presentation

Trained Mountain Bike Officers

Officer Michael Crowder and Officer Keith Buckman

12:30 pm

Lunch w/Twelfth Precinct Officers

PROGRAM: Wednesday, May 18, 2011

11:00 a.m.

Movie Day with the Community Seniors

Bel Air 10 Theatre

10100 East Eight Mile

For $5.00 seniors receive movie admission and choice of any two concession items (small drink, small pop corn, Hot dog or ice cream)

12:00 noon leave the Twelfth Precinct 1441 W. Seven Mile

PROGRAM: Thursday, May 19, 2011

Schulze Elementary School

10700 Santa Marie Street

Twelfth Precinct Roll Call Room

10:00 am

Child Safety Presentation

Stranger Danger Ms. Elmira Webb

Children’s Aid Society

11:00 am

Inspector Nick Kyriacou and Associates Club

Model Airplane Demonstration

Twelfth Precinct West Side Parking Lot

12:30 PM Lunch served to the Students W/ Police Officers

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011,

12:00 NOON

Twelfth Precinct

1441 W. Seven Mile

BALLOON RELEASE

(@ Flag pole)

DPD Chaplin

Prayers for the community and police officers

12:30 pm

Lunch served for the Community and Twelfth Precinct Police Officers

SHERLEY BLEDSOE

Badge S-371

Twelfth Precinct

Community Relations

From: SHERLEY BLEDSOE [mailto:BLEDSOES989@detroitmi.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 11:54 AM
To: _GreenwichParkdet@aol.com_; alijohn@sbcglobal.net
Cc: bigtulsa@aol.com; bnichls@aol.com; Jimmy Womack; RevDi@aol.com; detmj@att.net; Holly Clements; Leslie Griffin; HARRIET KNIGHT; Melvin Turner; LINDA VERTIN; Sommer Woods; Conrad Mallett; Brenda Goss Andrews; Deborah Fisher; Bridget Vance; James Ward; charles davis; donjohnson_1@msn.com; Helenb@next-detroit.org; palmerkl@sbcglobal.net; tandyk@udmercy.edu; ellis.ross.53@yahoo.cm; baylistriblockclub@yahoo.com; Lola Holton; Lolita Haley; rozalyse@yahoo.com; stcecilia167@yahoo.com
Subject: SCHEDULED EVENTS FOR POLICE WEEK A THE TWELFTH PRECINCT

Please join us

Sherley Bledsoe, Sergeant

City of Detroit, Police- Twelfth Precinct

1441 W. 7 Mile Rd, Comm. Relations

Detroit, MI 48203

Office: 313/596-1221

Fax:313/596-1296

Email: bledsoes989@detroitmi.gov

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FW: Good Jobs Now Regional Forum Meetings

2011-05-11T08:56:00.001-04:00

From: JoMeca Thomas [mailto:jomeca@goodjobsnow.org]

Greetings!

As you know, Detroit is suffering from a crisis within our poor education system, an over-abundance of abandoned and foreclosed homes, unemployment rates worse then the Great Depression coupled with a lack of job opportunities, and increased crime rates in our neighborhoods.

At Good Jobs Now, we are committed to remedying issues which are plaguing our communities and we are reaching out to you to become our partner in this struggle. To become a part of this movement we ask that you unite with us in this city-wide coalition to create positive changes in Detroit. We have already found a strong partner with the Service Employees International Union, but we need more. Please join us in our efforts to rebuild this city; Detroit desperately needs your support. The meeting dates listed below.

Northwest Regional Forum Meeting
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.
North Rosedale Park Community Center
18445 Scarsdale
Detroit, MI 48223

East Regional Forum Meeting
Thursday, May 19, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.
Zion Progress Baptist Church
7835 E. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48214

Southwest Regional Forum Meeting
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.
New Destiny Baptist Church
8100 W. Davison
Detroit, MI 48238

We hope to see you there!

Thank you,

JoMeca Thomas

Good Jobs Now
(313)212-7210

City of Detroit is sponsoring a "Beautify Your Block" contest

2011-05-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

Please let me know if your community group or association participates in this contest. We'd love to post the winning pictures on the 12th Precinct Neighborhood Coalition and/or Bagley Community Council websites.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The City of Detroit is sponsoring a “Beautify Your Block” contest this summer. Contest categories are Landscape/Curb Appeal, Garden or Pond, and Block. Home Depot is donating gift cards worth up to $200 as prizes.

To participate, contestants must register with the Mayor's Office Community Access Center, Central District, NO LATER THAN JUNE 1, by email to CunninghamL@detroitmi.gov or by calling the manager of the Central District CAC, Chauncey Samuel, at 224-4622.

Central District
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 106
Detroit, MI 48226
Office: (313) 224-2989
Fax: (313) 224-4334
TTY: 311 or (313) 224-INFO
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Detroit Recreation Department Fishing Derby Flyers - Palmer Park!

2011-05-05T13:11:00.001-04:00

If you have a fishing pole and a kid under 14...come out to the fishing derby!! Details attached!

Please share attached Fishing Derby with everyone. Should be a fun filled event. Thanks
Detroit Recreation Department
Northwest District
18100 Meyers
Detroit, MI 48235
628-0948 (office)

FW: Penrose Art and Education Garden CSA - "Share-a-Share" Program

2011-04-29T13:24:00.001-04:00

From our neighbors east of Woodward....

From: GrowTown [mailto:ken@growtown.org]
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 12:01 PM
To: GrowTown
Subject: Penrose Art and Education Garden CSA - "Share-a-Share" Program

Hello everyone - Happy Spring!!!

We’re inviting you to become a member of the 2011 Penrose Art Garden CSA Share-a-Share Program. The Penrose CSA is modeled after the popular CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Share program where members buy a share in a farm and receive a weekly box of produce during the growing season.

Members of the Penrose Art/ Education Garden CSA make a donation to GrowTown for a “Share” to share in the Kid’s Art/ Education Garden. The donated shares help GrowTown support and develop the Garden Education Program. Neighborhood Children in the Garden Program will grow veggies and flowers with the weekly share boxes going to the participating children and their families. The Art House Garden growers also have the opportunity to share with others in need in their neighborhood.

Here is a link to the Kid’s facebook page showing them building their Garden last summer http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penrose-Art-House-Art-Garden/156361017717484

And you donation to GrowTown is fully tax deductible!

Please review the attached pdfs and I hope you can join us!!

Ken Weikal

313 820 2311 cell

www.growtown.org

FW: Vacant Property Education Series Invite

2011-04-28T17:22:00.000-04:00

- On Thu, 4/28/11, Dalton Roberson <DRoberson@clronline.org> wrote:

SAVE THE DATE

On Monday May 9^th, 2011 Community Legal Resources will be holding the first of its Vacant Property Educational Series. Come learn how CLR worked with S.W. Detroit Business Association to initiate a law suit to target the owner of a nuisance property as well as other strategies for addressing problem properties in your community

Topic: Community and Legal Approaches to code enforcement and nuisance abatement

When: May 9^th, 2011 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Where: Gleaners Food Bank 2131 Beaufait St. Detroit, MI 48207

RSVP & Questions: Dalton Roberson, Jr. (313)969-7187 or DRoberson@CLRonline.org

If you have received this message multiple times please forgive us. We are currently in the process of consolidating all of our various contact list into one central database to prevent you from receiving multiple emails regarding the same subject matter in the future

Dalton Roberson, Jr.

Education and Outreach Manager

CLR

Community Legal Resources

615 Griswold, Suite 1850

Detroit, Michigan 48226

Ph. 313.969.7197

"Supporting and Empowering Nonprofit Community Organizations"

www.clronline.org

www.detroitvacantproperty.org