With the recent verification of Detroit’s
population plunge, the demand to revitalize its deteriorating core is more intense than ever. On the heels of what may have been
the unofficial ‘people’s choice’ among this year’s Super Bowl spots is an outpouring of creative endeavors intended to rejuvenate the once thriving metropolis. From technology initiatives to fashion incubators and musical celebrations, the campaign to save Motor City is on.
Detroit Digital Justice Coalition: Though Detroit’s
urban farms are flourishing, local eggs can only go so far when it comes to community building. Or, as
stated aptly on The Etsy Blog, “[Humans] need more than kale to survive.” So, driven by the belief that “communication is a fundamental human right,” the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition is working to secure localized Internet throughout the city. The goal is to incubate entrepreneurship and the arts by leveraging technology while keeping residents plugged in to each other. The organization holds a salon, dubbed
“Discotech” (Discovering Technology), where attendees can gain knowledge through interactive, multimedia workshops. Putting its money where its mouth is, the group’s Detroit Media Economy Collaborative project is
now hiring.
71 POP: Most major cities are home to numerous retail outlets through which fledgling designers can hawk their wares (like New York’s
Brooklyn Flea). Detroit? Not so much. However, Margarita Barry, founder/publisher of
I Am Young Detroit, is planning to launch Detroit’s first pop-up shop of emerging local designers. While her concept may not include an
artisanal food court (yet), 71 POP will contain rotating shops of 71 designers and artists at minimal or no cost. In addition to running the shops, 71 POP will also offer free marketing and a platform for online sales. As the concept was a winner in a recent
“Big Idea” competition, maybe the space will someday be known as
“Knitsville, U.S.A.”
