This is the third straight year that Neighborhoods Day registrations have topped the 200 mark. “It says a lot about the spirit of the people in our neighborhoods,” said Luther Keith, executive director of ARISE Detroit! “The growth in registrations, as well as the strong sponsorship support from businesses, foundations and volunteers, is a clear sign that more people are recognizing that creating vibrant neighborhoods is essential for Detroit’s comeback.”   (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

ARISE Detroit! 9th Annual Neighborhoods Day Reaches Record Number of Participating Groups

More than 100 cleanup projects are part of 250 events citywide

By Laydell Wood Harper/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - ARISE Detroit! It’s time to plan your event or project for the 9th annual Detroit Neighborhoods Day: Renewing The Village on Saturday, August 1, from 8 am to 8 pm. And, where will this gigantic event be held? All across metro Detroit, from the west side to the east Side, from north to south. Everyone can participate. This is your chance to make a difference.

Detroit is transforming right before our eyes. Those that are a part of the transformation can see it, feel it and take pride in it. They are not waiting on the side lines for someone to come along to do the heavy lifting and turn their community around. These are the folks that continue to roll up their sleeves, and work to make things better to see change. These are the folks that make things happen.

Neighborhoods Day, of course, is about much more than one day; comments Luther Keith, ARISE Detroit Executive Director. “We know people are hard at work in neighborhoods throughout the year. But Neighborhoods Day allows us to showcase all this work in spectacular fashion for all to notice.”

Even in its 9th year Keith is clearly still excited about the project and what it means to city neighborhoods; he continues, “How do we know ARISE DETROIT! Neighborhoods Day and the work of people in city neighborhoods is having an impact?”

“You can see it in transformed city blocks, once blighted, now beautified, hear it in the pride-filled voices of people all over the city and feel it in a renewed spirit of change that continues to gain momentum. This change is not driven by one organization, one foundation, one person, one church or one corporation. It is driven by all of us, — churches block clubs and community groups of all kinds — because all of us are needed.”

The ARISE Detroit is the brainchild of Keith, who had an opportunity to learn and understand the city first hand in his former roll as a reporter, and later managing editor at The Detroit News. If you’ve ever heard the commercial, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” Keith is a prime example. He has worked tirelessly to build ARISE Detroit from its inception, and shows his excitement whenever he talks about the organization’s progress. His excitement is obviously contagious since he has been able to motivate people in the city and suburbs from all walks of life to volunteer their time and get involved.

Activities for the day are individually decided by each of the participating groups; there are annual block parties, neighborhood festivals, neighborhood and park cleanups, and some unique events; Jazz on the Ave- Livernois & Cambridge; Southwest Detroit Business Assoc.- Youth Festival with Back to School Supplies; Youth Development Commission-Detroit Tigers 20th year of Detroit Tigers Home Town Championship, boys baseball and girls softball tournament; When Neighbors Arise, First Congregational Church-Woodward & Forest Underground Railroad tours, gospel choirs and community information booths; Detroit Community Health Connection, Focus Hope, Participating in Ortheia Barnes Tribute concert. The events are just as unique and exciting as the day itself. This is just a small sampling of the kind of events that you can enjoy on Detroit Neighborhood Day.

Keith continues, “This year for the third year in a row we have more than 200 registered events. There has never been anything like this in Detroit. This is an amazing array of groups, organizations and people doing all kinds of things, cleaning up neighborhoods, building homes, honoring students, promoting education, all over the city—all tied to a common vision for a better community. In just nine years, Neighborhoods Day has become a wonderful new tradition in the city of Detroit. We invite everyone to come out, get out, lend a hand, participate and just have a good time with your neighbors.”

Volunteers are still needed for various projects, and if you would like to adopt a school, there are still a few schools available. For a complete list of all Neighborhoods Day events and activities, visit www.arisedetroit.org. More details of Neighborhoods Day events will be announced at an 11 a.m. news conference, Thursday, July 23, at the Carr Center, in downtown Detroit.

Neighborhoods Day exemplifies the real spirit of Detroit. If you’d like to get involved to show your positive Detroit spirit, call (313) 921-1955.