Malik Yakini of the Black Community Food Security Network on his tractor at the D-Town Farm at River Rouge Park on Neighborhoods Day.

These volunteers with Rippling Hope spruced up neighborhoods on the west side of Detroit. 

YOUTH CREATED MURALS: East Side

A bakery near a swing set. A gun marked with a red “X.”

These are some of the images children used to express their hopes for Detroit in a new mural on the city’s east side. The colorful, seven-panel artwork was the focal point of a small gathering at Warren Avenue and Philip Street during Neighborhoods Day.

Music enlivened the corner, where kids picked up paintbrushes wet with color to work on another mural while families could get a bite to eat.

The event was held in the Chalmers neighborhood, where empty lots frequently interrupt lovingly tended brick homes with neatly manicured yards.

“What Neighborhoods Day does really well in bringing out neighbors,” said Payton Wilkins, Youth Engagement Manager for the Eastside Community Network. “They participate in a project and then they have a sense of ownership and have pride in the neighborhood.”

Wilkins said the Eastside Community Network aims to transform the community using a mix of economic development and land use revitalization. “This area is slowly gentrifying. It’s slowly starting to become a more diverse neighborhood,” Wilkins said. “We really wanted to give our youth a voice. Their mural represents what they want to see in Detroit and what they don’t like. It’s a big statement.”

AT THE LIBRARY: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS WITH BOOK GIVEAWAYS: In Midtown

Five-year-old Millie Harris was so excited about Neighborhoods Day, she didn’t even want to eat breakfast before leaving home. “She’s having a blast. We’re doing a cultural weekend and it’s perfect!” her mom, Malon Harris of Detroit, said as Millie bopped around a bounce house on the lawn of the Detroit Public Library’s main branch. “She made her puzzle at the African-American museum. She planted her seed at the science center. Now, we’re here.”

The library used Neighborhoods Day as an opportunity to celebrate its 150th anniversary with music, crafts, food, free books and a clown tying balloons.

“We consider ourselves as the community’s living room,” said A.J. Funchess, the library’s assistant director for marketing and communications. “We try to provide our community with what they need. Right now, that’s very technology-driven.”

He said the library has adapted to the digital age by offering e-books, streaming video, Wi-Fi access and more than 700 public access computers at branches throughout the city.The library’s Neighborhoods Day celebration inspired Harris to inquire about getting a library card so she and Millie can come back to check out books. “If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t have even thought about it,” she said.

“(Neighborhoods Day) was really good, when you have a parent on a tight budget. I wish I could have gotten my school involved, brought them down on a field trip,” said Harris, who is principal of Murphy Performance Academy in Detroit. “This is something they normally wouldn’t be exposed to. I’ll explore doing that next year.”

DANCE CITY FESTIVAL: Harmonie Park, Downtown

Fringed by greenery, hula dancers swayed under blue skies as a gentle breeze whispered through the peaceful park.

But this was no Hawaiian beachside retreat.

Rather, it was a performance during the three-day Detroit Dance City Festival that culminated on Neighborhoods Day. The festival was put on by the Detroit-based nonprofit ARTLAB J and featured workshops and exhibitions by local, national and international performing artists.

“(The lineup has) been very diverse this year,” said Jiwan Jackson, performing arts manager for The Arts

League of Michigan. The organization, which celebrates African-American artists, helps to present the festival.“Our goal is to have different people from different backgrounds engaging with each other,” Jackson said. 

Clifton Tuggle of Detroit was delighted to discover the Detroit Dance City Festival performance in the city’s downtown Harmonie Park neighborhood.“I just stumbled on it. I like cultural things, I enjoy stuff like this,” he said. “I think it enhances the city.

Bringing that to Detroit is an excellent thing.”

BRINGING IN CHANGE BACK-TO-SCHOOL RALLY: Northeast Detroit

“You must be registered to pick up a backpack,” Shirley Burch boomed into the microphone. “Line up for backpacks this way.”

The longtime community organizer sported a jaunty red sailor cap as she marshaled the crowd during the “Bringing in Change Back-to-School Rally” on Neighborhoods Day in northeast Detroit."

Hundreds of people attended the event that featured backpack giveaways, a visit from Detroit Tigers mascot Paws, a picnic pavilion, miniature train rides for kids, music, health screenings and more.

Prophet Cedric Banks and other members of Heart of Jesus Church in Detroit set up a prayer circle during the event and prayed for dozens of people.

“I think (Neighborhoods Day) is something special. I think it’s brought a spark to this city,” Banks said. “It’s brought a lot of people out who have visions. They’re coming to Neighborhoods Day – ARISE

Detroit! is giving them an opportunity. It affects a lot of people’s lives.”

Burch echoed that sentiment. “The day couldn’t have went better,” she said. “We have had such an outburst of love that, like a tree, it buds out and multiplies.”

It’s the eighth year Burch’s organization, Community United for Progressala has participated in Neighborhoods Day. C.U.P.’s key partners include Imperial Supermarket and Belmont Shopping Center at Eight Mile and Dequindre roads, where the event was held. “We’re giving away 650 backpacks. What aren’t given away will be shared with the Detroit Police Department,” to distribute to the community, Burch said. “Eight years I’ve been here and every year it gets bigger. People wonder how they can get involved, how they can make a difference in their neighborhood.”

Hundreds of youngsters like these received free backpacks at the Bringing In Change Festival at the Belmont Shopping Center in northeast Detroit.

SIDEWALK FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING ARTS: Northwest Detroit

Imagine you’ve been dropped into an artist’s dream.

In an alleyway festooned with colorful streamers, a crowd gathers around an upright bassist, a drummer and a trio of violin players. Nearby, a circus performer plays with fire and dancers leap through the street. Children have their faces painted and poets cry out.

This is an artist’s dream, but one she’s transformed into reality.

Native Detroiter Ryan Myers-Johnson founded the Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts, located at the Artists Village on Lahser near Grand River, to celebrate independent artists and build community. The third annual outdoor festival was the event’s largest to date. It drew more than 60 artists and hundreds of people to the alleys, sidewalks, streets, gardens and courtyards of the city’s Old Redford and Brightmoor neighborhood.

Performers included Detroit poet Jessica Care Moore, Ballet Folkloriko de Detroit, Gabriel Brass Band, opera singer Kisma Jordan and Mosaic Youth Theatre.

The free festival attracted a diverse audience from the city and suburbs, who engaged with the artists and each other in joyful wonder.

“It’s my first time and it’s incredible,” said Hayley Thompson of Huntington Woods. “It feels like everything’s a pop-up activity. It’s very organic. It’s very inspiring.

“This is pretty much the main reason I know anything about this neighborhood,” she said. “I work in Detroit but I’m still very much a suburbanite.”

Dan Aprilianto of Ann Arbor, whose wife Emilia Javanica performed a puppet show for kids during the festival, agreed.

“It’s interesting,” he said. “It’s really good for the city because it attracts so many people to come to Detroit.”

SUMMING IT UP

Neighborhoods Day activities were slated to continue throughout the month.

“It says a lot about the spirit of the people in our neighborhoods,” ARISE Detroit! Executive Director Luther Keith said. “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.”

For the second year in a row, Detroit Future City was the title sponsor of Neighborhoods Day, joined by a record number of more than 30 major sponsors.

“Part of the DFC Implementation Office’s mission is to empower Detroiters to engage in the city’s transformation, and this event is another shining example of putting that sentiment into action,” said Dan Kinkead, interim Director of the DFC implementation office.

Elected officials also showed their support for Neighborhoods Day.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and his team adopted Bagley Elementary School and spent the day gardening, cleaning and painting to prepare the building for the school year. Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, Councilmen Scott Benson and James Tate, and Department of Neighborhoods Director Charlie Beckham all attended events.

Corporate volunteers that adopted schools for projects for Neighborhoods Day included Blue Cross Blue Shield, PNC Bank, Meijer, FCA Chrysler. Volunteers also come from Oakland University, Wisdom Lodge No. 57, and Oakland County Community College.

Leslie Ellis is a Detroit-area freelance writer.

HELP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY PROJECTS

ARISE Detroit! partners with Seed Detroit. Be sure to mark your calendar for the 9th Annual Neighborhoods Day all over Detroit. August 1, 2015