Tell us about living in Detroit. What neighborhood do you live in and what makes your neighborhood unique?

I currently live in Eastpointe, a small community just outside of Detroit. However, I grew up in the MorningSide neighborhood located on Detroit’s east side. Our neighborhood is unique for the fact that we have one of two remaining neighborhood movie theaters in the city of Detroit (Alger Theater). The theater is currently under renovation as it will reopen as an arts/education/entertainment hub for the community and the city. In 2018, expect to see a new venue to patronize, MorningSide Café will (Owned by yours truly) open for business. We’re a coffee/entertainment café that will be located at the Alger. This project will be the spark plug for rejuvenating this community that was once on the rise. Stay tuned.

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit so far?

In my time as a Challenge Detroit fellow, I have learned a great deal. However, if I had to choose one thing, being open to different endeavors would probably be the most significantaspect I have learned. For example, our previous challenge with Belle Isle Conservancy, I was a part of the Mesic Wetland team. For those who are not familiar with this part of the Isle, this would be the forest area. I have been to Belle Isle thousands of times. Those trips would include the Scott Memorial Fountain, playing basketball, the giant slide and cruising “the strip,” but never once had I ever walked through the forest. If it wasn’t for Challenge Detroit, this would still be the case today! I got a chance to explore a part of the island that was naturally beautiful and peaceful. This isn’t an easy thing to find in a major city, luckily Detroit has it. Challenge Detroit has expanded my horizons in so many ways. I will always be grateful for this time in my life.

Tell us about your host company and your role in the organization.

I have the great pleasure of being hosted by Detroit Future City. In January 2013, the best local, national talent, and the insight from thousands of residents created what we know today as the Detroit Strategic Framework. The DFC Implementation Office is a recognized center for thoughtful exchange about creative, impactful, and innovative ways to fulfill the DFC Strategic Framework. Here, participation and innovation are integrated to develop pilot initiatives, inform decision-making, and strategically coordinate actions.

I serve as the Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator for DFC. In my role, I focus on the participatory implementation and evaluation of civic capacity and community engagement activities required for the DFC Strategic Framework. With my role, I’m also a support community organizations in uplifting their initiatives to strengthen neighborhoods throughout the city of Detroit.

We asked Jeffrey’s host company Detroit Future City to tell us a bit more about Jeff’s work and their experience with Challenge Detroit.

“Detroit Future City has had the privilege of hosting two Challenge Detroit Fellows in our organization. In addition, Detroit Future City has served as a Challenge Detroit nonprofit partner twice, with Fellows assisting with the development of innovative and impactful strategies to address blight remediation and vacant land reutilization. Our organization has benefited tremendously from the capacity and contributions of Challenge Detroit including the opportunity to foster new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships through the program.

As the Civic Capacity Program Coordinator, Jeff is currently working on the DFC Field Guide Mini Grant Program. In this role, Jeff connects grantees to information and resources needed execute their projects. Jeff has been a valuable addition to the DFC team, truly a results-oriented team player who gets things done.” – Allandra Bulger, Deputy Director

What kind of impact do you hope to have with your host company and within the city?

To date, I been fortunate to have many responsibilities within Detroit Future City. I expect for my role to expand throughout the remainder of my fellowship year, and hopefully afterwards as we have some great things in store for many neighborhoods throughout the city. I been a Detroiter my entire life and have been fortunate to impact many communities and people throughout the city. Those roles have taken me from being a teacher in the classroom, to the pavement as a community organizer through some of Detroit’s less privileged neighborhoods. To sum it all up, I just want to continue being an active member of a community that contributed mightily to me becoming who I am today. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but one thing I can tell you for sure, Detroit will always be my home.

What are you most looking forward to this spring and summer in Detroit?

There are many events I’m looking forward to as Spring and Summer approach in Detroit. The summer concert series at Chene Park, the Jazz festival in September, Detroit River Days along the Riverfront, and of course the Tigers (2017 World Series Champions??). Detroit has a ton to offer during the Spring and Summer seasons. I encourage everyone to experience these events!

What do you envision for Detroit 10 years from now?

With the wave of development occurring in downtown Detroit, Midtown, and the proposed developments that will take place along the riverfront, I have no doubts those areas of the city will be completely flourished 10 years from now. However, the key for Detroit becoming what it inspires to be again, a world class city, it all lies within the key elements we have struggled to get a handle on: Strengthening our neighborhoods, the continual efforts in crime prevention, and our school system.

For our residents that have stuck it out even amid our decline, we recognize those individuals and assure them that they’re as much a part of Detroit’s future than anyone who has recently relocated here. In continuing the efforts of crime reduction, we must produce stronger alliances between our law enforcement and the community. We must create more opportunities for our youth so they won’t become enticed to go the wrong route. One wrong decision can easily alter the rest of your life, so creating more activities and spaces for our youth to be engaged and active will significantly reduce some of the crime in our city. Finally, our school system. As we know DPSCD has seen better days, but with an elected school board in place and dedicated community members and parents, I’m hopeful our schools will return to a place where it was successful and our children were learning. If we as a city can get a grasp on these aspects that has plagued our city in recent years, watch out, Detroit will truly be the place to be!

To learn more about Jeffrey’s experience as a Challenge Detroit Fellow check out his spotlight video below.