DATES AND LOCATION CHANGED FOR SOUTHWEST SERIES OF LONG TERM PLANNING COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

DETROIT, April 19, 2012—The Southwest Community Conversation being presented by Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning scheduled for tonight—Thursday, April 19 at I.B.E.W. Union Hall, 1358 Abbot St. in Detroit from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.—is still taking place, but subsequent conversations in the Southwest Series will be held on different dates and at different locations.

The new Southwest Series location and schedule is as follows:

Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, 1121 Trumbull Ave., Detroit MI 48216

Conversation #1: Monday, April 23 (Repeat of the conversation #1 scheduled for April 19 at I.B.E.W.)
Conversation #2: Thursday, May 10
Conversation #3: Thursday, May 23
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

During the first conversations that occurred in Northwest and Northeast earlier this week, attendees have been asked to participate in work sessions and exercises designed to examine quality of life factors most important to residents; and identify existing assets specific to their neighborhood that offer a sense of community that could possibly be expanded upon as part of the Strategic Framework Plan. They also will receive an overall update on the Long Term Planning process and receive information about the research and analysis that has been done to date.

The same will be occur during the both upcoming the Southwest Series Community Conversations—I.B.E.W. and Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation—as well as the Central / Near East Series.

Detroiters are encouraged to attend the series closest to their community and commit to attending each of the three conversations in the series. Not being able to attend one of the conversations in a series does not preclude someone from attending the other conversations.

The complete updated schedule for each series is as follows:

NORTHWEST Series                                                 NORTHEAST Series
#1: Monday, April 16                                                       #1: Tuesday, April 17
#2: Monday, May 7                                                          #2: Tuesday, May 8
#3: Monday, May 21                                                        #3: Tuesday, May 22
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.                                              Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Northwest Activities Center                                           Serbian Memorial Hall
18100 Meyers Road, 48235                                           19940 Van Dyke, 48234

SOUTHWEST Series                                                 CENTRAL/NEAR EAST Series                                                          #1: Thursday, April 19(1538 Abbot St.)                     #1: Saturday, April 21
#1: Monday, April 23                                                      #2: Saturday, May 5
#2: Thursday, May 10                                                     #3: Saturday, May 19
#3: Thursday, May 23                                                     Time: 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.                                              Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
Detroit Hispanic Development                                     3606 E. Forest Ave., 48207
Corporation
1121 Trumbull Ave. 48216

For nearly two months DWPLTP has worked with the leadership of Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD), Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ), Arise Detroit!, Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (M.O.S.E.S), Michigan Environmental Council, and other organizations to develop the scope, content and exercises for the conversations.

Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning is developing a Strategic Framework Plan that will serve as a guide for the community, city government, non-profits, and businesses to make decisions that will help Detroit to become a city with healthier, more viable neighborhoods that can support current residents while still attracting new ones; and reenergize Detroit’s economy while increasing job opportunities for Detroiters.

With expected completion in August of 2012, as part of the strategic framework there will be:

• A shared vision for the city and its neighborhoods;
• Public policy recommendations that can be incorporated into important governing documents such as the Master Plan of Policies for the City, or zoning ordinances;
• Implementation strategies that can be executed by government, investors and businesses, and community-based organizations.

To learn more about Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning visit www.DetroitLongTerm.com; stop by the project’s HomeBase located at 2929 Russell Street in Eastern Market between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or call 313-259-4407.

Contact: James Canning, 313-580-2845, [email protected]