Civic Engagement

RENEWED WAYS TO LEAD AND COLLABORATE. Detroit is above all a city that makes things, and Detroiters can make things happen. There is no shortage of talented people in Detroit who dedicate their lives to making it a better place. They are neighbors, leaders, dreamers, and doers. You may be one of them: a Neighborhood Watch captain or foot patrol, a troop leader or teen leader, a teacher or police or fire/paramedic, a city employee who sees a practical solution, a shop steward with ideas for daycare at your factory, a deacon with a dream for a civic plaza, an entrepreneur who helps develop a thriving business corridor. You may have knowledge of or access to ideas, data, networks of individuals and institutions, or financial resources. Augmenting and leveraging people’s assets, resources, perspectives, and participation is what this section of the Detroit Strategic Framework is all about.

Civic “infrastructure” can be considered an intrinsic system for the city of Detroit. It is an abundant asset that, like Detroit’s physical systems, has been stressed and burdened by economic and population losses, deferred or inconsistent maintenance, and a lack of renewal. To put it in more human terms: Detroiters should be recognized as our most precious asset, and the capacity and vibrancy of individuals and institutions deserve support and renewal. This civic infrastructure—strong residents, strong leaders, strong organizations, and strong sectors—will enable Detroit to make ongoing, continual progress on pervasive, long-term community issues, such as public safety, equitable job access, education, or health.