“Part of Detroit’s problem is we put too much emphasis on manufacturing and plant-type jobs. We did not spend enough time thinking about how we might reinvent ourselves in terms of what is going to happen in the future. Our greatest resource is our people and what we produce. People are going to find out, ‘Oh, the resource is me.’
“‘I’m the resource that’s going to change the world.’ It’s coming from the people and that’s what’s going to become the city of our renewal.
“Detroit is going to become the city of entrepreneurs because we can’t do anything but reinvent it. Detroit has gone from MoTown [Motor Town, the city’s now obsolete nickname] to GrowTown.
“We have more than 70,000 vacant lots. And a lot of people are rediscovering the earth. Around these gardens and around these urban farms are all these people who are coming together in community. It cultivates the soul….”
–Rev. Barry Randolph, Messiah Episcopal Church, Detroit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLATn5f1Zv0
http://www.explore.org – Welcome to 21st century Detroit. The once-thriving automobile industry has taken a major blow, poverty is rampant, and major swaths of the city are deserted. But will grassroots art and culture lead Detroit’s renaissance? Join host Charles Annenberg Weingarten for a street-level look at Detroit’s rebirth.
E-mail to http://www.explore.org owner of the video’s copyright:
Dear producer of Detroit – The Renaissance of America
“Request for permission to embed your beautiful encouraging video Detroit – The Renaissance of America in my column for e-architect, a U.K.-based site with nearly one million hits a day. Attached is link to my first in a series of columns about Detroit. http://www.e-architect.co.uk/columns/detroit-dying-special-report
“My second Detroit column will provide evidence for hope. It also expresses concern for the African-American community’s future. I was especially moved by Rev. Barry Randolph’s eloquence as your video showed the glorious but sadly decaying architecture of the great Albert Kahn. I do not have a budget to reimburse you, but will provide whatever caption you decide appropriate.
“Global architects need the inspiration your video provides. Meanwhile, in the spirit of YouTube sharing, I will embed the video on my personal website www.joelsolkoff.com
“I will accompany the posting with this email acknowledging your copyright ownership and my request for its use. If you find it necessary to replace the embedded version with a simple link to You Tube please let me know. Appreciatively, Joel Solkoff.”