Jamie Schriner-Hooper (CEDAM Executive Director), Tiffany Lemieux-McKissic (CEDAM Manager of Membership and Communications), and Jessica AcMoody (CEDAM Office Manager) recently visited organizations in the Detroit area to learn about projects and the work going on in the community development industry.

Playground at Little Grace Village

Day one began with the Southwest Solutions “Solutions at Sunrise” fundraising breakfast.  This one-hour breakfast event highlighted the stories of people Southwest Solutions has served, and offered a great way to get an insider’s look into the programming of Southwest Solutions.

From there we traveled to downtown Pontiac to meet with Michelle Atwell (Director of Development) and Darin Weiss (Chief Operating Officer) at Grace Centers of Hope.  Michelle and Darin gave us a tour of the shelter and explained the extensive programs they offer to the homeless.  They also took us on a tour of Little Grace Village.  Consisting of nine homes on Seneca Street in Pontiac, Little Grace Village combines supportive services, safe and affordable housing, and neighborhood revitalization efforts for the graduates of the Two-Year Aftercare Program.  Grace Centers of Hope accommodates between 150-200 men, women, and children on any given night.

Next we traveled to Detroit to Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) and met with Joe Heaphy (Vice President of Housing).   Joe told us about the myriad of programs offered by NSO including Emergency Telephone Services/Suicide Prevention Center, Gambling Treatment Program, Older Adult Services, Youth Initiatives Project, Housing Development, and Training Services (just to name a few).  He also told us about the NSO-Bell Building Revitalization project which will renovate the existing Bell Building in Detroit and turn it into residential and commercial space.  The residential space will house NSO’s clients and the commercial space will contain NSO staff.  We can’t wait to see the finished product!

Jessica AcMoody, Cathy Marshall, and Jamie Schriner-Hooper

We wrapped up the day with a visit to the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC).  We met with Cathy Marks Marshall (Deputy Director) and she told us about all the programs going on at GRDC, including the farmer’s market, housing development, and commercial development happening in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhoods.  Cathy then took us on a tour to show us the gorgeous houses and the beautification projects going on in the area.

On day two we met with Curtis Smith (Director of Housing Development) at Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS).  Curtis explained their programs, which provide services that enable people to achieve self-sufficiency and obtain quality affordable housing.  We spoke with one of COTS development partners about supportive housing projects COTS are developing in Detroit, and Curtis gave us a brief tour of the facilities.

We would like to thank everyone we visited for taking the time to show us all the exciting work they are doing in the Detroit area.  We will be back to visit more members and see the inspiring work going on in Southeast Michigan.

Filling information bags at Circle of Love

Last month, Tiffany Lemieux-McKissic (CEDAM Manager of Membership and Communications) and Olivia Courant (CEDAM Communications Intern) traveled to Saginaw to visit members Circle of Love CDC and Neighborhood Renewal Services.

When we arrived at Circle of Love, we were greeted by staff and volunteers in the middle of preparation for information drops later that day. We helped stuff bags with information about helpful services that are available from Circle of Love and their community partners. The team of volunteers then took the information to households in their service area. The drops were part of Circle of Love’s Community Awareness Week. Executive Director Pamelia Brazil said that the drops have been very successful, with increased numbers of people calling for housing counseling and other services.

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Hill Street project Operation Gateway volunteer team

After a morning of walking and delivering information,  everyone took a break and had tacos for lunch nearby another of Circle of Love’s projects, Operation Gateway. Circle of Love coordinated this project with Covenant HealthCare, Covenant Neighborhood Association, Northwest Neighborhood Association, and the City of Saginaw. A large number of volunteers were engaged in cleaning up the Hill Street neighborhood. We got to see the areas after they were cleared of vegetation, but volunteers said that the difference was shocking. One of the abandoned lots was so overgrown that the volunteers were surprised to find a dilapidated shed in the corner. When cleanup started it was impossible to see it beneath all of the trees, vines, and weeds. The community volunteers worked really hard and made a huge difference.

For the second part of our visit we traveled to the other side of the Saginaw River to see Marcia Hoffman at Neighborhood Renewal Services. Marcia took us on a tour of one of the historic properties that is owned by Neighborhood Renewal Services, the Hill House. The inside showed traces of the home’s glory days, such as elaborate wallpaper, ornate staircases, and the original tile roof cap that now sits in the attic. Neighborhood Renewal Services has also started a community garden on the lot next to the Hill House (thank you Marcia for the GIANT zucchini).

The Hill House

Thanks to Circle of Love and Neighborhood Renewal Services for meeting with us, and we look forward to visiting and working with our other members in the future!

The Hill House community garden

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