"Strategies“ the topic for final four Detroit Works Community Meetings

DETROIT - A discussion with Detroit stakeholders about possible strategies will be the focus of the final four Community Conversations being hosted by Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning (DWPLTP) on May 19, 21, 22, 23. The exercises used during the conversations will have participants use the project’s 14 Quality of Life Elements as a guide when suggesting their ideas for possible strategies.

“A lot of the technical planning team work was shared with Detroiters during the first two conversations,” said Christianne Sims, a Process Leader for the project who has helped lead the conversations. “The third one will be a chance for residents and other Detroit stakeholders to use that information, along with the expertise they have as members of our community, to offer their suggestions for strategies they’d like to see incorporated into the strategic framework plan that’s being developed.”

The schedule for Conversation #3 is as follows:

Northwest Series:
Monday, May 21 / 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road, 48235

Northeast Series:
Tuesday, May 22 / 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Serbian Memorial Hall, 19940 Van Dyke, 48234

Southwest Series:
Wednesday, May 23 / 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, 1121 Trumbull Ave., 48216

Central/Near East Series:
Saturday, May 19 / 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, 3606 Forest Ave., 48207

“Once the third-round of conversations is complete, that does not mean we are done with the project,” said Dan Pitera Co-lead of the DWPLTP civic engagement team. “There is still plenty of work to do. The next steps will be for us to analyze the feedback and the technical team to begin using it as they draft the recommendations for the framework plan. During this time the engagement activities will continue; we will be sharing what has been done.”

Community Conversations have been held across the city in four areas—Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Central / Near East—since late April. More than 600 Detroiters have attended Conversations 1 and 2 in each of the four areas.

During the first two conversations held in four areas of Detroit attendees learned about the working being done by the technical planning team, specifically the 14 Quality of Life Elements that were established; the 12 Imperatives—actions that must be taken to improve the quality of life in Detroit; and a series a possible Building Blocks—urban planners call them typologies—that can be utilized to address varying levels of land vacancy.

For more than 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, residents 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.