Attacking Poverty and Urban Isolation at a Grassroots Level
Free Detroit is a nonprofit organization developed in the spring of 2005 in response to the growing economic and social disparity within the city of Detroit. For the past two years, I have headed the organization and have examined different methods for engaging residents at a grassroots level within the city of Detroit.
Our main focus has been the implementation of Free Stores, with monthly events around the city that allow individuals direct access to food, clothing, household items and other necessities free of charge. Because the we have no significant outside funding, all of our activities have been made possible by the donations of residents around the area; the effort of volunteers from around the city; and the partnerships with various churches and organizations that allow us to hold Free Stores at their facilities. Although we have had success with our monthly Free Stores, held throughout Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, we believe the key to engaging the community most effectively lies in developing a "permanent" Free Store within the city of Detroit. With the creation of a permanent site, we will be able to transform the Free Store into a cooperative—one that ultimately utilizes the abilities of residents to better their community through the creation of programs that address the needs of their neighborhood.