In the Farmway area of Brightmoor, in Detroit, generation-long exposure to blight and ugliness has dulled the sense of beauty and order. Like much of Brightmoor, there is a 60% vacancy rate in Farmway, very poor housing stock and a low-income population. Vacant houses are often vandalized, contributing to a narrative of destruction and hopelessness in the community. This project will make the neighborhood a safe and healthy place to live by boarding up at least 15 dangerous vacant houses. Volunteer artists will paint artistically on the boards with the help of local youth and residents as well as clean up the lots around them.

Beyond making the neighborhood safer, and just as important, the project will ignite creativity and encourage self-help within the community. Residents will be equipped to take control of their environment and be proactive by making the neighborhood a pleasure to live in, inspiring hope for the future of Detroit.

The neighbors Building Brightmoor/Brightmoor Farmway target area is a 14-21 block target area in the west side of Brightmoor. Like the rest of Brightmoor it has a 60% vacancy rate, very poor housing stock and a low income population. What sets the Brightmoor Farmway area apart is the presence of at least 20 community and market gardens, and multiple pocket parks and walking trails. There is a very active neighborhood organization which maintains 120 lots, organizes neighborhood parties, distributes 350 newsletters, has monthly meetings, and manages block captains and youth programming.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

The volunteers for this project are volunteer artists who will paint art with the help of local youth, residents and Americorps volunteers. The work done will ignite creativity and encourage self help, strengthening a sense of community-wide well-being.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

The target area is served by an active neighborhood organization that distributes newsletters to 350 households in the community. All members of these households will see a positive change in their neighborhood.