rshell02
Registered: May 2009 City/Town/Province: Royal Oak Posts: 1
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A couple months have past since I had one of the greatest experiences of my life, Alternative Spring Break Detroit (ASB). ASB is a program through the United Way that is crucial for the metro Detroit area. It brings a diverse group of college-aged students from across the country, to create real change in the community. The people of Detroit cannot be forgotten, it is just as important and in need of help as cities that have been victim to horrifying natural disasters. The city of Detroit is struck every single day by the high winds of unemployment, wounded by the effects of urban sprawl and illiteracy, soaked through to the bone with a cold feeling of tiredness and poverty. There are no seasons for this kind of disaster. Detroit holds some of the highest unemployment rates in the country and is plagued with appalling high school drop-out numbers. Together, ASB Detroit unveiled visible changes to a community. It was amazing to see the number of volunteers who are all there for the same reason as me, to make change.
Our group's project was to reconstruct a literacy and computer lab at Franklin Wright Settlements on the east side of Detroit. This center serves as a staple to the neighborhood, which is primarily African-American and has very low literacy rates. With a tight budget and little time it made it tough, but with a group of motivated volunteers, we were able to complete both rooms, hook up computers with new educational software and help make a difference in the life of young children. Having a place to come after school, get help, have access to the internet, and stay safe and out of trouble is a great benefit to this under-funded community. This experience was unforgettable and unexplainable. It's hard to explain that I didn’t just meet new friends, I bonded with people from places I have never visited with different backgrounds and lifestyles that yet all seemed so similar to me? It is a beautiful thing to have been changed like I have, and to now see the city of Detroit in a completely new light. The United Way has encouraged me to continue my service and has also forwarded me a grant in which I will use to help clean up Detroit as in the best way I see fit.
A couple weeks have passed since I was on the United Way of Southeastern Michigan's website poking around when I came across an opportunity to win a grant which would be awarded by the United Way. It asked me to answer many questions and write an essay about a service project that I would like to start, in which would be very beneficial to the community and environment.
At first I thought, hmm what's the chances of me winning this, and then I thought about how important it is to me to make a difference in this world. With some great ideas already popping up in my head I decided to write an essay and submit it. A couple weeks later, I received an email regarding winning $500 towards the service project i proposed. I was absolutely thrilled!
My proposal was to gather family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and once or twice a month get together and Clean up Detroit! I thought that Getting a family to participate and work together to create change in their own community would be a great idea. The effects of volunteering are huge in society. Children who see different types of volunteering learn to care about their community as a whole. Not only do you get to spend quality time as a family, you get to work together, create change and learn even more about your community.
Driving through parts of Detroit you see piles and piles of garbage and dumps every which way you look. I think that organizing groups and going out in certain areas and cleaning the streets and along the side of roads, etc. It would make the streets of Detroit cleaner, safer and show that we care. It would cut down on rats,roaches, bugs, disease and also draw in more people, leading to more money coming into the city. Not only that but it would be a much safer environment for animals.
By getting a large group to participate and walking along main roads and deserted trashy areas among Detroit, picking up trash, planting new trees and flowers, it will affect the community and environment greatly.
It's going to take a lot of work and a lot of thinking, but I try and think of it like putting together a puzzle, first you start with the corners, then you organize the colors and continue it until you piece every piece together.
Right now we are working on the corners! Were hoping to have this project ready to go in August and for it to be a great success!!:)
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