I went to Detroit towards the beginning of January hoping to be a part of or exposed to something big. I had an impression that in a city like Detroit, on the verge of bankruptcy, creative problem-solving would be rampant in the approach to the problem that has been featured in the media for so long of the abandoned houses and empty blocks.
The freedom for creativity was definitely evident in certain places. While in Detroit a friend of Mia's (a good friend from Oberlin) grandfather was generous enough to host us for lunch and offer us an extensive tour of the city. He drove us to a street where few houses were left standing and of those that were, an artist who had grown up on that block transformed the houses and yards into an Alice in Wonderland-like alternative world. Some houses had Picasso-inspired paintings in every window and doorway. Another was decorated with records, another with dolls and stuffed animals. All together it was an effective assault on the eyes and eery. The artist explicitly tied his art to opinions about political issues such as health care and the environment.
I was amazed at how pervasive the abandonment of houses seemed. Even in nice neighborhoods of the historically elite the problem penetrated. The group of Oberlin students was brought to Highland Park for the purpose of taking a house that had been low on the demolition list and remodeling it. Not only did we intend to make it livable, but also to make it carbon neutral.
There was an incredible example of green construction in downtown Detroit at a business center called the Green Garage(http://greengaragedetroit.com/index.php?title=Main_Page). In the remodeling of the building the couple who started this venture tried to used all recycled materials, and occasionally they would adapt the design plan in order to incorporate materials that surfaced during the demolition or from other sources. The building had several remarkable features, but I think my favorite was a wall that greets people entering from the outside that goes all the way to the ceiling of this warehouse and was made up of recovered bits of wood put together in a beautiful pattern.
Back to the house. A week into the demolition and cleaning process, a green building contractor came through to share his insights. He was appalled at our safety precautions. Apparently the group had been working in asbestos and lead paint for the week. I am not sure what long-term consequences are to be had from one week of exposure to these poisons but the efforts on the house were largely derailed thereafter. We didn't have the funds to undertake the project even with the safety equipment. We barely had the means to demolish the house which would not have compared to the price of rebuilding it into a carbon-neutral structure.
Although there was a feeling of discouragement in the group, it was remarkable observing how people responded to this crisis. The leaders of the group were good about understanding people's feelings and discouragement while also trying to facilitate alternatives.
I think the major problem with this whole project was that the group wanted to engage in action. Action is appealing when it seems those in power are stagnant and unable to do anything about the pervasive problems we identify around us. However, action without forethought or understanding not only has the potential to uselessly address a boil when the problem is in the blood but may also exacerbate the problem or create another.
I think there is a fine balance to to be sought, which may require risking counterproductive action for a moment of eureka to be arrived at. Our group did not have a long enough commitment to Highland Park for this risk to be worthwhile. I think our group needlessly risked becoming a further problem for this community to contend with. Although towards the end of the trip there seemed to be a concerted effort to meet and organize with community members, I felt that our action and group occupied this community like paratroopers landing ready for action but insufficiently briefed ahead of time.
Reflecting upon my experience working with students, I think expectations determine a huge percentage of a student's performance. Low expectations can be communicated in a multitude of ways. I found myself constantly underestimating the capacity of my students to complete problems because I didn't want them to get frustrated and give up. Working with them, my clues would go from tools to precise hints.
I fear that our work in Detroit was a precise hint. When I was working on the garden of the soon-to-be demolished house, picking up layer after layer of trash, I was stopped by a woman who was walking by. She appeared homeless and we talked for a long time about a range of topics (constipation to greens to the ill-intentioned white rulers of the city). At one point she asked me why I listened so much. I listened too much. I told her I didn't realize this was possible- I thought listening was a good thing. She shook her head and indicated the house saying that she wanted a job and she was hungry. After a while it seemed like she was asking why were we listening when by our working on this house we were showing we had something to say- something to teach. She wanted to learn so that she too could work.
There were organizations in Detroit that did provide tools for communities. One that sounded great was a program that taught Detroit youth how to work on houses to make them livable. It would have been so cool to have joined that organization and to have sought out the guidance of the experienced youth- give them a rudder in their communities to enact real change. The truth is that the group did not have much to teach. We did, however, have manpower and an eagerness to learn.
As it was, I wondered if we weren't crippling this community by the appearance of our entrance to do work that ultimately concerned them giving the appearance that we understood and acting as if they needed our assistance. Even if individuals and leaders of our group did not believe that, outsiders often conclude based on appearance.
I learned a lot and feel blessed to have gone to Detroit (which completely lived up to my mythological portrait). I think these projects seem to be headed in a productive direction as community members are consulted more. However, I am still wary of the appearance of outsiders working to make changes that more directly impact the onlookers.
