Pre-ASB Reflection

I was most surprised to learn about all of the abandoned homes and buildings in Detroit. When I first told my family and friends I was going on this trip, many of them reacted in a negative or confused way. So before even learning anything about the city, I kind of had negative preconceived notions of what was going on there. I knew the city was in trouble, but I never imagined that there could actually be so many abandoned buildings in a city. It just seems strange and so unheard of to have a major city actually be abandoned.

I expect to see those buildings that we learned about. I think I might initially feel very out of place or out of my element because I have not spent much time anywhere where I am the minority. It will be interesting to be put in that position. Also exciting. I'm not sure what else I expect to see.

On the basic level, Detroit and my hometown are similar because both places serve as a home to families and individuals that are trying their best each day to live a happy life. I also think my town and Detroit are similar because both are recently experiencing a revival. The joke throughout my life is that my town is a ghost town after 8:00 pm because it's a small town and not much goes on there. Recently, new businesses and restaurants have been built and running and have really turned my small town into a hip downtown that all different kinds of people enjoy. While still much smaller than Detroit, it's cool to see that even small communities can rebuild themselves.


Maria Motta

Class of 2017

Hey there, ASB 2015!

New year, new ASB! It has been quite a whirlwind becoming part of ASB 2015, and I feel like I have learned a lot, but I know I still have a long way to go. I really enjoyed George's presentation today at the meeting, and I think the numbers were that most surprising part for me. I really can't even picture a city that has only two thirds of the buildings occupied. It's also hard to picture a city that is three times the size of Boston and 5 times the size of Framingham, but had less than half the number of people than there used to be. When I think of Detroit, I feel like I picture what the media portrays and I think it will be really shocking to see for myself how it actually looks now. I know that this is a situation that pictures just cannot do justice, but I also realize that the media's depiction is not necessarily accurate. However, while I know Detroit has had more than its fair share of challenges over that last few decades, I was really inspired by the video that George showed us. It showed people who live in Detroit and see it as a place that has seen struggle, but is still a great place to live and work. I am excited to be there and get to meet people who believe in Detroit and see it as a place that can come back from all of these challenges. Meeting people that have positive attitudes despite adversity has always been one of my favorite parts of ASB, and I really hope that is something we will find in Michigan!

Molly Buckley
Class of 2015

My First Post: Pre-ASB Reflection

1. One thing I was surprised to learn, and see, is how vacant and worn down many of the houses are. I have continually heard how many people have fled the city, so it makes sense that the houses are vacant, yet, I never thought of what this meant for the houses themselves or never pictured a city having so many physically empty building. Not only is having people leave the city problematic for Detroit, but with people then trying to illegally vacate the houses there are even more possible problems.

2. I expect to see very passionate people living in Detroit! I think many of the people we are going to be seeing and possibly interacting with are going to be very enthusiastic about Detroit. I know the people who have stuck with the city so far must believe their city and all it's potential to be rebuilt. Just like any of us who have fond memories of our hometown, these people have great memories in Detroit and I look forward to learning from them and hopefully being able to help in some way.

3. Despite how much we have been talking about Detroit, I do not feel like I know enough to be able to compare it to where I grew up. At this point, I feel like Detroit is going to be so incredibly different from my hometown BUT I definitely think that I will be surprised once we get there and I hope that I am able to make more connections to my hometown once we get to experience Detroit and all that it has to offer.

Only 3 more weeks!!!
Emily :)

Expectations of Detroit

It has been really interesting to learn about Detroit this year! I think that the most surprising thing that I learned is the history of Detroit and how it used to be a booming city at one point, and how it got to where it is today. I did not realize how large the city is, and how the size of Boston compares. I am curious to experience the city due to the fact that so many people have moved out. I am curious to see whether the area we are working in will be highly populated or if it will appear abandoned. I think it is very positive that people like us are going to Detroit to help with it's rebirth and I look forward to seeing where Detroit is in the future. When we get to Detroit, I expect to see some abandoned buildings like in the videos that we have watched. However, I also expect that it will look very similar to other cities that I have seen such as Lowell which neighbors my hometown. I am not sure that my hometown and Detroit will have too much in common, but I expect that there will be similarities such as similar sized neighborhoods and similar spacing between businesses and homes. I am so excited to get to Detroit with this wonderful group of people and to see how my expectations of Detroit will change or be the same!

Katie Moreau Class of 2016

Looking Forward!

The most surprising thing that I have learned about Detroit is that the city is currently in a state of rebirth. When we are in Detroit this spring break I will want to keep that in mind because our group will be adding to the rebirth of the city. Volunteerism is one of the best ways to aid the city because we want to benefit the people there as much as possible. I expect to see lots of the abandoned buildings and homes that are a common part of Detroit, but will take notice of the new structures being built such as new schools, parks, and community gardens. My hometown and Detroit were known for having large factories. We are the furniture capital and a majority of those buildings have minimized. I notice how my town is working on the rebirth of certain areas as well. I hope that coming back home for the summer after visiting Detroit I can bring something back to my home town to help.

Samantha Joseph '16

Pre ASB Reflection

22 February 2015

It's been surprising to learn where Detroit has come from to where it is today. I grew up in New Hampshire but spent much of my childhood in the Lowell area where my family was from. Alot of what I'm seeing from images of Detroit is very reminiscent to me of Lowell. People are always scared to go there or have certain doubts and opinions formed about the area, but once you've been there everything changes. I've got hope for Detroit and what we'll find there during ASB.

I expect that the rebirth in Detroit will be incredibly apparent, despite many of us having doubts. The power of the drive of our younger generation is something that I've been in awe of before and I really am expecting that Detroit will be no different. I know that the abandoned buildings will be incredibly apparent (1/3 is alot), but as an artist, I also know that the streets will be alive: artists will have gotten there already to put some beauty onto the vacant walls of old buildings. I'm excited to see and feel the energy from our group but also from the people we work with. I'm betting money on Detroit being an experience to remember.

Comparing Detroit and my hometown (or as I like to say, New Hampshire) is like comparing peanut butter and jelly to a filet Mignon; there is no comparing (though I myself would definitely prefer the pb&j, just saying). I am finding almost no similarities to Detroit and the quiet, wooded suburbia that I grew up in. However, I'm drawn to urban areas and I personally always feel incredibly comfortable traveling to new places. I'm ready to experience Detroit!


Calvin Ridley

Class of 2016

Pre-ASB Reflection

The most surprising thing I've learned about Detroit is the amount of poverty. Before starting ASB, I really didn't know anything about Detroit, besides what I would see on the news or read on the internet. Another aspect that I found surprising, which I learned from George's presentation, is how much the population of Detroit has changed throughout the years. Finally, it was surprising to hear that the city is in a stage of rebirth.What I expect to see in Detroit is emptiness due to abandoned homes and buildings. I am hoping that during the trip, I will have the opportunity to see what the city of Detroit has to offer and how it may go against the labels that the city has been given by the news.  Some similarities that my hometown and Detroit have are abandoned buildings due to financial problems in the town and not being able to keep it open. I'm so ready to make my mark in Detroit with service. I am so excited to be in a new place and work with a wonderful and special group of individuals.

Sincerely,
Stacy DeGrazia '15

Thinking about Detroit

1. I did not know how rural it is; when I think of a city I think of something similar to NYC or Boston. However, looking at the video that was presented to us, I saw that there is quite a large rural section. I enjoyed hearing that there is more of a rebirth coming about today in Detroit. It is easy to just think of the city as being in shambles, and as the video discussed, there is more attention given to the fact that the city is suffering. However, it is important to consider the alternative life that people are uplifting nowadays. The younger population (teens and young adults) are seeing the city as having potential to be in a good standing again. I am happy to see that people are really working together to put the broken pieces of Detroit back together.
2. I originally expected to just see a lot of buildings and commercial lots; however, after watching the video I saw that there was also a large rural area in Detroit. It was discussed how going through the streets, you will see vacant houses among elaborate houses. I think that would be interesting to see because usually when you think of a neighborhood, you think of a singular "look" or pattern. I also think that there will be a very spaced out population, as it has shrunk so much over time. I am excited to see Detroit and learn more about it via the trip.
3. My home town is small. It is a densely populated, rural community and it does not really have many commercial residencies. Detroit is huge and seems to have both a rural portion as well as a more city- like feel to it, including places to go and activities. My town lacks this, however I think the most that they will be similar is the rural portion.


                                                                                        Julia Jarvis, Junior

Detroit: What I have learned so far

1) The most surprising thing I have learned so far is how the city has worked to shut down entire neighborhoods because of the lack of funding and resources first responders - like police and fire - have. You hear about Detroit in the news and how entire neighborhoods are abandoned, but you think it is of peoples own volition to move out of their homes. To learn that in some ways people had no choice BUT to leave is crazy. I cannot imagine being forced out of my childhood home where I have so many memories because there is no money in the budget for first responders to serve my neighborhood, water in being cut off from the area, etc.

2) What I expect to see in Detroit are abandoned buildings - as it seems that many people focus on this negative - but I also expect to see very vibrant buildings and people. I loved that the video George showed had people talking about the positives in Detroit; so often we focus on the negatives when there are just as many, if not more, positives. Detroit is a vibrant city and even in its current state I am certain I will see and feel this vibrancy!

3) A similarity between my hometown of Arlington, MA and Detroit is that it is currently going through a revitalization with the many young, hip people who are moving in. Arlington never experienced the economic hardship that Detroit has experienced, but there were times that lots of people moved out and it did not have a lot of rich culture going on. It is now an "it" place to live and lots of young people, families, etc. are moving in and giving Arlington a flair - for better and for worse. This can be seen in Detroit where lots of young people are moving in and breathing new life into a struggling city.

I am beyond excited to get to Detroit ... 20 more days!

Michelle McGonagle
Class of 2015

19 days 17 hours 23 mins and 45 seconds... but who's counting

I have learned so much about Detroit through this whole experience. Mainly how much it has changed. It is crazy to me that a major city can go through so much change. Looking at how many of the houses have changed from being vacant to demolished amazes me. I have been to poor parts of the world but I think this will be a totally different for me because it is in the states.  I have no idea what to expect to see in Detroit. Part of me feels like it'll be like Brooklyn or some other major city, of course adding in the vacant buildings. I feel like the people that live there will be grateful for what were doing, just like they are grateful for the young 'hipsters' who have moved there over the past couple years. I know I will be excited to see they way community comes together in Detroit. I love the fact that the people of Detroit are trying to make parks and gardens and different places for community. It is something that my hometown of Attleboro has and something that I know will make me happy.

I have an idea of what to expect Detroit to be like, but I know as soon as I get there the city will change me.

Caitlin Murray
Class of 2016