Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

A Detroit tradition, the 17th Annual ARISE Detroit Neighborhoods Day will take place on Saturday, August 5 from sunup to sundown throughout the city's neighborhoods. The event highlights the work of community groups and churches as they perform cleanup projects, neighborhood picnics, health fairs, and youth activities taking place in neighborhoods all over the city on the first Saturday in August and involving thousands of volunteers.

ARISE Detroit founder and Executive Director Luther Keith says those same groups work hard all year long organizing block clubs, cleaning up neighborhoods, planting trees, and organizing neighborhood picnics, yet those efforts are frequently unrecognized. "We created a day for all of these different groups to do something that they enjoy. ARISE Detroit does not tell anybody what to do, how to do it, or where to do it. We say, no, this is your decision, not my decision. So Neighborhoods Day is like a tapestry of these incredibly inventive people in neighborhoods all over the city of Detroit showing their community pride," he says. He adds that about half of the events held on Neighborhoods Day are clean up events and the other half are geared toward building community, such as outdoor neighborhood concerts, health fairs, and block parties.

Events will be held in nearly every Detroit zip code and neighborhood and will include volunteer projects, art and music festivals, resource fairs, school supply giveaways, to name a few. Keith says the event taps into a feeling of community pride and gives residents a feeling of accomplishment as they contribute to a neighborhood effort. "It taps into something people want to be part of by making their city better," he adds.

Interested groups such as block clubs, churches, and community organizations are encouraged to register for Neighborhoods Day. Registration is $50 per group and groups will receive custom-made banners with the name of their organization, t-shirts, cleanup bags for beautification and blight removal projects, volunteer recruitment assistance, marketing support and other incentives. The registration deadline is July 15.

Photo courtesy of ARISE Detroit

Neighborhoods Day give Detroit residents an opportunity to show pride in their neighborhoods and communities

Since Neighborhoods Day began in 2007, ARISE Detroit! has promoted, marketed and supported a cumulative total of more than 2,800 community improvement events and service projects and has invigorated more than 70,000 volunteers who organize neighborhood festivals, back to school activities, adopt-a-park projects and more . Among the events returning to Neighborhoods Day this year are the Belle Isle Art Fair and the Sidewalk Festival. All of this year's Neighborhoods Day events will be posted at http://www.arisedetroit.org. People looking for volunteer opportunities can contact registered groups listed on the website.

ARISE! Detroit hosts community forums throughout the year to address neighborhood issues, and publishes an electronic newsletter which highlights neighborhood activities, volunteer opportunities, and resources. Keith emphasizes that ARISE! Detroit does not manage volunteers or organizations, but rather, serves as a point of connection for both. Neither does the organization assist with food, shelter nor utility bills, but can in some instances, refer people to those organizations that do.

To learn more about ARISE! Detroit,find volunteer opportunities, or to register for Neighborhoods Day, see the organization's website at http://www.arisedetroit.org, or call 313-921-1955.