Detroit is a city that, more than many others, bears the scars of housing inequities. Segregation, vacant homes, and low housing values are just a few of the issues Detroiters struggle with as a result of unfair policies.
The Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion wants to hear people’s stories as part of its “Healing Stories” event on March 1.
GRDC is partnering with the Michigan Roundtable for the event. They are looking for Grandmont-Rosedale residents to attend and to share their own stories around housing discrimination. People are scheduled to testify about the effects of Federal Housing Administration policies from long ago, current practices of racial “steering” that pressure potential home buyers to stay out of certain neighborhoods, and the devastating aftermath of foreclosure and predatory lending.
The idea behind the Healing Stories Project is to allow people to speak their truth about discrimination and inequity, and to inform policies that will right these ills going forward. Two previous events focused on transportation and criminal justice.
“There is a lot of myth between city and suburb about why (certain things) happened,” says Stacey Stevens, community organizer for the Race2Equity Project of the Michigan Roundtable. The project is managed by Freda G. Sampson. “We’re looking at healing the community and healing our system. The name relates to the power of being able to share your story in a space where there is an acknowledgement that it is truth.”
The upcoming sessions will allow a set number of people to give their testimony about their experiences around housing justice, and then allow for personal reflections and small group activities. At the end, people will be able to do some brainstorming about policy changes. Those suggestions will be gathered and incorporated into a community policy summit on March 29 that will draft policy ideas to be shared with decision makers.
“We’re not looking for a desired outcome so much as a desired process,” says Stevens. The idea is to be collaborative and have a collective sense of working together, not to tease out any specific bits of information, she says.
GRDC is looking for speakers to share their stories at the event and for audience members to attend on GRDC’s behalf.
The event is from 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1 in Alumnae Hall at Marygrove College. A light lunch will be served. To RSVP, call 313-870-1500, ext. 104, or visit this link and makes sure to mention GRDC. Click here to view form.
Contact Becki Kenderes, Building Sustainable Communities Program Manager, at GRDC at 313-387-4732, ext. 101 or via email at bekenderes@grandmontrosedale.com with questions.