Detroit Community Development Fellowship

The Professional Fellow with Zachary and Associates served as Assistant Project Manager to the development of the Bellevue Block Redevelopment Project to develop the implementation strategy plan for the project and the larger Bellevue District. Tasks associated with this project included:

• Working alongside other fellows on behalf of Zachary and Associates.
• Assisting with development of business development opportunities using the sustainable planning practices instituted in the Bellevue Block.
• Initiating the preparation and presentation of all planning documents required for City approvals, zoning, regulated uses and financial instruments including but not limited to:
  • TIF District plan
  • Business District formation
  • Redevelopment financial strategy – sources and uses and funding applications
  • Brownfield redevelopment strategy business development
  • Creating the narrative for presentations, videos and documents about the Bellevue Redevelopment

As support was needed on the ground, Fellows were local to the area.

Practiced skills: Urban planning/community development background, work experience with city departments as well as working with a cross-sector, international team. Manual labor and physical outdoor activity was also required on certain days.

The Professional Fellow with The Tuxedo Project developed the work of the 2019 Humanity in Action Detroit Fellows:

• Structured and distributed two requests for proposal for both an architect and urban farmer that designed a food pantry and community garden.
• Developed testimonials by Fellows and members of the community, describing the importance of food justice and food education to the community.
• Planning of a public forum and public workshop showcasing the importance of food justice in the community.

Tasks conducted by the selected Professional Fellows:

• Utilized the outreach list developed by the 2019 Detroit Fellows to distribute the request for proposal to potential builders, planners and Detroit-based community organizations.
• Collaborated with the Tuxedo Project community to publicise and develop relationship in Detroit’s food justice and education sector through social media, previously recorded video content and direct outreach.
• Worked with the Resident Fellow to develop unique and impactful programming rooted in food education for the Tuxedo Street neighborhood.

In addition, the projects (re-)conceived with a particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. The execution of these projects required thorough planning that accounted for social distancing and healthy exchanges responsive to the unique conditions of the Tuxedo Project programming space and neighborhood challenges (i.e. blight and limited access to water).

As support was needed on the ground, Fellows were local to the area.

Practiced skills: Flexibility, creativity and a collaborative spirit.