Clockwise from bottom left:
Annie Lefkowitz, 23, of West Bloomfield
unloads bricks that the volunteers, including
Aaron Steinof and Shana Supowit,
both 16 of Farmington Hills, will use
to build a home in Detroit.
Samantha Supowit and Wendy Yang, both
15 of Farmington Hills, paint a sign to welcome
back teachers to Winship Elementary School.
Shana Supowit views mural the mural design.
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2003
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other side of the almost-cleared lot.
Though the windows are boarded up,
he says, the owner is rehabilitating the
house now that the crack house is
gone.
Blight Busters' George says he's
positive signs. And that's due, in large
part, to volunteers.
George says another important factor
has drawn people to the city — 9-11.
The tragedy pushed people out of their
comfort zone and into helping out in
the city, he says.
Wayne State University in Detroit, sev-
eral classmates were victims of crime.
But this time, she says, "I feel the
warmth of the people and I'm learning
about the culture."
Next year, her daughter plans
to start a carpool of volunteers
from her high school, Rochester
Terrors Lessons
Adams, which is not yet
After 9-11, Blight Busters,
involved in the program.
along with other local nonprof-
At a site where the volunteers
its, lost much of-their dona-
are clearing the last of a demol-
tions, which went instead to
ished crack house they tore
New York City, George says.
down over the week, neighbor
But corporate sponsors, such
Vera Powell and her daughter
as General Motors and Home
Vernecia, 8, come out to greet
Depot, and an army of 10,000
the group.
volunteers stepped up to the
Some siding on their house
plate. Ben and Neil's group got
was melted by the heat of several
energized at this time, too,
fires set at the now-demolished
Detroiter Ethel O'Leary, 97, thanks Motor City Bright
George says. "This fresh wave
crack house. After each fire,
Busters director John George for his work in the
of young volunteers breathed
Powell says, she and other neigh-
new life into us weary older
bors called the city, but nothing
folks."
was done.
impressed by these suburban volun-
Falik agrees that 9-11 was a catalyst
"I love this group," Powell says of
teers. He calls Ben and Neil "the latest
for him to do something collectively
the SITC volunteers. "They're very
wave of starry-eyed dreamers who can
that would contribute to the good of
respectful and my daughter is crazy
turn this city around." He points to
society.
about them. She sometimes gives them
rising property values in Detroit,
He and Greenberg were particularly
a hand."
which have gone up 10 percent a year
heartened to find a large and ener-
Falik points to the house on the
over the past eight years, as one of the
gized response to their project from
Jewish volunteers, Falik says.
But the support was widespread. The
Oakland Activities Association, com-
posed of 32 high schools in Oakland
County, selected Summer in the City
as its charitable organization of the
year and raised $10,000 to donate.
That, combined with the $6,000
SITC raised through corporate and
private donations, covered the group's
expenses this year.
"To offer high-caliber experiences to
all our volunteers," Falik says, "fund-
raising has become an important part
of our program."
Renting dumpsters and buying
paint, cement and tools gets expensive,
he says. Falik receives the group's only
salary: $1,950 for the summer.
But the hurdles haven't stopped the
trio from planning for next year. They
hope their volunteers will be working
more frequently with city volunteers.
And after that, Greenberg says, they
hope their group will become a gen-
uine nonprofit and franchise to other
cities in need.
The bottom line is that Summer in
the City has gained a variety of loyal
supporters, especially the volunteers
who gain as much as they give.
"I made friends with city kids I nor-
mally wouldn't come in contact with,"
says Shana Supowit.
"We're going to raise money for this
at school," says Robert Linn, 17, of
Bloomfield Hills, mixing concrete to
prep an outdoor wall for a mural.
"Suburban people need to get out of
their shell.",
Samantha Supowit, 15, of
Farmington Hills, Shana's sister, arrives
at the SITC site with several friends to
help with the mural. The past week,
she says, she and her friends have
painted a fence to remove graffiti, gave
out food at Focus: HOPE and already,
that day, went to Blight Blusters,
which sent them to help move stuff
out of an older couple's basement and
haul their trash to the curb.
"It's hard work," says Bob Ranny,
17, of West Bloomfield, rubbing the
sweat and grime from his hands after
removing work gloves. "But when you
finish you can step back and say,
`Wow, I did this.'"
❑
To volunteer or make a donation,
call (248) 333-2168, or visit the
Summer in the City Web site:
www.surnmerinthecitydetroitorg
For year-round volunteering in
the city or to donate money or
old cars, call Motor City Blight
Busters at (313) 255-4355.