sive strategy to assess and monitor
existing pollutants while fostering
the creation of green industries to
mitigate the negative impacts of our
industrial past.
"In addition to building green
infrastructure, I would like to see
the city invest in our rich music and
art industries. There is a strong arts
scene and culture in the city. We
should invest more in making it a
viable industry."

MARSHA MUSIC

Marsha Music, coined by Model D
Media as the "original hipster," is
the daughter of the legendary record
producer Joe Von Battle. She grew
up in Highland Park. In recent
times she has made
a tremendous
name for herself in
the city of Detroit
as an empathetic,
compassionate and
personable story-
teller. Music truly
loves her home-
town of Detroit
and has made it
Marsha Music
one of her goals to
fix faulty narratives
of the city. Music
is a role model to all those who wish
to move to Detroit and not save the
city, but rather save themselves.

Q: What changes do you hope to see
in Detroit?
"I hope to see the neighborhoods
stabilized and supported, and the
education system stabilized so that
more kids in the neighborhoods
outside of the Downtown and
center city can be a part of this 'New
Detroit:
"It is tragic that there are so many
opportunities made manifest for
newcomers to the city, but our kids
are so often not offered opportuni-
ties to participate, or lack the educa-
tion and skills to be involved.
"I hope to see citizen-friendly
accommodations with the develop-
ment of the new stadium; such as
jobs for Detroiters in its construc-
tion and operations, and well-
thought-out traffic, parking, and
ingress and egress to and around
the stadium. Navigating the area
can be a nightmare for those who
live in and near Downtown during

game and event times, and this will
elected to the Michigan Legislature.
By day, she serves as the com-
Her vision for her Detroit com-
munity engagement manager at
only be exacerbated with another
stadium.
munity and the changes she hopes
Loveland Technologies, a civi-
"I hope to see citizen-friendly
to see are "safe neighborhoods,
cally engaged data and technology
accommodations with any
excellent educa- company. She also develops pro-
changes made to 1-75/Chrysler
tion for every
gramming and facilitates dialogues
Freeway, with considerations
child, a safety
around race and equity issues for
for the residents of adjoining
net that works
her LLC, Deep Dive Detroit, where
Lafayette Park (where I live).
for everyone,
"difficult" conversations are at the
"Generally, Downtown/
a fair justice
core of every interaction.
Midtown living is not mar-
system, clean
Hood has made it one of her goals
keted for middle-class, black
air for everyone to facilitate conversations as a solu-
Detroiters seeking "livability;"
to breathe and
tion to stereotyping and a means to
they continue to leave for
economic op-
promote coexistence.
suburbs. I would like to see
portunities for
more efforts at maintaining an
all those in the
Q: What needs to be done now so
Step hanie Chang
African-American presence in
workforce?'
that Detroit in the future can be an
inclusive, united city?
and accessibility to these and
other re-developing and stable
Q: How will the "What needs to be recognized is
neighborhoods.
city accomplish these changes?
that different groups of people value
different things. The kind of person
"I enjoy seeing the
"As a state representative, I see it as
restoration and growth of
imperative to both serve residents'
that chooses to live in the urban
the [Isaac Agree] Down-
individual and family needs through core prioritizes different things than
town Synagogue. There
our neighborhood service center
the person living on the northwest
was a strong presence of
(district office) in partnership with
side.
Jews in Detroit during
city council members, and to work
"Of course, all residents prioritize
things like safety and reliable city
the last century. Relations
on policy change at the state level.
with black Detroiters
"For example, in education,
services; however, a person living
were at times amicable
there is a lot we can do to hold
Downtown most likely places a
and mutually beneficial,
charter schools more accountable,
higher value on access to ameni-
but they were also often
adequately fund our schools, and
ties and the ability to be transient
problematic and even
ensure that teachers and adminis-
renting], whereas a person that
contentious. Jews are an
trators have the resources they need
has chosen to live on the northwest
important part of the city's business
to serve every child in a holistic way.
side might place a higher value on
and cultural legacy, as well as the
"In terms of economic justice,
a sense of community and property
ownership.
Detroit revitalization.
we should enact policies like paid
"I would like to see decisive break- sick leave. One of my first bills is
"An equitably transformed city
throughs in the reduction of crime
HB 4167, which would
would allow for
in the city, significant inroads made
ensure every Michigan
members of both
in public transportation and better
worker has access to
groups to access
solutions to parking issues than
paid sick leave so each
the types of op-
raising the price of parking tickets.
worker can fully recover
portunities that are
"I hope that Detroit's musical
instead of going to work
valuable to them,
heritage will be much more pur-
sick because s/he can't
and things like
posefully showcased, hopefully in a
afford not to."
safety and reliable
distinct music district — for visitors
city services should
from the area and from around the
be accessible by all
LAUREN HOOD
world."
residents equally.
Lauren Hood is a com-
"What we can do
Lauren Hoo d
munity development
now to ensure that
STEPHANIE CHANG
professional and native
everyone has equi-
Michigan State Rep. Stephanie
Detroiter. She grew up
table access to these opportunities
Chang has always been involved
on Detroit's northwest side and at-
is to start organizing and formal-
in social justice and community
tended schools in the suburbs.
izing partnerships. The strength of
engagement. She was previously
Growing up in Detroit but attend- the neighborhood organization has
the deputy director for the Cam-
ing schools in the suburbs helped
everything to do with the amount of
paign for Justice, an engagement
Hood realize the social divide
resources allocated to a particular
coordinator at the James and Grace
between the two locations. Hood
community. i.e. Grandmont Rose-
Lee Boggs School, and the alumni
has developed a passion for creating
dale Community Development
engagement and evaluation coordi-
engagement strategies, recognizing
Corporation, Brightmoor Alliance,
nator for the Center for Progressive
that longtime residents, like her, are
Jefferson East Business Association,
Leadership in Michigan. She is also
often left out of the redevelopment
The Villages, etc." RT
the first Asian-American woman
process.

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RED THREAD I May 2015 49