Hope Village Revitalization

HOPE VILLAGE REVITALIZATION IS A COMMUNITY-LED, COMMUNITY DRIVEN ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO MOVE THE HOPE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD FORWARD IN A WAY THAT MITIGATES DISPARITIES IN WEALTH, PRIVILEGE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. WE PLEDGE TO COLLABORATE AND BE PART OF THE COLLECTIVE WORKING TOWARD EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN DETROIT, AND TO BE KNOWN AS A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY AND COMMUNITY DECISION MAKING.

THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON THREE MAIN AREAS LISTED BELOW: FRESH AND HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS : THE ORGANIZATION LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY GARDENS ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A PART OF ITS WORK TO BUILD A FRESH AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO GROWING AND EXPANDING ITS VIBRANT FARMER MARKET TO SERVE AS A HUB OF COMMUNITY CONNECTION, RESOURCES, AND ART/CULTURAL EXPRESSION. IN 2020-21, THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED OVER 40,000 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EASTERN MARKET AND PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHIER AMERICA, AND HOSTED 14 FARMERS MARKETS. SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING: THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO ENERGY EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS IN THIS AREA ARE FOCUSED ON EXPANDING EDUCATION ABOUT AND ACCESS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, RECYCLING, RAIN GARDENS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE AMONG NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. IT IS ALSO WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL OF CREATING ENERGY EFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS INCORPORATING ELEMENTS OF SHARED EQUITY AND LONG- TERM LEASES FOR RENTERS. IT USES ITS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, THE LASALLE ECO-DEMONSTRATION HOME, AS AN EDUCATIONAL HUB TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING SOLAR PANELS, LED LIGHTING, ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS, SUSTAINABLE FLOORING, RAINWATER GARDENS, AND POROUS PAVEMENT WALKWAYS. IN 2020-21, THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED A MINOR HOME REPAIR PROJECT IN THE HOPE VILLAGE TO PROVIDE NO COST ACCESS TO MUCH NEEDED HOME REPAIRS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT LONG TIME NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS COULD ADDRESS IMPORTANT EXTERIOR BUILDING SYSTEMS SUCH AS SOFFITS, GUTTERS,DOWNSPROUTS AND SIDING. COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND HEALTH: IN THE AREA OF EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT PLACEMAKING, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTOR AND HUB IN ORDER TO EXPAND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND RESOURCES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. DURING 2020-21, THE ORGANIZATION ACCESSSED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 4,000 RE-USABLE MASKS, AS WELL AS OTHER PPE EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. IT ALSO HOSTED MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD CALLS FOR RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUNT AND SHARE RESOURCES DURING THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH, UNEMPLOYMENT, ANTI-EVICTION AND OTHER RESOURCES. IN 2020-21, HOPE VILLAGE REVITALIZATION EXPANDED ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE. THE INITIATIVE IS LED BY A COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE, WHO ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS CHALLANGES AROUND HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE HEALTH AND ASTHMA. THE INITIATIVE INCLUDES WALKING WELLNESS CLINICS, BLOOD PRESSURE SELF- MONITORING TRAINING AND INFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.