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| dc.contributor.author | Williams, Asia | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-05-03T17:55:47Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-05-03T17:55:47Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-05-03 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2569 | |
| dc.description | Community development is a catalyst for sustainability, advocating for rights, equality, economic opportunities, social justice, and participatory democracy. Within Detroit, it has played a key role in enhancing and establishing sustainable neighborhoods, like low-income areas where systematic injustices have previously hindered progress. This thesis aims to interconnect various aspects of the unjust system affecting these communities, exploring both the causes and effects while proposing solutions to address these challenges and layout a system for resilient ad equitable programming while also recognizing the transformative potential of youth engagement, this thesis places a special emphasis on involving the younger demographic in the process of community development in Detroit. In the book, McKoy, Deborah L, Planning Cities with Young People and Schools. Routledge, 30 Nov. 2021. Allowing equitable and inclusive growth requires strategic commitment to investing in people. When these strategies often become fixated on the physical environment, vibrancy often favors new residents leading to displacement of existing community members and business owners. This approach falls short of comprehensive revitalization, missing the opportunity for development necessary to maximize community gains, ensuring that revitalization efforts benefit all residents and contribute to the overall well-being of the community. In the book, Moor, M., & Rowland, J. (2006). Urban Design Futures. Routledge. Towers, Graham. Building Democracy. Routledge, 2 Sept. 2003. urbanization, consumerism, public space design, impacts social interactions. Exploring case studies of urban centers have experienced commercialization and transformation that provides valuable insight. Analyzing factors such as economic policies, urban planning decisions, and cultural shifts helps understand this transition. Fieldwork and observation are important components, requiring visits to urban centers to observe physical environments, street dynamics, and interaction patterns among residents and visitors. Key stakeholders such as urban planners, architects, residents, business owners, and graffiti artists offer diverse perspectives on the changes in urban centers and public space usage. Unjust systems in low-income neighborhoods can be rejected through community organizing, advocacy for policy changes, and slowing grassroots movements that demand equitable representation. There can be discriminatory practices and promote social, economic, and educational opportunities that empower residents. Shifting the focus of city development from downtown to neighborhoods involves implementing policies that provides investment in these areas. This can include offering tax incentives to businesses, creating infrastructure projects, and promoting mixed-use developments. By allowing a diverse and vibrant urban landscape beyond the downtown core, cities can promote more inclusive growth and address problems in different neighborhoods. Urban and socio-cultural systems created for low-income neighborhoods could include affordable housing projects, community centers, training programs, and small business support. Community-driven planning, where residents actively participate in decision-making processes, can help ensure that these systems are responsive to the unique needs and goals of the community. Revitalization strategies counteract future decline by emphasizing sustainable development, investing in education and skills training, and creating economic opportunities. Implementing long-term plans that prioritize the community’s voice, preserve cultural heritage, and address environmental concerns can contribute to the resilience of the community against future challenges. Youth engagement in Detroit neighborhoods can have a transformative effect by allowing leadership skills, educational opportunities, and community pride. Programs that focus on mentorship, arts and culture, and civic participation empower the youth to become advocates for positive change, contributing to the overall vibrancy and sustainability of the community. Development shapes future users through the creation of spaces and opportunities that influence behavior and social interactions. In the context of urban planning, thoughtful design that considers accessibility, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability can shape a community’s identity. Also, educational and cultural initiatives incorporated into development projects contribute to the formation of informed and engaged citizens who actively contribute to their community’s ongoing evolution. This thesis aims to propose strategies for supporting low-income communities, driven by the commitment to empower minorities through youth engagement and development. Rooted in my personal experience on the east side of Detroit, the mission focuses on providing access to skill development as key tools for breaking the cycle of underdevelopment. The goals is to equip individuals and the youth to be catalysts for positive change within their communities, allowing sustainable and inclusive development. This initiative responds to persistent disparities, serving a call to action to bridge gaps and ensure individuals can thrive and contribute to their community’s growth. To address research questions, I will imply a diverse range of data collection methods. This includes conducting interviews with community leaders and residents to gain insights into the specific problems and issues within the neighborhoods. Additionally, I performed mapping exercises to document the demographics and development areas, providing an overview of the resident population. Attending community meetings also furthered an understanding of perceived challenges and visual data such as photos and videos were captured on-site to assess walkability and the quality of the neighborhoods. Engagement with a youth program will be facilitated through workshops, creating reciprocal learning opportunities and the process will be documented through quotes, videos, photographs. These workshops will include group discussion, informal interviews with youth organization leaders that ensure an examination of research questions. Critics may argue that the emphasis on empowering minorities may create a narrative of dependency, reinforcing stereotypes and creating divisions. Additionally, opponents may think the single focus on education and skill development oversimplifies the complex factors contributing to underdevelopment in low—income communities. They may suggest that a more comprehensive approach, addressing economic policies, systemic inequalities, and broader societal structures, is necessary for meaningful and sustainable change. Furthermore, one might say the diversity of challenges within these communities may leave certain groups underserved. The limitations of my position could be that challenges come from the lack of resources, such as limited funding that may constrain the implementation of comprehensive initiatives. Along with resistance to change from entrenched interest can delay progress. Time-intensity of a sustainable community development process may hinder the resolution of urgent issues and cultural insensitivity in approaches may lead to ineffective interventions. Despite community efforts, existing policies and institutional barriers may create systemic injustices. Gentrification is also a risk creating potential displacement of existing residents, highlighting the need for careful planning. Economic downturns, political instability, environmental challenges and the necessity for engagement furthers the complex nature of community development in achieving lasting, equitable change. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis aims to interconnect various aspects of the unjust system affecting these communities, exploring both the causes and effects while proposing solutions to address these challenges and layout a system for resilient ad equitable programming while also recognizing the transformative potential of youth engagement, this thesis places a special emphasis on involving the younger demographic in the process of community development in Detroit. Analyzing factors such as economic policies, urban planning decisions, and cultural shifts helps understand this transition. Fieldwork and observation are important components, requiring visits to urban centers to observe physical environments, street dynamics, and interaction patterns among residents and visitors. Youth engagement in Detroit neighborhoods can have a transformative effect by allowing leadership skills, educational opportunities, and community pride. Youth engagement in Detroit can have a transformative effect by allowing leadership skills, educational opportunities, and community pride. Programs that focus on mentorship, arts and culture, and civic participation empower the youth to become advocates for positive change, contributing to the overall vibrancy and sustainability of the community. Attending community meetings also furthered an understanding of perceived challenges and visual data such as photos and videos were captured on-site to assess walkability and the quality of the neighborhoods. Engagement with a youth program will be facilitated through workshops, creating reciprocal learning opportunities and the process will be documented through quotes, videos, photographs. These workshops will include group discussion, informal interviews with youth organization leaders that ensure an examination of research questions. Interconnecting different aspects of the unjust system affecting these communities, this study dives into the causes and effects, proposing solutions to create a resilient and equitable foundation. The finding of this research contributes insights to community development, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities that are inherent in establishing sustainable neighborhoods. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | youth engagement | en_US |
| dc.subject | neighborhoods | en_US |
| dc.subject | community development | en_US |
| dc.title | Investing in Detroit | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
