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Rally Draws 900 People

 

And Key Pledges from Policymakers

 

The rally “Coming Together for a Better Detroit” drew 900 people and significant, specific pledges from Robert Bobb, city officials and law-enforcement leaders on issues of quality schools, abandoned buildings, youth violence, and immigration reform.

The rally was held in southwest Detroit on March 22. It was organized by a coalition of parents, youth, educators, community agencies and organizations, and faith leaders. The coalition is called "Our Kids Come First” and it continues to grow and pick up momentum, after starting from scratch two years ago.

Policymakers who appeared at the rally made many key commitments in response to requests made by parents and students.

• Kim James, director of the Detroit Department of Building Safety and Engineering, agreed to demolish 50 abandoned and dangerous houses near neighborhood schools. James pledged to tear down these “Filthy Fifty” houses, identified by parent organizers, by next March.

• Robert Bobb, DPS Emergency Financial Manager, agreed to:

1. Assign teachers to their classrooms at least a month before school starts
2. Involve the community in the design of the new Munger school in southwest Detroit
3. Enact a robust college-readiness tracking system to keep parents informed about whether their children are on course for college
4. Increase bilingual services at certain schools
5. Secure community input about which organizations will be operating the 41 schools converted to charter schools under a new DPS budget-reducing plan

• Saul Green, Deputy Mayor of Detroit, announced that Youth Voice will help present Detroit’s plan to reduce youth violence to the U.S. Department of Justice this spring. Youth Voice is a student community organization with chapters in schools across the city. The plan is based on a successful, evidence-based model called “CeaseFire” that combines data-driven policing, street outreach workers, more jobs and services targeted to youth, and stronger community partnerships to address crime and violence.

• Barbara McQuade, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, pledged to vigorously investigate and prosecute civil rights violations committed by law enforcement officers against immigrants and ethnic groups.

“We cannot and will not tolerate racial and ethnic profiling by our own government,” McQuade said at the rally. “It is illegal and immoral. Moreover, the key to our future in our state is to be a welcoming community for immigrants.”

Policymakers who attended were impressed by the turnout, enthusiasm and organizational strength at the rally.

“I wish I could get the same results from the City in tearing down the abandoned houses on my list,” said Robert Bobb, with a smile.

“I am prepared to continue my work with Our Kids Come First to improve our schools,” Bobb said. “Every commitment I made to you tonight we will try to accomplish together.”

Rally organizers had hoped that Michael Flanagan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, would attend the rally to back up the commitments made by Robert Bobb. Organizers are planning to go to Lansing on Tuesday, March 29 to press Flanagan on the issue.

Youth Voice presented a special “Increase the Peace” award to Roderick Grimes, DPS Police Chief, who has been working with the group for a year and a half.

“From my first meeting with Youth Voice, I was impressed with the organization,” Grimes said. “My buy-in was immediate.”

The success of the rally is a result of the efforts of our Community Partnerships program in collaboration with the Harriet Tubman Center.

"Parents, youth, organizers and many others worked passionately and diligently to plan this event and make sure it achieved concrete outcomes to help our community move forward," said Bill O'Brien, director of Community Partnerships at Southwest Solutions. "This kind of leadership development is a precursor to what we call the rebirth of civil society."

In addition to "Our Kids Come First" and Youth Voice, the rally was sponsored by:

• Southwest Solutions
• Congress of Communities
• Alliance for Immigration Reform (AIR)
• Detroit Educators Network
• and other organizations

The rally was held at Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM.

 

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Contact:
Steve Palackdharry
Communications Manager
313.297.1374
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