Poster contest with DIA provides a chance to win $1,000 and a chance to display work, starts Dec. 15

DETROIT, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- For Sean Mann, "Let's Save Michigan" is much more than a clever campaign slogan. For him, it's a way of life.

That's why it was no surprise when the Detroit resident recently joined others in his Hubbard Farms neighborhood in Detroit's southwest side boarding up and painting abandoned homes in an effort to keep out vagrants and spruce up the area.

"We just wanted to secure the abandoned homes to keep people out of them and preserve them so when someone does move in, squatters have not stripped them," said Mann.

Practicing what he preaches, Mann, 29, is the driving force behind the Let's Save Michigan movement sweeping across the state in social media outlets such as Facebook (www.facebook.com/letssavemichigan) and the Internet (www.letssavemichigan.com). Since forming just three months ago, Let's Save Michigan already has more than 2,800 Facebook fans and nearly 400 followers on Twitter. The effort has the support of the Michigan Municipal League and other organizations.

Later this month, Mann and the Let's Save Michigan campaign is teaming up with the Detroit Institute of Arts to launch a poster contest where artists, illustrators and graphic designers can submit original posters to inspire Michiganders to revive their state. The winner will be awarded $1,000, the runner-up will receive $250, and other prizes will go to remaining finalists. There will also be a reception for the finalists in the spring. Details on the poster competition, which runs Dec. 15 through Feb. 15, are at letssavemichigan.com.

Let's Save Michigan is a grassroots campaign to inspire Michiganders to advocate and get informed about legislation and policies that will help cities attract a talented workforce necessary for a diverse 21st century economy. The goal is to not only have that talented workforce in Michigan, but also have them take action to improve their communities.

"When we say 'take action' that can be anything from joining a neighborhood watch group to seeking a position on the local planning commission or city council," Mann said. "We just want people to be engaged and advocate for their communities."

The effort is also to inform people about the connection between having vibrant communities and a strong economy.

"Many people don't realize that having a strong city or town will improve the local economy," Mann said. "They miss out on that connection, but it's a strong connection. Everyone wants a better place to live and this Let's Save Michigan campaign is doing something about that. We want to develop cities and communities where people will want to live."

"A goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of having communities with the quality-of-life elements that people are seeking, including vibrant arts and cultural activities, walkable neighborhoods, jobs and a strong education system. The hope is to get these issues of quality of life and place into the discussions surrounding the 2010 elections," said Mann, a 1999 Livonia Stevenson High School graduate and 2003 Kalamazoo College graduate.

But Mann also represents the demographic that many successful urban areas have flourished around -young, college-educated professionals. In addition to getting out hammer and nail or paint brush to improve his own community, Mann writes many feature stories on the positive people and businesses that make Michigan a great place to live and work. He recently started a series called "Making Michigan" that has profiled The Redford Theatre, a deli and antique center in Flint, the importance of arts and cultural organizations in a community and The People's Food Co-op in Ann Arbor. Many more articles are to come highlighting businesses and people throughout various Michigan communities.

"I like to write stories about the people who are the difference makers in their community," Mann said. "I like focusing on the everyday person who has turned the vacant store front into a vibrant downtown business or the group that has organized a block club or planted an urban garden. Those are the stories that interest many people."

On the Web: http://www.letssavemichigan.com

Photo of Sean Mann: http://www.letssavemichigan.com/page/-/Sean.Mann.JPG

More about Let's Save Michigan: http://www.letssavemichigan.com/pages/about-us/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/letssavemich

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LetsSaveMichigan

SOURCE Let's Save Michigan

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