Second Annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Rising Summit is Nov. 5

NEIGHBORHOOD SUCCESS STORIES ARE PART OF RESOURCE FAIR THAT WILL OFFER RESIDENTS TIPS, STRATEGIES ON IMPROVING THEIR COMMUNITIES; MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL UPDATE CITIZENS ON DETROIT WORKS PROJECT

DETROIT, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Detroit residents will share success stories and winning moments in the effort to transform city neighborhoods at  the second annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods  Rising Summit, Saturday, Nov. 5, on the downtown campus of Wayne County Community College District.

The summit, a resource fair and expo, is designed to give residents and community groups strategies and resources to improve their neighborhoods. Workshops will include community leaders and experts working on the front lines of change in Detroit. They will share advice and success stories on a wide range of topics, including removing blighted housing, neighborhood organizing, forming block clubs,  establishing citizen safety patrols to fight crime, home maintenance and housing development, youth development, creating farmers markets, urban gardening and more.

Among the participating community leaders will be:

• Scott Alan Davis, director of Vanguard CDC, who is developing new housing in Detroit.
• Joshua Elling of the Jefferson East Business Association, who has revitalized an east side area of Detroit with his business collaborations.
• Shirley Burch of Communities United for Progress, who has forged a strong community/business relationship with the Belmont Shopping Center in northeast Detroit.
• Nat Van Noord of the Greening of Detroit, which has helped beautify neighborhoods by planting thousands of trees.
• Tim Addy of Handyman Ministries, who has donated hundreds of volunteer hours to maintain and renovate homes in Detroit. He will lead a workshop on home repairs and home maintenance.
• Selena Johnson, director of the Hollywood Golf Institute, whose youth golf program has secured college golf scholarship for more than 150 youngsters.
• Dalton Roberson Jr., who heads the Vacant Property Campaign to reduce blighted housing in Detroit.
• Teferi Brent and WCHB radio personality Angelo Henderson, leaders of the Detroit 300 citizen patrol program, which has led to the arrest of a number of crime suspects.
• Eugene Johnson, director of the Detroit House Commission, who will discuss changes and improvements in the city's public housing complexes.

The summit will also feature an update and progress report on the Detroit Works Project from the administration of Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. The Detroit Works Project, the product of months of discussions and community meetings, is the centerpiece of the mayor's effort to redefine city neighborhoods.  Earlier this year, the administration targeted three areas of Detroit as pilot neighborhoods for the project, aimed at reducing blight and making neighborhoods more livable.

Sponsored by the Kresge Foundation, the Summit will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the downtown campus of WCCCD, located at 1001 W. Fort Street, 48226.

In addition, there will be community organization exhibitors and vendors with information and resources to help neighborhood residents improve their neighborhoods.

"We see the Neighborhood Summit as a complement to our annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Day, which showcases what groups are doing to improve our city," said Luther Keith, executive director of ARISE Detroit! "The summit will offer participants valuable skills, tips, resources and networking opportunities to make their neighborhoods stronger and healthier."

The event is free and open to the public. It will include a continental breakfast and lunch.

However, all participants are urged to register at www.arisedetroit.org to secure a spot in the workshops. They can also phone 313-921-1955.

Funded by the Kresge and Skillman foundations, ARISE Detroit! is a coalition more than 400 community organizations promoting volunteerism, community activism and positive media images to create a better Detroit.

SOURCE ARISE Detroit!