Folks:
Art Mural Project Partnership
Blight Busters
Contacts: Mr. John George; President, Motor City Blight Busters 17405 Lahser Rd., Detroit, MI 48219 Phone: 313.255.4355 Mr. Kevin Fobbs; President, National Urban Policy Action Council Phone: 313.342.8460 Email: kfobbs@ix.netcom.com or kfobbs@nupac.org
U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY ALPHONSO JACKSON COMES TO DETROIT, MICHIGAN TO VISIT AND WORK ON A MOTOR CITY BLIGHT BUSTERS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTOn Monday, July 19, 2004, the Honorable Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be coming to Detroit, Michigan. Secretary Jackson will visit Motor City Blight Busters at 1:00 p.m. EDT at the Motor City Resource Center located at 17405 Lahser, 1 block N. of Grand River in Detroit, Michigan. Secretary Jackson will join with other officials and civic and community volunteers to work on several simultaneous community service projects – a mural painting, two crack house demolitions, and new home build.
Motor City Blight Busters, a member of the Brightmoor Alliance, is an organization dedicated to improving the community through beautifying neglected neighborhoods and ridding them of abandoned homes that attract criminal activity and providing health, educational, and affordable housing options to residents. This successful organization has grown to become the “poster child” and “role model” for other community organizations to follow throughout the entire nation.
Not only will Secretary Jackson be dressed to work on one of the several Blight Buster projects planned for Monday, but he will begin his visit by touring the Motor City Resource Center, where Blight Busters is headquartered, and he will learn about the history and future of this inspirational community organization directly from its founder, Mr. John George.
Secretary Jackson will also hear about the unending support that this organization has received from key corporate supporters including Chrysler Financial; Qualigence, Inc.; and Ford Motor Company. All three organizations are dedicated to the mission and positive change that this organization is making in our community.
Chrysler Financial has recently donated a Sprinter Van to Blight Busters for use in transporting paint and materials to and from project sites. The van is wrapped with artwork created by one of the Blight Busters’ artists, Chazz Miller.
? Qualigence, Inc., a local, fast-growing recruiting firm headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, has partnered with Motor City Blight Busters to launch the Blight Busters Kids initiative. Inspirational kids programs have been created to involve and motivate children in ways to restore and beautify their own communities. The Kids Initiative is planned to occupy the third floor of the Motor City Resource Center that will be renovated to best be utilized for the youth and their programs. The third floor headquarters will be a field-trip destination for schools to educate young people about how their involvement in their communities makes a difference.
Ford Motor Company has been a major supporter of Motor City Blight Busters for 10 of the 16 years of its existence and has recently donated a new F-350 truck for use in transporting materials. Over the years, the Ford supporters have initiated several events where hundreds of Ford employees participated in numerous community projects including crack house demolitions and building new residential homes. The support of Ford Motor Company has been instrumental in keeping John George and Motor City Blight Busters moving forward in their mission of positive change in the community.
Secretary Jackson will also hear comments from community residents who have benefited from the work that Motor City Blight Busters has completed in their community. Secretary Jackson will address an expected crowd that will include other officials including former Congressman J.C. Watts, Lt. Governor of Maryland Michael Steele, and Hall of Fame Football legend Lynn Swann Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports as well as Motor City Blight Busters volunteers, members of the Brightmoor Alliance, local civic and business leaders and others.
Immediately following the comments, Secretary Jackson will tour Blight Busters project sites including: the painting of a mural commemorating Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Artists Village where the Public Art Works (PAWZ) kids art program operates, and a crack house demolition where Secretary Jackson is planning to work.
His visit will end at approximately 2:15 p.m. EDT. John George, founder of Motor City Blight Busters comments “Our mission for Blight Busters has not changed from the first day we opened these doors -- to eliminate the negative, creative positive energy, and influence others to join in the efforts to stabilize and restore pride to our Detroit community. I am thrilled that we will have the opportunity to showcase Motor City Blight Busters and the positive work it does in the community to Secretary Jackson and the Department of Housing and Urban Development”.
Company/Organization Information: Founded by John George more than 16 years ago, Motor City Blight Busters is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to stabilize, revitalize and repopulate the city of Detroit with homeowners and give people the opportunity to take ownership in the communities in which they live.
