Detroit Nation
By Ebony Nicole
Every year hundreds of young professionals leave Detroit and move out of state. Many of these Detroit imports settle in other big cities and, although they are miles away, they still feel connected to Detroit and feel the need to respond to the negative press and be a part of the many revitalization efforts taking place in our great city.
This is what Detroit Nation is all about.
Detroit Nation was founded in 2010 in response to what founder Rachel Jacobs and a group of friends in NYC saw as a missed opportunity. They saw a need to connect former Detroiters across the country to the good news that is happening in our city and also provide ways for people to give back and stay involved with their home community. Since its inception, Detroit Nation has grown to include New York City, Chicago and L.A, and it is still growing.
So, what does it mean to be a member of Detroit Nation? Regional leader Adam Babcock of the Chicago Chapter says, "Being a member of Detroit Nation gives me a way to stay connected and give back to my home community. I have not lived in Michigan for a long time now, but I was always proud of where I came from. It was disheartening to hear all of the negative sentiments being said about Detroit. Now, as a member of Detroit Nation, I have a method of spreading the good news, and getting other people involved as well! It has been great to see how receptive people have been to the organization."
Not only is Detroit Nation effective at spreading the good news about our city throughout the nation but their efforts help several local charities and organizations as well. Sara Sefcovic of the New York City Chapter says they try their best to always have a great program lineup which keeps people involved, including the Kick for Detroit Fundraiser, the Discover the D Weekend, and an upcoming panel discussion, among many other events. Her desire to play a role in Detroit's revival is what drives her and other members to "remain engaged, involved, and committed to Detroit's success".
In addition to holding events in the cities in which they have chapter, Community Outreach is also a top priority of this group. Partnering with New Detroit this past spring, they piloted a volunteer program where they provided technical assistance - including marketing, strategy, and graphic design - to 8 community-based non-profits served by New Detroit. The organizations served by their volunteers include the Oakland Avenue Farmer's Market, Peaches and Greens, Solid Foundation, Heritage Works, Centro Multicultural la Familia and Wigs for Kids.
"Our future goals are to continue to expand our chapters and local programming, and to strengthen our volunteer program to provide connections to national resources that can help Detroit-based startup companies and non-profits continue to grow," says, co-founder Rachel Jacobs.
On October 15th, in conjunction with 'Discover the D,' Detroit Nation will work with CommunityNEXT to host a launch party for the 'Live Detroit Fund.' This is a program providing rent subsidies for 25 next-gen leaders that live in Detroit.
Making a big difference in Detroit even though they are miles away has been the aim of the vibrant young leaders of Detroit Nation since day one. Dedicated to supporting the Detroit region by directing the money, skills and energy of native Detroiters to people and organizations engaged in economic development, cultural innovation and job creation in Southeastern Michigan has proven to be a winning solution to help take our city to the next level.
This is what Detroit Nation is all about.
Detroit Nation was founded in 2010 in response to what founder Rachel Jacobs and a group of friends in NYC saw as a missed opportunity. They saw a need to connect former Detroiters across the country to the good news that is happening in our city and also provide ways for people to give back and stay involved with their home community. Since its inception, Detroit Nation has grown to include New York City, Chicago and L.A, and it is still growing.
So, what does it mean to be a member of Detroit Nation? Regional leader Adam Babcock of the Chicago Chapter says, "Being a member of Detroit Nation gives me a way to stay connected and give back to my home community. I have not lived in Michigan for a long time now, but I was always proud of where I came from. It was disheartening to hear all of the negative sentiments being said about Detroit. Now, as a member of Detroit Nation, I have a method of spreading the good news, and getting other people involved as well! It has been great to see how receptive people have been to the organization."
Not only is Detroit Nation effective at spreading the good news about our city throughout the nation but their efforts help several local charities and organizations as well. Sara Sefcovic of the New York City Chapter says they try their best to always have a great program lineup which keeps people involved, including the Kick for Detroit Fundraiser, the Discover the D Weekend, and an upcoming panel discussion, among many other events. Her desire to play a role in Detroit's revival is what drives her and other members to "remain engaged, involved, and committed to Detroit's success".
In addition to holding events in the cities in which they have chapter, Community Outreach is also a top priority of this group. Partnering with New Detroit this past spring, they piloted a volunteer program where they provided technical assistance - including marketing, strategy, and graphic design - to 8 community-based non-profits served by New Detroit. The organizations served by their volunteers include the Oakland Avenue Farmer's Market, Peaches and Greens, Solid Foundation, Heritage Works, Centro Multicultural la Familia and Wigs for Kids.
"Our future goals are to continue to expand our chapters and local programming, and to strengthen our volunteer program to provide connections to national resources that can help Detroit-based startup companies and non-profits continue to grow," says, co-founder Rachel Jacobs.
On October 15th, in conjunction with 'Discover the D,' Detroit Nation will work with CommunityNEXT to host a launch party for the 'Live Detroit Fund.' This is a program providing rent subsidies for 25 next-gen leaders that live in Detroit.
Making a big difference in Detroit even though they are miles away has been the aim of the vibrant young leaders of Detroit Nation since day one. Dedicated to supporting the Detroit region by directing the money, skills and energy of native Detroiters to people and organizations engaged in economic development, cultural innovation and job creation in Southeastern Michigan has proven to be a winning solution to help take our city to the next level.
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