Curtis Lipscomb, executive director of LGBT Detroit with Officer Dani Woods, LGBT Liaison with the Detroit Police Department and Tim Retzloff, who teaches LGBT studies and U.S. history at Michigan State University, during a Talk Tuesday event on Aug. 8 to discuss the film 'Detroit' in the new outdoor gathering space. Photo courtesy of LGBT Detroit
LGBT Detroit has created a new outdoor gathering space where area residents and visitors will be invited to weekly public forums and other community gatherings. The space – also dedicated to the performing arts – was made possible by a Detroit 67 Placemaking Grant.
Funds were used to clear debris and overgrowth in the space behind the organization's office building at 20025 Greenfield Rd. in Detroit and to install a garden and seating area.
Community Development Advocates of Detroit led the neighborhood placemaking grant process to provide support and funding for the creation of projects in each of the city's seven council districts. In keeping with the Detroit 67 Project, the theme for placemaking projects was Looking Back to Move Forward – engaging residents, highlighting possibility and reimagining the city.
Projects by community groups, block clubs, community development organizations and others working in Detroit's neighborhoods were selected through an application process led by a community review committee. Seven grants of $7,000 each were awarded in April 2017 – with support from the PNC Foundation – to selected projects that envision creative public spaces and offer opportunities for people to come together.
"We recognize there is a place for people who resist and so we use this new space for the creative class to express themselves through the performing arts. We wish to celebrate unity and to defeat policies that harm LGBT advancements," said Curtis Lipscomb, executive director of LGBT Detroit. "This was done with great support and leadership from people who were there during the upraising. We were able to find references of queer people who participated in this watershed moment in our history. Our dear friend and elder, Mr. (Marvin) Lee provided resources and data for us to use to become a recipient of this incredible honor."
