URBAN WISDOM

On Thursday, December 13, 2018 at the historic Scarab Club in Detroit, we invited three tried & true Detroiters to offer some urban wisdom: What’s their advice to next generation city builders?

Consulate host Orlando Bailey welcomed Detroit Innovation Fellow Beverly Frederick of North Rosedale Park and writer & historian Marsha Music for a fireside chat with a full room of wisdom seekers. (Sadly, Phillis Judkins of the North End neighborhood was not feeling well and sent her regrets. Feel better, Phillis!)

Watch the video here:

"How many people here are newer to the city? Have you ever been *welcomed* to the City of Detroit? I’m going to say it: WELCOME to this magnificent place. It’s a cauldron of wonderfulness." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"I truly believe there is hope in this city for those of us who have determined we *want* to live together." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

Advice for city builders? "Try to be aware of having events that are difficult for seniors to access. Getting up steps is a significant challenge." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"Stop renaming streets. The name of West Grand Boulevard is West Grand Boulevard. Colloquially it is “The Boulevard," not “Grand.” This truncating is a lack of understanding. Let’s maintain respect for the cultural history of the city." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"My advice? Read. Read. Read. Read about Detroit. Read Detroit history. Read anthologies. Just open them up sometimes, you’ll learn a lot in there." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"Go to events that Black elders give. Particularly jazz events, church events. They are amazing, you will learn more about people if you attend. I see virtually no young white people. But I thought you all loved Detroit so much? Where y’at?" —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"If you promise to do something, stick to it. Follow through. If you feel like you can’t do something anymore, give it a day. Then keep going. People will come out of the woodwork to help you." —Beverly Frederick #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"I try to embrace people where they are. No matter their walk of life or color of skin. But that’s a long lesson learned, it comes with living. I think it’s easy to make assumptions. I just want you to get to know your neighbors."—Beverly Frederick #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"We’ve been victims of a cruelty that has kept us divided. There is a difference between blame and responsibility." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"Be kind to people. You’ll be surprised that people will help you. That’s been my journey with the city, all the layers of bureaucracy. Just connecting with people." —Beverly Frederick #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"Those of you who are blessed enough to be here in the city at this juncture, this is an *amazing* time. It’s a time of extreme flux and dynamism, what’s happening here. People should pay attention. Write about it." —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

"There's a new birth of urban humanity that is happening here. It’s not just people moving around, it’s a reconfiguration of humanity. It’s a certain social and spiritual experience: Can we do this? Can we live together?" —Marsha Music #UrbanWisdom #Detroit

— Urban Consulate (@UrbanConsulate) December 14, 2018

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This parlor talk was made possible thanks to our partners at The Scarab Club, MILO Digital, New Economy Initiative, and Knight Foundation.

To learn more about the Detroit Innovation Fellows, read here.