Thousands of volunteers from dozens of businesses and community organizations converged on designated Detroit neighborhoods this week as Life Remodeled rolled out its 14th annual Six Day Project.
Life Remodeled, created around the idea that Detroiters have all the talent they need but lack access to all the opportunities they deserve, repurpose properties into one-stop hubs of opportunity for entire families to thrive.
The Six Day Project is designed to revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding those hubs. Clear and mow the front yards of vacant properties, trim overgrown trees and shrubs and clear out trash that’s been discarded.
“Our six-day project is a hugely impactful and transformative project,” founder and CEO Chris Lambert told volunteers in a video message. “It’s just one element of our sustainable neighborhood vitalization work.”
Adient, a global leader in automotive seating, believes in the Six Day Project enough to send a team of some 20 volunteers.
Industrial engineer Shaina Gooden said Adient has “always been involved” with Life Remodeled and revived its efforts in the last three years.
“I thought this would be a great initiative not only for myself, but for my company, to give back to the city,” said Gooden, a Detroit resident. “It’s super important (to get involved). A lot of people are not from this city, so it provides perspective outside of what they’re used to. It allows people to give back in other communities they might not know much about.”
That was the case for much of the crew volunteering for Mastercard. Without an office in the state, Mastercard employees in Michigan largely work remotely.
Their volunteers are from places like Livonia, Ann Arbor and Waterford.
Product manager Diane Dobleske, who organized Mastercard’s volunteer effort, said the project is a way “to get us together.”
“I enjoy doing it, so it was my push,” said Dobleske, volunteering for the sixth year. “We come to do this because it is a joy to see the neighbors come out, watch you clean a house that’s been abandoned next door, and then they thank you.”
Plante Moran, which got its start in Detroit 100 years ago, sent more than 15 volunteers to help out.
”Giving back to Detroit is important to us,” said Chris Jones, a partner in Plante Moran’s health care group. “Life Remodeled is an organization with a proven track record of doing that. We’ve participated for several years, and we just love contributing this way.”
Life Remodeled is grateful for the help.
“We are absolutely thrilled to continue investing in Detroit neighborhoods together with … thousands of volunteers,” Diallo Smith, Life Remodeled’s president and COO, told volunteers in a video message.
