With rising temperatures these last few months, Springwells Village took the opportunity to focus on some spring cleaning pretty seriously. Detroit Partnership Day in March and Global Youth Service Day in April brought together over 200 volunteers from 10 different organizations to go head to head with growing eyesores and safety hazards in the community.

Detroit Partnership Day is organized annually by the Detroit Partnership, a University of Michigan student group that seeks to build positive relationships

Volunteers included students from the University of Michigan, Chrysler employees and their family members, staff members from UNI, and members of the Springdale-Woodmere Block Club, Detroit Southwest Pride, Harms Elementary Parent Group, and Youth Interfaith Dialogues taking place

between UNI, ACCESS, and Henry Ford Community College. Together, these groups removed graffiti, cleaned two community parks, laid the footing for a new park sign, and removed over 18 tons of litter and debris from two illegal dumping sites in the community. In addition, the owner of Danto Furniture worked alongside the volunteers with his own crew, boarding up three vacant, open, and dangerous homes directly across the street from Harms Elementary School's playground.  

Three weeks later, for Global Youth Service Day, UNI partnered with the Springdale- Woodmere Block Club, Detroit Southwest Pride, New City Friends, Kalamazoo Collage alums and youth members of UNI's Youth Advisory Board and the Springwells Village Youth Outreach Team. Though a much smaller group, 40 volunteers gathered on the cold Saturday morning to make a difference in the Elsmere and Lane area of the neighborhood. Weiss Playlot was cleaned, a local community garden was prepared for planting, and two more locations of illegal dumping were tackled. The tonnage reports are not available yet, but two entire dumpsters were filled in a matter of a few hours showing that small but mighty groups can make a difference too. The April event ended in Weiss Playlot with a group cookout and reflection. Looking around, resident Jesse Gonzales remarked, "This is what it's about, doing the right thing and keeping our park clean." 

Cleanups on their own do not stop illegal dumping, but every time residents and volunteer groups come together to take action, relationships are built, faith is restored, and those dumping are deterred from returning. Through Motorcity Makeover in May and Southwest Housing Solutions Beautification Day in June, UNI plans to be very involved in community cleanup efforts with a goal of no less than one major cleanup taking place during every warm weather month. To get involved in UNI's next cleanup event or to connect with other cleanup events around the Springwells Village community, contact Kate Solis at ksolis@unidetroit.org or (313) 451-8380.

These cleanup events would not be possible without volunteers to do the work, but many organizations and partners help support that work by lending tools, funding dumpster rentals, and donating supplies and refreshments. Thank you to the Starbucks in East Dearborn, Sheila's Bakery, the Subway located on Vernor Highway, Harms Elementary School, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Southwest Detroit Business Association, the Southwest Community Access Center, Bridging Communities, Chrysler, the Detroit Partnership, and Kalamazoo College for helping to feed and outfit our many volunteers! 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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Suburban Contractor Steps Up After WXYZ Special on Metal Theft

Parks, as spaces of recreation, beauty, and community gathering, are near and dear to UNI's vision of a revitalized community. Two years ago UNI raised nearly $400,000 to redevelop the badly neglected Weiss Playlot. Since it's rededication in 2010, Weiss Playlot has been a point of pride for the community. On a warm summer day dozens of families and children can be seen spending time with one another in the park. Volunteer groups often utilize Weiss as a prime gathering spot before and after neighborhood volunteer efforts. An ADA accessible park, Weiss has become home to families in need of accommodating spaces for children with a variety of physical or developmental disabilities. 

When 120 feet of fencing was stolen from the park, it not only posed a danger for children playing next to a high traffic road, but as State Representative Tlaib said, it made people feel defeated. Thanks to many individuals, the Sterling Fence owner saw the piece on how 

scrap metal theft had impacted Weiss Playlot and the surrounding community. The rest is 

history. Please join UNI in thanking Sterling Fence for supporting Springwells Village and the many residents and neighborhood organizations who work so hard to uplift and better this community! 

To read more about this amazing story, or to watch the news clip featuring State Representative Rashida Tlaib, UNI Executive Director Dennis Nordmoe, Giles Crouch of Sterling Fence, and Springdale-Woodmere Block Club member Connie Saez, go to the WXYZ story found here.

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Support Adult Education | UNI Needs You

UNI needs your help locating resources to support our adult education program, including English as a Second Language, GED studies, and Computer Literacy. These proven and popular programs are hanging by a thread, specifically the donations of one person, one bank (Comerica), and student fees. This support will run out shortly unless we locate another resource! Please give us a hand - donations, GoodSearch, GoodDining, in-kind instruction, whatever method you choose, just lead us to the money! It does not take much. $50 can cover materials and one hour of instruction for 10 to 20 people. Supporting adult education supports the entire community. To make a pledge today call us at (313) 841-4447 or donate via Paypal now. 

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UNI Around Town and in the News

UNI will once again be partnering with Kelli Kavanaugh of Wheelhouse Detroit in an effort to raise awareness about the presence of public art in Springwells Village. Last summer, staff members from UNI and Wheelhouse jointly designed "Murals of Southwest Detroit," a bicycle tour focused on murals, mosaics, and sculptures found in the public spaces of Southwest Detroit. The 2011 tours sold out quickly and were guided by UNI's very own Tiffany Tononi. The tour highlights many pieces located off the beaten path, tucked in the neighborhoods of Springwells Village, Mexicantown, and Corktown. This tour will continue to be offered this year beginning in May. For information on bike rental, service, and retail options at Wheelhouse's RiverWalk headquarters, or to register for upcoming tours, visit their website here. To view pictures from last year, visit our facebook album here.

UNI was recently mentioned on local blog Positive Detroit and in El Central, Michigan's oldest and largest Hispanic print newspaper. What's all the fuss? Animal advocate and Detroit Dog Movement founder, Elisandra Figueroa recently reached out to multiple organizations in the Springwells Village area to connect the community with a much needed service - affordable spaying and neutering for pets. In fact, through Detroit Dog Movement, Figueroa was able to partner with All About Animals to bring the area's first-ever mobile spay/neuter unit

Important Upcoming Dates: April & May 

• Celebrate children and literacy at Dia de los Ninos, Dia de los Libros on Saturday, April 28 from 10:00-3:00pm at Clark Park. To donate books to this event, or for more information, contact Debra Spring at Matrix Human Services, (313) 962-5255. 

• Detroit Southwest Pride (DSWP) will host the second annual Southwest Detroit Peace March & Rally on Sunday, April 29. The event will begin at Patton Park at 6:00pm and end at Clark Park with a candlelight vigil and peace rally. Participants are asked to wear white and encouraged to make signs calling for peace. For more information, visit the DSWP website here.

• All of Springwells Village is invited to UNI's Community Action Meeting taking place next week on Wednesday, May 2 at Phoenix Academy (7735 Lane). Residents are invited for refreshments and community resources at 5:30pm. The meeting will begin at 6:00pm and focus on actions residents and organizations can take to move the community forward. Check out the Community Action Meeting flyer here!

• The Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning Team invites all residents of Southwest Detroit to join the final two Community Conversations. These conversations will take place on May 10 and May 23 from 5:30-8:00pm at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (1211 Trumbull). For more information, contact the Long Term Planning Team at (313) 259-4407. If you are interested in carpooling from the Springwells Village area call (313) 451-8380.  

• Wheelhouse Detroit's first "Murals of Southwest Detroit" bicycle tour for the season will take place Saturday, May 19 from 1-4pm. Support Wheelhouse and UNI by registering here.

• The Southwest Detroit Business Association is hosting Connect Over Coffee on Thursday, May 31 from 8:00-9:00am at Cafe con Leche (4200 W. Vernor). Business owners are encouraged to come out for some early morning networking. For more information contact Myrna Segura at (313) 842-0986.

• Don't forget! UNI's Brown Bag Lunch Gatherings will continue to take place every Wednesday from 12:00-1:00pm at 8300 Longworth. Bring your lunch and meet your neighbors.  

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Don't Forget to Follow Us on Twitter

UNI can now be found on Twitter, tweeting along with the likes of Savor Southwest, Hostel Detroit, Detroit Mayor David Bing, and even President Barack Obama. For those who are not familiar, Twitter is an online venue for friends, family, co-workers, and organizations to stay connected by exchanging quick, frequent messages on Twitter accounts. If you are not on Twitter yet, consider opening an account and stay better connected to exciting daily happenings here at UNI. If you already have an account, you can start following UNI's tweets now at UNI_Detroit!