Day Four: "A Change is Gonna Come"

Every great adventure starts with a monumental foundation. Today, ours started with the car ride to Earthworks. As we were listening to the radio, the quintessential sound of the piano in Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” took over the car in a group-led car concert. Doug told us the story of how the song came to be— 8 months in the making, the song started when Steve Perry asked his father for gas money to travel back home, but instead received a check for $3,000 with the simple memo - “don’t stop believing.” Journey’s story of resilience rings true in relation to the struggles Detroit also faces and how the community is overcoming it.

Josh, Alesha, Sidney, and Aidan working on compost at the hoop house

Once we got to Earthworks, we met with Patrick, Wendy, Tyler, and Darryld. As we were recounting our previous night, Patrick, the farming manager, mentioned that the ice cream place we went to last night was located in the wealthier suburb of Grosse Pointe. Historically, Grosse Pointe is known for having houses with covenants in their housing deeds that forbid blacks, Jews, or Catholics from buying those houses. While not legally binding anymore, this is one of the examples of racial injustice that continues to prevail in Detroit. 

 

Here is the group seeding

After our discussion, we started the day’s work. In the morning, we went to the Gleaner’s composting area. Here we used giant sifters, shovels, and wheelbarrows to separate bigger debris from the finer compost. Compost is made of decomposing food scraps made of mostly pre-consumed vegetable scraps along with leaves, grass, and wood chips. We learned that cooked food and animal products can’t be used in compost because it attracts rats. Compost is used as a soil amendment but above 20% it can be harmful to the soil as a whole. 

Chloe and Alesha seeding

While we were working, we struck up a conversation with Darryld. He has been volunteering at Earthworks since its start in 1997. He then took a full-time position as Risk Management Officer in 2010. He runs the bike shop at Earthworks, where he does repairs bicycles every Wednesday. 

 

Doug and Ellen "singing" in the studio

After a morning full of shoveling compost, we went to lunch at the soup kitchen located at Earthworks. During lunch, we all sat with community members and were able to talk with them about their experiences living in Detroit.

With a full stomach, we then went to the greenhouse with Patrick and Tyler. In the greenhouse we were taught how to properly plant seedling by Patrick. The seedlings we planted would then be used for Keep Growing Detroit, which gives plants to those who want to have gardens in Detroit. The seedlings we planted included parsley, eggplant, and cayenne pepper. While the rest of the group planted seedlings, three of us sifted soil and made soil blocks for seeding.

 

Outside the Motown Museum

After planting and making soul blocks for a few hours, we left Earthworks to travel to the Motown Museum. The Motown Museum was the original birthplace of Motown Records, created by Berry Gordy. Some of the recording artists include the Jackson Five, the Supremes, Marvin Gay, Stevie Wonder, and many more. Berry Gordy was a trailblazer in the community as far as racial integration and musical creativity. Gordy brought Detroit together in a way that changed America.

            “Motown was about music for all people, white and black, blue and green, cops and robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.” -Berry Gordy   

 

Here is the group in the world famous "Studio A". So many of the most famous Motown  artists recored in this studio

The goal of Motown was to create an all-inclusive group that inspired others with their messages of shared love and heartache. It was a beautiful reminder of the flourishing history that took place in Detroit and the promising possibilities it still holds. As we ended the night with reflection, we listened to the song “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cook. The hopeful message that change is going to come even in the midst of troublesome situations is something that resonated with all of us. The point of the Detroit trip is to learn about racial inequality and urban farming, and although it can be easy to be weighed down by the issues we experience, it is important to remember that tough times won’t last forever.

-       Ellen Madden, Sophomore Biology Major

-       Chloe Forbes, Junior Journalism Major

Day Three: Pruning, Seeding, and Composting Oh My!

Hello Everyone!

The day began early in the morning as we all prepared for our first day at Earthworks! Adorned with work boots and multiple layers to combat the cold, we ventured off for our day at the farm. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the welcoming face of a man named Tyler who led us into the building. Once inside we met Wendy, who is the coordinator and head of marketing at Earthworks. Wendy and Tyler then proceeded to teach us some information about Earthworks and about themselves; such as how they entered into the business of urban farming and the logistics of how they run the business. Soon after, we were given a tour of the three main regions of the Earthworks urban farm.

These are some transplants that Earthworks grows for community partners

First, Wendy directed our attention to the processing shed where workers and volunteers thoroughly clean what was harvested from the farm. The wall of the shed had a large styled sign depicting the rules and methods of washing what was harvested. Adjacent to the processing shed was the bike repair area where Earthworks does free bike repairs for community members.

 Afterward, Wendy walked with us to the greenhouse on the Earthworks property. Once inside, Wendy talked about the use of the greenhouse as a center for the growth of newly planted saplings. Earthworks is responsible for doing 40% of the germination and transplanting of seeds in the city of Detroit. Next, we moved to a structure similar to the greenhouse called the hoophouse. The hoophouse is run via solar energy rather than natural gas like the greenhouse. Therefore, the hoophouse is more suitable for growing plants that are less temperature-dependent. In addition, collected rainwater is stored in large containment barrels to be used for their drip irrigation systems. The last region was Gleaner’s field, where we saw an area designated for field production and composting. 

Doug in his natural habitat

Alesha and her composting!!!

After our tour, we went to lunch in the Capuchin soup kitchen located within the Earthworks community. Earthworks donates 90% of its harvested products to the soup kitchen. While there, we sat among community members and shared a filling meal, preparing us for a busy afternoon. Supplied with work gloves and pruning shears, we headed out into the Earthworks orchard to learn from the farm manager Patrick. He taught us the interesting methods of pruning the apple and pear trees found within the orchard. Without hesitation, we began clearing away excess branches from the trees stimulating further future growth. 

Here is Patrick teaching us how to prune some of the trees in the orchard

Patrick made an excellent observation while teaching our group about pruning the fruit trees. He stated that he really was not teaching us about how to prune trees. Rather, he was teaching us about life. He said that similar to the complexity of the tree branches, the complexity of our lives can be made simpler by clearing away what is unnecessary and focusing upon the central framework that gives our lives meaning. As we pruned more and more trees, Tyler told the entire group interesting riddles which brought us closer to him as well as each other. He made a point of making us feel welcome and was able to keep smiles on our faces as we worked in the orchard. 

Nothing beats pruning trees in Detroit!

Overall, the day's experience was mentally and physically stimulating as we delved into the complex world of urban farming and community building in Detroit. One of the major lessons we took from today is that change in the world does not have to be a large endeavor, rather small contributions can make a major difference. 

Sincerely,

-Sara Greb, Sophomore Physician Assistant Major 

-Chloe Adiutori, Freshman Pharmacy Major

Day Two: Sacred Heart Church and a Conversation with Phil Jones!!

What a day!  It is only our second day here in Detroit, and we are already experiencing and learning so much!  We started out our day with going to Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Each of us had a different experience.  For some of us, going to a Catholic Mass was new in itself but for some of us it was the norm.

One big takeaway from mass today was the sense of community and welcoming that the members portrayed. There was shaking of hands, hugging, solidarity and all-around kindness that exuberated within the entire church. There was also a lot of singing in praise and worship that was very jovial and beautiful.

Although the mass was different from what a lot of the members had experienced, everyone found a sense of the beauty that was invested by the congregation in their worship. Another sign of the overall welcoming experience was when they invited us into the sanctuary to pray over some individuals who were dealing with different struggles whether it be from sickness or future travels. While in the sanctuary, we exchanged with the priests and the congregation a sign of peace.

We also noticed they were a lot of carvings and paintings across the were mainly made up of “Black Jesus” which for some is the norm but can be different for people who are not used to that. The population was mainly comprised of black people but there was a sense of inclusivity where everyone from all different race and backgrounds was cordially welcomed and loved.

We returned to the Detroit Urban Retreat Center where we are currently staying and had a chance to reflect on the day. One topic that was brought up was the importance of not using labels.  If we call it a “Black Church”, others may not feel welcome. However, we found that they welcomed all of us complete strangers as family.  They were very inclusive.

After a quick lunch, we set out to meet Phil Jones. Phil Jones is a Detroit resident who also operates as a chef. He started the City Food Community Concepts in Detroit and is also a member of the Detroit Food Policy Council.

He welcomed us into his house with open arms and shared numerous and insightful information on the work that he does around the community. We learned that he started cooking at an early age while selling meat pies on the beaches of St. Croix at the age of 6. Initially he wanted to be a computer lawyer but down the road he found his passion for cooking overweighed this desire.

He has been cooking in Detroit for over 50 years. He started his own urban farm from which he harvested for his cooking. He’s works purpose is “Make food not waste.” During our conversation he mentioned some of the problems within the food and farming industry such as:

·      GMO seeds taking over non-GMO seeds

·      Large agriculture ruining farming businesses

·      Big businesses profiting over selling more unhealthy foods rather than providing access to healthier options.

Phil Jones mentioned that a lot of his work is mainly geared towards fighting racial injustices within the community. We learned that as of a couple of years ago, there are no black owned grocery stores within the city of Detroit which is 83% black. We found this astonishing and majority of his work is not only geared towards fighting racial injustices within the city but providing opportunities for black Americans within the city. 

One big takeaway for us about racial justice was a quote we took from him that stated, “Inside of a system that doesn’t work for me I’m sure it doesn’t work for you.” We are incredibly thankful of Phil Jones to take time out of his busy day to meet with us! Day two was a big success and with our new understanding of urban farming we are looking forward to our first day at EarthWorks tomorrow!

            -Aidan Kerlin, Freshman Philosophy Major 

            -Sydney Oyatta, Senior Computer Science Major

First Day in Detroit!!!

Hey friends and family of our Detroit travelers!

We left snowy Erie at 10 AM and finally made it to the Detroit Urban Retreat Center safely at 4 PM!

Before arriving at the retreat center we had stopped at Detroit's Eastern market, enjoying the local farmers and some "schawarma" (a greek grilled meat wrap).

We settled into the retreat center and made two journey's to grocery stores, Food Pride and Whole Foods. The purpose of this activity was to experience the two different atmospheres and see the difference in food quality and price.

After the two shopping experiences, we cooked a spaghetti dinner and had a reflection of our first impressions of Detroit!

We are so grateful for your prayers to get us here, please continue to keep us in our thoughts and check back here tomorrow for another update.

Best your leaders,

Josh and Alesha

A See you later, not a goodbye

     Saturday is upon us and our group cannot believe that it is time to say goodbye to Detroit!  Somber silence filled the Detroit Urban Retreat Center as each student packed and loaded their belongings in the van for the 4 hour trip home. Before we embarked on our trip to Erie, we first stopped by the Eastern Market located in Downtown Detroit. This is a market area that sells fresh fruit, meat, baked goods, and more to the Detroit population. While we were there, we ran into Tyler from Earthworks! He was able to give the group a better tour of the market and offer insight on where we should eat lunch.  We spent about an hour at the market before heading to the GM Renaissance Center (a.k.a General Motors World Headquarters) to eat at the food court as Tyler suggested. A second goodbye to Tyler was twice as hard but we appreciated that he spent his time off  helping us! The GM Renaissance Center is located in the heart of Downtown Detroit. This was our first time being in the heart of the city and the big buildings were jaw-dropping. When we entered the GM Renaissance

Center, we were hit with the sight of flashy cars and business attired professionals. We caught a quick lunch before taking the time to walk the building and take a picture out by the water. Believe it or not, Canada was within sight and would have been just a quick swim away! Despite the close proximity, no one in the group wanted to swim in the cold chilly waters of Lake Michigan and so we stayed in America.
     After lunch, we stopped by Belle Isle once again and walked through the free aquarium on the grounds. It gave as an underwater glimpse of some of the fish that swim in the depths of the Great Lakes and the oceans that make up our Earth.
     After this, we sadly packed into the van and began our trip home. We had a reflection in the van and opened our "affirmation" bags, or bags that throughout the week people put supporting statements in! Both of these things brought a happy close to our trip before being dropped off in Erie at about 6pm.
     I personally had quite a transformational experience in Detroit and will miss it tremendously.
 Detroit was the first ABST for many students and when asked, the students reaffirmed that this trip was not only fun, but transformational. In fact, almost half the students want to continue doing ABST's in the leadership role!
 I am so happy to have been able to lead such an awesome group of students. I have no doubt we will all stay in contact and this trip did more than just bring a group of Gannon students together: it has created a family.


Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible! We appreciate you taking the time to follow our journey through this blog and wish you a wonderful Spring.

From all of us on the Detroit ABST.... this is not a goodbye, but a see-you-later:)

Warmest,
Rachel McKernan

Farewell Earthworks

Our last day at Earthworks has been a bitter sweet one. Today we started out our morning on the farm by doing some tree pruning and clearing of brush before heading inside to savor one last lunch with our friends at the Capuchin soup kitchen. After lunch, we began our final task at the farm: sifting compost. We enjoyed lots of laughter and good conversations as our group practiced various methods for breaking through the frozen surface of the compost pile (some unconventional tools, such as bricks, proved to be very effective and entertaining to use). Overall, while physically challenging, this experience was a highlight of the week for many of us, as it really brought us closer together, leaving us with tired arms and full hearts. After taking some triumphant photos on top of the compost pile, it was time to say goodbye to our friends at Earthworks. After we exchanged some emotional expressions of gratitude and a few group hugs, we left for the retreat center, feeling very blessed to have been able to share in so many beautiful  experiences with the Earthworks community. 

As evening approached, we piled into the van once again and headed out to the city of Dearborn to observe evening prayer at the American Moslim Society mosque. This experience was one of my personal favorites from the entire trip, as the members of this Islamic

community were incredibly welcoming and hospitable towards our group. We shared in an amazing interfaith dialogue on a number of topics, and we also enjoyed a meal together after the sunset prayer. The Arabic food was amazing, but the warm sense of community that we shared was what truly left us all feeling satisfied as we left the mosque. Finally, we finished the night off with some sweets from a local Arabic bakery before heading back to the retreat center and packing up to go home. If there was one word to describe today, it was unity. We felt such togetherness in all that we did- from working as a team to lift wheelbarrows full of compost, to sharing in conversations with our friends at the American Moslim society, to spending time in the soup kitchen, the entire day was illuminated by the joy of being together in the vibrant community of Detroit.

-Katie Dickey 

Meeting our Futures: Dinner with Alumni

     On Thursday's adventure, we woke up early for another day of volunteering at Earthworks. Most of us were excited for the night's Alumni dinner. The temperature had risen a bit and a few of us decided to work outside pruning some trees and bushes. The rest decided to help at the Greenhouse planting seeds. As usual, we had lunch at the Soup Kitchen and met some really nice folks. We left early to get ready for the Alumni event we were attending that night in Troy, Michigan. Joseph Bione, one of Gannon's distinguish alumni, welcomed us at his office. He is the founder of WhiteHall Group, which offers services to companies in transition or in trouble. Mr.Bione shared with us his Gannon experience, career path, and how his company has helped development in Detroit. He also empathized his commitment to grow Gannon's Alumni Association in Detroit. After that, we joined with other alumni (roughly ten) for dinner at the "Alibi" Italian restaurant and had the opportunity to talk to them and ask them questions about their current careers and how Gannon prepared them for such. We had a lovely and informative evening where we got to share our Gannon pride.

What a wonderful day with wonderful people!

 - Claudia Herrero