Model D's 3rd Birthday speakers celebrate the unique and authentic side of the city

The words "unique" and "authentic" littered the answers from all five Model D Speaker Series panelists when asked the question, "Why Detroit?"

The panel, brought together for Model D's 3-year anniversary on June 20, in correlation with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's 8 Days in June festival, consisted of "Detroit Doers" – people who, in our three years of existence, have really changed the landscape (both physically and spiritually) of the city.

Anne Parsons, director of the DSO, moderated the panel that included:
• Aaron Alston, developer of the Vinton Building in Detroit, CEO of Cadre Systems and a co-owner of Candor Marketing
• Phil Cooley, co-founder of Slow's BarBQ in Corktown
• Anne Parsons, director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• Marsha Miro, founding director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
• Jason Huvaere, president of Paxahau, the music promoters behind the Movement festival
• Claire Nelson, owner of Bureau of Urban Living and organizer of Open City Detroit

"People don't realize how small Detroit is," said Huvaere. "You can put your arms around Detroit and hug it. (Because it is so small) stuff gets done faster and you can meet people faster. Detroit is a unique, special place."

Cooley, who spent time overseas as a model, says that he's been to a number of other cities across the globe but Detroit stands apart. "Our city blows them all away in terms of potential," he said. "Of course we're still lacking a few grocery stores but this is a terrific place and changing for the better."

MOCAD has had 70,000 people push through the door since its opening and is an integral piece to the Detroit puzzle Miro says. "MOCAD is perfect for the city," Miro said. "There is tons of cultural interest in all major cities, but without a vibrant culture scene we have nothing. We can have as many casinos as we want, but with no culture, we have nothing."

Among all five panelists, there is a work ethic that stems from a passion to see Detroit succeed.

"Detroit is a great place, but we can do better. People need to roll up their sleeves, move into Detroit and be part of that effort," Alston said.

Nelson opened up the Bureau of Urban living not because she wanted to sell "cool stuff" but because she wanted certain lifestyle here in Detroit. "My shop is a dime a dozen in other cities," Nelson said. She calls it a general store for city dwellers, something that didn't really exist before she opened it up on Canfield, next door to the Motor City Brewing Co. "We need more small stuff like this here in the city."

Each panelist touched on the city's possibility for growth and revitalization and it was something all five said wasn't a passing effort, but a continued project.

"People should do it now and get space while they can afford it," Nelson said, laughing. "Space is in abundance and we need to fill that space. (Detroit's) before and after pictures are going to be amazing. This could be the best revitalization story in history and the time is now."

Model D's speaker series will take July off, but will return in August.

Writer: Terry Parris Jr.