Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park residents have a range of opportunities to get involved, find work, and access free services this fall. From community plantings and forums to job openings and essential resources, various organizations are offering ways to connect with local initiatives.
This week offers several community engagement opportunities. The Greening of Detroit invites volunteers to a tree planting in the Gateway Community neighborhood on Friday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 207 Harmon St. The organization will also host a Detroit Community Tree Giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10-11 a.m. at Adams Butzel Complex, 10500 Lyndon St., offering 300 potted trees to residents of Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. For those with green thumbs, Keep Growing Detroit is holding weekly volunteer hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month, including Thursday, Oct. 8, from 4-6 p.m. at its farm located at 3100 Orleans St., to assist with end-of-season maintenance and fall harvesting. No RSVP or experience is required.
Other civic and cultural events are scheduled. A nonpartisan, community-led DPSCD School Board Count Day Candidate Forum is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6-8 p.m. at the North Rosedale Park Community House, 18445 Scarsdale St., allowing residents to pose questions to candidates. Indigenous Peoples Weekend, running from Friday, Oct. 9, to Sunday, Oct. 11, will see Thečhíȟila Collective, Detroit Indigenous People’s Alliance, Luki Bike Adventures, and Fork Around and Find Out Collective celebrating Indigenous people. On Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2-5 p.m., Roar Brewing Co., 666 Selden St., will host a Media Swap & Book Drive, inviting The Audiofiles and Roots Strong for music, raffles, and trading of books, records, CDs, and other media.
Later in the week, a two-part Peer Support Worker Training begins Sunday, Oct. 11, from 6-9 p.m. at The Love Building, 4731 Grand River Ave. The community will gather to remember Detroit organizer and abolitionist Curtis Renee on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marygrove College Theresa Maxis Alumnae Hall, 8425 W. McNichols Road. Also on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 2-5 p.m., the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, 3061 Field St., will screen the abolitionist film “We Call Each Other,” featuring a discussion with filmmaker Sarah Oberholtzer and the closing of the "Community Safety in Detroit" exhibit. Lawyers can also find a Habeas Corpus Training online on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m., offered to help the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center provide pro bono assistance to individuals facing prolonged detention in federal immigration camps.
Beyond events, several organizations are actively hiring. Strangers No Longer seeks a Community Organizer experienced in immigration policy advocacy. Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) offers a Youth Intern position with a $400 stipend, with applications due by Oct. 14. InsideOut Literary Arts is hiring an Operations Assistant part-time for $20-$25 an hour, due by Oct. 18. Next Chapter Books is looking for seasonal, part-time Booksellers from mid-October through December for $16 an hour; résumés can be sent to [email protected]. The Umoja Debate League is hiring Debate Coaches for an after-school program, with applications due by Nov. 6.
Detroit Heals Detroit is hiring immediately for multiple positions: two part-time interns for youth activities, a part-time after-school program assistant for $20 an hour, and a full-time Healing Hub director for $45,000 a year. The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition seeks an Executive Director ($140,000-$150,000 plus benefits). Focus: Hope is hiring a full-time Major Gifts Officer ($96,000-$98,000). The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) has several openings: a part-time social media and digital content manager ($30-$35 an hour), a full-time finance manager ($65,000-$70,000 a year), and a full-time major gifts officer ($75,000-$85,000). Applications for MOCAD positions require a résumé and cover letter in PDF format sent to [email protected]. American Indian Health and Family Services is hiring a full-time Human Resources Director with benefits for its new Southwest Detroit facility. The O’Hair Park Community Association seeks a part-time Community Engagement Liaison for $20 an hour; interested individuals can send a résumé to Joyce Daniel at [email protected].
Numerous free services are also available to residents. Detroit Heals Detroit provides free showers every Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Healing Hub, 19510 Alcoy St., including towels, body wash, and hygiene kits. They also offer free laundry service with a washer, dryer, detergent, and supplies; appointments can be signed up for starting at 11 a.m. on Mondays, with limited capacity. Wayne Health medical professionals visit neighborhoods and workplaces to offer free health screenings, vaccines, and mental health resources; their event calendar lists locations. The Detroit Public Library offers a wide range of free technology classes, from basic computer skills to graphic design software, with group and individual support available at multiple branches. The Detroit People’s Assembly holds immigration office hours on Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. at Grace in Action Church, 1725 Lawndale St., to assist with urgent immigration paperwork.
Residents can also contribute to various ongoing initiatives. The American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration offers a self-paced course to prepare volunteers as immigration court observers. The Coalition for Property Tax Justice is collecting stories from Detroit property owners to build an archive of tax injustice. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments is seeking feedback on its Regional Freight Plan draft policies and objectives. Detroit adults can earn a $25 gift card by completing the annual community-driven online Neighborhood Vitality Index Survey about neighborhood improvements. Chalkbeat Detroit and the Detroit Free Press are partnering to gather metro Detroiters' priorities for an education survey. BridgeDetroit is also seeking input through a Youth Engagement Survey.
