The Power of Sisterhood

It's Friday, so, as usual, I'm on the hunt for a little good news about Detroit to close out the week. Unlike many weeks, I haven't had to look far.

Just found out that the Detroit alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, one of the largest chapters of the largest black women's group in the United States, will tomorrow be cutting the ribbon on a 50,000-square-foot facility that will serve as the group's new headquarters. Before the Deltas bought it, the sprawling property (it's so big that part of it actually stretches into the suburb of Redford) used to belong to Stark Hickey Ford, one of the oldest car dealerships in the area until, at age 80, it was forced out of business by the recession.

Now, thanks to the more than 800 members of the local Delta branch, a property that once symbolized the rise and decline of the city's signature industry has been resuscitated. In fact, the purchase of the property marks the single biggest African-American property buy in Detroit by a non-religious non-profit group since the acquisition and opening of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History.

And please don't embarrass yourself by showing up looking for toga parties because these sisters do not mess around: The group is already making plans to house a slew of community service programs at the facility, including a holiday outreach effort, mentoring projects, leadership training, parenting courses, health-awareness seminars and financial literacy and home-buying program. Even the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday will double as a donation and book drive for local students.

I realize that, in a town that produces screaming headlines about bloodshed and bribery seemingly every week, this might not register as front-page news. But given how severely the local real-estate market and manufacturing sector have both been devastated, this strikes me as nothing short of a major accomplishment for the city.

It also stands as yet more proof that, whatever the gloomy predictions from outside forecasters, many Detroiters continue to believe in—and work toward—brighter days ahead.