Celebrity Judge Greg Mathis returns to his hometown of Detroit, surrounded by local politicians and dignitaries, Wednesday, June 16 to announce his new housing complex and community center at the current Mathis Community Center.
Photo by Sherri Kolade
A new affordable housing complex and new community center are coming to the City of Detroit in the near future, with a big name attached to the project located in District Six.
Philanthropist and celebrity Judge Greg Mathis, a Detroit native, came to his old stomping grounds on Wednesday, June 16 at the Mathis Community Center, 19300 Greenfield Road, (the location of the new project). Mathis dressed casual yet sharp, was all smiles surrounded by local and area officials and dignitaries, friends, family, community members, and members of the press.
Mathis spoke at length to a quick-witted audience who gave back as much as he dished out in his sharp-tongued speech full of love and jokes — part of his “insult humor” personality well known on his eponymous reality-based court show.
The current Mathis Community Center site is home to a bevy of community activities and programs that bring people from all over together to cultivate the character of today’s youth and help them reach their full potential, according to Mathis’ website. Now, there will be an even bigger opportunity for greater impact in the community with this upcoming project.
The apartment complex (with no opening date as of press time) will include 58 units of affordable housing and a new community center. The new facility will be renamed The Mathis Residences and Community Center.
Mathis told the crowd how “Detroit elected me” and he feels a strong obligation to reach back and help those who are coming after him while respecting and honoring those who came before him.
“I want to announce … we are going to continue contributing to our community now in the inner city, doing new development here. We are going to replace the Mathis Community Center and create housing,” Mathis said, adding that the current property “goes all the way back” to the next street the Community Center sits on. “We are going to make some other adjustments and purchases on these lots from others. That is going to allow us to have an expansive development.”
Minnie Davis, executive director and founder of the Young Men-N-Motion program (a non-profit that builds up young men’s character) at the Mathis Community Center, said during the event that programming is vital to the young residents who live there.
“Thank you for allowing us to run our programs here,” Davis said to Mathis, adding that eight young men graduated from the program this year. “We keep ourselves small; we are self-funded and thankful for the support we get at the center. Every year we graduate our young men and keep it moving. … All of them graduated with a plan… we make sure they get what they need.”
Mathis said that the event (filled with camaraderie, lively music, and delicious food) was to celebrate the burgeoning development in District 6 with community leaders, special friends and family, and others who live nearby.
Mathis named many who helped carry him along the way and out of difficult situations during his youth (he was jailed at 17) to where he is today.
Mathis, who called Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones his “favorite elected city official in the city of Detroit” said that she has been the “biggest supporter of any of our elected officials.”
“She has held other elected officials and our executive officers accountable all the way throughout her term,” he said. “So grateful for her and the work she’ll continue to do.”
Jones remarked that even after her upcoming retirement she will continue to hold people’s feet to the fire and said that she is looking forward to what’s to come with this project.
“I am so excited to see the things that are going to happen right here in this time,” she said. “The judge cares so much about the city of Detroit, the people in the city of Detroit …he continues to move forward in the things he does.”
