Two local Detroit companies are launching a campaign aimed at sharing stories of what it means to be Black in the city. Sponsored by TandemEd LLC: Own Your Story (OYS) and Force Detroit have joined forces to present the Detroit Is Us campaign.
Collecting individual stories from Detroit’s young people, the Detroit Is Us campaign will focus on building stronger communities by using genuine narratives from the people who live in it.
James Eberheart Jr, known as Screal, serves as Detroit’s City Manager for Own Your Story. An Inkster native, Eberheart looks to give Black Detroiters a voice in creating their own stories.
“Detroit Is Us is a community-led campaign that supports Black Detroit in showcasing ‘our stories to ourselves.’ Unapologetically, we work to unite Black communities and build collective strength to protect and promote our spaces in the city of Detroit and beyond. Black Detroiters telling and owning our stories, our way,” Eberheart says.
TandemEd LLC acts as the parent company of Own Your Story. Jason Rivers, National Director for Own Your Story, is hoping by presenting the African American narrative, communities will have the chance to create a better future.
“Local OYS campaigns are centered on healthy perspectives meant to further prompt actions that align with collective best interests, and that will help yield better life outcomes for Black youth, families, residents and businesses,” Rivers explains.
Founded on three pillars: Own the Block + Business, Level Up: Mind, Body + Spirit, and Advocate for Blackness, the Detroit Is Us campaign will place an emphasis on wealth, wellness and promoting pride through education.
“Through showing them the benefits of ownership and how that directly correlates to building and sustaining wealth, we can better fund the needs of our communities. Pillar two is where we focus on the overall health of our people. The third pillar is vital to the livelihood of Black people, advocating for Blackness through education,” Eberheart says.
With virtual communication, the Own Your Story Community Ambassadors used Zoom to facilitate community conversations.
“These community conversations were facilitated by our Own Your Story Detroit Fellows who completed an internal certification process focused on Black history, community organizing, data collection and marketing,” Rivers shared.
“We collected the stories of the community by doing Zoom Party Live sessions, which included a series of questions and some forward-facing questions. Those Zoom Party Live sessions were a weekly focus group,” Eberheart adds.
In addition to the campaign, a $100,000 dollar community fund will be introduced to support current and future projects relevant to the campaign. The fund will be managed through FORCE Detroit and is made possible with sponsors like New Era Detroit, FORCE Detroit, Three Thirteen Store, Campaign for Black Male Achievement – Detroit, and TandemEd.
“To further ensure the community-generated campaign becomes a way of life, we are allocating funds and opportunities for community members to continue the ‘Detroit is Us’ campaign, aligned activities and projects that promote the three campaign pillars in their own innovative and creative ways,” Rivers added.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Rivers’ experience of Detroit was shaped through the love and hospitality of Detroit communities.
“What I understand from listening and talking to Black Detroiters is that being Black in Detroit symbolizes strength, the mecca of Blackness, drive, resilience, hustle, iconic struggle, leaders in culture that moves the country; a loving and accepting people that have embraced me from day one. I am a far better person having the opportunity to experience our Black communities in Detroit,” Rivers explains.
The Detroit initiative will continue through October 3 with the ultimate goal of creating awareness and shared perspectives of the community.
“The goal is to OWN our story and continue to shift and grow the mindset of who we are and who we are to become within our communities UNAPOLOGETICALLY,” Eberheart enthuses.
In addition to the Detroit Is Us campaign, the Own Your Story project also launched in Newark, NJ, and New Orleans, La.
“The launch of New Orleans and Newark began the end of August. That has been a powerful shift in understanding our culture dynamics within those Black communities,” Eberheart shared.
To become involved, follow the campaign on Instagram @ownyourstorydetroit, visiting the website for TandemEd LLC or FORCE Detroit or by sharing their personal stories of the city.
“I have been able to reflect on Detroit from many different perspectives of my personal experiences. Some comes from entertainment, some from organizations. But what we have noticed is that we are Visioneers: visionaries and engineers. Black Detroit moves the world,” Eberheart said.
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