Forty years ago, on Detroit’s East Side, a coalition was born not from corporate boards or political favor, but from the determined spirit of a community that refused to be overlooked. U-SNAP-BAC—United Streets Networking and Planning: Building A Community—emerged as a powerful force rooted in the people, for the people. Now, after four decades of housing advocacy, neighborhood transformation, and relentless grassroots work, this legacy will be honored with purpose and pride.
On Friday, April 25, 2025, U-SNAP-BAC will celebrate its 40th Anniversary at the Roostertail, a landmark that, like the organization itself, has stood as a witness to Detroit’s resilience. Themed “Rooted In Community, Rising Together,” the evening will be more than a gathering—it will serve as a living tribute to those who have made generational investments in the East Side’s progress.
Linda Smith, Executive Director since the organization’s formative years, puts the moment in perspective. “This milestone is not just a celebration of our past achievements but a recommitment to our community’s future,” she shared. Her words reflect the heartbeat of an organization that has never sought praise, only progress.
Founded in 1985, U-SNAP-BAC was never just about programs on paper. It became the blueprint for Black-led coalition-building, financial counseling, and homeownership access when disinvestment had become the norm. This was not abstract policy work. This was tangible action—creating pathways where red lines once locked people out. The organization provided more than assistance. It gave people options, and in doing so, restored dignity.
U-SNAP-BAC’s model has always centered community leadership and economic equity. What began with a mission to create access to housing quickly evolved into a comprehensive strategy to equip residents with tools to thrive. From rehab projects and neighborhood stabilization efforts to the development of commercial corridors, U-SNAP-BAC embedded itself in the daily lives of Detroiters—especially Black Detroiters—on the East Side. The work has never been performative. It’s been persistent.
And it shows.
The 40th Anniversary Gala will reflect that integrity. Set for 6:00 PM at 100 Marquette Dr, the celebration will include dinner, live entertainment, and a heartfelt honoring of the people whose hands have built the foundation and held it steady through transitions. The evening won’t just celebrate an organization—it will celebrate a movement.
Rosa Sims, a name etched into the origin story of U-SNAP-BAC, will receive the Founders’ Award. Her leadership in 1985 wasn’t just organizational; it was ancestral. She laid the groundwork when Detroit was grappling with the consequences of systemic neglect. Through her vision, U-SNAP-BAC became a sanctuary for families navigating disinvestment and displacement.
Other honorees reflect the broad coalition that has sustained U-SNAP-BAC through seasons of change. The Champion Awards will go to leaders across sectors—people who brought not only funding but foresight. Current Board President Eric Dueweke has provided strategic leadership, keeping the mission focused and forward-thinking. Rashante Carbin of Enterprise Community Partners has supported critical programming that anchors residents. Mark McDaniel of Cinnaire, Laura Granneman of the Gilbert Family Foundation, and Kevin Watkins and Former Board President Michael Cheatham of Comerica Bank represent institutional partners who have prioritized community-centered investment. Brian Hogle of The Kresge Foundation and longtime advocate Maggie DeSantis round out a roster of honorees whose actions have mirrored the values of the organization they support.
These names don’t represent token partnerships or passive funding. They represent collaboration that has produced measurable impact—from home repairs for seniors to economic corridors that uplift Black-owned businesses. Their leadership has fueled programming that does more than sustain—it builds.
To understand U-SNAP-BAC’s role in Detroit is to understand what it means to organize beyond survival. This is about rootedness. This is about vision that refuses to shrink under budget cuts or bureaucratic delays. This is about showing up for neighborhoods where others turned away. The organization has mentored youth, stabilized housing, and modeled what it means to own both process and power.
Tickets and table reservations are available online, making this moment accessible to the people who helped make it possible. This celebration isn’t reserved for dignitaries or donors—it’s for the aunties who’ve marched through zoning meetings, the seniors who kept their homes, the youth who’ve been hired for summer internships, and the families who now own the deeds to their futures.
As Detroit continues to face challenges around gentrification, housing affordability, and equitable development, U-SNAP-BAC stands firm as a guidepost. The 40th Anniversary is a reminder that sustainable community work must be led by those who are of the community. It’s also a call for a renewed investment in East Side neighborhoods—where brilliance has always existed but has rarely been resourced at scale.
The organization’s name—United Streets Networking and Planning: Building A Community—carries a vision that was born from real need and sustained through real love. It’s a reminder that movements don’t always start from offices downtown. Sometimes they begin at block club meetings, church basements, and corner stores—where people know each other’s names and fight like family.
To rise together, Detroit must remember where its roots are planted. U-SNAP-BAC has never left its soil. That’s why April 25 isn’t just an event—it’s a homecoming. And every person who believes in people-centered development, who understands the power of community over charity, who knows Detroit’s strength is in its neighborhoods—belongs in that room.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.usnapbac.org/40th-anniversary. Come ready to celebrate, reflect, and recommit.
This is how Detroit honors its own. This is how movements live on.
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