In recent years, we’ve seen how sites like Kiva.org and Kickstarter have allowed people around the globe to give life to creative and personal pursuits, fueling our ability to support one another. 

In Detroit, we’ve been making the global truly local – by using the web to engage local supporters in the success of our growing movement of young, civic-minded entrepreneurs.  Kiva Detroit, Detroit4Detroit, Hatch Detroit, and the Urban Innovation Exchange are just some examples.

Today, we’re delighted to announce another initiative harnessing the power of the web: Design in Detroit.

Over the coming three years, the Detroit Creative Corridor Center (DC3) will call on Detroiters to propose creative business, design, and technology ideas that strengthen our community.  Through an annual festival and more, DC3 will also ask local individuals and institutions to pledge financial, marketing and leadership support for these ideas, while nurturing their commitments along the way.

Detroit’s momentum in all things creative, civic, and entrepreneurial is real. But in order for our movement to win, we need easy opportunities to partner with local allies across sectors, competencies and geographies. And we need more local institutions who see partnering with us as crucial to their mission.

I’m excited about Design in Detroit’s launch this summer and the difference it will make in advancing the impact of young social entrepreneurs who are creating economic opportunity, growing community attachment, and attracting new residents.

By Rishi Jaitly, program director/Detroit at Knight Foundation