About

Rethink Detroit tells the story of Detroit’s revitalization, on Twitter (@rethinkdetroit) and through this blog. As I have learned, it is not a story of steady progress but rather one of fits and starts. Incredible things are happening here, from the grassroots growth of urban gardening to the foundation- and business-led revival of Downtown and Midtown. But Detroit is still a troubled city grappling with crime, population loss, and a disappearing tax base, among other ailments.

I try to capture that complexity, telling Detroit’s story in full. I do so not as an objective journalist per se but as an academic and an activist committed to making Detroit a better place. As Kurt Lewin once said, “If you want to truly understand something, try to change it.” This blog is dedicated to the twin pursuit of changing Detroit and truly understanding it.

All posts are by Patrick Cooper-McCann — or Cooper, as most people call me. I’m a PhD student in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan, and a past and future resident of Detroit. I have worked with many community development organizations in the city, and I love Detroit music and culture. You can reach me at cooper[at]rethinkdetroit.org.