[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] good evening everyone my name is
good evening everyone my name is
good evening everyone my name is Kimberly Dowdell and I ran away from
Kimberly Dowdell and I ran away from
Kimberly Dowdell and I ran away from home when I was 13 years old I’ll get
home when I was 13 years old I’ll get
home when I was 13 years old I’ll get back to that in a moment let me talk
back to that in a moment let me talk
back to that in a moment let me talk about home for a little bit
about home for a little bit
about home for a little bit Detroit Michigan is my home I’m a native
Detroit Michigan is my home I’m a native
Detroit Michigan is my home I’m a native Detroiter born and raised I lived on the
Detroiter born and raised I lived on the
Detroiter born and raised I lived on the east side on the west side and Midtown
east side on the west side and Midtown
east side on the west side and Midtown before was even called Midtown it was
before was even called Midtown it was
before was even called Midtown it was the caste corridor back in my day and
the caste corridor back in my day and
the caste corridor back in my day and some would argue that I grew up in
some would argue that I grew up in
some would argue that I grew up in Detroit and one of the more challenging
Detroit and one of the more challenging
Detroit and one of the more challenging times in the city’s history and I
times in the city’s history and I
times in the city’s history and I remember talking to older family members
remember talking to older family members
remember talking to older family members and they would tell me you know Detroit
and they would tell me you know Detroit
and they would tell me you know Detroit really used to be a happening place and
really used to be a happening place and
really used to be a happening place and I remember looking around and saying
I remember looking around and saying
I remember looking around and saying well but what happened here though
well but what happened here though
well but what happened here though like what’s what’s going on and a
like what’s what’s going on and a
like what’s what’s going on and a specific example of that is the old
specific example of that is the old
specific example of that is the old Hudson’s department store which used to
Hudson’s department store which used to
Hudson’s department store which used to be on Woodward Avenue I remember a
be on Woodward Avenue I remember a
be on Woodward Avenue I remember a distinct moment when I was 11 years old
distinct moment when I was 11 years old
distinct moment when I was 11 years old and I was looking up with the Hudsons
and I was looking up with the Hudsons
and I was looking up with the Hudsons building I was looking on the streets
building I was looking on the streets
building I was looking on the streets and seeing people sort of fad and I
and seeing people sort of fad and I
and seeing people sort of fad and I thought to myself well if we fixed the
thought to myself well if we fixed the
thought to myself well if we fixed the buildings then you know we would fix the
buildings then you know we would fix the
buildings then you know we would fix the situation with the people and Detroit
situation with the people and Detroit
situation with the people and Detroit would the Detroit problem would be
would the Detroit problem would be
would the Detroit problem would be solved so at that moment I decided I
solved so at that moment I decided I
solved so at that moment I decided I would become an architect and I would
would become an architect and I would
would become an architect and I would fix Detroit that was like the short
fix Detroit that was like the short
fix Detroit that was like the short story so then why did I run away from
story so then why did I run away from
story so then why did I run away from home two years later well I’d like to
home two years later well I’d like to
home two years later well I’d like to call Detroit home base if you will and I
call Detroit home base if you will and I
call Detroit home base if you will and I went to Burns Elementary School on
went to Burns Elementary School on
went to Burns Elementary School on Detroit’s northwest side which is
Detroit’s northwest side which is
Detroit’s northwest side which is Detroit Public School so that makes me a
Detroit Public School so that makes me a
Detroit Public School so that makes me a dps kid for life but I ran away from
dps kid for life but I ran away from
dps kid for life but I ran away from home actually straight up Woodward
home actually straight up Woodward
home actually straight up Woodward Avenue it’s a boarding school at
Avenue it’s a boarding school at
Avenue it’s a boarding school at Cranbrook so at 13 I’m in boarding
Cranbrook so at 13 I’m in boarding
Cranbrook so at 13 I’m in boarding school and while the Kornberg was a
school and while the Kornberg was a
school and while the Kornberg was a really great experience highly recommend
really great experience highly recommend
really great experience highly recommend it I played basketball and I played
it I played basketball and I played
it I played basketball and I played softball and that’s what I really
softball and that’s what I really
softball and that’s what I really understood the power of teamwork
understood the power of teamwork
understood the power of teamwork I always say to my students teamwork
I always say to my students teamwork
I always say to my students teamwork makes the dream work
makes the dream work
makes the dream work I also learned at Cranbrook the
I also learned at Cranbrook the
I also learned at Cranbrook the importance of sort of getting out of
importance of sort of getting out of
importance of sort of getting out of your comfort zone
your comfort zone
your comfort zone and you know seeing seeing the larger
and you know seeing seeing the larger
and you know seeing seeing the larger world I had you know within boarding
world I had you know within boarding
world I had you know within boarding school there were people from all over
school there were people from all over
school there were people from all over the country and all over the world and
the country and all over the world and
the country and all over the world and so that’s what sir prompted me to look
so that’s what sir prompted me to look
so that’s what sir prompted me to look at maybe not returning to Detroit right
at maybe not returning to Detroit right
at maybe not returning to Detroit right away but maybe going to school somewhere
away but maybe going to school somewhere
away but maybe going to school somewhere else so for me again as the DPS kid home
else so for me again as the DPS kid home
else so for me again as the DPS kid home base and then Cranbrook for me was first
base and then Cranbrook for me was first
base and then Cranbrook for me was first base so for second base I decided to go
base so for second base I decided to go
base so for second base I decided to go to Cornell University where I studied
to Cornell University where I studied
to Cornell University where I studied architecture again it was a really great
architecture again it was a really great
architecture again it was a really great experience highly recommend it and there
experience highly recommend it and there
experience highly recommend it and there I learned that architects alone actually
I learned that architects alone actually
I learned that architects alone actually can’t solve the Detroit problem it
can’t solve the Detroit problem it
can’t solve the Detroit problem it actually requires a really wide variety
actually requires a really wide variety
actually requires a really wide variety of professionals architects developers
of professionals architects developers
of professionals architects developers bankers lawyers you name it I mean
bankers lawyers you name it I mean
bankers lawyers you name it I mean almost anyone can be a part of the the
almost anyone can be a part of the the
almost anyone can be a part of the the solution but it’s really a diverse team
solution but it’s really a diverse team
solution but it’s really a diverse team that’s that’s really critical so with
that’s that’s really critical so with
that’s that’s really critical so with that knowledge and also with the
that knowledge and also with the
that knowledge and also with the understanding there’s a whole big world
understanding there’s a whole big world
understanding there’s a whole big world out there I decided that instead of
out there I decided that instead of
out there I decided that instead of coming back home while I was on second
coming back home while I was on second
coming back home while I was on second base in Ithaca New York I decided that I
base in Ithaca New York I decided that I
base in Ithaca New York I decided that I would go to DC so I spent a couple years
would go to DC so I spent a couple years
would go to DC so I spent a couple years in Washington DC practicing architecture
in Washington DC practicing architecture
in Washington DC practicing architecture and then I moved to New York City for
and then I moved to New York City for
and then I moved to New York City for most of my 20s there I became licensed
most of my 20s there I became licensed
most of my 20s there I became licensed as an architect I was actually the 290
as an architect I was actually the 290
as an architect I was actually the 290 fifth licensed black female architects
fifth licensed black female architects
fifth licensed black female architects like in history so that was a big deal
but then I turned 30 like shortly
but then I turned 30 like shortly thereafter and when he turned 30 kind of
thereafter and when he turned 30 kind of
thereafter and when he turned 30 kind of think about your life a little bit
think about your life a little bit
think about your life a little bit you’re like what am i doing you know I
you’re like what am i doing you know I
you’re like what am i doing you know I thought about that eleven-year-old kid
thought about that eleven-year-old kid
thought about that eleven-year-old kid who was downtown in Detroit and you know
who was downtown in Detroit and you know
who was downtown in Detroit and you know I wasn’t I wasn’t here I was in New York
I wasn’t I wasn’t here I was in New York
I wasn’t I wasn’t here I was in New York that’s having a great time and I was
that’s having a great time and I was
that’s having a great time and I was like but there’s so much more I need to
like but there’s so much more I need to
like but there’s so much more I need to be doing for Detroit and so what does
be doing for Detroit and so what does
be doing for Detroit and so what does one do when they’re not entirely sure
one do when they’re not entirely sure
one do when they’re not entirely sure what to do graduate school so right so
what to do graduate school so right so
what to do graduate school so right so here I am on second base in New York and
here I am on second base in New York and
here I am on second base in New York and I ended up going to Harvard for graduate
I ended up going to Harvard for graduate
I ended up going to Harvard for graduate school so that’s my third base if you
school so that’s my third base if you
school so that’s my third base if you will I got a full tuition fellowship
will I got a full tuition fellowship
will I got a full tuition fellowship with in the center for public leadership
with in the center for public leadership
with in the center for public leadership in the jonatha D School of Government at
in the jonatha D School of Government at
in the jonatha D School of Government at Harvard and there I really started to
Harvard and there I really started to
Harvard and there I really started to understand the importance of try sector
understand the importance of try sector
understand the importance of try sector collaboration so public sector private
collaboration so public sector private
collaboration so public sector private sector and not-for-profit sector I think
sector and not-for-profit sector I think
sector and not-for-profit sector I think they’re all really critical in solving a
they’re all really critical in solving a
they’re all really critical in solving a lot of the city’s problems so while in
lot of the city’s problems so while in
lot of the city’s problems so while in graduate school I get a call from the
graduate school I get a call from the
graduate school I get a call from the city of Detroit and that call prompted
city of Detroit and that call prompted
city of Detroit and that call prompted me to think about what exactly I was
me to think about what exactly I was
me to think about what exactly I was going to do after graduation essentially
going to do after graduation essentially
going to do after graduation essentially I was recruited to work for the housing
I was recruited to work for the housing
I was recruited to work for the housing and revitalization apartment here in
and revitalization apartment here in
and revitalization apartment here in Detroit and so that was my opportunity
Detroit and so that was my opportunity
Detroit and so that was my opportunity to run from third base slide into home
to run from third base slide into home
to run from third base slide into home and work for the city so I did that and
and work for the city so I did that and
and work for the city so I did that and it was a really good experience I came
it was a really good experience I came
it was a really good experience I came back in 2015 and in that role I actually
back in 2015 and in that role I actually
back in 2015 and in that role I actually worked with lots of different developers
worked with lots of different developers
worked with lots of different developers around the city and one particular
around the city and one particular
around the city and one particular developer that that really sort of
developer that that really sort of
developer that that really sort of struck struck a chord with with what I
struck struck a chord with with what I
struck struck a chord with with what I wanted to do was century partners so
wanted to do was century partners so
wanted to do was century partners so sensory partners was founded in 2014 by
sensory partners was founded in 2014 by
sensory partners was founded in 2014 by David Holladay and Andrew Cuomo and
David Holladay and Andrew Cuomo and
David Holladay and Andrew Cuomo and within my first year of working for the
within my first year of working for the
within my first year of working for the city sort of towards the end of that
city sort of towards the end of that
city sort of towards the end of that first year I actually pivoted back into
first year I actually pivoted back into
first year I actually pivoted back into the private sector to become the third
the private sector to become the third
the private sector to become the third partner with century partners and and
partner with century partners and and
partner with century partners and and the work that we’re doing we you know
the work that we’re doing we you know
the work that we’re doing we you know we’re really trying to reimagine
we’re really trying to reimagine
we’re really trying to reimagine Detroit’s neighborhoods in a really
Detroit’s neighborhoods in a really
Detroit’s neighborhoods in a really sustainable holistic way the four
sustainable holistic way the four
sustainable holistic way the four neighborhoods were focused right now are
neighborhoods were focused right now are
neighborhoods were focused right now are Boston Edison the North End
Boston Edison the North End
Boston Edison the North End East English village and most recently
East English village and most recently
East English village and most recently Fitzgerald we’re really excited about
Fitzgerald we’re really excited about
Fitzgerald we’re really excited about the the neighborhood revitalization work
the the neighborhood revitalization work
the the neighborhood revitalization work that we’re doing together sort of as a
that we’re doing together sort of as a
that we’re doing together sort of as a team which again makes the dream work as
team which again makes the dream work as
team which again makes the dream work as a team
a team
a team we are you know working with a really
we are you know working with a really
we are you know working with a really wide variety of professionals in fact
wide variety of professionals in fact
wide variety of professionals in fact the three of us have very different
the three of us have very different
the three of us have very different backgrounds and we’re working with the
backgrounds and we’re working with the
backgrounds and we’re working with the public sector to the private sector and
public sector to the private sector and
public sector to the private sector and the nonprofit sector to really
the nonprofit sector to really
the nonprofit sector to really revitalize the communities where we’re
revitalize the communities where we’re
revitalize the communities where we’re working so it’s a very exciting time and
working so it’s a very exciting time and
working so it’s a very exciting time and we’re super excited about the potential
we’re super excited about the potential
we’re super excited about the potential that Detroit has to come back in a big
that Detroit has to come back in a big
that Detroit has to come back in a big way but I think what I’m most excited
way but I think what I’m most excited
way but I think what I’m most excited about is the potential of more people to
about is the potential of more people to
about is the potential of more people to come back to Detroit more people to come
come back to Detroit more people to come
come back to Detroit more people to come to Detroit more people to stay in
to Detroit more people to stay in
to Detroit more people to stay in Detroit to run their own bases and you
Detroit to run their own bases and you
Detroit to run their own bases and you know not everyone’s sort of running
know not everyone’s sort of running
know not everyone’s sort of running around the bases gonna be the same as
around the bases gonna be the same as
around the bases gonna be the same as mine but you know we all have our own
mine but you know we all have our own
mine but you know we all have our own bases to run and so what I encourage you
bases to run and so what I encourage you
bases to run and so what I encourage you all to do is think about what your bases
all to do is think about what your bases
all to do is think about what your bases are and how you can actually you know
are and how you can actually you know
are and how you can actually you know run them and serve score one for the
run them and serve score one for the
run them and serve score one for the home team so that’s my story and I
home team so that’s my story and I
home team so that’s my story and I encourage you all to really think about
encourage you all to really think about
encourage you all to really think about what you can do to contribute to the
what you can do to contribute to the
what you can do to contribute to the service of the city so that we can all
service of the city so that we can all
service of the city so that we can all have a great game go Tigers thank you
have a great game go Tigers thank you
have a great game go Tigers thank you [Applause]
”
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