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Shamayim Harris' creation came after the loss of her two-year-old son, Jakobi Ra, who was killed in 2007 by a hit-and-run driver.
"Mama Shu," as she's known in the neighborhood, created a sustainable eco-village in the heart of Highland Park called Avalon Village, converting her neighborhood "from blight to beauty." Harris lives on Avalon Street where it all happens.
Highland Park shares many of the social ills of Detroit, including blight, poverty and crime, but gets far less attention and public funds. Harris has helped shine a little light on the city in a very positive way.
Curbed Detroit described her village this way:
The first phase includes two projects. The Homework House is an abandoned house which has been cleaned out and will be renovated into a place of nurturing for kids to eat a healthy meal, get help with their school work, and to learn about food and urban survival. The second is the Goddess Marketplace, a shipping container-based economic initiative for women where they can sell their goods and food. Landscaping will also be part of this first phase, which should be completed by September 23.
Last month, Harris got some recognition for her efforts, appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. She was also well rewarded. DeGeneres gave her a $100,000 prefab home, already assembled, for her community project. It will be delivered around April of next year.
Deadline Detroit's Allan Lengel caught up with Harris at the TedxDetroit event at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, where she was one of the speakers.
