Dream of Detroit

Grant Type: General Operating

Duration: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Organization Overview

Dream of Detroit, or DREAM (Detroit Revival Engaging American Muslims), is a Muslim-led project that combines community organizing and development to revitalize our neighborhood and build a healthy community on the west side of Detroit. DREAM attracts residents and investment to its impact turf, a 10-block neighborhood facing population loss and disinvestiture, while providing a vehicle for Muslims in the area to contribute to the city’s revival.

Summary

Dream of Detroit takes a community organizing and building approach to creating space for Muslims to live, build, eat, and be in true community together by investing in housing development. They are grounded by the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that housing is a human right. More expansively, they provide a wide variety of community programming to deepen relationships and organize for economic justice and housing development in Detroit.

DREAM’s work focuses on housing development, economic development, and community organizing. They work on solving the systemic issues that have caused their neighborhoods to deteriorate, such as Detroit’s property tax foreclosure crisis, while also working to bring brick-and-mortar homes and businesses to their neighborhood. DREAM is a strategic partner in the local coalition for property tax justice and is working on developing a community land trust. They provide community programming that includes workshops on building civic power, coordinating an annual community street fair and book club, and engaging local artists. They also provide organizing training and political education because they believe that it is important for community development to include local Muslim community members.

Year founded: 2013

Location: Detroit, MI

Website: https://dreamofdetroit.org/