Detroit, MI

This weekend will mark the inaugural running of the Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival. As with many non-profit undertakings, organizing the festival has been an exercise in building a network of participants and contributors. Scott Dunham, the festival manager, provides the highlights of getting this year's festival together:

• From the beginning, the commitment was to develop the festival with "Detroit style" using resources from Michigan and Windsor. The organizing committee specifically ruled out using one of the canned approaches available for purchase so as to maximize the contribution from local Michigan groups.
• Significant contributions have come from two academic institutions whose missions coincide with the goals of the festival: Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies.
• Windsor has provided an important link into the Canadian film industry and into the Toronto Film Festival, a major North American festival.
• While the festival has been a coalition effort, John Kelly's leadership as festival director has been the glue that holds it together.

The main message that John George wants to send over the next month is that Detroit is working together to solve its problems (download 3.5 minute iPod compatible video, 17MB). Among his specific goals, he wants to turn Blight Busters' neighborhood into the Detroit arts district. To that end, he has partnered with the Motor City Theatre Organ Society to restore the Old Redford Theatre and has plans to refurbish the 350 seat theater in the third floor of his headquarters. Combined with the existing Artist Village and the upcoming Motor City Java Cafe, these initiatives should create a critical mass to bring more culture and development into the area.

John George, founder of Blight Busters, feels non-profits need to think like businesses to survive (download 7 minute iPod compatible video, 36MB). To this end, he has created a series of sister organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit. These separate organizations each have their own director, own board, and own focus. In this way, each organization takes ownership of its front in the war on blight.

Two examples of these partnerships are:

• Good Faith Homes which buys and rehabs homes, splitting the profits with Blight Busters.
• The Artist Village which combines community art outreach with a coffee shop and cafe.

Five years after the first Blight Busters event, John George was considering whether to devote full time to the organization (download 9 minute iPod compatible video, 46MB). Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich convinced him to take the leap. He was just not suited to his previous role, though he was earning a good income. Now, the income may not be so great, but he is rich in positive energy.

During the 15 years since, Blight Busters' mission has expanded from merely stabilizing to revitalizing neighborhoods. The funding model has also expanded from purely grants based to more of a community-based model with Fun'raisers, parties with a purpose of community building.