Let's Save Michigan

August 11, 2011

Meet LSM’s Project Coordinator

In a bit of a departure for LSM, I want to take a moment and speak from a personal voice.

You are used to hearing from Sean Mann, who’s been leading this Let’s Save Michigan effort for the past year-and-a-half.  Sean’s role is shifting and he asked me to take over some of the LSM online efforts.  So that you all know who’s behind these emails and blogs, we thought we should do a little introduction.

I'm Sarah Szurpicki, and I have served as the Director of GLUE, the Great Lakes Urban Exchange, since co-founding it in 2007 with a friend from Pittsburgh.  I was active in the launch of the Detroit Declaration, which sets out principles for a more prosperous Detroit.  I’ve lived in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Manhattan, and now I live in the most exciting city in the U.S. of A.: Detroit.

But to really give you a sense of what informs me, here is my top ten list, in no particular order.  Things I love:

1. My house.  I live in a mid-century townhome designed by famed architect Mies van der Rohe.  Most people don’t even know he designed anything in Detroit—let alone a whole amazing neighborhood.
2. “Up north.”  Camping, kayaking, ice-skating, cross-country skiing and generally exploring our beautiful state.
3. Middle-eastern food.  Thank you, Dearborn, for being so nearby and for sating my falafel needs.
4. Red Wings.  I’m usually somewhat thankful when the playoffs are over so that I can start paying attention to other things in my life.
5. Riding my bike.  First of all, it’s shiny and sapphire red, which is basically reason enough.  But even more: I love experiencing the city this way.
6. Parks—especially enormous island parks like Belle Isle.  Even city folk need some outdoors, for a picnic, a walk--or to play soccer in the Detroit City Futbol League.
7. Connecting people.  I think solutions come from people sharing ideas and working together.
8. Traveling through Michigan’s farmland.  I think it’s clear: I’m not a farmer.  But those green, orderly fields are so pretty.
9. Crossword puzzles.
10. Trains.  Especially because, when I ride on trains, I can work on crossword puzzles.