Life Remodeled
Chris Lambert, founder and CEO of Life Remodeled, center left with Kelly Cleaver, director of development, was the guest speaker at the Wednesday, Feb. 8, evening meeting of Rotary of Grosse Pointe at The War Memorial. He was welcomed by President Ted Everingham, left, and introduced by Rotarian Bob Bury, right.
Life Remodeled is a non-profit that was formed in 2010 to help rebuild Detroit neighborhoods. In 2016, it committed $5 million in cash, labor and materials to the Denby High School neighborhood. It helped repair occupied homes, put together a six-day volunteer project to remove blight from 300 city blocks and built a park, designed by students, right next to the high school.
In 2017, Life Remodeled plans on tackling a two-year project with the same financial and labor commitment around Central High School. In addition to repairing homes and removing blight, the organization is moving into the Durfee School building, and the students will move across the campus to the under-capacity high school. The plan is to make the Durfee building a "business incubator" and community innovation center with tech companies moving in and interacting with the students as guest lecturers and through employment.
Life Remodeled chooses neighborhoods which show “significant need but radical hope.” The impact of its work is reflected in reduced crime and increased hope (the forming of neighborhood clubs) and investment. Mark your calendar to participate in this year’s blight removal and beautification the week of July 31 - Aug. 5. To learn more or to register to volunteer, visit its great website at www.liferemodeled.com.
(Photo by John Minnis)