October 22, 2021

We spent an entire week (October 4-9, 2021) in Detroit—specifically in the Central High School area—to help, pro bono, the non-profit Life Remodeled with executing their planned “remodeling” of the surrounding neighborhood, and “repurpose” the previous Durfee Elementary-Middle School (now the “Durfee Innovation Society“). We were responsible for a variety of graphic design and capturing the project photographically. Most of the graphics work was done before the ‘build week’, and most of the photography and filming was done during the week-long ‘campaign’.

Their 2021 “Six-Day Project“ focused on clearing blight from the front yards of vacant properties and ‘deforesting’ alleys within a specific 150 block area within the four square miles of neighborhoods surrounding the Durfee Innovation Society (next to Central High School). All of this happened with an army of 3,822 volunteers from 173 businesses, churches, and other organizations.

 
Detroit once housed more than 1.8 million people. However, now with only 650,000 residents, there are a lot of vacant lands—thousands of acres of overgrown brush and weeds making certain areas not only visually depressing but are also more dangerous.

The City of Detroit’s blight removal program is second to none, however, it is just not possible for vacant properties to be maintained weekly at this time in our city’s history. They need the help of volunteers to continue investing in the neighborhoods surrounding the one-stop-shop of opportunity (the “Durfee Innovation Society”) that Life Remodeled has created.

In addition to beautifying the neighborhood, the Six-Day Project brings people from all walks of life to work together, helping them better understand each other. This was verified by a survey of volunteers after last year’s (2020) Project: 99% of volunteers felt a greater sense of ‘connectedness during the Project. We are very honored to help, pro bono, this awesome nonprofit organization!

 
If you are interested, there are over 5,000 photos that we, and a team of photographers, took to capture all of the activities during the ‘build week’
(click here to view)

If you or your company are interested in more details about this project, visit the Life Remodeled website: http://liferemodeled.org/

To see how we have been associated with Life Remodeled (from their very beginning), click this link: Visual Impact’s Pro Bono Work

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY
Here are some ‘creative’ pics our photographers took during the week to capture the amazing work the volunteers did.

[ 300 ‘mature’ trees (4′-5′ high) were given away to the residents in the neighborhood to plant in front of their houses by “The Greening of Detroit” the weekend before the Six-Day Project. ]

 

[ I was ‘caught’ out in the field capturing the fabulous volunteers ]

 

[ Click here to see the 5,000+ images that were taken during the Six-Day Project week. ]

 

The following links are for more information about the Central/Durfee project in Detroit, Michigan:
PHOTOS
NEWS and MEDIA COVERAGE
FACEBOOK PAGE

Here is a video that WXYZ (Detroit) did about Life Remodeled:

Take a tour of the Durfee Innovation Society (DIS):

How does the Durfee Innovation Society ‘measure up’? Well, click here for some statistics.

Paul W Smith interview with Life Remodeled CEO Chris Lambert:

CW50 feature about Life Remodeled’s”Lean on We” campaign:

Summary video of the 2021 Siv-Day Project:

 
[ Note: There are also other videos of the 2021 project on Life Remodeled’s YouTube Channel ]

If you are also interested in more information or supporting this great non-profit, contact Mark Besh at Visual Impact Systems (248-548-7000), or click the link below to be taken to Life Remodeled’s website.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT LIFE REMODELED

October 12, 2020

We spent an entire week (October 5-10, 2020) in Detroit—specifically in the Central High School area—to help, pro bono, the non-profit Life Remodeled with executing their planned “remodeling” of the surrounding neighborhood, and “repurpose” the previous Durfee Elementary-Middle School (now the “Durfee Innovation Society). We were responsible for the design and production of promotional brochures and flyers, signage, banners, t-shirt graphics, social media channel graphics, website updates, and capturing the project photographically. Most of the graphics work was done before the ‘build week’, and most of the photography and filming were done during the week-long ‘campaign’.

In response to COVID-19, we had to change the way we organized our 2020 Six Day Project.

Life Remodeled has been organizing Six-Day Projects for 10 straight years, and every single one has been unique and powerful—and even though, because of social distancing, this project week was ALSO exception: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to mobilize 2,021 awesome volunteers to remove the blight on 71 blocks, make improvements to the Durfee Innovation Society, and revitalize a broken-down playscape.

Ninety-nine percent of their volunteers said that their pandemic safety measures helped them feel safe from COVID-19 while volunteering. During a time in our country’s history when we are experiencing extreme polarization, 99% of their volunteers also said they felt a greater sense of connectedness with others during the project.

Not only is blight psychologically damaging to children and families who have to look at it, but it plays a significant factor in crime rates. Because the City of Detroit had to make substantial budget cuts in 2020, the blight removal effort from Life Remodeled’s passionate and hard-working volunteers was ven MORE NEEDED and much appreciated by Mayor Duggan.

Thanks to Patronicity, the MEDC, and the 43 donors who helped crowdfund this campaign, they raised $21,558 in less than 24 hours to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies to bring a playscape back to life again. A crew of amazing volunteers from FCA completed the renovation in only four days, and the Life Remodeled Community Advisory Council and students from Durfee Elementary dedicated it as the “John R. Lewis Playscape.”

If you are interested, there are over 5,600 photos that we, and a team of photographers, took to capture all of the activities during the ‘build week’
(click here to view)

If you or your company are interested in more details about this project, visit the Life Remodeled website: http://liferemodeled.org/

To see how we have been associated with Life Remodeled (from their very beginning), click this link: Visual Impact’s Pro Bono Work
 

DESIGN SERVICES
The following are examples of the graphic design work we provided:

 

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY
Here are some ‘creative’ pics our photographers took during the week to capture the amazing work the volunteers did.

[ I was ‘caught’ out in the field capturing the fabulous volunteers ]

 

The following links are for more information about the Central/Durfee project in Detroit, Michigan:
PHOTOS
NEWS and MEDIA COVERAGE
FACEBOOK PAGE

Here is a video that FOX 2 News (Detroit) did about the 2020 project:

[ Note: There are also other videos of the 2020 project on Life Remodeled’s YouTube Channel ]

 
If you are also interested in more information or supporting this great non-profit, contact Mark Besh at Visual Impact Systems (248-548-7000), or click the link below to be taken to Life Remodeled’s website.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT LIFE REMODELED

October 9, 2019

We spent an entire week (August 5-10, 2019) in Detroit—specifically in the Central High School area—to help, pro bono, the non-profit Life Remodeled with executing their planned “remodeling” of the surrounding neighborhood, and “repurpose” the previous Durfee Elementary-Middle School (now the “Durfee Innovation Society). We were responsible for the design and production of promotional brochures and flyers, signage, banners, t-shirt graphics, social media channel graphics, website updates, capturing the project photographically. Most of the graphics work was done before the ‘build week’, and most of the photography and filming was done during the week-long ‘campaign’.
Here’s a list of the project’s major accomplishments, that went beyond just blight removal:

– Cleared 257 blighted alleyways – Every one of them within a four-square-mile area surrounding the Durfee Innovation Society
– Many houses were boarded up to ensure the neighborhood’s safety
– Hosted a Youth Mentoring Summer Camp for 125 K-8 students
– Hosted a Basketball Camp for 37 middle and high school students led by the nationally renowned organization The Family
– Over 3,000 kids attended Family Fun Days with their families and enjoyed activities, entertainment (including a “Detroit Youth Choir” concert), carnival games, and the largest bounce house in the world
– Many projects were completed inside the Durfee Innovation Society – HVAC ducting; air conditioning unit ‘enclosures; lighting; painting; tiling; wood trimming; and general cleaning

This was an unbelievable effort performed by over 9,700 volunteers—in just 6 days—and has been valued at over $5M!

If you are interested, there are over 6,250 photos that we, and a team of photographers, took to capture all of the activities during the ‘build week’
(click here to view)

If you or your company are interested in more details about this project, visit the Life Remodeled web site: http://liferemodeled.com/

To see how we have been associated with Life Remodeled (from their very beginning), click this link: Visual Impact’s Pro Bono Work
 

DURFEE SCHOOL REPURPOSING

 

VACANT HOUSE BOARD UPS

 

REMOVAL OF BLIGHT

 

ALLEYWAYS CLEARED

 

NEW ROOFS

 

YOUTH SUMMER CAMP

 

BASKETBALL CAMP

 

FAMILY FUN DAYS

 

DETROIT YOUTH CHOIR

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

DESIGN SERVICES
The following are examples of the graphic design work we provided:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
The following links are for more information about the Central/Durfee project in Detroit, Michigan:
PHOTOS
MEDIA COVERAGE
NEWS
FACEBOOK PAGE

Here are a few videos about the 2019 project:

 

If you are also interested in more information or supporting this great non-profit, contact Mark Besh at Visual Impact Systems (248-548-7000), or click the link below to be taken to Life Remodeled’s website.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT LIFE REMODELED

November 9, 2018

In 2018, we spent an entire week (October 1-October 6, 2018) in Detroit again—specifically in the Central High School area—to help, pro bono, the non-profit Life Remodeled with executing their planned “remodeling” of the surrounding neighborhood. We were responsible for the design and production of promotional brochures and flyers, signage, banners, t-shirt graphics, social media channel graphics, website updates, capturing the project photographically. Most of the graphics work was done before the ‘build week’, and most of the photography and filming was done during the week-long ‘campaign’. Life Remodeled is continuing with this project, which they started in 2017—and also plan to work in the neighborhood for at least two more years.

Here’s a list of the project’s major accomplishments:
– Continued to renovate and repurpose the former Durfee Elementary-Middle School building (adjacent to Central High School) into a ‘community center’ they are calling the “Durfee Innovation Society”
– 396 Vacant Houses Boarded Up
– 316 Blocks of Blight Removal
– 102 Alleyways cleared
– Planted more than 700 trees, shrubs, and perennials
– Built 2 community gardens and upgraded 4 more
– Installed 20 “Little Free Libraries” along Safe Routes
– Designated the safest routes to Durfee and Central schools with artwork
– Installed 3 new bus shelters
– Installed 5 grills and picnic tables at neighborhood parks
– Installed 2 sets of bleachers for the Central High School softball field
– Added neighborhood signage
– Significantly improved Central High School’s football facilities and equipment (renovated the press box that had been vandalized, repaired the home bleachers and handicap ramps, installed a new scoreboard, and helped get new uniforms and equipment for the team and headsets for the coaches)
– Continuing to develop meaningful and sustainable partnerships to advance community investment after project completion

This was an unbelievable effort performed by over 10,000 volunteers—in just 6 days—and has been valued at over $5M!

The following are selected photos that represent the over 6,400 photos (click here to view) we, and a team of photographers, took to capture all of the activities during the ‘build week’:

DURFEE SCHOOL REPURPOSING

 

VACANT HOUSE BOARD UPS (396)

 

REMOVAL OF BLIGHT (316 CITY BLOCKS)

 

PLANTING VEGETATION

 

ALLEYWAYS CLEARED (102)

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

DESIGN SERVICES
The following are examples of the graphic design work we provided:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following links are for more information about the Central project in Detroit, Michigan:
PHOTOS
MEDIA COVERAGE
NEWS
FACEBOOK PAGE

Here’s a few videos about what was accomplished in the Central neighborhood in 2017:

 
If you are also interested in more information or supporting this great non-profit, contact Mark Besh at Visual Impact Systems (248-548-7000), or click the link below to be taken to Life Remodeled’s website.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT LIFE REMODELED