Do you know a southeast Michigan leader who should be honored for championing regional cooperation that makes the region’s communities better places? The Shining Light Regional Cooperation Awards are looking for leaders from southeast Michigan’s seven counties – Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne – “who, in one way or another, have taken a leadership role in encouraging people and communities to work cooperatively to improve southeast Michigan,” according to the award’s website.

Any member of the public may nominate someone they admire for one of three Shining Light Awards. The Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership “recognizes an individual in the public spotlight who is taking risks and demonstrating courage to improve regional cooperation and understanding.” The Eleanor Josaitis “Unsung Hero” Award “recognizes an individual who may not have yet received the widespread recogition she or he deserves for longstanding efforts to further regional cooperation and understanding.” And finally, the Dave Bing Future Leader Award “recognizes a young adult who is involved with enhancing regional understanding and cooperation within our metropolitan community.”

The Shining Light Regional Cooperation Awards, which were created by the Detroit Free Press and Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), will be held at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn on October 13, 2011, beginning at 8 a.m. You can make a reservation to attend the event beginning August 26.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

“Imagine for a moment that you are an immigrant to the United States. You hope to make this new country your home, and yet, many of the customs and culture confuse you,” blogs Michelle Burgess of the National League of Cities’ Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration (MAII). You just relocated your family to a new and unfamiliar country. You may or may not speak much of the language or know the customs. You want to integrate into your new community and familiarize yourself with your new city’s programs and services. But how will you access the information and resources you need?

According to a new “best practices” report by Burgess and Ricardo Gambetta of the MAII, “Immigrant Integration: Resource Access and Cultural Exchange,” there are a lot of things community outreach programs can do to help immigrants access important city information, find basic things like health care, jobs, and education, and better engage in community life. The report profiles a number of outreach programs across the country that are helping immigrants to better “connect” with their new communities.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

The Detroit News announced today, "Moroun's company hires architectural firm to restore Michigan Central Station," a historic depot, "which has sat empty for the past 23 years and become the centerfold of Detroit ruin porn," reporter Jonathan Oosting writes. According to the article The Detroit International Bridge Company, owned by businessman Manuel "Matty" Moroun, has hired Quinn Evans Architects of Ann Arbor to "design a restoration plan for the windows and roof."

Although the depot might look likes it's falling down, it is actually "structurally sound." Elisabeth Knibbe of Quinn Evans Architects told the Windsor Star that the dilapidated building "doesn't really scare me. The bones of the building are solid and we can do something with it. There is a lot of potential there," she said. Moroun's son and vice chairman Matt Moroun thinks; "It is an important first step to helping return the building to its rightful place among the great Detroit landmarks."

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

The annual National Main Streets Conference is quickly approaching. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding this year’s conference May 22-25, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. If you cannot make it to the big show in person, you can still be a "Virtual Attendee" on its website - which will soon feature live streams, tweets, and blogs.

Main Street programs exist across the U.S., which engage in “preservation-based economic development,” as well as small business growth and other issues that impact main streets and downtowns. The annual conference will include training, an expo, plenty of networking opportunities, and "mobil workshops that focus on revitalization in Des Moines and surrounding Main Street Iowa communities," according to online conference information. 

“In Des Moines we will focus on recruitment, retention, strengthening and supporting your local businesses; showcase how being green and open to all will help with these efforts; and, of course, learning about the Main Street Four Point Approach from the basics to the new, cutting-edge ideas that are being put in to practice in our Main Streets across the country.”

Two Michigan communities, Boyne City and Old Town Lansing, are in the running for “Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA)" along with eight other semi-finalists. Winners will be announced at the conference. Read a previous 21c3 blog by Arnold Weinfeld about the honor.

You can read my previous blog about how the Michigan Main Street Program reports progress in Michigan. Or if you are in the mood for something light and delightfully cheeky, check out this viral video that Main Street Iowa made in commemoration of their 25th anniversary. 

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info