I think there's broad misconception that community members are just waiting for the city or state to invest and revitalize their neighborhoods. The reality is that residents have been very entrepreneurial.

If you're not on the ground and listening and talking to people in neighborhoods around the city, you're not going to see those things or appreciate them.

In that same vein, there is also an assumption that these communities are downtrodden and that people are just complaining about the problems in their neighborhoods. Detroit has so many community advocates, activists, hustlers, and doers of all ages and backgrounds, as well as strong (formal and informal) institutions that are developing and preserving affordable housing, and taking control of abandoned property and turning it into open space where kids can play. There are community art installations, small community farms, and small businesses driven by a deep entrepreneurial spirit. There are youth development programs that are preparing young people to succeed in school, start businesses, and take advantage of job opportunities. All of these efforts are not the kind of stories that are talked about on the national news, and it's not community-centered work that gets lifted up as innovative or strategic. But in so many ways, that is the heart, soul, and backbone of this city—always has been.

Read the full interview with Kevin Ryan on the people of Detroit at Ford Foundation