Pledging Allegiance to Michigan

by
Lauren Silverman
Monday, November 16, 2009
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is a place that attracts young adults (Photo by TImothy Vollmer)

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is one place that attracts young adults (Photo by TImothy Vollmer)

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A lot of young Michigan college students practically pledge to themselves they will leave the state after they graduate. But some of the best and brightest are pledging their allegiance to Michigan.

Chris Detjen is one of them. When he graduated a graduated from The University of Michigan last year with a degree in Political Science and Program in the Environment, he was offered a job in Washington D.C. But he chose Detroit instead.

“I was a bit conflicted about it to be honest,” said Dejten. “I initially wanted to stay in Michigan, particularly given the area that I’m interested in, which is renewable energy development and making Michigan a leader in renewable energy technologies.”

So Detjen got a job with NextEnergy. It’s alternative energy business in Detroit. He says supporting emerging industries such as renewable energy is crucial to saving Michigan.

“Michigan has an opportunity within renewable energy to retain some of the educated youth that we have here, that it really hasn’t seen in a long time,” Detjen said. “And because it is an industry that has so much appeal to young people — because young people are so concerned about climate change, because they’re interested in new technologies and innovation — renewable energy is also something that Michigan can use to combat the brain drain, I think.”

Over the last year Michigan increased incentives for renewables. Since then, Detjen has seen more young people choose to stay put. Last month he was at the Michigan Power Shift. He was one of eleven regional conferences taking place around the nation, he ran into old friends who decided to stay in Michigan because they want to be a part of a home-grown energy revolution. But not every young person wants to deal with the kind of pressure that comes with transforming a state.

“One of my frustrations has been that people, when they graduate from college in Michigan, they kind of take the path of least resistance,” said Detjen. “And they sometimes decide to go to place like San Francisco, like the Bay Area, places like Chicago, places like New York, where there’s already a huge concentration of young people who are trying to do progressive things. And they sort of forget about the fact that they live in this place where there’s just an incredible amount of need. That’s been tough for me to see.”

Another recent graduate who said no to leaving Michigan is Katie Barkel. She admits it has been tough to watch all her friends leave Michigan.

“But there are a few people who are super devoted to the city of Detroit and to the state of Michigan that are still around,” said Barkel. “And whether they’re in Detroit proper, whether they’re in Ann Arbor, whether they are sort of spread out in the suburbs, there’s still a really good group of people that have stayed here.”

Some of the young people that have left Michigan are even thinking about coming back. Anna Barson graduated from The University in Michigan and immediately moved to Washington D.C, and then New York. She’s discovered there’s a lot of grassroots activism in Detroit she wants to be a part of.

“I do feel some connection, and if I am serious about wanting to do social justice work, Detroit– I mean, it is in my home state, and I think it would be hypocritical of me to completely ignore that,” said Barson.

Moving to Detroit doesn’t have to be a sacrifice for young people. Barkel says there are plenty of ways to have fun too.

“I’m always going out to different things in Detroit,” said Barkel. “I love the Magic Stick, I love Cliff Bell’s. I just love being down there. I love MOCAD, I love DIA, I love…”

Barkel’s got love for a lot of places in Detroit. And the other thing Barkel loves: low rent. She says it’s easier to pursue creative endeavors because you can afford to live and work, and still have money left over. But Barkel says even with cheap rent and the chance to shine, some people will still complain.

“I hear a lot of people, especially at my work, saying, ‘I thought I would be gone by now. Michigan sucks,’” said Barkel. “Some people don’t want to be trudging through the snow, some people want to have more things to do, some people want to have a downtown area where there are actually things that are functional. Some people also don’t want to be in a city in a suburban area that depends solely on using cars.”

For young people that want to rebuild a city, Detroit is the place to be. Hopefully, those young people will support, or create new industries that can make a difference now and in the future. That way, when the idealism wears off, young people won’t just want to stay in Michigan because they feel needed, but because it is a great place to live, too.

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  • Chas.

    I feel as though Generation Y should stay and rebuild Michigan , this would give this generation a sense of stability and staying power. Because leaving Michigan is like giving up the fight, we must all learn to fight the good fight of faith . This is the state that you were born in and live in ,so you know what this state needs to survive, grow, and thrive to succeed in its rebirth. There is power in the purpose of a solution to a problem. Generation Y should not sell itself short by not believing they have nothing to offer as far as idea’s, they have a newness and freshness that they bring to the table. I have a favorite quote I’d like to leave on. “ Think out of the box that the problem was created in to find the solution” Albert Einstein Generation Y you look at the problems with clear eyes,new visions, new dreams and new answers.

  • Michael

    It would be nice if more people had the attitude of Chris and Katie but the fact is that other areas of the country have already worked to continually transform themselves to be attractive to young people and consequently have millions of more things to offer that Michigan doesn't. I have been living in San Francisco for the past three years, having grown up in Michigan it is amazing how much better my quality of life is and it seems insurmountable to transform Detroit to even a tenth of what places like Northern California have to offer. Not only do other cities in America offer more as far as environment but also has people with more progressive minds, people who are open minded and much more worldly thinkers as well as a much more diverse population. I am not a fan of Busch Light and hunting.

  • matt

    I just found this site I am very impressed. I think it's very positive and full of exciting ideas for entrepreneurs. Michigan will make it through the tough times so don't give up hope.

    I'm a very lucky individual. I live in different states every three months and get a good feel of the various lifestyles and cultures across the US. One thing that I have noticed about most of the western states is that people really dislike California. The post you just made is a picture perfect example of why so many people hate people from California. Why do Californians feel the urge to change every city in the country to look and feel like San Fransisco? Is everyone else from San Fransisco an egotistical snob such as yourself? If you like San Fransisco then that's fine. If people want to live in SF or California then they will move there. That's what makes a place unique and desirable. If every city looked like SF then the real SF would become generic and boring and then where would all the hipsters move to?

    Leave California in California.

    Not a fan of Busch light and hunting? That's one of the reasons I go back to Michigan to visit. Deer camp, bush light, euchre and friends. Pure Michigan LOL.

  • Michael

    I am not looking to change every city to be San Francisco, that is why I moved. I never said that San Francisco is the model for for all U.S. cities but rather a good example of a place that has things that young professionals find attractive in a city, after all it it the number one place that young people are moving to. If you think people from San Francisco are snobs you should spend some time with people from LA. Much worse. I have met a lot of people who are snobs about Seattle also, where a lot of young people live also. In all honesty I would rather live in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland or Seattle over any city in Michigan and that is just the west alone. There are many things about the city that I don't like about SF, the high cost about living there, the hipsters, it is dirty, the amount of tourists taking pictures of nothing, traffic and the amazing amounts of homeless people. Not the best place in my mind but much better than any city in Michigan. You do realize that there has to be a reason that young people are leaving Michigan at a record pace right?

  • Matt

    "Michigan sucks..." IF ONLY every wilting hot-house flower who hated snow COULD leave Michigan! (The stuff of daydreams, I know.) It would make winter a lot pleasanter for the rest of us, and would certainly open many more opportunities for those like me who hope to stay (or those who wish they could come back -- and it sounds like there are plenty of those).

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