On Monday, March 31st, the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition (LPSDC) hosted its second community forum, the first since 2020. The event aimed to address the social needs of residents by focusing on local resources, fostering collaboration among residents, service providers, government agencies, and simplifying access to services and care.
The Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition (LPSDC) was founded in the Fall of 2019 after community members began discussing how to better support neighbors in need of resources. By the end of that year, preparations for a community forum were underway. The first community forum took place in January 2020, attracting over 60 attendees. Since then, the Coalition has grown, with student interns contributing to its success. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the LPSDC continued its work virtually, conducting projects such as the Community Needs Assessment Survey (2021-2022) and the Agency and Provider Survey (2022) to gather valuable community insights. The Coalition has also maintained and regularly updated the Community Resource Guide.
In May 2024, the LPSDC proposed formalizing its operations and integrating into the City of Lincoln Park’s decision-making processes, recommending the inclusion of the ad hoc, all-volunteer Coalition into the city’s official operations. With all the progress made, it was time to bring the community forum back and invite everyone to participate.
Paula Miller, a founding member and Pastor at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, welcomed attendees to the forum. Kara Hilderbrandt, a founding member, Pastor at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, and member of the Economic Development Committee, introduced the goals of the LPSDC, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration and connection within the community.
Leah DuMouchel, a founding member and past City Planner for Lincoln Park, provided updates on the Coalition’s activities since 2020. She also highlighted the work of student interns Tara Rucker, a Master’s Social Work Intern from Our Lady of the Lake University, and myself, a Bachelor’s of Social Work Intern from Wayne State University. We shared our work on the Lincoln Park Community Resource Guide and announced that Bylaws are in the works.
One of the evening’s main activities, “Speed Networking,” was led by Rebeca Guzman, MSW, School of Social Work Field Instructor. This fast-paced networking session allowed attendees to meet at least five other individuals who live, work, or engage in Lincoln Park activities. Participants introduced themselves, shared information about their organizations or roles, and exchanged business cards and flyers. This networking opportunity helped strengthen connections within the community.
During the forum, Tara Rucker presented the wellbeing indicators for Lincoln Park, highlighting key issues such as physical health, mental health, substance use disorder, poverty, housing security, food security, and exposure to violence. She used a map of the city to show the locations of these challenges and the areas most impacted.
Following Tara’s presentation, I provided an update on the 2025 Community Resource Guide. The guide now includes over 120 resources, with more than 20 new additions since 2024. For the first time, it is also available in Spanish to better serve the growing Hispanic population in Lincoln Park. Attendees were given time during the meeting to review the guide, provide feedback, and suggest any corrections or additional resources to include.
The final activity of the evening, “From Ideas to Action – Where Do We Go From Here?”, was led by Casey Lee, MSW, Independent Contractor supporting the Coalition’s formalization and former WSU student intern. Attendees were divided into small groups to brainstorm the future of Lincoln Park. Each group was given a sheet of paper divided into three sections with the following questions:
- “Looking ahead 5 years, what do you hope life in Lincoln Park will look like for the community?”
- “How can today’s discussion help move us toward this vision?”
- “How can we stay connected beyond this event?”
The goal of the forum was to encourage attendees to think about their long-term goals, identify actionable steps to achieve them, and explore ways the community can remain engaged after the event. While there’s still much more to discuss, the forum sparked meaningful conversations and laid the foundation for future action.
The forum successfully reunited the community after a challenging few years and opened the door for continued collaboration. The LPSDC’s ongoing efforts to connect residents with resources and services are critical to building a stronger Lincoln Park.
For more information on the LPSDC or to access the updated Community Resource Guide, visit their website at www.lincolnparksdc.org or contact the Coalition directly at lincolnparksdc@gmail.com.
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Kenny Rosas-Aguilera is a 24-year old from Detroit. He is a senior at Wayne State University majoring in Social Work. As a student intern with St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, he is working with the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition and is primarily responsible for developing the Coalition’s Community Resource Guide.
EL CENTRAL Hispanic News is partially funded by Press Forward, the national movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at www.pressforward.news.
