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15 Reasons to Be Optimistic About America (PHOTOS)

Posted: 11/11/10 05:39 PM ET

Starting with extensive data, which showed that Americans began to change their borrow-and-spend ways long before the start of the crisis, we -- as authors of Spend Shift -- set off across the country to find people who were reinventing their lives in the wake of the "Great Recession." The stories we gleaned help us see how the crisis has rearranged our priorities, awakened our creativity, and reconnected us to the people and things that really matter. The faces of the Spend Shift suggest that the consumer is adaptable, business is adaptable, and the future is not as dim as it appears.

Torya Blanchard, Detroit. Owner, Good Girls Go to Paris
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With low cost loans from the non-profit University Cultural Center Association, Torya Blanchard opened a tiny crepe restaurant to share her love of all things French with her hometown, Detroit. Serving low-cost but high quality meals Good Girls Go to Paris quickly became profitable. The shop also provides jobs and a light of hope in a city where shuttered shops outnumber those that are occupied.
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Starting with extensive data, which showed that Americans began to change their borrow-and-spend ways long before the start of the crisis, we -- as authors of Spend Shift -- set off across the country...
Starting with extensive data, which showed that Americans began to change their borrow-and-spend ways long before the start of the crisis, we -- as authors of Spend Shift -- set off across the country...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alexander Cardosa
01:15 PM on 11/24/2010
15 reasons why I don't care any more and have moved on with even wasting time thinking it will be a better future. Do what ever it takes to get to the top and stop fixating on feel good stories.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Andrew Shapter
Writer and Filmmaker
04:43 PM on 11/24/2010
Grumpy much?
11:40 AM on 11/24/2010
We've been to both Good Girls and Petit Zinc. Both jewels in Detroit. Thanks for the positive story on our city! We're fighting the fight. http://detroitworksproject.com
03:27 PM on 11/23/2010
Sounds nice, but small businesses do turn into BIG MONSTERS.

Etsy reminds me of eBay; charging small fees and commissions during early business days/years, then as soon as investor start knocking, CUSTOMERS ARE JUST ABOUT READY TO BE SCREWED.

Never Trust A Business Entity.

-- People over Profits.
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prettyd72
just a girl!
02:33 PM on 11/23/2010
I love Good Girls and Le Petit Zinc! Good article and 2 Great Detroit spots everyone should visit at least once! Thanks Huff for all 15!
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prettyd72
just a girl!
02:32 PM on 11/23/2010
I love Good Girls and Le Petit Zinc! Good article and 2 Great Detroit spots everyone should visit at least once! Thanks Huff for all 15!
01:18 PM on 11/23/2010
Yeah Detroit! Things really are happening here.
12:33 PM on 11/18/2010
Great article! I wish there would be links to the companies' sites. That would be great!
02:51 PM on 11/26/2010
Good idea.
11:22 AM on 11/16/2010
Bravo, Blu Homes. Amazing technology and much needed product.
09:32 AM on 11/12/2010
To see more work by B. D. Colen, the photographer who shot all but slide #5, go to www.bdcolenphoto.com
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
FearlessFreep
A radical leftist with a JS Woodsworth avatar.
05:58 PM on 11/11/2010
Actually, good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go to Paris!