Detroit is a tricky place. And its image -- coupling lament and fetishism -- often precedes it. If the city's image precedes it, why not engage the image toward the production of a new urban imaginary? Imaging Detroit is doing just that.

An efficient City of Detroit government will create the environment to thrive. This is the vision I encourage us all to share.

The question should not be what a state elected official can do for Detroit, but what Detroit can do for the rest of the world.

Rebuilding Detroit is not only a security issue for residents but a national security issue. We need to make big changes in order to improve both the city and the lives of its citizens. It is my hope that you will entrust me to work for you on these issues.

My top priority is making Detroit a world-class city again. As state representative in the 4th district, I will work to achieve this goal by urging our state to invest in infrastructure, education, and our neighborhoods.

As an elected official, I will work diligently towards restoring faith and confidence back into our government by providing the highest level of integrity to the office of State Representative.

Most of those driving the discussions about economic progress, urban gardening, land use issues, and governmental policy in Detroit are relative newcomers who do not necessarily understand or appreciate the challenges that the "old Detroit" has faced.

Detroit will turn around, and does every day, when we understand the power we have to transform the way we function. Every day we must remind ourselves that this is our community and we have the power to change it.

Instead of taking sides or placing blame, reach out and help a fellow metro Detroiter with a job, a hand up, or a meal. Rebuild Detroit the sustainable way -- build and connect the people. Unite.

We have to band together to not only protect each other, but to provide for each other, share with each other, feed each other, care for each other and more importantly love each other in these tough times, Detroit.

Detroit must take advantage of being in the limelight right now to align all of its stakeholders to be positive forces in the process of change.

Instead of working for a progress we can only access in the cinema of our imaginations, "a fantasy of more," we should embrace our station as a struggling city and exert ourselves towards making it better.

I'm not the only one coming home. There is a huge entrepreneurial movement permeating throughout the city. From technology to the creative sector, the excitement is growing.