While a new, more positive narrative about Detroit is welcome, there are problems in focusing entirely on idealistic young adventurers swooping in to save the city -- it reinforces the stereotype of native Detroiters as hapless, helpless and hopeless.

While the rebounding downtown and Midtown districts fit the usual pattern of urban progress-established institutions and developers guiding most of the changes -- other parts of town are following a different playbook for revitalization.

A vibrant downtown is not, by itself, the answer to Detroit's problems. However, few would argue that it's not of particular importance as an anchor point for a significantly improved local economy.

After seeing the devastation caused by the foreclosure crisis, I wanted to find an action-based and citizen-led antidote to vacant properties and blight-ridden landscapes. I believe that change roots in community.

We Detroiters have a choice. We can continue to point fingers, cry in our soup, and long for the days gone by. Or we can do something about it. We can own it, fix it, and rebuild it.