Restoring home exteriors and boosting community pride, block by block.
OUR VISION
At AboutFaceDetroit (AFD), our goal is clear: to transform Cadillac Boulevard between East Vernor and Mack into a continuous stream of well-functioning homes, free from distress.
AFD envisions a community where arriving home brings forth feelings of contentment and pride for all neighbors.
AboutFaceDetroit is a registered 501c3. 100% of all funds go toward the AFD mission.
Ultimately, AboutFaceDetroit demonstrates local transformative power toward improvement, not as individuals, but as a collective
—manifesting our best efforts, home by home, block by block.
- Alice James, Founder
NEXT UP: SPRING 2025
AboutFaceDetroit directs skilled labor and building materials to our immediate neighbors in East Village, bypassing red tape to provide on-the-ground home repair and beautification. As neighbors, we know exactly where it is needed.
We reinforce homes with…
ENERGY-EFFICIENT WINDOWS
AFD secures homes with energy-efficient windows that slash energy bills and ensure year-round comfort against Michigan winters. Added benefits of reduced noise and security. Join us in making a sustainable difference—one window at a time.
GUTTER REPLACEMENTS
Our program is dedicated to bolstering housing durability, providing gutters that prevent foundation damage and reduce soil erosion. New gutters require minimal maintenance, improved roof longevity, and increased curb appeal.
PORCH REHABS & MORE
As champions of housing integrity, AFD is dedicated to making front porches a central part of the home again. Our initiative breathes new life into neglected porches, turning them into welcoming, safe, and functional spaces that extend our living areas. Porches have always fostered a closer connection to your community and the environment. Let's reclaim and celebrate the front porch as the heart of the home and an extension into our community.
PROJECTS
PHASE 1 — COMPLETE — FALL 2023
A new roof for our neighbor.
PHASE 2 — COMPLETE — SUMMER 2024
Gutters, fascia, soffits, and siding for this neighbor.
PHASE 3 — FUNDRAISING — WINTER 2025
Repair porch and siding; Install new windows; Paint.
GENERAL PROJECTS COMPLETED — SPRING & SUMMER 2024
4 home landscape installations
1 Porch repair and repaint
1 mile of overgrown sidewalk grass removed
East Village litter permanently reduced via weekly cleanups and trashcan addition.
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS — SPRING & SUMMER 2025
Love, Not Litter
Installation of additional commercial trash cans along several East Village streets
Anti-litter lamp post street banners
Continued 2x weekly street clean-ups
2 landscape installations
East Village Gateway Park
Design support and collaboration with the University of Michigan’s graduate Urban Planning department
Donate
Donate
Our mission is largely supported by individual donations. Donate above to directly support our work and our neighbors.
What makes us different
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AFD believes it can make the biggest impact with a narrow focus. That’s why we concentrate repair and beautification efforts on just three Cadillac blocks between Mack and E Vernor Hwy.
AFD’s proximity and familiarity with neighbors delivers direct, personalized assistance that ensures we all enjoy adequate housing.
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For now, our focus is on our immediate neighbors within 3 blocks of Cadillac Blvd, between Mack and E Vernor Hwy.
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No applications necessary! That’s the beauty of AFD. We are your neighbors, just down the street, and will address needs as funds roll in.
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If you are skilled in any aspect of exterior home repair, your generosity is tax deductible.
Skilled help could take the form of 1) discounted prices or 2) a few hours of pro bono time towards completing a project.
Please sign up if you are skilled: Demolition, Debris haul, Tree removal, Gutter and fascia install, or Soffit install
Why we do it
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According to the the US Census Bureau, the yearly median income for Detroit is $34,762, and 31.8% of us East Detroiters live below the poverty line, consequently making home repairs unaffordable for many.
Moreover, our neighbors often miss out on local grants because of limited media access and a daunting application process. Under these circumstances, individual attempts to enhance our neighborhoods are usually unrealistic.
AFD envisions action that ensures assistance for all of our community. When our neighbors are content, we all thrive.
Generational wealth
& Sustainability
Aging roofs, cracked windows, outdated gutters, and deteriorating siding not only diminish the aesthetic appeal of neighborhoods but also serve as entry points for harsh weather elements. Families often face unbearable utility bills as precious warmth escapes through these structural weaknesses. We recognize the fundamental importance of addressing these pressing infrastructure needs. Energy justice means ensuring that every Detroit household, regardless of income or background, has access to safe, weatherized, energy efficient, and sustainable housing.
New roofs and refurbished exteriors not only improve living conditions but also boost property values. These, in turn, contribute to the accumulation of generational wealth for long-time Detroit residents. AFD aims to break the cycle of disinvestment by safeguarding the structural integrity of homes. This ensures the passing down of homes from one generation to the next, preserving a legacy of wealth and providing a stepping stone for younger family members toward homeownership. In a city where generations have weathered economic challenges and social transformation, AFD represents a commitment to rectifying historical injustices and fostering a future where generational Detroit families can repair, protect, and transfer wealth through homeownership.
Support AFD
Financial Support
In-Kind Labor Support
(Skilled labor)
AFD is seeking skilled laborers willing to support this mission with in-kind labor.
If you are skilled in any aspect of exterior home repair and would like to see our community achieve the AFD mission, please sign up below for:
Demolition
Debris haul
Tree removal
Gutter, soffit, or fascia installation
Roofing
Masonry
Discounted prices or pro bono work toward completing a project
Remember, your generosity is tax deductible + your good will will be publicly noted on our site.
Building Materials
(Registry coming soon)
AboutFaceDetroit is a registered 501c3. 100% of all funds will go toward the AFD mission.
Contact
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Email: cadillacdetroitrose@gmail.com
IG: @aboutfacedetroit
Send checks to:
AboutFaceDetroit
P.O. Box 14195
Detroit, MI
48214
Our Neighbors
Steph Goudy, Cadillac Investment Properties LLC
Years ago, from the start, Steph has always been there to assist us through projects with sage advice, hands-on assistance and moral support. There isn’t a better neighbor, now dear friend. A font of good will and energy (he works a full time job, rehabs houses, and is a devoted dad and husband), he’s been an unwavering supporter of the community and, now, AFD.
Michael
He may have retired from his day job, but he’s never idle. He strolls our neighborhood for those in need of immediate lawn service and even attends to the neglected lawns left by absentee investors. When we’re out cleaning the block I know that he and his leaf blower will soon be on the way to assist. Truly an asset to our community.
A special thanks to Clayton, Angles, E, Margaret, Barbara, James, Amy, Peter, Molly, Rick Jordan, Pastor Brock, Lynn, Nathan, Willie, Patrick, Deanne, and Otis. Everyday passersby stop to buoy our spirits through tough projects. A community cannot thrive without the support and encouraging words you offer.
Our Contractors
Rick Jordan, Atty.
Quality Outdoor Care, Jason Martin
Corey C. Johnson, Brand and Web Consultant
Todd Beverly, Architect
Warner Norcross and Judd LLP
Miah J. Davis, Fundraising For All
Mac Farr, The Villages
Amezola Tree Service
Gratitude
Meet the Board
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Founder & President
Alice James grew up on Hurlbut Street on Detroit’s East side and attended Cass Tech and WSU where she graduated with degrees in biology and philosophy. Twenty-five years ago, she followed her husband to Tennessee where he chased his career dream. Together, they raised three marvelous young women. 5 years ago, Alice returned to Detroit to realize her dream: on the next street over from Hurlbut, Alice serves her community by founding AboutFaceDetroit to restore homes in her childhood neighborhood.
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Vice President, Operations
As an epidemiologist, graduated from the University of Michigan, Jade brings a wealth of public health knowledge and a strong commitment to community betterment. Alongside her sisters, she co-owns and renovates 2 Cadillac properties, demonstrating skills in project management and neighborhood revitalization. She is the founding coordinator of AFD’s Goethe Garden (spring 2024), showcasing her dedication to sustainable community initiatives. Jade handles back-office administrative tasks for AFD projects, ensuring efficiency and organization to ultimately enhance our community's well-being.
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Board Member
Dr. Dominic J. Bednar, an Assistant Professor in Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine, specializes in energy justice and environmental sustainability. He holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Michigan, where his research centered on addressing energy poverty and enhancing residential energy affordability, particularly in vulnerable communities. His master's thesis focused on energy disparities in Detroit and has been influential in shaping policies to combat energy poverty. Dr. Bednar integrates his academic research and policy work with AboutFaceDetroit’s mission, and helps us prioritize practical, energy-efficient solutions for our neighbors’ homes.
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Board Member
Aaron Smith is a founder of Motor City Grounds crew, East Warren Tool Library, Motor City Blight Busters, and Featherstone Gardens. MCGC strengthens Detroit neighborhoods through green space beautification, youth sports activities, and community tool libraries. MCBB pioneered removal of blighted buildings in Detroit through careful deconstruction and recycling of construction materials. WIth his experience with beautifying Detroit, Mr. Smith offers keen insight and practical guidance as a valuable Board Member of AFD.
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Board Member
Steph Goudy is a native Detroiter with years of dedication to revitalizing and renovating our neighborhoods. As one of our Cadillac neighbors, he has a vested interest in fortifying and beautifying our community and is a trusted face for our neighbors. A former DOD Contractor Manager for projects in Southeast Asia and owner of Cadillac Investment Properties, Steph Is bringing old Detroit homes back to life and providing affordable housing in our community. With decades of construction experience under his belt, he offers sound advice and labor when we contract for our many home repair projects.