Beneath all of the efforts Detroit is always the same challenge: how do we build pride in who we are as Detroiters, celebrate what we do best and recognize all that we have in common?

It was a feeling we needed. It was not a campaign we needed. The easy part is always the slogan, the theme, the platform. What we needed was to create a movement. Something that was a year-round extension of what we feel on Thanksgiving Day when we stand shoulder-to-shoulder celebrating who we are and all that we share.

In 2001 to mark Detroit 300 (our cities tri-centennial), we created just such a grass roots campaign. We called it: I am Detroit.

It has been used ever since – to promote CreateDetroit, to build recruitment and retention programs, by our television partners and to build pride in this place we call home.

Interested in supporting the movement or wearing your pride on your sleeve, literally? Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it