Nargis Rahman
During the pandemic, the Hamtramck Arts and Culture Commission has revamped to create new programs for neighbors to get to know each other better.
One of these initiatives is called Our City, a three-part program organized by Commissioners Colleen Burke and Faina Lerman.
“It took us a while to put the vision together,” Burke says. “I think that until the Our City event, the committee has mainly served to help other existing organizations and events happen.”
Rahman said the commission is working to build relationships in the city.
“I think we are still in the early stages of figuring out how best to sustain the arts community here at Hamtramck, trying to build relationships with some of the other committees, and trying to raise awareness within the community. increase.”
Finding ways to connect as ‘our city’
Our city was built to bring communities together through poetry, food and music. Funded by a small grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC).
Burke said the first event, held in June 2022, brought together about 70 people to enjoy poetry in a variety of languages.
“We held[the event]at the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Ukraine in the Rose Garden. We read seven poems in their original language representing the seven different cultures that make up Hamtramck.”
Among those languages were Bangla, Bosnian and Arabic.
Another event held was based on food brought by women to share cooking and recipes, Burke said.
“We already have a big block party every summer, lots of food, music and games for children. I will make something.”
looking for a way to connect
Rahman said the commission hopes to expand its reach.
“We are more interested in how we can get to know our neighbors a little better from the background … we try to create intimate programs that can bring us together around common themes such as poetry, music and movies.” .”
Burke and Rahman have lived in Hamtramck for many years. They say they saw people coming and going.
Burke says there is still work to be done.
“There are cultural issues that keep people from being in the same space…we are constantly wrestling with ‘is it resolved?’. Leave it alone?”
Rahman says people have different ideas about how to interact.
“Sometimes we try to empathize, but we still don’t have anything in common… How far do we go to be like, ‘We should all be this way.’ We have to get along.” Whose neighborhood idea is it?
Rahman and Burke say they hope the committee can expand to include more people of different ages and backgrounds.
Burke says there are opportunities for growth.
“There are some people on the committee who have great ideas and are very connected to different aspects of different art worlds. there is.”
Listen: Hamtramck hosts discuss new community building series.
Photo credit: Nate Pappas/WDET.
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