SDEV, a 501(c)(3) organization, has as its mission to improve Southwest Detroit environmentally and economically. We do this primarily through community organizing, advocacy, education, and redevelopment efforts.
SDEV is funded through memberships, individual and corporate donations and grants.
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision is a coalition of residents, community organizations, agencies, business and industry working together to improve the environment and strengthen the economy of Southwest Detroit. We accomplish our mission by:
- Collecting and disseminating information on environmental issues affecting Southwest Detroit;
- Developing an environmentally informed and active citizenry;
- Serving as a catalyst and resource for initiatives to improve the environment and stimulate environmentally sound economic development;
- Identifying and expanding common ground for addressing environmental issues through reasoned dialog.
History
SDEV began in 1991 as a two-year project sponsored by East Michigan Environmental Council and Southwest Detroit Business Association. Its purpose was to initiate a dialogue between southwest Detroit's business/industrial interests and community residents. The result was a community plan which focused upon four major topics:
- Abandoned buildings and illegal dumping
- Air quality
- Contaminated sites
- Land use
In order to implement this plan Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision was incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 1993. Over the years since then, SDEV's work has been to oversee and direct implementation of the community plan, which to this day remains a flexible "work in progress".