June 8 marked the first major gathering hosted by the newly-merged Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund. The event showcased borrowers and ‘Mortgage Burners’ from 2004.

Loan officers Wendy Landes Hatem and Kim Thompson presented engraved glass paper weights to the following new affordable housing borrowers: Benzie Housing Council, Bridging Communities, Clean in Detroit, Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, Inc., Giving Tree Farm, Great Lakes Community Nonprofit Housing, Heavenly Gates Ministry, Homestretch Nonprofit Housing, Liberty Hill Housing, Moving in New Directions, New Life Opportunities & Outreach Ctr., Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency, Ruth Ellis Center, Sacred Heart/St. Elizabeth CDC, Springhill Housing, Springwells Partners III, St. Ignace Senior LDHALP, and U-Snap-Bac Nonprofit Housing.

Lorenzo Thurman welcomed the following economic development borrowers to the ‘Million Dollar Club’: Tony Rone’s Barber Salon, Atlas Cuisine, Auto Whirl Car Wash, Daverse Clothing, Detroit East CDC, Michigan Avenue Business Association, Nacirema Club, and St. Francis Episcopal Church.

As much as the Fund loves making loans, it enjoys having them repaid on time almost as much, so portfolio manager Wanda Wildermuth celebrated 2004’s full repayments with a ceremonial ‘Mortgage Burning’.

Of course, the most exciting part of the afternoon was playing this year’s after-lunch game, ‘Concentration’. Attendees were divided by tables into teams, and had to match two identical cards by the names of a borrower or mortgage burner.

A different game is played after lunch every year as a fun way to share information about our activities. This year’s guests certainly enjoyed themselves with ‘Concentration’. Winners received the home version of our game, Memory, as a reward for their efforts. The staff of The Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund would like to thank everyone who participated, and looks forward to another fun-filled afternoon at next year’s meeting.

by Christine Coady

Volunteers share a special secret. For every moment we spend giving we are actually expanding our own hearts through the sheer joy of giving back.  Many times I feel selfish because I gain so much more than I give. Volunteering, giving back, helping out—whatever you call it —simply makes me feel good. My recent trip to Honduras through the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program was a perfect example of the pure delight and sharing which accompanies the ideal volunteer experience.

For me, the week completely erased the notion of the United States and Honduras as separate countries, and instead I was immersed in the completely universal concept of humans. A group of 20 of us, most of whom I did not know beforehand and many of whom I now know quite well, traveled to Honduras to work on three concrete houses in a beautiful setting which I know will become a close-knit and lively barrio (neighborhood).
My primary contribution was physical labor, including hauling lava rock for foundations, working in a line formation to move concrete blocks, mixing and hauling cement, and tuck pointing. While this is what I personally gave as a volunteer, what I received was far greater in terms of changing me as a person. My heart exploded with collective pride at our accomplishments because I shared (albeit in a tiny way) in the families’ journey toward realizing the dream of building their own home.

Extreme poverty is a stark reality and yet, the work ethic, laughter, and general acceptance of us and our silliness (I mistakenly asked for a chicken instead of a shovel) outshined all other impressions of a hard life in a beautiful country.

For more information on how you can volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program, please visit: www.habitat.org/gv

by Zack Pohl

The City of Detroit is no stranger to building demolitions. Many inner-city neighborhoods are lined with deserted homes or vacant storefronts, and structural demolition is a logical first step on the road towards community re-development.

The idea of the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit was conceived when a city planner recognized the waste that was being generated from these demolitions. While many structures in their entirety may not be suitable for renovation, these buildings contain Detroit’s history.

The Salvage Warehouse has responded by devising an alternative plan called deconstruction, which involves the removal of historic and reusable building materials from a building before it is demolished. Similar deconstruction strategies are taking root across the country in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh as a popular alternative to demolition.

In May, the Architectural Warehouse of Detroit partnered with the Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund to secure a $25,000 economic development loan for the organization. This loan will help the Salvage Warehouse leverage additional resources from matching grants (EDA & EPA), will provide affordable materials for low to moderate-income individuals, will create jobs in metro Detroit, and promotes an ecologically sensitive approach to community development.

The historic elements removed from a home produce affordable inventory for re-sale and, more importantly, reduce significant amounts of waste that will enter landfills. Recovered materials are made available for sale on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Architectural Salvage Warehouse, located at 4884 15th Street in Detroit.

So far, the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit’s six-person crew has deconstructed two homes in Grosse Pointe Farms, and one in Birmingham. While the process is still pricier than traditional demolition, tax credits are made available to encourage home donations from environmentally-conscious owners.

The Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund wishes The Architectural Warehouse of Detroit the best of luck in their new venture.

This past May, Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund Trustee Juanita Hernandez was honored at Bridging Communities Inc.’s Second Annual ‘Senior Celebrity Night Dinner’. The event celebrates active seniors who are making ongoing contributions to their communities. Ms. Hernandez’s fellow awardees included Anthony “Tony” Filippis Sr., a longtime advocate for individuals with disabilities, and Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit.

Trustee Hernandez speaks humbly about her “unexpected” award, explaining that she doesn’t deserve the recognition because “other people do more” than she does. However, with such a packed resume, it’s hard to imagine many people more worthy of such an award than Juanita Hernandez.

The woman who jokingly says that, “every time I get ready to leave they say they need me” is still active with numerous organizations, including the Michigan Spanish-speaking Democrats, LASED, New Detroit, Inc., Blue Cross/Blue Shield Senior Advisory Council, and many others.

For nearly fifteen years Ms. Hernandez was a fixture of the (former) Michigan Housing Trust Fund’s Board of Trustees, and continues to guide our newly merged organization following its recent union with the Michigan McGehee Interfaith Loan Fund. Seeing a continuing need for affordable housing and economic development in Michigan, Hernandez says that the two organizations “combined together meets the needs of where the others left off.”

The staff of the Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund extends heartfelt congratulations to Juanita Hernadez on her recent award. We will always need her.