Detroit Creative Placemaking
September is Detroit Month of Design, a citywide celebration of creativity and transformation. This year marks the first phase of a two-year health-focused project to reimagine Corktown, Detroit, as a living gallery of survival, resilience, and hope.
Artist: Jamari Taylor
Photo: Leandro Lara
Creating Lasting Community Connection & Change
Lions & Rabbits is partnering with the American Cancer Society (ACS), Detroit Month of Design, Black Women’s Voices, and more to ignite creative placemaking. We’re taking a walk that already brings thousands together and cultivating a physical environment that inspires and unites the community it serves.
The results:
Corktown gets lasting public art that changes how the neighborhood feels.
The American Cancer Society gets a walk route that embodies its mission.
Detroit gets proof that we can talk about hard things in public spaces.
Everyone who participates becomes part of making difficult truths more visible.
Project Partners
The 2025 Walk Experience
Instead of passing abandoned spaces, walkers will encounter art in progress: portraits being painted, community murals taking shape, and the first pieces of a Floral Forest installation.
Portrait Collection: 116 Detroit-based artists will create unique portraits honoring Corktown survivors and families, based on the work of local photographers.
Floral Forest: Painted panels and native plants will be staged along the walk route as a pilot for a permanent installation.
Community Paint-By-Numbers Mural: Walkers and residents will help create a freestanding community paint-by-numbers mural live on race day.
Detroit Events
2025 Events
Detroit Month of Design, September 2025
Eastern Market After Dark, September 18, 2025
ACS Taste of Hope Gala, September 29, 2025
ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, October 11, 2025
2026 Events
International Placemaking Conference, June 2026
Interactive Art, Portraits, and Mural Installation, Spring, 2026
Detroit Month of Design, September, 2026
ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, October 12, 2026
Transforming Michigan Ave. & 14th St.
In 2026, the project will evolve from temporary activations to permanent installations at Michigan Ave. & 14th St.
All 116 portraits will be installed over boarded windows as a lasting community tribute.
The “Floral Forest” will expand to permanently transform the streetscape into an immersive, long-lasting environment.
An interactive audio installation will create a living archive of voices and experiences under the building’s awning.
The freestanding mural will find its permanent Corktown home, ensuring the community’s contribution remains at its heart.
Honoring Corktown cancer survivors
To raise awareness for the ACS's Voice of Black Women Campaign, 116 Detroit-based artists will create unique portraits honoring Corktown cancer survivors and their families, inspired by the work of local photographers.
Paint a portrait
Transform everyday infrastructure into spaces for healing, storytelling, and pride.
Have your portrait painted
Your voice (and face) are essential to fighting for a cure.
Project Spotlight
Voices: Building an Archive
At upcoming events, including 2025 Eastern Market After Dark and the ACS Gala, Lions & Rabbits is introducing community phones with a little bit of magic.
These aren’t abandoned payphones; they’re a powerful way to share and hear personal stories of cancer and messages of hope. Imagine a growing archive of voices — each one a testament to strength, resilience, and community.
How it works:
Three unique phones will be installed under the awning of the transformed building at Michigan & 14th as a permanent audio installation.
Two play a continuous loop of recorded messages to engage with. The third phone offers you a chance to record your own short message, adding your voice to this expanding collection.
Sponsorship Levels
Luminary Leader - $100k
Lead partner recognition on website, annual report, and key communications
Exclusive Impact Spotlight (feature story in newsletter + social media)
Program association (e.g., named recognition on apprenticeship cohort, mural series, or annual impact report)
Recognition on donor wall/display (digital or physical)
Full-page thank-you recognition inside the project book
Collaborating Creator - $50k
Prominent logo/name placement on website + annual donor communications
Dedicated social media highlight + sponsor spotlight in newsletter
Annual Impact Packet (PDF with photos, stories, and data points to share internally)
Early access to project announcements
Half-page thank-you recognition inside the project book
Dream Weaver - $25k
Recognition on website and in newsletters
Group spotlight in annual donor communication
Included in donor recognition displays
Personalized digital thank-you message from apprentices/artists
Quarter-page thank-you recognition inside the project book
Audio Ally - $5k
Recognition on website donor page
Thank-you mention in one newsletter + social post
Future Shaper - $10k
Name/logo in donor roll on website and annual report
Mention in group social media + newsletter acknowledgments
Advance invitations to public project updates
À La Carte Options
Artist Materials Sponsor – supplies for mural & public art projects
Portrait Panel Sponsor – sponsor an individual tribute panel
Phone Installation Sponsor – support interactive storytelling stations
Lighting Sponsor – exterior architectural or installation lighting
Clay Floral Sponsor – support creative sculpting activations
Traveling Booth Sponsor – supports multi-site installation & mobility
Bar Menu
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.