Neighborhood Exchange: Jefferson Chalmers

Nourishment | Joy | Healing

In a city marked by redevelopment and rising skylines, we believe Detroit deserves a different kind of innovation—one that begins not in boardrooms, but in neighborhoods. Not with developers, but with people. Not for profit, but for purpose. 

A thriving neighborhood can provide a sense of belonging for its residents, a shared and common purpose. Good neighbors help each other by sharing resources and supporting one another. The Neighborhood Exchange: Jefferson Chalmers, is designed to facilitate this sense of belonging and support.

In fall 2025, Hope Community Church found itself in an unprecedented circumstance. The mortgage on its building — which was forecast to be paid off in 10 years — was paid off in full and official recognition was awarded from the Detroit City Council as being selected as the first Detroit project for the International Design Clinic. The city council called it a, “beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.”

 “What a way to celebrate!” said Hope Community Church Lead Pastor Chris Ratcliff. While this space is within a church building, the focus is all of our Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, hence the name Neighborhood Exchange. 

Nourishment

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Celebration

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Healing

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Education

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Health

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Nourishment ✳︎ Celebration ✳︎ Healing ✳︎ Education ✳︎ Health ✳︎

2025

The International Design Clinic (IDC), Fielding International, Hope Community Church and Shalom International have come together to transform the lower level of the church into a new kind of third space, a community-centered wellness hub in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.

The Space: A gift for the community

This collaborative space — future home to a community kitchen, a gathering space and therapy rooms — seeks to build healthy, emotionally regulated kids, families and adults through face-to-face exchanges in a shared space.

A Space of Joy

A 3,056-square-feet of flexible space for meetings, celebrations and gatherings, exhibits and community programming. The redesigned fellowship space will become a neighborhood living room — a place for hospitality, joy, and resilience: Hosting neighborhood block clubs, celebrations, and cultural gatherings. Providing a stage for arts, music, and cultural expression that affirm identity and belonging. Strengthening social fabric by creating a safe, inclusive space of welcome and connection.

A Space of Nourishment

A 671-square-foot kitchen space, with oversight by Raphael Wright, former owner of the second only black grocery store in the city of Detroit. The renovated community kitchen will serve to advance food sovereignty and access to healthy meals. Nutrition education, cooking classes, and food distribution programs to combat food insecurity. A platform for local food entrepreneurs, caterers, and small businesses to incubate and build community wealth.

A Space for Healing

Three private Shalom International pediatric therapy offices, providing mental health services to disenfranchised communities. In partnership with pediatric therapists, spiritual directors, and community wellness practitioners, this space will provide: trauma informed, child-lead play therapy and counseling for children in Jefferson Chalmers.

THE PROCESS

In January 2025, the Jefferson Chalmers project was selected by the International Design Clinic (IDC) Board as the first project in its hometown of Detroit. In the winter months, leadership from IDC, Fielding International, Shalom Ministries and Hope Community Church, discussed members to join the Steering Committee and help guide the project.


Steering Committee

  • Anna McDevitt, Fielding International

  • Taleshia Moss, Occupational Therapist, Director of Children’s Ministries, Hope Community Church

  • Cassandra Moore, Principal, Carstens Elementary/Middle School

  • Christa Raju, Shalom International and Hope Community Church, Operations

  • Chris Ratcliff, Lead Pastor, Hope Community Church and Founder, Shalom International

  • Scott Shall, Professor, Lawrence Tech + Founding Director, IDC + Founding Principal/CEO, houm

  • Tiffine Watts, Hope Community Church, Deacon Chair

  • Rapheal Wright, Neighborhood Grocery 

  • Allyza Valino, Architectural Designer, Fielding International + Board Member, IDC




March-April 2025, 

  • The Steering Committee meets monthly, sharing about the history of the space and the needs of the community. 

  • From a use-standpoint, issues of nutritional awareness and nutritional justice, behavioral wellness and building deeper relationships with the community, specifically through activities that celebrated the kids in the neighborhood, arose as critical needs for the neighborhood. 


“We want to create a place where relationships are developed and strengthened. A place that promotes authenticity and most importantly safety. Because when you feel safe, that is when healing begins. We are striving to bring healing and connection to this neighborhood because relationships are the most potent ingredient for healing to occur,” says  Taleshia Moss. 

 

  • International Design Clinic volunteers help the group explore innovative methods of building out a space. For example, an open space that could be divided rather than defined to serve a specific number, using found material and how that can build community ownership, as well as the impact of lighting and sound in a space. 

May 2025

  • Additional community representatives share practical expertise. For example, Kyle Smitly, co-founder and executive director of Detroit Achievement and Detroit Prep joined a discussion on the kitchen space. She shares her experiences in renovating an older building and providing meals daily to the students at Detroit Prep. 

 

May - July 2025

  • IDC volunteers seek insight into the demographics of the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, review building code requirements and develop an inventory of materials that could aid in the construction. 

  • Teams began a deeper into lighting, acoustics, color and function, sharing a presentation with the Steering Committee in July. 

  • In-person engagements include a visit to Carstens Elementary/Middle School PTA. 

  • A full set of as-built or architectural plans are created 

 

August - September 2025

  • Fielding International creates an online survey. Aided by an AI-generated tool, results are showcased in vivid full-color renderings

  • International Design Clinic reviews all input, culminating in a community presentation on September 24. 

  • Conclusions include

    • Space of Joy

    • Space of Nourishment

    • Space of Healing

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