Benton Harbor five years after the riot

by Tristan Henry (thenry@wsbt.com)

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Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm visits with children from Citizens for Progressive Change — a supplemental education program that has been helping Benton Harbor students after school and during the summer. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Jul 29, 2008 at 5:24 PM EST

Story Updated: Aug 2, 2008 at 10:06 PM EST

BENTON HARBOR — It's been five years since the riots in Benton Harbor. Tuesday, Michigan's governor toured the city to see what progress has been made.

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Benton Harbor has one of the highest poverty rates in the state.
Shortly after the riots in June of 2003 the state set up programs to deal with the high unemployment rate.

Tuesday Granholm and professional golfer Jack Nicklaus cut the ribbon on a new transformation center in downtown. It will serve as the hub for information on the construction of Harbor Shores. It's what Granholm calls a "signature project."

"This is a community that is taking advantage of the shoreline, which is fabulous. It's going to create jobs. It's going to be a tourist destination as well as a quality of life destination," Granholm said.

Unemployment is a major problem in Benton Harbor. It was before the riots and some say it still is today.

"I think Benton Harbor has changed for the worse. I think there is no jobs here where people can get jobs to take care of their children," said Benton Harbor resident Abraham MacDoo.

But the governor heard success stories while on her tour Tuesday. Katherine Miller has lived in Benton Harbor for 35 years. When she lost her job, she turned to Michigan Works for job training. She returned to college and earned medical certification and is now employed at Lakeland Regional Health Center.

"I've seen change and the reason I've seen change is because I went out and I looked for change and I found it," Miller said. "And I used programs that are out here. If people would just be resilient and come out, persevere, they can find change.'

Along with job skills, the community is also focusing on education.

Citizens for Progressive Change is a supplemental education program.
For the past four years it has been helping students after school and during the summer.

"They help you with your homework. You get to do fun activities, if you're good sometimes we get to go on field trips," said 9-year-old Johnmotae Crewsha.

"Holding the education bar high and getting those young people to jump over those new higher standards is something we can all focus with great intensity on," said Granholm.

She asked the kids to promise her to reach for higher education.

"In front of the governor of the state of Michigan, [say] that, 'I will go to college.'"

"I will go to college!" the kids echoed.

"Excellent!" Granholm said. "Do great things!"

Another major part of the tour Tuesday focused on housing development — a concern raised during the riots. The city manager said $165 million has already been used to upgrade personal housing and commercial development.

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