Detroit SOUP

• a collaborative situation
• a public dinner
• a platform for connection
• a safe space
• a democratic experiment in micro-funding
• a relational hub bringing together various creative communities
• a forum for critical but accessible discussion
• an opportunity to support creative people in Detroit

Detroit SOUP is a microgranting dinner celebrating and supporting creative projects in Detroit. For a suggested donation of $5, attendees receive soup, salad, bread and a vote and hear from four presentations ranging from art, urban agriculture, social justice, social entrepreneurs, education, technology and more. Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea and answer four questions from the audience. At the event, attendees eat, talk, share resources, enjoy art and vote on the project they think benefits the city the most. At the end of the night, we count the ballots and the winner goes home with all of the money raised to carry out their project. Winners come back to a future SOUP dinner to report their project’s progress.

Detroit SOUP’s mission is to promote community-based development through crowdfunding, creativity, collaboration, democracy, trust, and fun.

We value community, creativity, collaboration, change, democracy, trust and fun.

With key partnerships and community leaders, we hope Detroit SOUP will change the way people engage with the democratic process by establishing neighborhood relational hubs across the city.

• Empower residents
• Help create jobs
• Allow people to establish new relationships and networks
• Promote action and change
• Foster critical dialogue
• Instill neighborhood pride
• Provide a deeper understanding of democracy