Love note to Detroit
Editor
While many people are trying to get out of Detroit, to escape a failing economy, drugs, abandoned homes and crime, Mascha Poppenk and her family are trying to get in. “We would love to be there and be part of the city,” said Poppenk, who was first introduced to Detroit 20 years ago as an exchange student. “Of course there are challenges, but we’re from Amsterdam [Holland] and it has its challenges, too. Every part of the world has challenges. I think the city can only get better. And it’s still a beautiful city, compared to a lot of cities in the United States.” Poppenk, 39, her husband Manfred and two sons spent nearly four months in Detroit while making the award-winning documentary “Grown in Detroit”. Poppenk said she and her husband will continue to make films in Detroit if they’re able to live there because she believes there are many stories to be told in Detroit. Even if they’re difficult, she’ll be ready. “We’re in the process of making a film about clients of red light districts, prostitution in Amsterdam,” Poppenk said. “That’s a tricky subject. It’s kind of hard to find people to film, but we’re working on it.” Poppenk is not afraid of the reputation Detroit has, either. “Of course you have criminals and things like that; you have that in Holland, too,” Poppenk said. “You need to use common sense. If you do a little bit of research you know where not to go during the night with a camera around your neck because you’ll probably get robbed. It’s the same here.” Poppenk said she and her husband are stubborn and will eventually live in Detroit, even if green cards are difficult to obtain. It’s obvious she looks forward to that day. “Coming from the Netherlands, it’s so densely populated here and that brings so many problems, so many challenges,” she said. “In Detroit, we can breathe. There are so many possibilities and opportunities when a city has less people.”
