One of the few high-points in the Detroit ecomony today is Mexicantown in Southwest Detroit. In an underprivledged, undereducated area, investments by native residents have led to developments such as the Mexicantown International Welcome Center that opened in October 2007. And in the midst of all of that, I-75, the main freeway through the area, is closed until December 2009. Here's hoping and praying that projects like Detroit Cristo Rey High School can bring some extra light into the area until the construction is done. As to Cristo Rey, the Michigan Catholic weekly had this to say:

The Easter season is a time for Christians to celebrate new life in Christ — and new life is exactly what administrators of Detroit Cristo Rey High School are sensing. In fact, more than one person involved in the new coeducational Catholic high school have described the school as "a phoenix rising from the ashes."

Perhaps that phoenix will be yet another catalyst to the revitalization of Mexicantown and greater Detroit.

Lately I've been blessed to have the opportunity to manage the IT infrastructure at Detroit Cristo Rey High School. I wanted to take a moment and drop the links for you to check the school out. In summary, it is a Catholic work high school for college prep low income students, sponsored by the IHMs and Basilians. They have moved into a portion of the old Holy Redeemer High School that was closed in 2005, filling a significant academic void in the southwest part of Detroit (Mexicantown). Needless to say, I am very excited to be working with the school and hope that it continues to be a job opportunity for me for some time.