Joaquin Nuño-Whelan – Looking Back, Paying it Forward

October 4, 2011 at 9:42 am

Joaquin Nuño-Whelan is the vehicle chief engineer and vehicle line director for GM small cars in North America. He has spent the last three years — along with a lot of other people at GM — working on bringing a new small car to North America for Chevrolet. At the same time, he’s been working — along with a lot of other people at GM — on bringing back the city of Detroit. In our next story, we’ll talk about the Chevrolet Sonic, which is the car they’ve been working on. This story focuses on what Joaquin and team are doing to revive Detroit.

We recently met with Joaquin early on a Saturday morning. The sun was still low in the sky as Joaquin, a handful of people from his team at GM, and his young daughter and son harvested potatoes, melons, parsley and more from their urban garden. He explained, “We were tired of the negativity around Detroit, and what people were saying about the city and the auto industry. And over lunch and after work over some drinks, we got together with the core group of guys that I work with and said ‘Let’s do something about it, let’s set an example.’ And we started a nonprofit called Green Place Detroit.”

Produce from the garden is available for the neighbors.

The group got together and took over two lots on Rademacher Street in southwest Detroit, near where Joaquin’s grandmother still lives. Where two burned out houses previously stood is now a garden that provides produce for the neighbors and a learning experience for students at the nearby Cesar Chavez Middle School.

Joaquin said, “We had this idea that instead of just buying and doing something with it, let’s teach the kids at the school how to do it. Let’s bring in role models and experts that they can see and emulate, and teach them how they can transform what was a lot with a couple of burned out houses on it into something positive for their neighborhood. But have them do it. Let them come up with the ideas. Let them come up with a design. Let them own it and develop it.”

The kids spending time with "Papi" on a Saturday morning.

The students have enthusiastically embraced the project. They came up with an idea of building a small roofline on the back fence of the property to collect rainwater and use it to water the garden. Then, they came up with an idea for a cost-effective way to build a house on the property. Check out the video (below) to see what their idea is for the house, how it may look and Joaquin’s ultimate vision for the project.

As Joaquin watched his two youngsters working in the garden, he observed that this project isn’t just for the kids in southwest Detroit. “There’s no better way to have family time than climbing around in the dirt pile with your kids, and they get to see what’s happening and you get to teach them instead of watching cartoons on a Saturday morning. They are out gardening in Detroit. They think it’s play time with Papi. So it’s … it’s perfect.”

Neighbors on Rademacher Street think it’s pretty darn nice, too.

Dale Murrish

Oct 5th, 2011

Kudos, Joaquin! This is a great way to turn one of Detroit’s negatives, empty lots from demolished houses, into a positive. A good thing about gardening is it requires so little effort to produce a crop. It does require steady effort over a long period of time, though. There is something empowering about that.

Plus you take it a step further: architecture for housing gives the kids a vision for their future if their passion isn’t farming. A handout is defeating, a hand up is better, but igniting a passion is best. I believe this is the way we will take back our cities – one neigborhood at a time, multiplied by others copying your idea. Awesome!
Tony D

Oct 5th, 2011

I’m a realtor how can I help?
Anna Saadatjoo

Oct 5th, 2011

What a nice, authentic example of true leadership! You truly represent an individual that transforms a negative situation into many positive opportunities and realties. Having moved here 3 years ago from Atlanta, I too appreciate all the wonders that Detroit has to offer. And you have clearly demonstrated that opportunity only comes to those who have an open mind and vision for a better future. Way to go Joaquin!
Pita B

Oct 6th, 2011

Joaquin, there are no words. We are so proud of you and all that you do. You are very special and we thank you
for all your hard work. Love you lots!!
John S

Oct 11th, 2011

Hi Joaquin and Team, very cool! Thanks for your efforts and results.
Connie M

Oct 11th, 2011

Joaquin, This is so cool! You are awesome person who really does pay it forward! Thinking of the kids and wanting to make it a better place for everyone!
Chris G.

Oct 12th, 2011

Great article… And an AMAZING team of individuals. Inspiring to see what you have going on there and what we can do similar in our city. I can’t imagine the level of change that this could drive in our COUNTRY morale, esteem, humanitarianism and competitiveness if groups in every city took this kind of initiative. KUDOS!
Lulu

Oct 13th, 2011

Great job of leading by example Joaquin! You make us proud!

Love,

Lourdes