Mirella Lang, May 18th, 2024
Title
Mirella Lang, May 18th, 2024
Description
In this interview, Mirella Lang talks about what drew her to the city of Detroit and how she has seen climate change affect the city.
In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center.
In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center.
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Rights
Detroit Historical Society
Language
en-US
Narrator/Interviewee's Name
Mirella Lang
Brief Biography
Lang only recently moved to the Jefferson Chalmers area but has already made her mark on the area with her work the Tree House project
Interviewer's Name
Kevin Hawthorne
Date
05/18/2024
Interview Length
10:37
Transcription
Kevin Hawthorne: All right. This is Kevin Hawthorne with the Detroit Historical Society, and I'm here with.
Mirella Lang: Mirella Lang.
KH: If you could, get right up to the mic. Yeah. Get closer to the mic. And could you repeat your name?
ML: Mirella Lang.
KH: All right. And could you spell that.
ML: M i r e l l a last name l a ng .
KH: All right. Thank you so much for being here. And I'm going to ask you a couple questions. I'll start with the simple one. Do you live in the city of Detroit?
ML: Yes, I do.
KH: And which area.
ML: I live in Jefferson Chalmers.
KH: And how long have you lived in that neighborhood?
ML: I am just hitting two years.
KH: All right. And, where do you live? Before that, I lived in other parts of Detroit.
ML: Bruce Township at 36 Mile in Van Dyke.
KH: Where's the Bruce Township? And which.
ML: North of Romeo.
KH: North of Romeo.
ML: Van Dyke Expressway and went north like you were going up in.
KH: So what drew you to the Jefferson Chalmers area?
ML: What attracted me?
KH: Yeah. What drew you here?
ML: I don't know. It's just quaint little houses. It's affordable. Yeah. I love my neighborhood. And the location of my neighborhood is fabulous.
KH: Really? Just a little close to the mic. Sorry. No, I, I totally understand. Just a little closer to mic. No, that'll be perfect. Do you work in the city of Detroit?
ML: Yes, I do.
KH: And what is your line of work?
ML: So I work for the VA. I work on claims. I go into the office downtown one day a week, and I work from home the rest of the time.
KH: And, so you work on claims. Is there anything else you do with the VA?
ML: No. That's it.
KH: Yeah. And, where is that located?
ML: It's in the federal building downtown.
KH: All right. And so then we're going to move on to the tree house. How did you get involved with the tree house organization?
ML: So when I first moved in 2 summers ago, I walked around my neighborhood and just kind of met my neighbors, and Tammy was sitting outside and I told her that I really wanted to get involved in the community. And so we started talking about different projects and things. I was just retiring as a teacher. So— Her and I, she would ask me to do things and help out in the neighborhood. Last summer, I supervised a bunch of high school kids that the city of Detroit sent over to work in our gardens. So we did that most of the summer. And, I'm pretty involved with, community. Also about to be the alley, fellow where our alley is becoming an art alley. And I got selected to have that position in my community.
KH: And what does that position entail?
ML: It entails bringing activities into the garden, communicating with the neighbors, helping to choose the artwork that goes into the alley. And that's all part of the Manistique Community Treehouse Center. It goes. The funding is through that.
KH: All right. And with the tree house. What services do you think you really provide that are able to help combat climate change?
ML: Well, she's super— Tammy is really involved in solar panels, so I think that that's huge for the city. I know that the mayor is trying to install solar panels in a lot of the empty lots, you know, in the neighborhoods to provide services for all of the citizens, which I think is pretty great. Tammy is very involved in that. I know that they worked on a climate clinic, last summer for Ted talks. So they did that last summer, and. You know, she just works on taking care of the community. Like especially people who are able, you know, who are in wheelchairs and things like that. So make everything accessible for everybody.
KH: Excellent. Have you considered getting solar panels for your house?
ML: Yes, I have. Actually, I'm waiting for her to come back into my neighborhood.
KH: Excellent. And, what about the tree house's flooding prevention? Would you be able to tell me about that? They're flooding prevention prevention efforts.
ML: I know that they're involved in, like, there's all these meetings all the time about it with city representatives. The city only being here two years seems really good about, bringing the community into decisions that they make as stakeholders, which I think is super cool because a lot of communities just do what they want. And. You know, I don't know. Can you tell me the question one more time? Really quick?
KH: Just, I'm asking about the, flooding prevention, like, and the tree houses efforts with that.
ML: So she does provide us a lot of information about contacts and who to contact for what, you know, if there's any grant money. She she lets us know about that. And then next week we're actually taking a climate course. And it's through her and it's going to be at the tree house, so. Oh.
KH: Very cool. Do you know much about what the climate course will entail?
ML: No, I don't really.
KH: And is it mainly set up with Tammy, or do you know if she's working with anyone else on the course?
ML: It's, gentleman from. Michigan Meter Meteorological Society. Sorry.
KH: No. Totally understand. And, can you tell me anything like we talked about some of the solar efforts and how, Tammy, I know is very involved with getting people interested and aware of solar power and affordable options. But can you tell me about the Treehouse's greening efforts to make the community more green? With, like the gardens.
ML: Oh, yes. Yes. So the community tree house has a lot of lots off of Manistique Street, and they have, lots of gardens. She has, like a rain, a huge rain garden on one of the plots. They have a birdwatchers garden. So really using native species, plants and things like that to help the environment.
KH: And just in general with the tree house, how do you feel they best engage with the community?
ML: She has a lot of in-person events and then, very much on social media as well.
KH: Yeah. What social media is in particular?
ML: Facebook.
KH: Facebook would be the main one. Yeah. I've also heard next door. Are you on next door?
ML: Yes, I am, actually, I forgot about next door. I don't always think of that one.
KH: You know, it's. Some people do forget.
ML: yeah. Yeah.
KH: So how do you believe while — Well, they engage with the community. How do you think the tree house also is able to educate people? We think, like, the main way they're able to educate.
ML: How do I think they could educate or how?
KH: Well, I'm saying like, how do they educate, are there things you think they could be doing more?
ML: Actually, she does a really good job. Like, you know, a few things that I went to. She had an event where there was people talking about composting and how to do it. So, like, different classes like that, she brings people into the community.
KH: Brings people in the community. And you see that as— That makes people more engaged if there's like an actual person talking to them about the issue.
ML: Absolutely. No, absolutely. The in-person events are great and they're pretty decently attended. Yeah.
KH: And just from the community, from your eyes, have they? What is the response, been? Are they really excited about it or are a little bit more apathetic? What would you say the community response to the Tree House's efforts have been?
ML: I think my community thinks it's awesome. Yeah. They seem super involved and interested and, you know. Glad to be a part of what she's doing in our community with the Treehouse Center.
KH: So you said you've been with it for two years. Have you seen the amount of people come to meetings increase?
ML: Yeah, I would say. Yeah, I would say so. Yeah.
KH: And would you like to see, a lot of other places in the city try to implement what the treehouse is doing?
ML: Yes, absolutely. I think that everybody, every neighborhood should have something like that.
KH: All right. And if you could have just one piece of green infrastructure that your organization would use, what would it be? Would it be mainly the solar panels or would you like wind turbines?
ML: Okay. So, you know, I don't I don't know what what all the options are. You know, I know about water gardens and I know about solar panels and composting, but. I think solar would be huge though.
KH: And would you like to see that? You were talking about how the city's been trying to work with you guys. Would you like to see solar panels implemented throughout the whole entire city?
ML: Yes, absolutely. Yeah. You know what? If it's going to help people not have huge amounts of bills to pay. Like why not? Yeah, like that could help a lot of people out.
KH: Yeah. Do you, would you say to some maybe some people who are on the fence about like, oh, I don't believe like climate change is a huge issue if you being like, is that a good way to reach people like, hey, you don't have to care about this issue if this is going to affect your life directly, if you have this cheaper option.
ML: Yeah, absolutely. I think that would definitely interest more people. Yeah. You know, is the cost benefit of it.
KH: All right.
ML: We have a lady who comes into our meetings all the time. Every time Tammy does a climate thing and she talks about she was one of the first people to get it in our neighborhood. And she talks about how her bill is like sometimes negative and people like, are attracted to that. You know, who who doesn't want to not pay an electric bill? You know what I mean?
KH: No, definitely. All right. And is there anything else you'd like to say for the record? Any final.
ML: Thoughts? No. Not really. I'm glad that you guys are doing this, though. It's kind of cool to kind of track what she's doing and the great things that she brings to our community.
KH: Yeah, well, we're very happy to help you. Thank you.
Mirella Lang: Mirella Lang.
KH: If you could, get right up to the mic. Yeah. Get closer to the mic. And could you repeat your name?
ML: Mirella Lang.
KH: All right. And could you spell that.
ML: M i r e l l a last name l a ng .
KH: All right. Thank you so much for being here. And I'm going to ask you a couple questions. I'll start with the simple one. Do you live in the city of Detroit?
ML: Yes, I do.
KH: And which area.
ML: I live in Jefferson Chalmers.
KH: And how long have you lived in that neighborhood?
ML: I am just hitting two years.
KH: All right. And, where do you live? Before that, I lived in other parts of Detroit.
ML: Bruce Township at 36 Mile in Van Dyke.
KH: Where's the Bruce Township? And which.
ML: North of Romeo.
KH: North of Romeo.
ML: Van Dyke Expressway and went north like you were going up in.
KH: So what drew you to the Jefferson Chalmers area?
ML: What attracted me?
KH: Yeah. What drew you here?
ML: I don't know. It's just quaint little houses. It's affordable. Yeah. I love my neighborhood. And the location of my neighborhood is fabulous.
KH: Really? Just a little close to the mic. Sorry. No, I, I totally understand. Just a little closer to mic. No, that'll be perfect. Do you work in the city of Detroit?
ML: Yes, I do.
KH: And what is your line of work?
ML: So I work for the VA. I work on claims. I go into the office downtown one day a week, and I work from home the rest of the time.
KH: And, so you work on claims. Is there anything else you do with the VA?
ML: No. That's it.
KH: Yeah. And, where is that located?
ML: It's in the federal building downtown.
KH: All right. And so then we're going to move on to the tree house. How did you get involved with the tree house organization?
ML: So when I first moved in 2 summers ago, I walked around my neighborhood and just kind of met my neighbors, and Tammy was sitting outside and I told her that I really wanted to get involved in the community. And so we started talking about different projects and things. I was just retiring as a teacher. So— Her and I, she would ask me to do things and help out in the neighborhood. Last summer, I supervised a bunch of high school kids that the city of Detroit sent over to work in our gardens. So we did that most of the summer. And, I'm pretty involved with, community. Also about to be the alley, fellow where our alley is becoming an art alley. And I got selected to have that position in my community.
KH: And what does that position entail?
ML: It entails bringing activities into the garden, communicating with the neighbors, helping to choose the artwork that goes into the alley. And that's all part of the Manistique Community Treehouse Center. It goes. The funding is through that.
KH: All right. And with the tree house. What services do you think you really provide that are able to help combat climate change?
ML: Well, she's super— Tammy is really involved in solar panels, so I think that that's huge for the city. I know that the mayor is trying to install solar panels in a lot of the empty lots, you know, in the neighborhoods to provide services for all of the citizens, which I think is pretty great. Tammy is very involved in that. I know that they worked on a climate clinic, last summer for Ted talks. So they did that last summer, and. You know, she just works on taking care of the community. Like especially people who are able, you know, who are in wheelchairs and things like that. So make everything accessible for everybody.
KH: Excellent. Have you considered getting solar panels for your house?
ML: Yes, I have. Actually, I'm waiting for her to come back into my neighborhood.
KH: Excellent. And, what about the tree house's flooding prevention? Would you be able to tell me about that? They're flooding prevention prevention efforts.
ML: I know that they're involved in, like, there's all these meetings all the time about it with city representatives. The city only being here two years seems really good about, bringing the community into decisions that they make as stakeholders, which I think is super cool because a lot of communities just do what they want. And. You know, I don't know. Can you tell me the question one more time? Really quick?
KH: Just, I'm asking about the, flooding prevention, like, and the tree houses efforts with that.
ML: So she does provide us a lot of information about contacts and who to contact for what, you know, if there's any grant money. She she lets us know about that. And then next week we're actually taking a climate course. And it's through her and it's going to be at the tree house, so. Oh.
KH: Very cool. Do you know much about what the climate course will entail?
ML: No, I don't really.
KH: And is it mainly set up with Tammy, or do you know if she's working with anyone else on the course?
ML: It's, gentleman from. Michigan Meter Meteorological Society. Sorry.
KH: No. Totally understand. And, can you tell me anything like we talked about some of the solar efforts and how, Tammy, I know is very involved with getting people interested and aware of solar power and affordable options. But can you tell me about the Treehouse's greening efforts to make the community more green? With, like the gardens.
ML: Oh, yes. Yes. So the community tree house has a lot of lots off of Manistique Street, and they have, lots of gardens. She has, like a rain, a huge rain garden on one of the plots. They have a birdwatchers garden. So really using native species, plants and things like that to help the environment.
KH: And just in general with the tree house, how do you feel they best engage with the community?
ML: She has a lot of in-person events and then, very much on social media as well.
KH: Yeah. What social media is in particular?
ML: Facebook.
KH: Facebook would be the main one. Yeah. I've also heard next door. Are you on next door?
ML: Yes, I am, actually, I forgot about next door. I don't always think of that one.
KH: You know, it's. Some people do forget.
ML: yeah. Yeah.
KH: So how do you believe while — Well, they engage with the community. How do you think the tree house also is able to educate people? We think, like, the main way they're able to educate.
ML: How do I think they could educate or how?
KH: Well, I'm saying like, how do they educate, are there things you think they could be doing more?
ML: Actually, she does a really good job. Like, you know, a few things that I went to. She had an event where there was people talking about composting and how to do it. So, like, different classes like that, she brings people into the community.
KH: Brings people in the community. And you see that as— That makes people more engaged if there's like an actual person talking to them about the issue.
ML: Absolutely. No, absolutely. The in-person events are great and they're pretty decently attended. Yeah.
KH: And just from the community, from your eyes, have they? What is the response, been? Are they really excited about it or are a little bit more apathetic? What would you say the community response to the Tree House's efforts have been?
ML: I think my community thinks it's awesome. Yeah. They seem super involved and interested and, you know. Glad to be a part of what she's doing in our community with the Treehouse Center.
KH: So you said you've been with it for two years. Have you seen the amount of people come to meetings increase?
ML: Yeah, I would say. Yeah, I would say so. Yeah.
KH: And would you like to see, a lot of other places in the city try to implement what the treehouse is doing?
ML: Yes, absolutely. I think that everybody, every neighborhood should have something like that.
KH: All right. And if you could have just one piece of green infrastructure that your organization would use, what would it be? Would it be mainly the solar panels or would you like wind turbines?
ML: Okay. So, you know, I don't I don't know what what all the options are. You know, I know about water gardens and I know about solar panels and composting, but. I think solar would be huge though.
KH: And would you like to see that? You were talking about how the city's been trying to work with you guys. Would you like to see solar panels implemented throughout the whole entire city?
ML: Yes, absolutely. Yeah. You know what? If it's going to help people not have huge amounts of bills to pay. Like why not? Yeah, like that could help a lot of people out.
KH: Yeah. Do you, would you say to some maybe some people who are on the fence about like, oh, I don't believe like climate change is a huge issue if you being like, is that a good way to reach people like, hey, you don't have to care about this issue if this is going to affect your life directly, if you have this cheaper option.
ML: Yeah, absolutely. I think that would definitely interest more people. Yeah. You know, is the cost benefit of it.
KH: All right.
ML: We have a lady who comes into our meetings all the time. Every time Tammy does a climate thing and she talks about she was one of the first people to get it in our neighborhood. And she talks about how her bill is like sometimes negative and people like, are attracted to that. You know, who who doesn't want to not pay an electric bill? You know what I mean?
KH: No, definitely. All right. And is there anything else you'd like to say for the record? Any final.
ML: Thoughts? No. Not really. I'm glad that you guys are doing this, though. It's kind of cool to kind of track what she's doing and the great things that she brings to our community.
KH: Yeah, well, we're very happy to help you. Thank you.
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Citation
“Mirella Lang, May 18th, 2024,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed March 23, 2025, http://detroit1967.detroithistorical.org/items/show/1009.