Rhythms of Resilience and Change

Rod Arroyo, "Rhythms of Resilience and Change: Looking Back at Paradise Valley and Black Bottom" lecture.

Step back in time to experience the energy and cultural richness of Paradise Valley and Black Bottom—once the epicenter of Detroit's jazz scene and Black-owned businesses. Award-winning city planner and photographer Rod Arroyo highlights these historic neighborhoods using original maps and photographs, historic photos and documents, and compelling narratives. He also explores the devastating impacts of urban renewal projects and freeway construction.

Rod Arroyo is a photographer and city planner. He is a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Wayne State University. His photographs have appeared in the documentary films "Lemonade: Detroit" and "Best of the Best – Jazz from Detroit," Hour Magazine, the Detroit Artists Market, Kresge Foundation, numerous local shows, and in multiple books of city photography. In 2018, his photographs of Detroit were featured in "A History Lover's Guide to Detroit," published by History Press.

Rod’s research into Paradise Valley, Black Bottom, and Sugar Hill has included mapping the location of Black-owned businesses in 1952, when Detroit’s population was nearing its peak and before the destruction caused by urban renewal and freeway construction. This information, combined with maps and photographs of historic jazz clubs, provides a unique overview of the rich cultural history of these neighborhoods.

Rod has been photographing iconic and historical locations in Detroit for about 20 years. His photographs are inspired by his love of Detroit, the city's history, and by Rod's personal and professional background. His city photographs are found at www.City-Photos.com and his portrait work is at www.PortraitsByRod.com.