This is my 2nd challenge post in the SITS Girls Back to Blogging Event where bloggers are assigned one blogging challenge to complete each day over the next 5 days.
My first Back to Blogging Event Challenge was to upload the first post I ever wrote and if I want to, rewrite it to make it better.
My Back to Blogging Event Challenge for today is to upload a post that I wish more people had read. In July of this year, I wrote a post about the winner of the "I Love Detroit" Contest. The winner was a young college student named Brandi Kay and she beat out over 50 other contestants to win a year's free rent at the Garden Court Apartments in downtown Detroit.
When the contest was first announced in May, I remember thinking it was a wonderful idea and something that was greatly needed. Detroit is really going through some hard times. A lot of people had lost their jobs. We have had local government and school board scandals. This area is hurting. But in the face of all these issues, not everything is bleak. There are still people that love being in the metro Detroit area. I am one of them. I grew up here and dispute the issues, I love the city. We are so much more than our problems. So many great things are still happening here. That is why I blog about Detroit and why I want to help people stretch their money in this difficult economy.
So when I was contacted about the "I Love Detroit " Contest, I was all in. I told my readers about the contest and tweeted about it repeatedly. Contestants entered 2 minute inspiring videos showcasing why they loved the city. The winner received a year of free rent in the beautiful downtown building made famous in the television series "Martin" by Martin Lawrence and the winner will run a blog about all their adventures over the next year.
Looking at Brandi Kay's winning video, it is just amazing the professional quality entry she was able to put together. Since she is a rapper, she also wrote her own lyrics and showcased lots of footage of Detroit venues. When I met Brandi at the contest rap party, I knew they had picked the right person to represent Detroit. She is just a wonderful young lady. So I wrote a blog post about the rap party and I included the winning video. The video is really something everyone should see. It really makes me feel proud to be from Detroit.
So here is my I Love Detroit post from July of 2010. And thanks to Standards of Excellence, Westar, and Florida Builder Appliances for sponsoring this SITS Girls Back to Blogging Challenge. Enjoy!
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The Ultimate Detroit FREEBIE Winner - Brandi Kay
FREE LIVING IN THE D for BRANDI !!!
FREE LIVING IN THE D for BRANDI !!!
If you have been following FREEISMYLIFE during the month of June, then you know that I had a post for the ultimate in FREEBIES: a year's FREE RENT at the Garden Court Condos as part of the I LOVE DETROIT CONTEST. The Garden Court Condos became nationally famous in the 1990's as the building that was shown on Martin Lawrence's TV show - Now you know the building I am talking about, don't you???
The I Love Detroit Contest ended on June 21st. Each contestant submitted a 2 minute video showing and telling why they loved Detroit. Over 50 videos were submitted.
On Tuesday, June 29th, I attended the contest wrap party at the Garden Court Condos. I have driven past this building hundreds of times, but had never been inside, so this was a treat for me. We were escorted past some serious security and rode the elevator to the penthouse floor. The party was on the penthouse rooftop terrace which has a stunning view of the Detroit River Front.
The party was absolutely wonderful. The food was catered by Maes and their butter burger sliders were delicious!!! At 7:30pm, it was finally time to announce the contest winner. First the field was narrowed to six contestants (I felt like I was watching the Miss America pageant) and then the winner was finally announced - Ms. Brandi Kay.
Me with Brandi after her big win!
Brandi Kay stood there totally stunned when her name was announced. She was immediately handed her additional prize of a Flip Video Camera and she went right to work representing the D in interview after interview and filming the events of the evening with her new Flip Cam. I caught up with Brandi later in the evening and found out she is your typical poor college student so she is totally thrilled that she won the contest.
Brandi was documenting me with her new Flip Cam
After Brandi moves into the Garden Court Condos, she will be documenting her year long FREE adventure on the blog http://www.myyearindetroit.com/ so be sure to check it out and leave Brandi some Detroit luv comments.Congratulations Brandi. See Brandi's winning video here or below.
