From Black Bottom to Inkster: How one Detroiter is using gardens to heal communities

by Trish Hubbell, Planet Detroit
May 10, 2026

Etta Adams is passionate about building community.

She’s had to be. She was a very young child living in Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood when her family was forced to move during the construction of the I-375 freeway.

Her family ended up buying a home in a semi-rural area of Inkster, on a dirt road with a cluster of other residents. She learned a lot about gardening, canning, and being industrious from her new neighbors.

That led Adams to where she is now: actively engaged with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History as an AmeriCorps member, working in sustainability. Because of her upbringing, she is most interested in helping people deepen their connection with Mother Earth.

Adams spoke about how people of color are especially affected by pollution and environmental change, which she hopes to focus on during her time at Planet Detroit’s Neighborhood Reporting Lab.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

You shared some of your background about growing up in Inkster and memories from your neighborhood. Please tell me more.

My upbringing in Inkster cultivated a sense of community that I brought back to Detroit. Years ago, I started a community garden, and although I tried to get the mothers involved, it ended up being the young boys in the neighborhood who helped in the garden. I grew lots of tomatoes, and when I went to deliver them, one of the residents said,

“I don’t need no tomatoes, but I do want you to know what this garden has done for the community! This garden has given these children a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging.” That garden gave everyone new energy.

You are currently involved with sustainability efforts at the Wright Museum. Why is this work important to the museum, both culturally and economically?

Dr. Wright founded that museum so our people could learn about our past. The work I am involved in in the area of sustainability at the museum highlights not only the economic benefits but also the cultural significance of pollution and the environment.

People of color are much more likely to live in areas with higher levels of air pollution, fewer trees, increased flooding, and other environmental hazards. This creates health disparities in our community.

How does this relate to your goals for your Neighborhood Reporting project with Planet Detroit? What do you want to leave people with?

I am interested in building a community space called “The Mother’s Peace Garden.” Bringing people together is critical. Building community includes problem-solving, and bringing women together to plant and pray, both alone and collectively, can have an impact.

The collective support and effort will help “weed” out violence, apathy, and ignorance. I am committed to building understanding, respect, and reaffirming our connection to Mother Earth.

This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://planetdetroit.org/2026/05/from-black-bottom-to-inkster-how-one-detroiter-is-using-gardens-to-heal-communities/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://planetdetroit.org”>Planet Detroit </a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://planetdetroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cropped-globe-1-150×150.png” style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>

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From Black Bottom to Inkster: How one Detroiter is using gardens to heal communities Trish Hubbell, Planet Detroit May 10, 2026 Etta Adams is passionate about building community. She’s had to be. She was a very young child living in Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood when her family was forced to move during the construction of the I-375 freeway. Her family ended up buying a home in a semi-rural area of Inkster, on a dirt road with a cluster of other residents. She learned a lot about gardening, canning, and being industrious from her new neighbors. That led Adams to where she is now: actively engaged with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History as an AmeriCorps member, working in sustainability. Because of her upbringing, she is most interested in helping people deepen their connection with Mother Earth. Adams spoke about how people of color are especially affected by pollution and environmental change, which she hopes to focus on during her time at Planet Detroit’s Neighborhood Reporting Lab. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. You shared some of your background about growing up in Inkster and memories from your neighborhood. Please tell me more. My upbringing in Inkster cultivated a sense of community that I brought back to Detroit. Years ago, I started a community garden, and although I tried to get the mothers involved, it ended up being the young boys in the neighborhood who helped in the garden. I grew lots of tomatoes, and when I went to deliver them, one of the residents said, “I don’t need no tomatoes, but I do want you to know what this garden has done for the community! This garden has given these children a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging.” That garden gave everyone new energy. You are currently involved with sustainability efforts at the Wright Museum. Why is this work important to the museum, both culturally and economically? Dr. Wright founded that museum so our people could learn about our past. The work I am involved in in the area of sustainability at the museum highlights not only the economic benefits but also the cultural significance of pollution and the environment. People of color are much more likely to live in areas with higher levels of air pollution, fewer trees, increased flooding, and other environmental hazards. This creates health disparities in our community. How does this relate to your goals for your Neighborhood Reporting project with Planet Detroit? What do you want to leave people with? I am interested in building a community space called “The Mother’s Peace Garden.” Bringing people together is critical. Building community includes problem-solving, and bringing women together to plant and pray, both alone and collectively, can have an impact. The collective support and effort will help “weed” out violence, apathy, and ignorance. I am committed to building understanding, respect, and reaffirming our connection to Mother Earth. This article first appeared on Planet Detroit and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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