Because of You

What began as a small Saturday skate training session near the end of the pandemic slowly grew into something larger. A vision formed. People showed up. Week after week, the energy in the room continued to grow. What started as a handful of adults learning to skate again became a community built around movement, support, and shared progress.

That journey eventually led to the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest.

When voting opened, the response from the community was immediate. Friends, families, and supporters across Detroit stepped forward to cast their votes and encourage others to do the same. Because of that support, Roller Skate Detroit advanced to the final round.

For us, the moment meant more than a contest placement. It was a reminder that the vision resonated with people who believed in what we were building long before the broader city noticed.

You can read more about that milestone in our Press + Recognition story on the Comerica Hatch Detroit Top 4 Finalist announcement.

Community support has always been at the center of this journey. Every vote represented someone who believed Detroit deserved a space where adults could reconnect with movement, joy, and one another in a way that felt welcoming and safe.

The contest itself also highlights something important about Detroit. The city has a long history of entrepreneurs who build with creativity, persistence, and pride in their neighborhoods.

Organizations like Hatch Detroit play a role in that story.

Hatch Detroit is a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening Detroit’s neighborhood business districts by supporting independent retail concepts. Founded in 2011, the organization runs an annual competition where entrepreneurs submit proposals for new retail businesses.

From those submissions, a panel of judges selects semi-finalists who move forward into a public voting round. The winning concept receives $100,000 in funding along with business support services to help launch the venture.

Beyond the competition itself, Hatch Detroit provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and visibility for entrepreneurs across the city. Many participants continue building successful businesses whether they win the final prize or not.

Programs like this contribute to Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting founders with resources, space, and community support.

For Roller Skate Detroit, participating in the contest was another step in a larger journey. The experience reinforced something we already knew: Detroit is full of people who believe in building spaces where culture, creativity, and community can thrive.

And none of it happens without the people who stand behind the vision.