Dear Detroiter,

I thought of you today, as I read an article in my local newspaper about the auto industry bringing jobs back to Detroit. The funny thing is, my local newspaper is the Virginian Pilot out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. A solid 724 miles away from Detroit.

Because of this, the title of the article caught my eye as I was skimming through the paper the other morning: "Detroit hungers for technology specialists."

As stated, the auto industry is beginning to look for workers in the technology field to to develop ideas for the latest and greatest automobile technology and to "create applications for the next generation of connected vehicles."

What that really means? Well, I'm not exactly sure. But the good part of the article discusses bringing jobs back to the D.

The article states, "Ford Motor Co. plans to fill 300 positions in information technology this year, said Laura Kurtz, Ford's manager of U.S. recruiting. Chrysler Group, which declined to specify its plans, said it would hire more entry-level workers and was focused on attracting a highly skilled workforce."

Needless to say, as only a former Michigan resident (though I am adamant about maintaining my status as a Michigander), I was very excited about the article and the prospect of the auto industry bringing more jobs to Detroit. Many people may say that Detroit was built by the automobile, but I believe that the city has given the industry so much as well. Detroit has been a home to one of the oldest and most lucrative American businesses, and has harbored that production, allowing it to grow and flourish, creating international recognition at the economic and social level. And now, in a time when the city seems to have been abandoned by its creator, the industry is giving back.

I can only hope that this hiring boom will allow the city to continue to thrive and swell with its brazen spirit. Because I believe that that spirit is what has kept Detroit alive all these years. And I believe that spirit embodies the American dream of building something from nothing but hard work and optimism. And isn't that what Detroit is all about?

With my highest hopes,
Natalie