Meet Ang Adamiak | Executive Director of Arts & Scraps

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ang Adamiak and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ang, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Compassionate Leadership vs Traditional Leadership. There are many models of how to lead, but I feel that leading with care and compassion, while often seen as weak, can actually be the strongest way to go. I believe in using Adaptive Responses that listen to all voices and utilizing Radical Candor throughout our organization and community. We utilize a “Science of Care” approach to make sure each and every experience is as meaningful and engaging as possible, no matter who we are serving. None of these approaches are unique to Arts & Scraps, new or earth shattering. However, they do turn the traditional power model on it’s head, allowing for voices from all sides to matter and be heard. It allows for people to grow and learn their way into greater responsibility to the organization and the community while bringing their best self to the table. Yes, we still hold folks accountable, but it is through radical relationship instead of a top-down punishment. Almost always, the first year of employment at Arts & Scraps is spent unravelling past hurts from other workplaces. While being a small nonprofit doesn’t lead to the highest paying job, we are a place to learn, grow and create enormous impact. I learned all of this through experiences, good and bad, combined with amazing resources and trainings from Detroiters. I am beyond grateful to get to walk alongside my staff and our community as we all grow.

What should our readers know about your business?
Arts & Scraps is a nonprofit that has been around for 35 years, but has been trying to intentionally grow in the most recent decade-ish. It was begun by a passionate teacher, Peg Upmeyer who cared about saving things from landfills and getting them into the hands of teachers for educational purposes. Quickly, she began to receive requests for her to match curriculum with the unique materials that were coming from businesses, manufactures, and individuals all over metro Detroit. She went to teachers and asked “What are the hardest lessons for you to teach?” and built our curriculum on that. More than that, she built into our DNA that we ask the community what they need and do all in our power to meet that need, rather than deciding for them. This and a few other threads really make Arts & Scraps unique. There are other Creative Reuse stores (though only 1-2 per state usually) and other educational opportunities for students, but Arts & Scraps combines these and adds in valuing community voice. If you come to the Detroit Community Store, you will see people from all walks of life meeting and talking with each other. You’ll see our staff helping people realize their creative dreams with materials that would have otherwise been thrown away. You’ll see a fiercely protective community that always makes sure Arts & Scraps is here and here to stay, because we are one with our community.
If you walked into one of our classes, you’d see students learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through creativity and validation of their own ideas. You’d seen that not a single project looks like another in the room, and that each student is engaged and excited about what they are learning and the materials they get to put to new use. You’ll see students transforming into the next generation of engineers, artists, designers and environmentalists. We meet students where they are, often connecting the curriculum to their very neighborhood.
While we have grown, we’ve also grown up. We continue to transform from a passion project run by amazing volunteers to a professional nonprofit who cares for all of the people we serve, including our staff. Growth can really stretch a company, so we have some unique internal structures as well. We utilize Radical Candor and Adaptive Capacity to build a flexible, adaptable organization that can also predict where we are going next and how we will get there, all with intention and care. That may sound like a lot of fluff, but it can be seen in every minute of our work through the conversations we have with each other- Clear and pragmatic while being vulnerable and open. Thoughtful, flexible and playful while also being diligent to project management and logistics. When you serve over 50,000 people a year, there is no other way.
What I believe is that we have to live our mission all the way through- our staff, shoppers, program clients and students should all have the same access to creativity, freedom to fail and compassion. If an area of our full community is not experiencing our full mission, that is where we will hit roadblocks. As long as there is need for Arts & Scraps, our community will show us that we are needed. We only exist because of that relationship, and it takes all of us to make it happen.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Things to do: Belle Isle (once for sunset on the pointe, once for swimming at the beach, and once for visiting the Oudolf garden, Aquarium and Conservancy), Motown Museum, Eastern Market, Avenue of Fashion for shopping and treats, Redford Theatre, MOCAD, Irwin House, Norwest Gallery (and Northwest Farmers Market). Heidelberg and Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum will be on Mondays, when everything else is closed.

If they’re into architecture like me, we’d visit the Guardian, the Fisher, Penobscot, Book building. Maybe hit up whatever is going on at Campus Martius/Hart Plaza/The Midway. If they’re an art or history person, hire one of the MANY tour companies run by locals to check out the historic sites (there are SO many) or the incredible mural scene.

And the shopping… So many wonderful places. Peacock Room, Vault of Midnight, City Bird and Nest, Next Chapter Books, Source Books, John King Books… Can you tell I was an English Major?

Food:
I’m a vegetarian, so my list may be a little different than some. Seva, Baobob, Yum Village, La Palma, Super Crisp, Ima, Potato Place, Mercury Burger Bar, Honest Johns, La Dolce Vita, Good Cakes and Bakes, Cold Truth, Iggy’s Eggies, Parc or Lumen if you’re feeling fancy. We’d hit Detroit Shipping Company for Thai and burgers while playing board games. Lots of awesome coffee/tea shops to check out too. Cairo Coffee inside Spotlite Detroit, Trinosophes, Black Coffee Cafe, Detroit Sip.
Oh, and I’d take folks to Honey Bee Bakery and La Gloria Bakery before we do a picnic at Clark Park. But we’d hit up Linwood Fresh Market for picnic supplies for La Salle Park.

And I’m not going to lie, I’d take them to Arts & Scraps, come up with some fun game, scavenger hunt or challenge for us to work on together at home. I’d introduce you to all the community members we get to see by chance that day, and all of our wonderful staff.

Can you tell I like to be a tourist in my own town? Detroit is my home (for 15 years) and is my favorite place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was raised in a community that believed deeply in the concepts of asset based thinking and conflict resolution practices. At a very young age, I was taught emotional intelligence techniques that most adults are never exposed to. Terry Gladstone was my closest mentor, a close friend and eventually collogue that influenced my journey. I also grew up around progressive Christians that knew our faith only really matters if it was matched with works. I was taught early on to be part of the community and find and serve needs from alongside, not above. Service WITH, not FOR or TO. MCREST was an early influence in my life that I continued to volunteer with until 2020. Carole Wesner ran those experiences with compassionate leadership, never judgmental, always measured and caring. She taught me the value of understanding we are all people- no more or less- and that we must understand each other to love and serve each other.
When I began at Arts & Scraps, I was privileged to work with Peg Upmeyer, our founder, before she retired. She exemplified humility, creativity and hard work. (She’ll be furious I’ve included her here.) She believed deeply that 5000 everyday people have the power to create magic for the community and while I’ve seen it happen many times in other places, it’s never been so evident has it has been at Arts & Scraps.
Most recently, I have been mentored and encouraged by Cindy Eggleton, the Co-Founder and CEO of Brilliant Detroit. She has shown me that when we know what the community needs through relationship and listening, we can always find a way to make it happen. Cindy has mentored me as I have learned how to lead an organization, especially as I grow how we find donors who care deeply about our mission and impact. We barely knew each other when we first worked together, but she knew the character of the organization and was willing to go out on that first limb for us. She has continued to say “yes” to Arts & Scraps, based on our hard work and impact. Our partnership has only grown, as we have consistently showed up and showed out for each other. Arts & Scraps and I would not be where we are today without her.

Website: www.artsandscraps.org

Instagram: artsandscraps, detroitcommunitystore

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ang-adamiak-030771a7/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsAndScrapsDetroit/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGYcyLcHUT8JqyzXkbtY1w