Noah Stephens, the fellow behind The People of Detroit, a photo documentary, is embarking on a new project cataloging and documenting all 111 grocery stores within the city’s limits. On paper, it’s a thoughtful attempt at really understanding the popular media claim that Detroit is a food desert. Even cooler perhaps is the idea that this photo essay will help gain traction on the kinds of decisions Americans in general are making about the food they eat– from Detroit.

Jeff Wattrick did a great interview with Noah for Deadline Detroit, go ahead and read that first here. Some snippets:

DD: What are your own assumptions that you hope this project tests?

NS: I grew up on welfare in Highland Park. I’ve lived in Detroit for the majority of life. I’ve never been rich. Yet, I’ve always managed to find healthy food to eat. I assume that people who come from the same background I do, don’t eat healthy food because they don’t want to eat healthy food.

I also recognize that assumption could be wrong. Maybe people really, really want apples and oranges throughout Detroit but only have access to potato chips and cake. I’m excited to actually go out and see how other people in Detroit experience shopping for food and to see how their experiences compare to my own.

And:

DD: What’s the timeline to start the project and publish?

NS: Once the budget is secured, I’ll start the eight-week production schedule. I hope to spend at least four weeks in postproduction. Thereafter, I hope to have the dedicated website up and running.

Which brings up probably the most important point: Contribute to Noah’s Kickstarter campaign here. Help this dude get his project underway and funded. Judging the merit of Noah’s work to date in Detroit and beyond, the end product will be a poignant look at the issue and yet another reason to show the world that Detroit can be a laboratory for growth by thoughtfully examining the issues as they exist and envisioning our forward progress.