The Detroit Berlin Connection (DBC) is a transatlantic organization founded in 2013 to intensify the relationship between creative communities and individuals in the two cities. The foundation of the group is an over 25-year marriage between artists and entrepreneurs in Detroit and Berlin. Its nucleus is two legendary techno music brands: Detroit's Underground Resistance and Tresor Berlin. The DBC
has organized conferences, panel discussions and workshops, bringing together thought leaders and innovators from both cities. It has created a corporate entity in Detroit to acquire properties for art, music and community economic development projects. The intended beneficiaries of the project are the community members of the city of Detroit
The overall mission of the DCB includes:
• Developing new strategies and models for economic growth.
• Building partnerships with leaders to affect positive changes in Detroit.
• Acquire, remediate and repurpose Detroit buildings.
• Acquire, remediate and reuse vacant property to benefit Detroit residents.
• Work with all other groups whose mission is to benefit creative economic growth in Detroit. We are also a story about how Berlin counterculture has transformed the city over a 25-year period, since the fall of the wall and the reunification of the capital, with the help of a common language everyone could understand: Techno. The Detroit-Berlin Connection project is an attempt to return Berlin’s transformational energy back to the city of its origin: Detroit. Tresor was found and it’s 1st 12" release was “Sonic destroyer” by Jeff, Mike and Rob. It became a smash in Berlin, then worldwide and this classic track opened the techno alliance between Berlin and Detroit. The inspiration of Detroit techno has influenced the entire electronic techno community. It would be fair to say that Detroit techno has caused the biggest youth movement in the last century. We still cannot understand why this cultural format did not receive the attention in Detroit it deserved. The success and public reception of the techno movement in Berlin was also a door opener for different genres from fashion to art. The time has come to give something back to Detroit. Thus, as part of the Happy Locals Initiative, the Detroit-Berlin Connection is a collaborative, transatlantic effort to bring together creative individuals and communities in the two cities with the goal of driving cultural and economic growth in Detroit.
