DETROIT — A wide network of supporters of the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) gathered at the Renaissance Center on Sept. 13 to celebrate the power of human creativity and generosity.

At the 29th annual ACC Civic and Humanitarian Awards Gala, the group recognized Detroit-area charitable organizations and featured Richard Florida, a professor of Business and Creativity at the University of Toronto as a speaker.

ACC provides healthcare, counseling, employment, immigration, youth and other services to over 80,000 clients, according to its website, but speakers at the Gala seemed most proud of its Seven Mile Initiative.

The project is an effort to revitalize a downtrodden neighborhood along Seven Mile Road between Woodward and John R. Avenues. The group boasts a youth recreation center and healthcare facilities built in the area since the project began in 1995, helping to bring the neighborhood back to life.

“We make visions turn into reality,” said Brenda Schneider, Chair of the ACC Seven Mile Taskforce and a Comerica Bank vice president.

Five local charitable organizations were honored at the anniversary gala for their efforts to help ACC and other Detroit-area groups aiding the underprivileged. The Comerica Charitable Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Skillman Foundation and United Way for Southeastern Michigan Non Profit Facilities Center each received awards.

ACC executives said the group’s services are in particular need at the moment, during tough economic times.

Abe Munfakh, ACC Chairman, said the group goes beyond Metro Detroit’s Middle Eastern communities, and hopes to take its services even further.

“We plan to expand our services beyond our Michigan borders to reach all individuals who are in need of help throughout the world,” he said.

Florida

Florida, author of the book “The Rise of the Creative Class,” spoke about the power of Detroit’s diversity during what he calls the “greatest shift of economy in history.”

He said the shift is bigger than the industrial revolution of the 20th century, as the world’s economy depends increasingly, not on technology, but on “the capabilities of human creativity.”

Detroit, he said, has the potential to establish a booming service industry by tapping into an enormous pot of creativity coming from Americans of countless different ethnic backgrounds.

“Diversity and tolerance and open-mindedness are the keys to our very economic advantage. It’s what makes America different,” Florida said. “The ability to harness energy of people from all over the world.”