“When I said I wanted to bring horses to Linwood, people started clapping before I could even finish the sentence.” David Silver’s journey from Westchester County, New York to Detroit’s 12th Street-Davidson area is anything but typical—but it’s also exactly what makes his work with Detroit Horse Power so impactful. On this episode of Detroit is Different, Silver reflects on a life shaped by horses, privilege, and a growing awareness of inequity. “I grew up in a bubble,” he admits, describing his upbringing in an affluent community where he had access to elite horseback riding training. But when Teach for America brought him to Burns Elementary on Grand River and Greenfield, his world expanded—and so did his mission. “I had students who were persevering through life every single day, but didn’t realize that was a strength.” He saw firsthand the character traits needed to thrive—resilience, empathy, confidence—and began to connect them back to his own experiences with horses. The result: a vision for a program that introduces Detroit youth to equestrian life while building essential life skills. “You fall off a horse, you get back on. That’s life.” With community support and a forthcoming $12 million equestrian center being built in Hope Village on the former Paul Robeson Academy site, Silver is literally transforming empty space into a sanctuary of possibility. “This ain’t Mr. Ed,” he jokes. “This is about power, about confidence, about trust.” His 10-year journey to this point has been one of endurance and evolution, driven by community relationships, the guidance of Detroit elders, and a powerful belief that “every kid deserves the chance to say, ‘what else can I do?’” This conversation is a deep dive into how culture, education, and nature can intersect to heal communities.
Carlos Nielbock’s Journey from Germany to Detroit’s Heart
In this powerful two-part conversation, Detroit is Different welcomes Carlos Nielbock—master craftsman,
