Windmills & Identity: Paul Draus Journey into understanding Carlos Nielbock

Published on April 3, 2025 in Introduction by Khary Frazier

In this special two-part Detroit is Different episode, we dive into Forging Identity: The Story of Carlos Nielbock with Dr. Paul J. Draus, a University of Michigan-Dearborn sociology professor whose Detroit journey began back in 2005. “We first met Carlos through his creations,” Draus recalls, describing towering windmills and ornate gates built from salvaged materials on Detroit’s east side that sparked a friendship and a story worth telling. This episode traces Draus’s own path from Chicago to Wyoming to New York to Dayton, and ultimately to Detroit, where community partnerships led him to Carlos—an artist, a craftsman, and a character whose life mirrors Detroit’s own transformation. Draus shares how Carlos, a Black German immigrant raised in Europe, navigated identity, racism, and the post-industrial city with resilience and creativity. “It’s a mock-heroic narrative, almost like a Don Quixote story,” Draus explains, reflecting on Carlos’s work turning Detroit’s discarded industrial relics into symbols of hope and sustainability. From scrapping in junkyards to preserving historical architecture, Carlos’s story challenges notions of identity, place, and revitalization in Detroit. As Draus puts it, “There’s something in each of us that is not reducible to environment or genes,” and Carlos embodies that beautifully. The book’s reception has been heartfelt, with community members like Mama Myrtle saying it “brought her to tears.” It’s a Detroit story with global resonance, touching on art, sociology, community, and courage. Tune in to learn how this story came to life and why it matters now more than ever.

What began as a journey engaging hip-hop audiences, has grown into a career as a marketing consultant. As business people have seen my work, I was propositioned many times to provide graphic design, photography, videography, event planning, website development, and social media campaigning. These initial business contracts inspired me to build Creative Differences Marketing. I’ve balanced my entrepreneurial experience with formal education from Walsh College of Business and Accountancy. My degree in Marketing serves me well in understanding many of the formal, universal, and theoretical marketing approaches used in corporate environments.Formulating this business model has been anchored by the success of my BLOG ‘Detroit is Different.’ I create all content for Detroit is Different. This serves as a prototype of the ways I can design events, websites, graphics, music, podcasts, social media campaigns, and e-mail campaigns. ‘Detroit is Different’ focuses on the people and places of Detroit that add to the culture. Through these people and places, themes are driven. These themes will partner with, sponsor, and advertise for businesses and organizations using this innovative multilevel marketing approach.