A simple statement sparked a great community event in Oakland County.
DTE Energy’s Community Engagement team partnered with Franklin Community Church and Main Street Franklin to host Main Street Summer Heat Powered by DTE Energy. The event highlighted DTE’s work in the community and shared resources available to customers.
Led by Erica Schlenker, principal program manager, DTE Community Engagement team, the event included six DTE booths staffed by employees.
The topics included tree trimming, reliability updates, wire-down safety and more. Kids also had the chance to climb into a bucket truck and experience what it’s like to be a line worker.
“This was a great way to connect with the community, share who we are, and make it a fun experience,” said Erica. “People left with a better understanding of DTE, and the feedback was very positive. It’s important for the community to see the people behind the work.”
The event also featured five food trucks with free meals, stilt walkers, balloon artists and live music.
How did this event come to fruition? Through a new relationship. After Erica met with Mark Cooper, manager of Franklin Community Church, they started talking about the breadth of DTE’s community efforts. He was so impressed, he pitched Erica the idea of the Main Street Franklin Summer Heat Powered by DTE Energy.
Sometimes, great things happen by simply showing up and talking to people about the work. Thank you to the City of Franklin for having us.