DETROIT – When neighbors and city officials gathered for a routine community “satellite hours” meeting at Motor City Java House, they expected to discuss neighborhood concerns — not present an impromptu award.
Instead, attendees surprised an associate forester with Detroit’s Forestry Division with a Spirit of Detroit Award for his quick action in helping residents in need.
The first Friday gathering in Council District 1, hosted by Councilman James Tate, regularly brings residents from across the district together to raise local issues and connect with city leadership. On this day, gratitude took center stage.
“We would like to present a Spirit of Detroit Award to Mr. Hector Santiago,” said Councilman Tate as neighbors cheered.
The honor recognized Santiago for going above and beyond while responding to residents’ needs — a moment that left the forester visibly moved.
“First off, I got to say God is good,” Santiago told the crowd through tears and applause.
The lifelong Detroiter, who grew up on the city’s southwest side as the son of a pastor, has worked with the Forestry Division for two and a half years. He said his motivation is deeply personal: a commitment to restoring hope and trust in city services.
“I understand their frustration. I understand the loss for hope. I understand when they feel like nobody’s listening to me. So, that’s why I try to knock out the job as soon as possible,” Santiago said, explaining why he responds quickly to calls for help.
City staff highlighted a recent early-morning emergency response by Santiago and his team as the reason for the award. After a storm, a fallen tree blocked a senior couple’s driveway, threatening their ability to make a critical doctor’s appointment. Santiago responded immediately and helped clear the obstruction so the couple could get where they needed to go.
That act, and others like it, illustrated the work many public servants perform with little fanfare. For residents in District 1, recognizing Santiago publicly was a way to say thank you and show that everyday acts of service matter.
For Santiago, the award confirmed what he tries to do daily: have a tangible impact on the lives of Detroiters.
“It means to me what I try to do every day. Hope. Change. Impact. And showing them that they have a person that is there to restore that spirit back in the city,” he said.
Neighbors and colleagues who attended the event said they hoped the recognition would remind the community of the important, and sometimes lifesaving, work done by Detroit’s city workers. The surprise tribute offered a rare public celebration for a front-line staffer whose efforts often go unnoticed.