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A Detroit Month Offline

So, you saw our flyer! Miss when you found out about cool stuff without instagram? Us too.

Since moving to Detroit, we’ve felt a remarkable sense of community and spontaneous connection here. Even while surrounded by this energy, we still struggle with the constant, heavy tie to our smartphones and the online world.

What would happen if our smartphones weren’t in our lives for one month? If you want to find out, keep reading :)

What is this?

We’re organizing a local Detroit cohort of something called Month Offline, originally created in Washington, DC. This will become a group dedicated to a month-long offline challenge, which will include 5 once-per-week meetings beginning in the 1st week of November!

Scroll down and fill out our form if you're interested in joining a group of likeminded neighbors to trade your smart phone for a “dumb” phone for one month.

Where/When?

We will meet in various Detroit spaces (perhaps a cafe, bookstore, bar, park, etc). The day/time is TBD and will be based on the group’s availability.

What can I expect from our weekly meetings?

Here are some of our priorities:

Our ultimate goal is to create weekly pockets of time to discuss our offline experience. This might involve some ✺ structured activities ✺ (journaling, show and tell, crafting, movement practices, or whatever else the group feels passionate about exploring).

We want each person to have their own desire for what they want out of the month; our meetings will be a ✺ space to check-in ✺ on those pursuits. We are inspired by the question: what is something technology has taken away from you that you want to get back? It could be an old hobby or something brand new you’ve never done! It could simply be the joy of doing nothing.

At the end of the month, we will hold a ✺ graduation ceremony ✺ with friends, neighbors, and fellow flipmates to celebrate our collective off-time.

This is the very first month offline in Detroit, so we’ll all be navigating the creation of this new and lovely thing together! The amount of commitment you want to put in this is completely up to you – we are here to offer expansiveness, creativity, and connection. <3

How much does it cost?

Our group is free, and run by volunteers (us! Dona+Bella).

Your only financial responsibility is getting a dumb phone! You can choose to purchase one through Dumb.co (if you’re choosing this option, don’t order yet! Reach out to us and we’ll send you a discount code for free shipping and two months of free service). The Dumb.co phones come with some nice features like Microsoft 2FA and text/call forwarding from your smartphone.

For people that are simply wanting to test the waters, Dumb.co is offering the option to borrow a refurbished dumbphone 2 for free (with $10 shipping) and mail it back at the end of the challenge!

For people that are ready to dive into dumb life, you can purchase a new dumbphone 2 for $20 + 4-month minimum phone plan.

You are also more than welcome to bring your own device or try an alternative from Dumbphone Finder.

Deadline to order: October 25th! We want to make sure your phone arrives in time to set up before the first meeting.

How big will the group be?

No idea! We’ll have to wait to see the level of interest, but we’re expecting anywhere between 5-15 people.

Questions? Concerns?? Comments???

Email us at detroitmonthoffline@gmail.com if you’re not quite sure yet, or if you have lingering questions!

A Detroit Month Offline

First & Last Name:

E-Mail Address:

Phone Number:

What are you hoping to get out of Month Offline? No wrong answers!

How did you hear about Month Offline?

How do you plan to obtain a dumb phone?

Any last words?