Adam Marshall, Founder of La Famiglia Magazine

Age: 29

College: School of Life

How he’s making his mark on the city of Detroit:

“The city has inspired me. The history, the people, the heart, soul, and energy that you have to take a moment to soak it in. La Famiglia allows me to support the things that inspire me. Even though there is an international perspective, it enables me to support some of the amazing cultural movements from Detroit and share them with the world”.

On how he accomplished his goals:

“Well, it’s been a process. Every day there is a new lesson learned and a new step to take. I’ve been blessed to have the love and support of many people within my personal life and within the industries that pertain to the focus of La Famiglia. But the basics foundation has been hard work, never walking away, always looking at things from every side possible, and listening to the people. This is still just the beginning.”

On why he chooses to stay in Metro Detroit:

“I was born and raised here. This is where my inspiration was born. The cultural history that has led us to this point in time and the people and movements that are sculpting our futures make this place something like no other place in the world. Even when I’m on the road, the Metro Detroit Area will always be my home.”

On his favorite things about Detroit:

“The vast and diverse amount of music, art, and people. Belle isle in the early evenings. The smell that drifts from Sweetwater Tavern. Michigan Central Station and some of the other amazing architectural history that we have. That’s a hard question. There’s so much.”

On what he wishes you knew about Detroit:

I think people should experience Detroit for themselves. My own personal opinion of the city may not be what everybody is looking for… But here is a few facts I pulled off of Visit Detroit:

Detroit…

• - is home to the first Van Gogh painting in a public collection in the U.S. at the Detroit Institute of Arts, “Self Portrait” Vincent Van Gogh, 1887
• – installed the first mile of paved concrete road, just north of the Model T plant, on Woodward Avenue between McNichols and 7 Mile Roads in 1909
• - built the nation’s first urban freeway, the Davison, in 1942
• - is home to the oldest state fair in the nation — the Michigan State Fair, first held in 1849
• - is the potato chip capital of the world, based on consumption
• – has country’s largest island park within a city — Belle Isle Park
• – is home to the world’s only floating post office, the J.W. Westcott II, can be found on the Detroit River is north of Canada
• - is second in the nation in fishing rod sales
• – shares the world’s first auto traffic tunnel between two nations – the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel
• - is home to the second tallest hotel in North America – the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, at 73 stories
• - the nation’s first soda — Vernors — created in Detroit by pharmacist James Vernor in 1862. Detroit is also home to Sanders hot fudge, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo soda pop, Stroh’s Ice Cream
• - has the most registered bowlers in the United States
• - was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers in 1879

On future plans:

“La Famiglia is a lifestyle. It’s hard to say where the magazine will take me. I’ve always had my hands in the middle of several projects at one time. I am currently working on developing a boutique design, marketing, and production company specializing in the arts and media industries. I think it will allow me to tie in a lot of the different work that I am involved with.

To be honest I would be interested in being involved with or working on anything that would allow me to grow, learn, and create opportunity for myself and the people that surround me.”

Adam’s words of wisdom: “Learn as much about everything that pertains to what you want to do and everything that surrounds it as well. Remember that there is always more to learn. Work hard every day. There may be sacrifice and struggle. Nothing in life worth anything comes easy. Learn from the people that have inspired you. Never under deliver and always stay humble”.

Related Websites:

• La Famiglia Zine
• La Famiglia’s Facebook Page