Detroit Initiative
The mission of the Detroit Initiative is to seek opportunities that will provide students and faculty to engage in further education, service, and research in the Detroit area through a focus on community-identified priorities.
Goals
- To work in partnership with community partner organizations.
- To respond to community-identified priorities and needs by linking University resources with community partners.
- To prepare students for graduate school, professional and/or leadership roles within communities and non-profits.
- To provide meaningful and relevant opportunities for student learning, reflection, and professional development.
- To increase student knowledge regarding community intervention methods, social justice, and multi-culturalism in relationship to communities in Detroit.
Student Perspective
Christy McCartha
Junior, LSA
As a student in UROP [the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program] and Psych 325 course [the Detroit Initiative] I have had the opportunity to visit the Delray Community center near the Detroit area. I have provided my time to help students at the community center with tutoring, short seminars, and discussions about college opportunities and self-love.
In addition, I have learned from the students at Delray that anything is possible as long as you have the drive to achieve your goals.
Because of the Detroit Initiative, I have had the opportunity to go back to a community quite similar to my very own. Being from the Detroit area I know the ways in which resources can be limited and how one has to make do with what he or she has.
Therefore, I was able to relate well with the students, and they were able to relate to me. The experience was great, and I was exposed to different outlooks on many situations in and outside of the classroom.
Through the Detroit Initiative I have developed better social skills and important relationships with youth in the community, and have had the opportunity to shared knowledge about my post-secondary experience, just to name a few of the benefits.
Related Links
About the Detroit Initiative
Delray United Action Council
Detroit Initiative: Getting Involved
About Professor Lorraine Gutierrez