1. Detroit students take on robotics challenges with virtual mentoring from U-M

    Students in the two-week program will get instruction and also wrap-around services, such as college application workshops, and writing workshops, mentored by U-M students, professional engineers, and U-M alumni.

  2. optiMize-Detroit: One year out, First8 talks about impact of grant

    Now as a mentor in the optiMize program himself, Shafiul Alam appreciates the effort and personal investment mentors had with students during his fellowship.

  3. optiMize Detroit: Girls Giving Back Detroit focuses on community service

    Going forward, the leadership team hopes to introduce an online summer program. They plan to debut their program July 6. Their goal will be to help students retain and strengthen math and reading skills to foster a strong start to the upcoming school year. 

  4. optiMize-Detroit: Securing a vote for everyone with My Voice, My Vote, My Future

    Keirra Scott believes that becoming politically involved leads to the policy changes that build pathways to dismantle cycles of poverty and promote generational wealth within the city. “That’s what I’m fighting for.”

  5. optiMize-Detroit: Entrepreneur Jonae Maxey wants to make social impact through real estate 

    Jonae Maxey is working to change the “narrative of what Detroiters see when it comes to a landlord and real estate in general.” She also wants to set an example for other young Detroiters to stand up for the community and bring everyone together. 

  6. optiMize-Detroit: U-M students take Neighborhood United to the next step

    U-M students have been working on Neighborhood United’s social media presence. The team also has taken the past few months to formalize Neighborhood United’s organization, designing a membership handbook, approaching donors, and collecting feedback to return successfully in the fall.

  7. optiMize-Detroit: Bloom Bodies strengthens the community from within

    Going forward, optiMize has encouraged Bloom Bodies to use its $9,000 fellowship funds to act on community needs. The two focuses this summer are the pandemic and hurt within the community over racial injustice. 

  8. U-M students tackle social impact projects virtually

    Jeni Olney, mentor and associate director for Social Innovation at optiMize, said: “For our Detroit-Track teams, there is a deep-rooted and often relentless commitment they have to themselves and their communities to share knowledge and resources and create impact together.” 

  9. Distinctly Detroit podcast: Riana Anderson talks about helping families cope with the stress of racism and her life in Detroit

    “We have all these strategies that black families are already engaging in. And then we also know from a clinical psychology perspective all of these tips and tricks and ways to discuss things better. So why not meld the two?”
    ~ Riana Anderson