“This place is just so magical in that there are big changemakers in our community that come here for events, and then there are Detroit middle schoolers that are here building robots, and the fact that those two things can happen just side-by-side is part of the magic of this place, in my opinion.”
~ Haley Hart, director of the Michigan Engineering Zone

The U-M Detroit Center celebrated its 20th anniversary with remarks from university leaders, community leaders and researchers, a poetry reading, presentations from Semester in Detroit students along with dance and music performances.

Paul Draus writes: “I’m a sociologist who has worked alongside neighborhood revitalization projects in Detroit for the past 15 years. I’ve observed the bridge project – and the many tensions around it – from the perspective of adjacent communities of Delray and Mexicantown, communities that are largely home to low-income Latino, Black and white residents. The costs and benefits of this binational behemoth are complex and intertwined.”

The study, which analyzed data from six Michigan counties between 2017 and 2021, found that for every 10 additional firearm incidents per year in a census tract, residents had a 1.6% higher chance of dying from cardiovascular disease linked to stress.

According to Program Chair Barry Fishman, community-engaged learning is the heart of the LEAPS program. “One of the most effective ways to learn is through application. LEAPS students are actively building connections between their classroom-based learning and their community-engaged learning. This creates both more engagement and more meaningful learning.”

As a teacher in Michigan Law’s Community Enterprise Clinic, Pak works with student-attorneys to provide transactional legal services to nonprofit and community-based organizations, social enterprises, and neighborhood-based small businesses. 

Originally tasked with renovating an old building on the corner of Jefferson Avenue, the group ran into multiple difficulties. Rather than restore the existing building to its original condition, T+E+A+M suggested a strategy of selective demolition, leaving behind the historic brick facade to frame a courtyard next to a newly built structure.

An issue brief released today from DMACS, with support from U-M’s Poverty Solutions, offers analysis of the survey results to see what Detroiters say would make a difference in addressing the challenges they face. 

Teaira Ross, ’25 grad, says UM-Dearborn helped her go from surviving to thriving. Now she’s working at Henry Ford Health System to do the same for others.