Led by Victoria Shaw, “Making Change through Making Art” will bring together Detroit-based visual artists with students from Detroit Public Schools Community District in a new art-making elective class to explore how engaging with visual arts can promote social justice activism.

Manuel Martinez has been working at the Michigan Central Station for the past three-and-a-half years, leading a 23-person project team that manages hundreds of construction workers. The project, which Ford announced in 2018, is expected to be finished next year.

“A lot of people come to Detroit with expectations of making big changes fast. I was probably one of those people. What we’ve learned is that change is happening here, but it’s got a pace of its own. I’ve learned a lot by being a part of this city.” 

~Justin Mast, founder of Bloomscape.

“I was always very impressed with the way U-M engaged our program participants. You could sense there was a respect for their time and information. It wasn’t ‘we’re going to swoop in, do our research, and bolt.'”
~ Delphia Simmons

“We need to close that gap. I want to spend the next 10 to 15 years addressing the issues in the food insecurity space to give more Michiganders the food security that they deserve.”

~ Patrice Brown

Co-owner J.P. Jerome has been friends with his seven business partners since early childhood and credits that strong bond as a large part of the success of the distillery. Each partner brings unique strengths to the table, and a lifetime of cooperation and collaboration has led to the continued growth of the business.

“People talked about the Michigan Difference. Part of that is U-M’s worldwide network of alums. I didn’t understand that until after I graduated.”

~ Khalilah Burt Gaston

“And I got to Detroit and I immediately knew it. I was a student, but I knew I needed to be here. It resonated with who I am as a person.”
~ Yvette Rock

The conservancy was started in 2003 with the leadership of U-M alums Faye Alexander Nelson, former president and CEO of the conservancy, and Matt Cullen, the current chairman of the board.