The University has adopted two Detroit schools this summer as part of a communitywide effort to monitor progress on repairs. The new management of the Detroit Public Schools has asked community members, businesses and agencies to review repair efforts under way at Detroit’s 263 school buildings. An inspection of buildings earlier this year identified repair needs in more than 8,000 classrooms and 2,000 restrooms.
Through the Michigan Neighborhood AmeriCorps Program, the University’s efforts focus on Peter Vetal School and Samuel Gompers School, both located in northwest Detroit. Daily inspections and weekly progress reports will be done largely by U-M AmeriCorps students who already are actively engaged in a variety of other activities in Detroit.
The Michigan Neighborhood AmeriCorps Program, a national service program of the U-M and the Michigan Neighborhood Partnership, currently works with 20 community- and faith-based organizations to strengthen youth and families in Detroit neighborhoods. It recently was named Michigan’s National Service Program of the Year.
The AmeriCorps Program has previously worked with Vetal School to provide educational support to students, as well as access to other programs, such America Reads and the University’s Center for Community Service Learning.