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Detroit Connections Receives Grant to Expand its Programs

Detroit connections award w

The School of Art & Design’s outreach initiative, Detroit Connections, has received a $100,000 grant from the Fridolin Charitable Trust to support expanding its In the Classroom program to reach more under-resourced Detroit elementary schools.

For over 10 years, the Detroit Connections In the Classroom program, created by A&D Associate Professor Janie Paul, has been teaching School of Art & Design students to lead classroom-based high quality arts programming in underserved Detroit elementary schools. During that time, a total of 360 college students have led weekly art workshops for approximately 600 elementary-age children at Harms Elementary in southwest Detroit, Greenfield Union in north central Detroit, and Marcus Garvey in southwest Detroit.

The program and its faculty have been recognized with inclusion on President Coleman’s Honor Roll for Community Service, the Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award, the Outstanding Faculty Member award, the Ginsberg Center Award for Community Service & Social Action, Michigan Campus Compact Faculty Award for outstanding contributions in community service, a Humanity in the Arts Award; and grants from Arts at Michigan, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Grant, and a CityYear Grant. 

The Fridolin Charitable Trust funds ideas, projects and organizations in education, the arts, public policy, civil liberties, human rights, medical research and health care. Its primary focus is in support of those underlying values and attitudes that enable educational endeavors that challenge students to think and act creatively or in an unorthodox manner, unimpeded by common thought or convention —projects which encourage one to Think Outside The Box.” 

A&D Dean Bryan Rogers notes that the School’s engagement with the Fridolin Charitable Trust was made possible through the diligence and enthusiasm of A&D Dean’s Advisory Council members Susan and Eric Wahl.

Learn more about Detroit Connections: http://​www​.detroit​con​nec​tions​.org/