Weeklong #EdMattersHere Chat on Detroit Schools

Education is vital to helping our youth grow. In Detroit, negative narratives about the education system are pervasive, but we hear less from mainstream media about the many hard working groups already creating solutions for youth.

At Michigan Nightlight, we’re creating a positive narrative by shining a spotlight on many of these groups, including Art Road, the STEM Initiative of Detroit Public Schools, Michigan Future’s High School Accelerator, and dozens of alternative programs to engage youth, like the Mt. Elliot Makerspace. We’ve also encouraged conversations around #MIYouth the second Tuesday of every month. 

Now it’s time to broaden the conversation on a larger scale. Join us next week with dozens of organizations and community groups for a discussion on why education matters in Detroit, and how we can continue to move toward positive change. The #EdMattersHere chat began September 23. 

The weeklong discussion was sparked by a collaboration between Excellent Schools Detroit and The Skillman Foundation. The goal is to foster a positive and realistic conversation around education.

“The goal is to bring together people who care about education – which should be just about anyone who wants a better future for Detroit – to have a positive but real discussion about the state of the city’s education landscape,” said Dan Varner, Chief Executive Officer of Excellent Schools Detroit.

How can you participate? Join us by tweeting along your thoughts with the hashtag #EdMattersHere. Make sure you connect with Michigan Nightlight on Twitter too, as we’ll spotlight resources and programs for Detroit youth this week. You can also watch the conversation on a larger scale by visiting EdMattersHere Hub online.

Conversation can lead to collaboration, which can ultimately lead to change. Help us continue to spotlight programs and people helping Michigan’s youth.