The University of Phoenix-Detroit brings corporate social responsibility to life in impactful ways. Founded in 1976, the University of Phoenix was the response to the changing needs of the workplace.

University of Phoenix Downtown Detroit Learning Center, 1001 Woodward , Detroit, MI 48226

It was part of Dr. John Sperling’s commitment to provide adults with the higher education they would need to fill those needs and for forty years, that’s exactly what they’ve done. The University of Phoenix has grown vastly with a presence in the Detroit area since 1995. The global alumni network has nearly 1 million alumni nationwide counting over 30,000 alumni in Michigan and 16,000+ in Metro Detroit.

Jarrett Waddy participating in Spirit of Open Streets

I am grateful to be a part of a University that supports the growth in the City of Detroit, a city which I call home. Although University of Phoenix is nationwide, we give back to the local communities in which we live, work and play. The University community giving is centered on educational, workplace readiness, community engagement, employee volunteerism and healthy communities.

My role as Community Development for the University is to lead local market community partnerships and business efforts. In addition to volunteerism, academia and scholarship, the University of Phoenix-Detroit Campus continuously strives to engage in the Detroit communities by partnering with nonprofit organizations and sponsoring their events.  In partnership with Challenge Detroit it develops, grows, and supports the long-term strategic plans for the University of Phoenix Detroit.  The opportunity with Challenge Detroit aligns with our key focus areas (education, workforce and community development) and how they connect to our college goals and key communities — children, at-risk youth, military members, veterans, and those in underrepresented populations.

University of Phoenix Detroit and Challenge Detroit

Building on the commitment to community, the University of Phoenix celebrates the work that Challenge Detroit does in our communities (Recovery Park, Open Streets and MACC Development) and encourages volunteerism.   To reinforce employee participation, the University of Phoenix has launched a week-long schedule of community engagement initiative for employees to participate in opportunities to positively impact the communities in which we live and work: Community Counts Week, Oct. 17–23, 2016. Thank you #UOPXDetroit for sponsoring me to represent our University as Challenge Detroit Fellow 2016.

2016 Challenge Detroit Fellows  volunteering at Recovery Park Farms