For our fourth challenge of the 2024-2025 program year, we partnered with Give Merit, a Detroit-based nonprofit that removes barriers to success through individually-focused programs, products, and places that transform mindsets and skills. Fellows created recommendations and tangible work products that focused on community engagement for Merit Park, a park in 48204 where Detroit youth will come to learn, explore career opportunities, aspire, connect—and have fun. Teams of Fellows worked alongside Give Merit leadership – Tanisha Streeter, Kuhu Saha and David Merritt – as well as engaged with stakeholders, including 48204 residents, teens and youth as well as neighborhood school Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School students, parents and staff. Learn more about the project from the Fellow perspective!
Our focus question was: “How might we grow awareness and foster long-term engagement with families, who have children of all ages, within the 48204 zip code?” Our goal was to ensure that programming at Merit Park is inclusive of families and thoughtfully designed to support activities they can enjoy together as a unit. Our main outcomes for this project were created under the Year 1, 2, and 3 roll-out strategy.
In thinking about this, we were able to come up with deliverables under the following categories: Marketing & Inclusion, and Programs & Traditions. During this last month and a half, we were able to capture undiscovered needs and desires from local community members and convert them into tangible materials: these materials include a multilingual campaign flyer set, catering to various communities as they are expressed in the local languages across Metro Detroit; English, Spanish, American Sign Language, and Arabic. These campaigns are meant to attract future members to Merit Park and create a sense of belonging once stepping inside Merit’s doors. We were also able to deliver an inclusive language guide to assist future staff members of Merit Park about exclusive and inclusive language, featuring words or phrases they might be familiar with but may not know about their potentially harmful contexts. For our other deliverables we wanted to emphasize tradition especially around Merit Park’s grand opening. With that intention in mind, we came up with programs such as a summer food festival, a family field day and a movie and open gym night blending sports and entertainment. With these materials, we are more than excited to have contributed to the greatness that will be Merit Park.
Fellows (L to R): Dana Anderson, Lynne Abelgas, Reu’el Richardson, Kaleeyse Martinez, Jacob Diroff, Eman Azrak
Get a glimpse of the project presentation where Fellows presented to our partners, their stakeholders, and host companies here.
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