The definition of liberty, college affordability, bullying鈥攖he PSAs cover a range of today鈥檚 hot topics.
The voices behind the pitches? They are 15 soon-to-be 10th-grade students from various high schools in Detroit. And they鈥檙e spending their summer engaged in community-based learning through the Community Economic Development Club.
Truman Hudson Jr., a Detroit native and student in 萝莉社-Dearborn鈥檚 Ed.D. program, began the club as a way to teach kids to take a critical look at the world and then practically apply that knowledge.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 grow up with the access that my son has. A lot of these students still don鈥檛 have that access,鈥 said Hudson, who has run the club this summer out of his consulting firm, DEXDesign Associates. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e here because they want to be here; they want to be involved in the community and to be exposed to different ideas.鈥
The curriculum stresses cultural relevancy鈥攁n idea that benefits both the student and the community. 鈥淒on鈥檛 just teach y=mx+b,鈥 he said. 鈥淪how how y=mx+b. And I know that because of this situation that happened in my community.鈥
So students work with local non-profit organizations. The PSAs they鈥檙e developing are to raise awareness about college accessibility, food justice and LGBT issues in the African American community.
Next, they鈥檒l put together a survey to further research their issues. Bullying is an issue? Kids in urban areas lack access to quality education? Who says? They鈥檒l start the survey on their Facebook pages, asking friends and family to participate.
Hudson says the lessons they鈥檙e learning颅鈥攚hile participating in practical experiences or gaining insights from mentors鈥攇o beyond economics. He hopes they鈥檙e learning to think critically, develop their personal voice and build self-awareness.
This fall, the program will move to 萝莉社-Dearborn to partner with the GEAR-UP program, providing the students with experiences that reinforce continuing education and a college-going culture. A BMe Leadership Award from the Knight Foundation, Open Society, and Miami Foundation will help provide additional resources as the club grows.
As for this summer鈥檚 participants? They鈥檒l stay with the club, becoming student-mentors for the incoming students.
The idea of mentorship is a key component of Hudson鈥檚 program and he regularly takes students under his wing.
It鈥檚 only fitting, since it was a conversation with one of his mentors that challenged Hudson to being working with youth. 鈥淢y mentor pointed out that we鈥檝e spent millions investing in the community but haven鈥檛 seen a change,鈥 Hudson said. 鈥淗e said, 鈥業f you want systemic change, teach the children.鈥欌