Wayne State University is joining with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor on "Detroiters Speak," a free, eight-week collaborative community course that began Feb. 4 at Cass Corridor Commons, 4605 Cass Ave.
The program is open to the public, and participants can attend as many of the eight sessions as they wish. Registration is appreciated at semesterindetroit@umich.edu or 313-505-5185.
All sessions will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays in McCallister Hall at the Cass Corridor Commons. The commons is a community hub for several grassroots organizations who have decades of combined experience in social justice struggles. Free parking is provided in surrounding parking lots, and a light dinner is served before each session.
Since fall 2013, U-M's Semester in Detroit Program has sponsored a public mini-course called "Detroiters Speak," which has brought hundreds of U-M students together with "community students" from Detroit and the broader region in collaborative presentations and discussions about Detroit. For the winter 2016 semester, WSU's Department of African-American Studies and the Detroit Equity Action Lab a project of WSU Law School's Damon Keith J. Center for Civil Rights have joined U-M Semester in Detroit in organizing this series.
"Detroiters Speak" is a unique classroom environment for every kind of student young and old, from high school to graduate school, from community experts to university experts. The course will focus on the historical (how did we get here?) and the contemporary (where are we going?), posing important questions each week that will challenge students to reflect on the city that Detroit is becoming. Each week will feature formal remarks and public discussion with a wide range of Detroit activists, scholars and community members.
The remaining topics will be:
Feb. 11 "Detroiters Speak (Re) Discovering Detroit: From Oppenago to Wawiatanong to Detroit."
Feb. 18 "Detroiters Speak From Failed Urbanism to Failed Regionalism."
Feb. 25 "Detroiters Speak Reflecting on our History (Midterm Reflection)."
March 10 "Detroiters Speak Fighting for Water and Homes: Critical Community Struggles."
March 24 "Detroiters Speak Land Grabs: Whose Detroit is Developing?"
March 31 "Detroiters Speak Alternative Visions: Building Equitable Communities."
April 7 "Detroiters Speak Where Do We Go From Here? Final Public Reflection."
For an up-to-date list of speakers and additional information, visit law.wayne.edu/detroitersspeak.
Published: Fri, Feb 05, 2016
