Detroit Site Profile
Partners:
- Harriet Tubman Center, an organization committed to developing the next generation of community organizers to work throughout Michigan on jobs, youth, education and other issues
- Southwest Solutions, a large nonprofit organization providing social services, developing community development programs, and supporting organizing in Southwest Detroit
- Faculty from several Community Colleges and four year institutions
- Community Learning Partnership
- Currently Tubman offers a three-month organizing internship for recent college graduates who are considering careers in organizing; successful record of training and placing people in organizing
- Now exploring alternatives to create educational pathways into organizing
- Primary focus will be on creating Community College programs, concentrating on recruiting and educating grassroots community leaders and youth for careers as paid organizers, developers, and change-oriented community service providers
- At the planning stage, including meeting with community groups as well as, community colleges and public universities throughout Southern Michigan to identify opportunities for collaboration
- Currently raising initial resources
- Current Tubman internship offers a living wage for three months plus intensive training in organizing
- A major goal of the planning process is to develop sources of income, tuition breaks, and other financial support for students entering a Community College or University program in Community Change Studies
- This program is being initiated by a nonprofit dedicated to developing skilled, knowledgeable, and effective community organizers and community workers
- The goal is to develop a program which eventually offers this education to students in several parts of the state and reinforces organizing on statewide issues
- Bill O’Brien, Executive Director, Tubman Center
- John van Camp, Executive Director, Southwest Solutions
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