To inaugurate this partnership, Wayne State University has invited its entire incoming freshman class to participate in Warrior Service Day; a day-long community service project on Saturday Aug. 30 that will benefit several Detroit civic organizations.
Through iStart, a mandatory program for incoming first-year students, nearly 2400 students could be working with such ARISE Detroit! partners as Focus: HOPE, the Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, the ARC Detroit, Black Family Development and more.
During Warrior Service Day students will participate in several community service projects helping them get to know the university and surrounding communities.
This year's projects include supplying Detroit school children with essential school supply packages, creating safe school routes for metro Detroit K-12 students and several community clean-up initiatives.
"Wayne State University stepping up to the plate is a tremendous signal that the institution is more than just an ivory tower for this community," said Luther Keith, executive director of ARISE Detroit! "We can only hope that the rest of the community will follow their example."
"ARISE Detroit's mission is perfectly aligned with Wayne State's commitment to community engagement," said Howard Shapiro, WSU associate vice president for undergraduate programs. "By partnering with ARISE Detroit!, we not only support the community, but our students also gain an invaluable out of the classroom learning experience."
ARISE Detroit! is a broad-based coalition of community groups with a mission to promote community programs and activities that work to combat illiteracy, high school dropout rates, crime and youth violence, drug abuse, domestic abuse, neighborhood blight and unemployment.
"We truly believe that Wayne State's reach is not limited to Midtown, but that the entire city of Detroit is our campus," said WSU Director of Community Relations Victor Green. "This collaboration is a great way to show our warrior spirit throughout the city."
For more information about ARISE Detroit, please visit http://www.arisedetroit.org/.