DETROIT (March 29, 2017) – Today, the Wayne State University College of Education’s Center for Health and Community Impact announced it has been awarded a grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) for $75,000 as part of Target’s ongoing youth wellness efforts.

The center — which seeks to improve community health and vitality through leadership and advancement of research, programs and policies for healthy living — will use the award to support its collaboration with Brilliant Detroit, which integrates healthy living opportunities and education into “Kid Success Neighborhoods” where place-based resources are made readily available to families. Funding will allow the center and Brilliant Detroit to develop and bring to scale a cohesive set of physical activity and healthy eating services, programs and supports to complement the current initiatives underway in existing Brilliant Detroit neighborhood homes. Brilliant Detroit currently provides services in four renovated homes, including two in Cody Rouge, one in southwest Detroit and one in the North End.

“This partnership will help to foster the development of positive physical activity and healthy eating habits early in life and to encourage families to engage in regular healthy behaviors,” said center Director Nate McCaughtry. “Developing these habits early in life promotes healthy growth and development, helps to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and, among other things, assists with the development of gross motor and fine motor skills.” 

The center will host and attend Brilliant Detroit neighborhood listening sessions to understand the health needs and interests of the community. As information is gathered and trust earned, center staff will partner with neighborhood citizens to create, develop and implement health programs in the areas of healthy eating and physical activity. In addition, the center will leverage its partners to affect the health and wellness of citizens in target neighborhoods and create long-term formal and informal partnerships. A key role of the center will be to facilitate continuity of programming and long-term sustainability within each program and neighborhood. 

"We are so excited about partnering with Wayne State University’s Center for Health and Community Impact to create a health platform for families we serve,” says Cindy Eggleton, co-founder and CEO of Brilliant Detroit. “Brilliant Detroit works with residents at the neighborhood level to build Kid Success Neighborhoods where families can thrive and services are offered in a centrally located home nestled in the neighborhood. We believe it takes the whole community to empower families with young children, and our organizations share the same values that community change comes when working with, for and by neighbors."

The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to help make wellness more affordable, accessible and inspirational for its team members, guests and communities. Target also is partnering closely with local leaders and organizations in communities around the country who are experts in youth wellness and actively working to close the wellness gap for children. These efforts are part of Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its profits to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week.

About the Center for Health and Community Impact

The Center for School Health was founded in 2010 after a decade leading community health programs and conducting best practice and impact research. In 2016, the center was re-launched as the Center for Health and Community Impact to better convey the scope and evolution of its work. Through its efforts, educators, clinicians, practitioners, evaluators, researchers and community leaders at Wayne State University advance health and social equity at local, regional and national levels. The center’s programs have directly impacted more than 150,000 youth and families and 500 educators and health practitioners across 350 community organizations. For more information, visit coe.wayne.edu/centerforhealthandcommunityimpact.

About the College of Education

For more than a century, the Wayne State University College of Education has prepared effective urban educators who are reflective, innovative and committed to diversity. Its Teacher Education Division boasts one of the most comprehensive, well-established programs in the country, and all four academic divisions offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in nearly 40 program areas, including learning design and technology, leadership and policy, kinesiology, sport administration, education evaluation and research, health education and educational psychology, and counseling. To learn more, visit coe.wayne.edu.   

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering nearly 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 27,000 students. For more information, visit wayne.edu. 

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,806 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.

Contacts

Wayne State University College of Education

Tracy A. Walker, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, 313-577-0260

Target Corporation

Jessica Stevens, Communications, 612-761-6351

Target Media Hotline, 612-696-3400