Allies for Radical Collaboration

At Detroit Prep, our mission is to provide a world-class, equitable education that will give a diverse group of students a foundation of academic excellence and character development. Our crew commits to making this vision a reality on a daily basis, and it’s something that requires constant learning and reflection on our practice! 

Last winter, I was fortunate to participate in Allies for Radical Collaboration - a fellowship program developed with Black Male Educators Alliance and Henry Ford Learning Institute for white-identifying Detroit educators who lead, love, and nurture Detroit students from diverse backgrounds. I was humbled to have the ongoing opportunity to develop and implement culturally responsive practices in our learning community within the fellowship, beyond the work we already do in our school community through our Equity Groups.

Through this six month cohort experience, I continued to explore how my personal identity impacts my interactions with students, our school team, and our broader community. We engaged in asset-based community field experiences, such as immersive learning within other schools across Detroit, conversations and panels with community partners, and building a network of allies and critical friends that will support each other and push each other’s thinking to uncover my own gaps and blind spots.

We also learned culturally responsive, community-building strategies to try in our schools with a focus on nurturing strong relationships between students and staff, staff and families, and our neighborhoods! Some of the most fun and engaging elements were a set of “cup games” that build connection and a sense of teamwork.

I’m grateful and excited to continue my own self-work and part two of the cohort experience this summer and fall so that I can contribute in our crew toward a restorative culture based in hope, healing, joy, and equitable learning environments.