Community

Community improvement event with outdoor chalkboards for ideas.

ÄÐÈ˲ؾ«¸ó News for our Neighbors

Open All | Close All

  • Theatre Company presents ‘The Grown Ups,’ April 4-6 and April 11-13

    Monday March 24, 2025

    Detroit Mercy Theatre Company‘s production of The Grown Ups, by Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox, will be performed across two weekends, April 4-6 and April 11-13 at the Marlene Boll Theatre located at 1401 Broadway StreetÌýin downtown Detroit. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

    Grab a s’more and immerse yourself in this dark satire directed by Andrew Papa about a group of camp counselors thrust into a struggle to shape the leaders of tomorrow amidst looming uncertainty and fraught relationships.

    The story unfolds underneath the starlit sky, as the campers drift off to sleep and the lake whispers its lullabies, and it’s time for the counselors to unwind. But amidst the tranquility, there’s an undercurrent of tension. What awaits in the morning to keep camp fun and safe? The news hints at something sinister, something lurking beyond the forest’s edge.

    Ticket costs:Ìý

    • Students and veterans: $10
    • Faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens: $18
    • Adults: $25
    Special events are as follows:
    • Friday, April 4: Opening Night Reception: Celebrate opening weekend with the cast and crew. Sponsored by Thomas E. Page ’71, ’76.
    • Saturday, April 5: Detroit Mercy Accepted Students Night: Free tickets for incoming Detroit Mercy first-year students and their families. Call 313-993-3270 for details and reservations.
    • Saturday, April 5: CHASS Night at the Theatre: $5 tickets for students and alumni of the College of Liberal Arts & Education/College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences with code CHASS25. Free tickets to faculty/staff of CLAE/CHASS by emailing theatre@udmercy.edu.
    • Sunday, April 6: Navigating Chaos: Drawing on historical precedents and contemporary analyses, join us in an exploration the resilience of American institutions, the role of government agencies and the impact on civil society in the event of a nation-wide crisis on American soil. Led by Department Chair and Professor of Political Science Genevieve E. Meyers and presented as part of the Detroit Theatre Discussion Project.
    • Friday, April 11: Community Night: Tickets are only $10!

    A graphic for The Grown Ups performance. The right half of the page is an image of people holding their phones in hands. The left half of the page, at the top is a Detroit Mercy Theatre Company logo with the words below presents The Grown Ups on April 4-13 at the Marlene Boll Theatre in Detroit. At the bottom is a scan code for ticket sales or visit detroitmercyarts.com

  • Gesu Detroit fundraiser with presentation of ‘American Prophet’ set for April 4

    Monday March 24, 2025

    Poster for the short firm American ProphetPlease join University Ministry and the Gesu Detroit Peace and Justice Committee at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4Ìýfor a presentation of the short film American Prophet, based on the life of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton.

    The film will be shown in the Warren Loranger Architecture Building Exhibition Space. All are welcome to attend! There will be a Q&A with the director and cast following the film.

    The cost is “pay what you can” with a suggested donation of $10. All proceeds will benefit the San Mateo Haitian Refugee Outreach Ministry in Puerto Rico.

    Please note that seating is limited and available on a first come, first-served basis.

  • University Chorus presents gospel-style concert, March 28

    Thursday March 20, 2025

    A graphic on a white background with a blue border that reads University Chorus and Friends Concer, Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. in the St. Ignatius Chapel, performing Robert Ray's Gospel Mass. Approximate length 30 minutesThe University Chorus and friends will present a Gospel-style concert on Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. in the St. Ignatius Chapel. All are welcome to attend.

    Admission to the concert is free, and it will last approximately 30 minutes.

    The chorus will present a choral work titled, Gospel Mass, by Robert Ray. The work features text from the Mass set in a gospel style. In addition to the chorus singing, the work features soloists, piano, bass guitar and drums.

  • Volunteers needed to plan Bioneers conference

    Wednesday March 19, 2025

    Volunteers are needed to help plan one of the University’s signature events: The Bioneers Detroit Conference.

    The 2025 Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit (GLBD) Conference will take place Oct. 2-3 on the McNichols Campus, and volunteers from all campuses are needed to serve on the conference planning committee. This is the seventh year that the University will host the conference and the 20th year the conference has occurred in Detroit.

    Bioneers is a nonprofit organization promoting practical environmental solutions and social innovation. The GLBD chapter brings these principles to our region, connecting local initiatives with the broader movement for ecological and social change.

    Chair Theroi Riggins (riggintl@udmercy.edu), working with Yvonne King (kingyv@udmercy.edu), administrative manager for the conference, is seeking volunteers for the 2025 planning committee and subcommittees.

    Volunteers will help shape the conference agenda and speaker selection, contribute to meaningful environmental and social justice work and gain leadership and event planning experience. They should be able to commit to monthly meetings from March through October, typically volunteering three to six hours per month, with increased involvement as the event nears.

    Committees & Responsibilities:

    • PR, Outreach, Graphics & Technology Committee: Manage e-marketing, website updates and outreach efforts. Oversee program brochure production and graphic design coordination. Handle technology and AV needs for sessions, registration and exhibits.
    • Food, Ambiance, Vendors & Logistics Committee: Plan meals, snacks and coordinate food donations. Organize arts performances, ceremonies and create engaging spaces. Manage exhibitor/vendor logistics, registration setup and event signage.
    • Program Committee: Develop the conference theme and review presentation proposals. Organize youth learnshops and coordinate school outreach. Oversee scheduling, budgeting and transportation logistics.
    • Young Bioneers Day & Youth Learnshops Committee: Coordinate with schools to organize youth learnshops. Manage youth registration and participation. Ensure an engaging and educational experience for young attendees.

    If you have questions, please contact Riggins atÌýriggintl@udmercy.edu.

    Get involved and sign up by March 31!

  • SACD Dichotomy lecture series features Oriana Venti on March 24

    Wednesday March 19, 2025

    An image of an architectural structure built on the beach of a body of water with children jumping from stones to the structure.Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture & Community Development 2025 Dichotomy Lecture Series will feature architect Oriana Venti, who will present “Parque Coral de Volcadero: A Case Study on the Transformative Power of Architecture” on March 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the Exhibition Room of the Warren Loranger Architecture Building.

    All are welcome to attend this free and very informative event.

    The presentation will explore the origins, development and aftermath of the Volcadero Project. It will detail the methodology of EDIT studio, an innovative method that proposes the intersection of participatory design, moving knowledge and design build (Zingoni, 2014). This methodology involves:

    • future users and local experts (Engage)
    • designs based on the voices of the stakeholders (Design)
    • generates the possibility of change (Ignite)
    • transforms everyone involved in the project (Transform).

    Emphasis will be placed on participatory processes, social impact and lessons learned regarding participatory design, cultural exchange and environmental sustainability.

    Venti has an undergraduate degree in Architecture from Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela. Venti’s career as an architect has impacted various communities by leading and managing social projects using the participatory design methodology, which is a tool that enhances social agency in the intervention of public spaces. In 2020, she led the Volcadero Project, an example of binational collaboration between students and professors from the University of Tennessee, the University of Arizona and Universidad de Oriente, that resulted in three renowned awards in the United States, and most importantly, a great milestone for the community of Volcadero.

    Dichotomy is aÌýa student-led journal at ÄÐÈ˲ؾ«¸ó’s Ìýthat focuses on social justice and critical thought concerning intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development both in and outside of Detroit.

Resources, Centers and Clinics

Center for Social Entrepreneurship

The Center provides business expertise and acumen as well as mentors to assist local entrepreneurs, beginning with the “Boost” workshop that aids entrepreneurs in developing business plans to achieve a greater social impact.

Counseling Clinic

The clinic provides no-cost counseling services to Detroit residents who otherwise may not have access to mental health services.

Dental Center

Detroit Mercy Dental offers dental services and education through two clinics, nine outreach clinics, a mobile dental clinic and a school-based dental sealant program.

Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN)

students carrying bags of groceries

TENN is a student-led and community-driven food justice program that delivers fresh produce to 60 families in New Martin Park Neighborhood and 80 seniors at Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments.

TENN

Detroit Collaborative Design Center

The design center provides design services to non-profit community and civic organizations to engage communities and enhance neighborhoods.

Detroit Mercy Eye Institute

The Detroit Mercy Eye Institute includes the state-of-the-art equipment and technology needed to diagnose, monitor, and treat numerous eye conditions. The clinic will also provide affordable eyecare to the uninsured and vulnerable populations.

Law Clinics

Detroit Mercy Law provides legal assistance to Detroit area residents through six clinics: Immigration Law Clinic, SADO Criminal Appellate Clinic, Criminal Trial Clinic, Veterans Law Clinic, Juvenile Law Appellate Clinic and Intellectual Property Law Clinic.

Pre-College Programs

Detroit area students in grades 4-12 participate in more than 15 outreach programs annually through Saturday classes, summer camps, and innovative curricula in the sciences, technology engineering, mathematics, architecture and design.

Psychology Clinic

The Psychology Clinic provides assessment and counseling services for approximately 300 clients annually. Fees are based on ability to pay.

Rx for Reading Program

This program increases access to children’s books and supports families in reading to their children.  The program has distributed more than 2,000 children’s books a month at a variety of locations, including low-income health, dental and WIC clinics; homeless shelters; and Head Start programs.

Alliances and Initiatives

Reimagining the Civic Commons

University of Detroit Mercy serves as one of the institutional anchors for the “Reimaging the Civic Commons” initiative, which is funded through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant. The initiative focuses on the City of Detroit’s neighborhood revitalization priority: the Livernois/McNichols area. The project’s goal is to revitalize the neighborhoods between its two anchor institutions, Detroit Mercy and Marygrove College, creating a denser and more diverse urban community.

Live6 Alliance

University of Detroit Mercy helped to launch the Live6 Alliance in August 2015 to strengthen the Livernois Avenue and McNichols Road commercial corridor in northwest Detroit.

Directories

Media Experts Guide

Image of media experts page

Detroit Mercy scholars are experts in their fields and many have agreed to be available to media. Note that experts' views are their own and may not reflect the views of their colleagues or University of Detroit Mercy. 

Detroit Mercy Media Experts

Migration Research Directory

The is an open-access resource for high-quality research on migration, provided by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Faculty members from Jesuit universities around the world provide important migration and refugee research from a wide variety of perspectives.