ARISE! Detroit To Partner With Public Schools
DETROIT (WWJ) - ARISE! Detroit on Wednesday announced a new partnership with Detroit Public Schools, leading up to the nonprofit's 6th annual Neighborhoods Day coming up August 4.
Neighborhoods Day, a mix of fun for kids and city improvement, will include demolition of vacant buildings, youth sports events and back to school games.
Karen Ridgeway, superintendent of academics for DPS, said participants will clean up areas surrounding local schools.
"(There will be) general cleanup efforts, some painting, fix-up, cleanup," she said. "As you know, when students come into an environment that's welcoming, that's clean, that's safe, it gives them an opportunity to feel comfortable, and in that feeling comfortable they'll be able to learn and academic performance will soar."
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said one section of the cleanup will begin immediately.
"We have a community of people that want to see their community improve and rise and so the community has put together 137 homes that they're asking us to tear down," Bing said. "We will start the process tomorrow morning."
Luther Keith, the executive director of ARISE! Detroit, said the variety of events is meant to change the attitude of DPS students into a positive one.
"The news conference announced more than 170 events, community service projects to be held all over Detroit," he said. "Helping clean up schools, clean up neighborhoods, concerts, sports events all with the idea of making Detroit better and energizing the mood to create the kind of community we all wanna live in."
Several other local businesses and organizations will participate. The cleanup will rely on help from hundreds of local volunteers.
Get more information about ARISE! Detroit and Neighborhoods Day at this link.
