By Brandon Seng
Michigan Nonprofit Association

“What we try to teach is that urban or rural, you can always give back to your community,” explained David Strauss, Dean of Students at Wayne State University.  This virtue can be seen through Wayne State’s participation in the Alternative Spring Break – Detroit (ASB-D) program.  Here, students are given the opportunity to learn about the rich heritage of Detroit, as well as serve their community during their spring break.  The program has been successful, connecting and empowering Wayne students to create a better Detroit.

One such student is Alexis D’Angelo, possibly ASB-D’s biggest advocate.  D’Angelo was so influenced by her participation in the program, that she now coordinates it, and has taken the program farther than anyone thought possible.  With the help of funding provided by a Michigan Campus Compact CASE Grant, D’Angelo has provided a venue that has not only continued discussion about Detroit service, but moved it forward.  Seeing an opportunity in WSU’s student leaders, D’Angelo has convened a group through a program she calls LOUD – Leadership Orientation in Urban Detroit.    

LOUD brings together leaders of various student organizations in a one day event in which they are challenged to collaborate with other student leaders, local nonprofit organizations and community developers.  “We aim to prove that the passion that one might have in their undergraduate studies can turn into lasting social change,” said D’Angelo.  “In our program, participants discuss transitioning ideas into working models, and are finding that creating a better community isn’t out of reach for anyone.”

For example, urban planners, the Student Environmental Action League and Urban Farming began discussions at LOUD that could potentially create a transportation system that will provide accessibility for residents to buy local grown produce.  These groups have also began reaching out to student fitness organizations and nutritionists, who were not represented at LOUD, to get them involved in the discussion.  Their effort is showing that the collaboration the program inspires is truly campus and community wide.

Students who participated in LOUD have become inspired to give in new ways, ways that advance not only the mission of a local agency, but their student organization’s mission as well.  Through the pooling of talents and resources, the students at Wayne State have uncovered new and innovative ways in which to serve.  D’Angelo and Wayne State University are excited to see how the many ideas generated through LOUD are developed and implemented in the city of Detroit.