At 826michigan, reading and writing are at the heart of everything we do. When you stop by the Detroit Robot Factory this spring, you’ll find our front doors have been transformed into a gallery of art work and words celebrating this very idea. In this project, our After-School Tutoring students in Detroit were tasked with completing the sentence: “I think reading is important because,” and the answers they gave are thoughtful and inspiring. Reading helps your mind grow big! It sparks imagination! It helps you understand other people’s experiences! It teaches you stuff about snakes and reptiles and other things!
At 826michigan, we rely on supporters who bolster our efforts to make our students enthusiastic about reading and writing. This month, we’d like to recognize the Flagstar Foundation for their support of our writing and tutoring programs in Detroit with a grant of $15,000. Flagstar Bank has a 30-year tradition of investing in its communities, with a special focus on diversity and inclusion. 826michigan is proud to be among the arts education organizations the Flagstar Foundation supports.
Because of supporters like the Flagstar Foundation, exciting things are always happening inside the doors of the Detroit Robot Factory. Students are arriving a for field trips where we collaborate on ever-surprising stories, from a gorilla named Strongguts to a robot meatball who foils the plans of King Fireblast. Our Saturday writing workshop series is in full-swing, with teaching artists guiding students through thought-provoking, imagination-stirring prompts. And every day, tutors are working one-on-one with students to ensure homework is getting homework done, books are being read, and that everyone feels welcome, included, and excited. We thank Flagstar Foundation for helping us instill a love of reading and writing in Detroit students.