Equal access to high-quality education is key to children's, city's future

National Urban Fellow and Skillman Foundation special assistant in communications Jessica Martin writes that while celebrating Black History Month, she is reminded of the civil rights movement and the fight for social justice, including access to high-quality education that remains an issue today.

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SOCIAL MEDIA: If you're active on social media, we want to connect with you. You probably know we're on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, but we are now also using Instagram and Pinterest to share news about the Foundation, our partners and grantees and the issues we care about. Join us in the social conversation as we focus this year on why #KidsMatterHere in Detroit.

Larry Bowie (left), 13, Carrington Grant, 12, and Kyle Johnson, 17, celebrate Youthville's victory at the East Vex Robotics League Finals at Cranbrook's Kingswood Boys Middle School. Youthville's seven teams will compete in the state championship at MSU on Sunday.

ROSE FOR DETROIT BLOG

Detroit's future filled with hope, but leaders' vision must include children

Last week, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing highlighted many positives in his State of the City address. But something was missing: Detroit's children. Positive changes in Detroit will benefit children down the road, but will our children overcome poverty and failing schools to enjoy those improvements? Skillman Foundation President & CEO Carol Goss writes about keeping our children the focus for the future in this blog post. Tonya Allen, the Foundation's Vice President of Program and COO, says Detroiters must demand that political leaders put children first in this Detroit Free Press editorial. ALSO: Watch Goss and Allen challenge Detroit's future leaders to share how children fit in their vision for the city in this video.

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Former Skillman CEO Beckham remembered for focus on kids

On Sunday, the Detroit Free Press asked its readers to think about which deceased leaders they'd like to bring back to help tackle the city's problems today. Editorial page editor Stephen Henderson offered one suggestion -- Bill Beckham, his uncle and the Foundation's former CEO.

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IN THE NEWS

Schools keep conflicts at bay through restorative approach

Skillman Foundation Program Officer Henry McClendon believes approaching conflict using Restorative Practices -- a process that builds community and social coherence -- can make a difference in Detroit. The Michigan Nightlight reports how Detroit's Plymouth Educational Center and other schools are implementing a restorative approach to keep students focused and in school longer.

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WDET series explores how Detroit families finding healthy food

Local NPR station WDET has been exploring Detroit's food economy in a series of on-air reports and digital stories. The station used our six Good Neighborhoods to find out what finding healthy food options is like for Detroit families with children. Here's one report from the series, in which a couple living in the Osborn Neighborhood shares how they find fresh, healthy food for their extended family.

Listen to Story

DPS invites new, current tutors to Reading Rally

In celebration of recent MEAP test reading gains and to issue a call for new Reading Corps Volunteers, Detroit Public Schools is hosting Reading Corps Week and holding a Volunteer Reading Corps Rally and Training on March 2 at 10 a.m. at Renaissance High School. The Reading Corps Rally and Training is for current tutors from across metro Detroit, who number nearly 900, as well as future volunteers. All new volunteers will receive reading tutor training at the event.

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D3 launches online tool to explore new voting districts

Data Driven Detroit (D3) has just launched a new interactive online tool that lets readers explore the new voting districts that will be used for this year's City Council election. This year's upcoming municipal election will be the first time in nearly 100 years that Detroiters will elect the city council from defined districts. Historically, Detroit's nine City Council members have been elected at-large with each of them representing the city as a whole rather than a particular district. However, with the passing of Detroit's new City Charter, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2012, only two members are elected at-large, and seven members are elected by district. Use this interactive tool to explore the new districts.

Explore Interactive Tool

Upcoming Events
	Wayne State College of Education Conference on "Understanding the Impact of Poverty on Education: Research Symposium and Educational Dialogue," Feb. 28-March 2, McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Wayne State University, Detroit. 313.577.1620. Read More
	CARE of Southeastern Michigan's 18th Annual Parenting Conference, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 2, MISD Conference Center, 44001 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township 48038. 586.541.0033. Read More
	Mardi Gras City Mission Style, 6-11 p.m. March 9, Roostertail, 100 Marquette Drive, Detroit 48214. Read More

Grants Maps

The Skillman Foundation has partnered with the New York City-based Foundation Center to provide Skillman Foundation website visitors with a custom version of the Foundation Center's Philanthropy In/Sight data visualization platform, which utilizes Google maps to show the scope and reach of the Skillman Foundation's work in Detroit. Access Grants Maps here

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About us: Learn more about the Foundation's grantmaking and mission.

Our history: Rose Skillman's commitment to children.

Grants: Browse our Grants Maps.