A $100,000 investment in real-world learning for students with disabilities at Drew Transition Center
The Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation is proud to announce a $100,000 grant from the Honda Foundation in support of programming at the Drew Transition Center, a school dedicated to preparing students with disabilities for life beyond high school.
This investment represents more than funding—it is a commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, have access to meaningful opportunities that build confidence, independence, and pathways to long-term success.
A Program Rooted in Real-World Learning
At the center of this work is Drew’s innovative horticulture program, where students gain hands-on experience growing and harvesting crops that are used in some of Detroit’s most celebrated restaurants, including Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails and Freya. Through this program, students are not only learning technical skills, but also contributing to the city’s local food ecosystem in a meaningful way.
With the support of the Honda grant, the program has been able to significantly increase its efficiency and impact. Recent equipment upgrades have reduced crop waste from as high as 30 percent to less than 5 percent — maximizing yield, improving sustainability, and ensuring students see the full value of their work from start to finish.
Crop waste reduced from 30% to less than 5% — thanks to equipment upgrades funded by the Honda Foundation grant, maximizing student yield and program impact.
“This program is about more than growing food,” said Principal Michael Advesian. “It’s about creating real-world experiences where students can build confidence, develop skills, and see that their work has purpose and impact beyond the classroom.”
For the Foundation, this investment reflects a broader strategy to ensure every student has access to high-quality, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for life after graduation.
A Partnership Built on Possibility
“This is exactly the kind of investment that drives meaningful change for our students,” said Kerrie Mitchell Campbell-Mabins, President and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation. “At Drew, students are gaining real-world experience, building confidence, and developing skills that translate directly into independence and career pathways. When we invest in programs like this, we’re not just supporting education, we’re creating opportunity, removing barriers, and ensuring every student has a pathway to success.”
See the Program in Action
The Foundation recently visited Drew Transition Center to see the program in action, meeting with Principal Advesian and horticulture instructor Michael Craig to learn more about how the program is shaping student outcomes. From greenhouse to table, students are gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for employment, independence, and life after graduation.
Watch how the Honda Foundation grant is transforming Drew Transition Center’s horticulture program — from greenhouse to Detroit’s finest kitchens.
This work reflects DPSCD’s broader commitment to supporting students of all abilities and ensuring that every learner is equipped for success. By investing in programs like those at Drew, the Foundation and its partners are helping remove barriers and create pathways to economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
As the Foundation continues to expand its impact, partnerships like Honda’s play a critical role in advancing equitable opportunities for DPSCD students across the District.
Together, we are building a future where every student is seen, supported, and set up to succeed.
