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Photos

Free Press Kids Marathon Shoe Fitting

2024 Back to School at Fisher Upper

2024 Scholarship Award Reception

Hall of Fame Detroit 2024

CADE x DPS Foundation 2024

2023 DPS Foundation Champions of Education

dpscdfoundation

Creating and enhancing educational opportunities for DPSCD students, families & educators.

For Western International High School Principal An

For Western International High School Principal Angel Garcia III, serving Southwest Detroit is a family legacy.

His father (THEE Principal Angel Garcia, Jr.) also served as principal at Western, weaving their family’s story into the history of the school and community. When we gave him the floor for Hispanic Heritage Month, he used it to celebrate others: influential Latino leaders, especially fellow educators helping shape the next generation of superstars.

Hispanic Heritage Month, observed September 15 through October 15, also coincided with two meaningful projects we supported in Southwest Detroit: Ally Financial’s day of service at Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy and the opening of the Ford Future Builders Lab at Western.

Both brought us closer to the people and partnerships creating opportunities for students. Across DPSCD, Latino students, families and educators contribute cultures, experiences and perspectives that enrich our classrooms and strengthen our communities all year long.

Take a moment to hear who Principal Garcia is celebrating.

The demand for skilled talent is growing. DPSCD st

The demand for skilled talent is growing. DPSCD students are signing up to meet it!

Preparing students for high-paying, in-demand careers starts with opportunities to build skills while they’re still in school. DPSCD is expanding hands-on learning and career pathways, with the Foundation and partners like Ford helping connect students to the technology, training and experiences that make those futures possible.
If you’ve been following along, you know this work is an ongoing priority. Following our NBCUniversal feature and participation in @Ford Motor Company’s Accelerate forum through our partnership with @fordphilanthropy , we’re continuing to spotlight skilled trades and the students choosing these paths.

Let’s throw it back to Skilled Trades Signing Day with Ford, where students made their next steps official and started a new tradition. Their excitement says a lot about what happens when students find a field where their talents and ambitions align.

Thank you to Ford for your continued commitment to Detroit’s future workforce. We’re proud to celebrate these students and keep building pathways for those who will follow!

Know a student or family exploring what comes next? Share this reel, then visit our website to learn more about the opportunities helping DPSCD students get future-ready.

DPSCD has the BEST alumni and Kathie Patterson is

DPSCD has the BEST alumni and Kathie Patterson is proof! Sometimes giving back means going back.

This week, 30 Ally Financial volunteers brought their time, talent and team spirit to Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy! From refreshing school spaces and showing teachers some love to assembling 500 take-home snack packs, it was a day full of school pride and community connection.

Among them was Kathie Patterson, Ally’s Chief Human Resources and Corporate Citizenship Officer, who went from the halls of Neinas to the C-suite and returned to give back to the school where her journey began. Talk about a full-circle moment!

At the DPSCD Foundation, we’re proud to bring companies and school communities together to make moments like these possible. Thank you, Ally Financial, for showing what happens when Detroit businesses roll up their sleeves for students!

Your team could be next! Visit dpscdfoundation.org/day-of-service to raise your hand and get involved.

Tomorrow is Count Day, and showing up counts! Cou

Tomorrow is Count Day, and showing up counts!

Count Day helps determine the funding DPSCD receives to support students throughout the school year. That means attendance tomorrow helps ensure our schools have the resources they need to provide the programs, learning experiences and support our students deserve.

At the DPSCD Foundation, we work every day to bring additional resources and opportunities to our schools, but strong public funding is an important part of the equation.

So, DPSCD families, set those alarms, make it to school and make your presence count.

Every student. Every school. Every opportunity. It starts with showing up.

We’re honored! This week, the DPSCD Foundation wa

We’re honored!

This week, the DPSCD Foundation was recognized as a 2026 Corp! Magazine Salute to Civility & Inclusion honoree, celebrating organizations helping build stronger, more inclusive communities across Michigan.

For us, this recognition reflects what we do every day: bring people, partners and resources together to create greater opportunities for Detroit students. Past Board Chair Beth Correa and Board Member Kwame Simmons proudly accepted the award on behalf of the Foundation.

Thank you to Corp! Magazine for the recognition and to our Board, partners, supporters and DPSCD community who make this work possible. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what’s ahead.

Ford Accelerate is a national convening focused on

Ford Accelerate is a national convening focused on the future of work and the Essential Economy, and DPSCD students were front and center.

As leaders from across the country gathered to address the growing demand for skilled workers, Breithaupt Career and Technical Center student Dallis Sutton and work-based learning leader Tanisha Bronaugh took the stage to share why students are choosing skilled trades and the power of career and technical education to prepare them for what comes next. We also brought 15 Breithaupt automotive students to hear directly from industry leaders just how valuable the skills they’re building are and how much opportunity lies ahead.

DPSCD is all in on helping close the workforce gap. Through High School Redesign, career and technical education and stronger connections to industry, more students are gaining clear pathways from the classroom to high-demand careers.

The DPSCD Foundation is proud to help bring partners to that work. Together with @Ford, @fordphilanthropy, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, we’re expanding automotive technology education at Breithaupt and bringing it back to Western International High School, creating even more opportunities for Detroit students to turn their interests into in-demand skills and careers!

Thank you to our partners for helping create more pathways to what’s possible for Detroit students. We’re excited for what we’re building together.

A new school year brings new beginnings, and we’re

A new school year brings new beginnings, and we’re excited to begin this one with a new chapter in leadership at the DPSCD Foundation.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Darienne Hudson as Chair of our Board of Directors!

President and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a former Detroit Public Schools teacher and a current member of our Board, Dr. Hudson brings a deep commitment to Detroit’s students and families and a perspective shaped by years of education and community leadership.

Her transition into the role is part of the Foundation’s planned evolution in Board leadership and builds upon the thoughtful succession planning already underway with our beloved former Chair, Dr. Iris A. Taylor.

As we honor Dr. Taylor’s tremendous legacy, we’re excited for Dr. Hudson to carry that shared commitment forward while bringing her own vision, energy and leadership to the next chapter of the DPSCD Foundation.

New school year. New chapter. Same commitment to helping Detroit students rise. Welcome, Dr. Hudson!

A new school year means new opportunities to learn

A new school year means new opportunities to learn, grow and rise! Wishing our DPSCD students, educators and families a successful 2026–2027 school year. We’re cheering you on every step of the way. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep rising! 💙👏

Today, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Dr.

Today, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Dr. Iris A. Taylor while honoring the profound legacy she leaves behind.

Dr. Taylor was a giant whose leadership helped shape the future of Detroit. She believed deeply that when students rise, we all rise, and she dedicated her life to turning that belief into action. Whether championing Health Hubs that care for students and families beyond the classroom, advancing High School Redesign to prepare students for the future, or helping return Davis Aerospace Technical High School to Detroit City Airport to create life-changing career opportunities, she never stopped advocating to do more for Detroit’s children.

Today is a heavy day for all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside her. But even in our grief, we celebrate a life defined by purpose, service, and an unwavering belief in the limitless potential of Detroit’s young people.

Thank you, Dr. Taylor, for showing us what visionary leadership looks like and for reminding us that when students rise, we all rise.

May we honor your legacy by continuing the work you so passionately championed.

Detroit, this one hurts. Today, Detroit lost one o

Detroit, this one hurts. Today, Detroit lost one of its greatest leaders, and the DPSCD Foundation lost an extraordinary Board Chair, mentor, and friend.

Dr. Iris A. Taylor was a proud Central High School alumna, trailblazing healthcare executive, dedicated public servant, and unwavering advocate for Detroit’s children. She didn’t just serve our city; she helped shape it.

As Chair of the DPSCD Foundation Board of Directors, Dr. Taylor helped shape the Foundation’s direction, championing initiatives like Health Hubs, High School Redesign, and the return of Davis Aerospace Technical High School to Detroit City Airport. Drawing on her decades of healthcare leadership, she understood that supporting the whole child was essential to student success and helped forge the partnerships that made that vision possible.

Her influence reached far beyond our Foundation. Throughout her remarkable career, she brought together leaders across healthcare, education, philanthropy, government, and business because she believed lasting change happens when communities unite around a shared purpose.

On behalf of the DPSCD Foundation Board of Directors and staff, we extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Taylor’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside her.

Some people leave a mark on a city. Dr. Iris A. Taylor helped shape its future. Her legacy will live on in every student whose future is brighter because she chose to serve.

Thank you, Dr. Taylor. We will carry your legacy forward.

Happy 325th Birthday, Detroit! 🎉 To celebrate, we

Happy 325th Birthday, Detroit! 🎉 To celebrate, we have a gift for the city!

Tomorrow, the Detroit Children’s Museum welcomes the community back for the first time since its reopening.

At the DPSCD Foundation, we’re proud to help create opportunities that expand learning beyond the classroom and connect Detroit students to experiences that inspire a lifetime of curiosity. Tomorrow, we’re excited to celebrate the next chapter of the Detroit Children’s Museum with all of you.

Join us for the Community Grand Opening featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, interactive exhibits, family activities, and the opportunity to experience one of Detroit’s most treasured educational institutions.

📅 Saturday, July 25
🕙 Community Open House: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Detroit Children’s Museum
6134 Second Avenue, Detroit

Admission is free.

For more than 100 years, the Detroit Children’s Museum has inspired generations of Detroit students to explore, discover, and imagine what’s possible. As one of the nation’s oldest children’s museums, its legacy continues tomorrow as we celebrate the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

We can’t wait to welcome you back!

The question isn’t whether Michigan has talent. It

The question isn’t whether Michigan has talent. It’s whether we’re doing enough to prepare it!

In partnership with @crainsdetroit Business, the DPSCD Foundation convened a powerhouse group of leaders this week to explore how we can better prepare Michigan’s students for the future and strengthen our state’s talent pipeline. Many thanks to our incredible sponsors and outstanding lineup for facilitating this important conversation that impacts us all!

Moderator: Kylee Mitchell Wells, CEO, MoveUp Southeast Michigan and proud Cass Tech alumna

Panelists:
• Dr. Nikolai P. Vitti, Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Ryan Maibach, President & CEO, Barton Malow
• John Kennedy, President & CEO, Autocam Medical

The conversation also featured insights from Dr. Christina Grant, Executive Director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, and concluded with remarks from Denise Brooks-Williams, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Henry Ford Health and proud Cass Tech alumna.

Michigan's talent pipeline doesn't begin in the boardroom. It begins in the classroom. That's why the DPSCD Foundation is bringing together the leaders, partnerships, and ideas that help ensure every student is future ready - starting here in Detroit.

If you're ready to help shape what's next for our students, we'd love to partner with you!

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