Case Studies

Throughout our work in communities, we have developed stories of activists and organizations leading social justice movements and making change in their communities. We also translate our project learnings and research into case studies that can serve as inspiration to others.

Alternatives for Girls (AFG) provides support for girls and young women in Detroit who face risks including violence, teen pregnancy, exploitation or housing insecurity. AFG helps girls and young women explore and identify resources that will support them in making positive choices to keep them safe and help them grow strong.

AFG's cornerstone prevention effort is its Asset Building and College Readiness Program. This case study highlights this program's components and success and describes the School's long-term involvement with the initiative.

Charles Williams II, PhD student and pastor of Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, mobilized hundreds of people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure the city’s most vulnerable were cared for. Within days of Governor Whitmer’s emergency stay-at-home order, Williams, alongside other Black activists, decided to ensure the city of Detroit’s aged and immunocompromised would not be exposed to the deadly virus.

The “The Multiplier Effect: When Universities and Communities Unite for Change” case study describes how the University of Michigan School of Social Work’s community engagement and social impact team, and Detroit Future City, a Detroit-based think tank and innovation engine, worked in partnership to solve a complex problem in Detroit. Together, they leveraged their respective expertise, resources, and social justice orientation to ensure that historically marginalized communities, mainly black and brown Detroiters, have the ability to enter high-paying careers in the state’s emerging advanced mobility sector.

We are at a challenging time in our history where funding to address disparities is in short supply. Collaborations don’t require money, but can accomplish more than any one organization can achieve alone.