The Detroit URC staff was honored yesterday at the fourth annual Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award ceremony along with four other teams and 10 individuals at the University of Michigan. The event included remarks from Lester Monts, senior vice provost for academic affairs, and Laurita Thomas, associate vice president for human resources. Anthony Walesby, associate vice provost and senior director of the Office of Institutional Equity, served as master of ceremonies.

~ A Personal Statement from Sherita L. Smith

Ellington is a 13 year old 8^th grader who lives on the east side of Detroit.  If Ellington is denied an educational opportunity, he can easily - and most likely will - be denied every other type of opportunity.  A lack of education will effectively shut him out of the economic mainstream and relegate him and his offspring to generational poverty and a greater risk for poor health.  Ellington is my oldest son.  There is no way I could sit idly by and allow such a fate to him and my grandchildren.  I feel the same passion and burden that I have for my son’s future success for all the children in this city. It is not good enough that a few of our youth beat the odds and overcome the insurmountable to achieve the “dream” of a middle class lifestyle or good quality of life.  Dr. King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” which is why we must all see to it that the cycle of academic failure and under-achievement end now for all Detroiters.

There is a proverb that says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”  As parents and leaders in this city, we cannot afford to abdicate our responsibility to policy makers only, perhaps thinking that they know more or better than we do and will make the best decisions in the interest of our children.  We have to take responsibility for our neighbors, ourselves and our future to ensure all our children have access to a quality education.  We must understand the issues and be prepared to work with others who are committed to providing our children with the opportunity to learn and to achieve great things.