Across Michigan, Black students embody brilliance, resilience, and untapped potential. Yet, from early literacy struggles to the school-to-prison pipeline, public education systems too often fall short in meeting their needs. A shift is underway, though, led by institutions, by communities, by scholars, and by organizers determined to rewrite the future.
This summer, Fox News highlighted one such effort: a financial literacy program housed within Commission REI, a dynamic initiative that’s part of a much broader and deeper undertaking called the MI Black Student Project’s Pipeline 2 Prosperity Initiative (MiBSP). Launched by educators, parents, students, and grassroots advocates, MiBSP is driven by the unified mission of eliminating barriers to academic success and by building the foundations for a more equitable, economically thriving Michigan.
MiBSP takes a comprehensive approach to support Black student achievement, connecting data, policy, lived experience, and visionary interventions. From literacy and numeracy to entrepreneurship and civic engagement, the initiative recognizes that Black student success isn’t just about better test scores; it’s about economic justice, social healing, and building a stronger future for all Michiganders.
This summer’s MiBSP pilot included support for the Commission REI program, which uniquely uses real estate and financial education as vehicles for literacy and numeracy growth.
“The Commission REI space is more than a classroom – it’s an entrepreneurial launchpad where students dream together, build together, and contribute to the revitalization of their communities,” says program director Darrell Dorsey. Students in the program not only sharpened academic skills, but also launched LLCs and developed business acumen, emerging as architects of their own futures.
Commission REI is not alone. LIT Summer, a program under Hip Hop 4 Change and also supported by MiBSP, is working with students in Detroit and Southfield. Site Director Mark Yancy Jr. sees firsthand the deep impact of this work.
“Feelings of empowerment. One of the students shared that this program has given her a newfound sense of confidence,” he said, reflecting on a student’s journey to overcome a challenging academic year. “She now feels empowered and ready to take on the upcoming school year with renewed strength and confidence.”
Yancy also relayed parental feedback, saying: “It was amazing to see and hear children engaging so actively throughout the program. Due to limited finances and resources, there hadn’t been many activities planned for the summer. This program not only provided a much-needed outlet for engagement, but also offered valuable educational enrichment opportunities that made a significant impact.”
The MiBSP ecosystem is also rooted in academic research that aims to bridge the gap between community needs and scholarly solutions. Dr. Erica Edwards, an Associate Professor at Wayne State University, leads a MiBSP-funded initiative focused on community-responsive education justice.
“Research scholars have a responsibility to bridge the divide between what we study and who it impacts. Understanding community needs and using research to meet and transform them plays a vital role in addressing racial disparities,” says Dr. Edwards.
Her colleague, Dr. Rema Vassar, a Full Professor at Wayne State and member of the State Board of Education, echoes that urgency. “In this political moment, to engage in a bold initiative that centers Black children is revolutionary. I am so proud of the Michigan Education Justice Coalition for demonstrating a brave resolve to serve the most vulnerable children in our state. They are a light, a beacon of hope and possibility. I am grateful to come alongside them and realize our collective dreams for Black school communities to thrive.”
MiBSP is also actively engaged in supporting youth-led work through programs like Students Leading Well, a summer initiative that equips middle and high school students in Detroit with tools to explore justice, equity, and wellness through critical literacy and policy analysis. Students emerge as learners and advocates who have firsthand experience in civic engagement and educational reform.
To ensure this transformation is measurable, Dr. Aaron Johnson of Archetype Consulting is conducting an extensive statewide data analysis on literacy proficiency and growth among Black students. His team is examining data from 120 Michigan districts with significant Black student populations, cross-referencing MSTEP scores, benchmark assessments, and qualitative research. Their study aims to shed light on which instructional strategies are producing results and which ones aren’t.
Also at the helm of MiBSP’s academic engine is Dr. L.E. Johnson, founder of Hip Hop 4 Change and a native of Battle Creek. His doctoral work at Fielding Graduate University laid the foundation for what he describes as an essential next step in educational justice. “This project extends my dissertation to students and families that will reap the residual benefits of fully benefiting from a quality education in Michigan,” says Dr. Johnson. He believes MiBSP’s ethnographic study will challenge long-held assumptions. “While most academicians attribute low academic achievement among Blacks to poverty and community violence, this is an erroneous claim. Nigerians, Ghanaians and other African subgroups experience higher levels of poverty and governmental violence… However, these groups outperform American students of all ethnicities.”
Dr. Johnson sees MEJC’s investment in this work as “catalytic” and a game-changer for how Black student achievement is understood, nurtured, and celebrated in Michigan.
Much of MiBSP’s momentum has been spotlighted by Centering Black Children in Education (CBCE), an annual conference led by Dr. Vassar. While CBCE’s reach is international, its heart is in Detroit. A recent session devoted to MiBSP grantees demonstrated the transformative power of this initiative. As Dr. Vassar emphasized, this effort is about the future workforce, but perhaps more importantly, it’s about “Black Michiganders’ ability to collectively thrive.”
For more information about MiBSP, or to get involved, contact Rachelle Crow-Hercher, Executive Director of the Michigan Education Justice Coalition (MEJC).
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