Social Work Program Visits Detroit

Last week the Social Work Program traveled to Detroit, Michigan for their annually urban trip. This trip consisted of a total of thirty-three social work majors, ranging from freshman to senior, as well as DC faculty. The first agency the program visited was CHASS or Community Health and Social Services Center. This center was unique as it had many doctors’ offices in one building. Some of these include a pharmacy, dentist office, gynecologist, and much more. Also, this organization is community based and is a non-profit health care center that focuses on underserved populations. After speaking with some of the people that went on this trip, most stated that CHASS was their favorite organization as everywhere they need to receive service service is at one place.

Next, the group attended a tour from Cass Community or most popularly known as Tiny Homes. This group is also a non-profit organization that builds tiny homes for people of lower socioeconomic status. This group has bought property in Detroit that has not been developed yet and plans to build a community of tiny houses. Sarah Kaya, a senior social work major, shared that Tiny Homes was her favorite organization to visit. She stated that “it was interesting to learn about how this organization helps the people living in city as well as the number of other areas this could be applied to”.

Additionally, the Social Work Program attended a tour at Affirmations. This organization is also non-profit focusing on serving all forms of sexual orientation and gender identity. Our social work majors received a tour of Affirmations that displayed rooms dedicated to support groups as well as worship and “safe places.” Moreover, cultural awareness was brought into the church we stayed at as Professor Yakos-Brown encouraged students to eat grasshoppers from the restaurant some attended for dinner.

Lastly, the group attended the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn. At this museum, social work students learned what it means to be an Arab American as well as what countries and characteristics make up the Arab culture. Additionally, it was interesting to learn that Dearborn has one of the largest populations of Arab Americans. Moreover, this museum displayed stereotypes within an art display that surround issues like racism, sexism, and sexual orientation.

Written by Madysyn Creighton