Generation of Promise is a partner organization to Focus: HOPE whose mission is to build a community of young leaders who celebrate diversity and are dedicated to the elimination of discrimination in metropolitan Detroit.
As residents of one of the most polarized communities in the country, metropolitan Detroiters have little interaction across community lines. To address this polarization, Generation of Promise conducts a 10-month diversity awareness and relationship building program for an annual class of 60 high school juniors.
Generation of Promise Program
Goals and Objectives
Through its 10-month curriculum, Generation of Promise engages students in experiential learning sessions with the goals of promoting:
- Growth in the leadership skills
- Greater awareness of the racial, ethnic and religious diversity within the community
- Understanding of the historical and social context of the city and suburban interdependency
- Increased awareness of community needs and participation in community service
- Empowerment to promote understanding of and respect for diversity within the student participants’ communities
Generation of Promise member high schools reflect a wide range of racial, ethnic, religious and socio-economic communities. The communities include Birmingham, Dearborn, Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Southfield and Warren.
GOP students engage in over 120 hours of program experiences between August and May including a summer orientation retreat. Capitalizing on its multicultural learning environment, Generation of Promise delivers an experiential learning curriculum that provides first-hand opportunities for participants to expand their concepts of community. Students are encouraged to challenge stereotypes or misconceptions they hold and work to build relationships across divisions. They are also challenged to refine their leadership skills and are given opportunities to apply those skills in a variety of settings.
For more information, see www.generationofpromise.org