Community
UDM News for our Neighbors
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Stories that shape us: ‘Redemption Road,’ special screening set for Feb. 11
Tuesday February 10, 2026
As part of Black History Month, Detroit Mercy will hold a special screening of the award‑winning documentary Redemption Road, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 5:30–8 p.m., in Room 113 of the Ford Life Sciences Building.The documentary tells a story of transformation, tracing the life of Yusef Bunchy Shakur from a childhood shaped by abandonment and violence to his emergence as a respected community leader and thinker.
The screening will be followed by a conversation with Shakur. All members of the campus community are welcome to attend.
This event is supported through a grant from the University’s Mission Micro Grant Program.
For more information, please contact Stacey Stevens at stevenst@udmercy.edu.
RSVP here. -
Black Excellence Tailgate & Greek Night set for Feb. 20
Tuesday February 10, 2026
Kick off a Titans men’s basketball game while celebrating Black History Month at the Black Excellence Tailgate & Greek Night pregame event on Friday, February 20. All are invited.
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Whitty Student Fitness Center on the McNichols Campus with camaraderie and food trucks, and just before the 7 p.m. tip, attendees will join a Cass Tech High School Marching Band drumline-led march from the Student Fitness Center into Calihan Hall.
The Titans men’s basketball squad hosts the Milwaukee Panthers, with a special Black History Month celebration featuring a Divine Nine performance at halftime. This event is co‑hosted by the Black Student Union and University Athletics.
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DMTC presents ‘Poor Clare’ in new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre, Feb. 13-22
Monday February 09, 2026
Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) continues celebrating the inaugural season of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre with Poor Clare by Chiara Atik, a hilarious and anachronistic retelling of the true story of St. Clare of Assisi.Six performances will run in back-to-back weekends, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 13-22.
Set in Italy in 1211, the play follows Clare, a wealthy medieval “It” girl whose privileged life is upended when she meets Francis, a man who has renounced his wealth and social status in service to the poor. Inspired by his radical devotion, Clare begins to reexamine her own life, questioning what it means to live with purpose and integrity.
“There is so much to mine in this play, and the sacrifices that both Clare and Francis made for the greater good really gives one pause to take stock in our own lives. They both listened to the call of God and took great strides to answer and take action and personal accountability,” said director Kez Settle. “It is a story that is topical and timeless in its relevance. And—if you are a history buff—this will provide you with lots of questions for the google search and history book deep dives!”
This production is the second in the Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre, which opened in fall of 2025 and returned theatre back to UDM’s McNichols Campus.
“This story deeply reflects the University’s mission to educate competent, compassionate leaders who are prepared to serve the world,” said Sarah Rusk, managing director of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company. “It offers a meaningful way to celebrate the shared charisms of the Society of Jesus and the Religious Sisters of Mercy that guide our work, and it felt especially fitting to incorporate those values into our first season back on campus.”
The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online. Individual tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni, and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS- Feb. 13: Opening Night Celebration. Join the cast and crew following the performance for a reception in the lower level of the Student Union.
- Feb. 14: Community Night. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with $10 ticket for all patrons.
- Feb. 15: Detroit Theatre Discussion Project. Join in the discussion following the first Sunday’s matinee performance as we welcome Heather Hill from the English Department and Fr. Greg Banazak from the Department of Religious Studies at Detroit Mercy to expand upon themes and ideas from the performance in a talkback.
- Feb. 20: Pre-show Mass and Reception. In the spirit of St. Clare and the Franciscan tradition, the Office of Mission Integration invites you to join us for a Mass and reception before the performance. Mass, presided over by Capuchin Franciscan Fr. Johan Paul, will begin at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. A reception with food will follow in the Zalke Lounge of the Student Union, just outside the theatre, prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance. The Mass and reception are free and open to all; tickets are required for the performance.
- Feb. 20: College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) at the Theatre. Join CHASS in celebrating the arts on campus with $5 tickets for CHASS students and alumni with coupon code CHASS_5. Free tickets to faculty/staff of CHASS by calling 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu.
- Feb. 21: High School Night. Free tickets and talkback with student cast and crew following the performance for high school students and their families. Call 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu for details and reservations.
- Feb. 22: Closing Night
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Fitzgerald and Martin Park residents wanted to join Wellness Community
Monday February 09, 2026
Have ideas on how to make our neighborhood healthier, stronger and more connected?The Community Wellness Council, which brings Fitzgerald and Martin Park residents together to shape community‐led wellness initiatives, is now accepting new members. The application deadline to become a new member is March 1.
By sharing experiences, ideas and priorities, members help identify local strengths and resources and work side‑by‑side to shape programs that reflect the community’s culture, values and everyday lives.
Council commitment and benefits includes:
- Two‑year commitment (March 2026-Nov. 2027)
- One to two meetings per month
- Stipend provided for participation
- Childcare and other support available during meetings
- Leadership development opportunities focused on resident leadership and collective decision‑making
For more information or any questions, please contact Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu.
Apply here.
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Law Review to host 110th symposium, March 6, on navigating AI
Monday February 09, 2026
Detroit Mercy Law Review will host its 110th annual symposium titled “From Policy to Practice: Navigating AI in the Legal Profession,” on Friday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Riverfront Campus.
As AI changes how lawyers conduct research, draft documents, advise clients and argue cases, it offers many benefits, but it also raises important ethical, legal and professional concerns.
This free symposium explores how AI is changing the practice of law and how lawyers can use these new tools effectively while also navigating the legal, ethical and policy issues that come with them. The Detroit Mercy Law Review welcomes legal professionals, students and scholars from across the country to discuss topics involving AI and its impact on the law.
For questions, please contact Executive Symposium Editor Hannah Bloomfield at bloomfhj@udmercy.edu.
Learn more and register here.
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Resources, Centers and Clinics
Center for Social Entrepreneurship
The Center provides business expertise and acumen as well as mentors to assist local entrepreneurs, beginning with the “Boost” workshop that aids entrepreneurs in developing business plans to achieve a greater social impact.
Counseling Clinic
The clinic provides no-cost counseling services to Detroit residents who otherwise may not have access to mental health services.
Dental Center
Detroit Mercy Dental offers dental services and education through two clinics, nine outreach clinics, a mobile dental clinic and a school-based dental sealant program.
Dental Mobile Clinic
The clinic travels to local participating schools in Detroit and Wayne County to provide comprehensive care for K-12 children.
Detroit Collaborative Design Center
The design center provides design services to non-profit community and civic organizations to engage communities and enhance neighborhoods.
Detroit Mercy Eye Institute
The Detroit Mercy Eye Institute includes the state-of-the-art equipment and technology needed to diagnose, monitor, and treat numerous eye conditions. The clinic will also provide affordable eyecare to the uninsured and vulnerable populations.
Law Clinics
Detroit Mercy Law provides legal assistance to Detroit area residents through six clinics: Immigration Law Clinic, SADO Criminal Appellate Clinic, Criminal Trial Clinic, Veterans Law Clinic, Juvenile Law Appellate Clinic and Intellectual Property Law Clinic.
Pre-College Programs
Detroit area students in grades 4-12 participate in more than 15 outreach programs annually through Saturday classes, summer camps, and innovative curricula in the sciences, technology engineering, mathematics, architecture and design.
Psychology Clinic
The Psychology Clinic provides assessment and counseling services for approximately 300 clients annually. Fees are based on ability to pay.
Rx for Reading Program
This program increases access to children’s books and supports families in reading to their children. The program has distributed more than 2,000 children’s books a month at a variety of locations, including low-income health, dental and WIC clinics; homeless shelters; and Head Start programs.
Summer Camps
A variety of summer activities available on UDM Campuses. Some are hosted by UDM; some are simply located on our campuses.
Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN)
TENN is a student-led and community-driven food justice program that delivers fresh produce to 60 families in New Martin Park Neighborhood and 80 seniors at Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments.
Alliances and Initiatives
Reimagining the Civic Commons
University of Detroit Mercy serves as one of the institutional anchors for the “Reimaging the Civic Commons” initiative, which is funded through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant. The initiative focuses on the City of Detroit’s neighborhood revitalization priority: the Livernois/McNichols area. The project’s goal is to revitalize the neighborhoods between its two anchor institutions, Detroit Mercy and Marygrove College, creating a denser and more diverse urban community.
Live6 Alliance
University of Detroit Mercy helped to launch the Live6 Alliance in August 2015 to strengthen the Livernois Avenue and McNichols Road commercial corridor in northwest Detroit.
Service Immersion Days / Trips
These experiences give students opportunities to serve in shelters, soup kitchens, after school projects, urban farms and many other important community based projects both locally and nationally.
Directories
Media Experts Guide
Detroit Mercy scholars are experts in their fields and many have agreed to be available to media. Note that experts' views are their own and may not reflect the views of their colleagues or University of Detroit Mercy.
Migration Research Directory
The AJCU Migration Research Directory is an open-access resource for high-quality research on migration, provided by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Faculty members from Jesuit universities around the world provide important migration and refugee research from a wide variety of perspectives.