Community
UDM News for our Neighbors
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Celebrate Detroit Mercy’s 150th anniversary with a journey through Spain, Nov. 2026
Friday June 12, 2026
In honor of Detroit Mercy’s 150th anniversary, the University will host The Best of Spain: In the Footsteps of St. Ignatius, a 10-day travel experience from Nov. 2-11, 2026.Join fellow members of the Detroit Mercy community to explore Spain’s rich cultural heritage and Ignatian history, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian and many other inspiring locations.
For more information, contact Peggy Pattison at pattisma@udmercy.edu.
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TENN to host community garden party, June 18
Thursday June 11, 2026
All are welcome to help Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) celebrate our community and bustling garden with an afternoon of food and harvesting on Thursday, June 18.
The garden party is set to begin at 4 p.m. at the TENN Community Garden at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.
This free event is co-hosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the New Martin Park District Association.
To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.
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Explore UDM summer camps and pre-college programs
Thursday June 11, 2026
UDM is set to deliver a lineup of summer camps and pre-college programs that offer students from elementary school through college a ticket to academic discovery, career exploration and athletic development this summer.
- Beginners Investment Camp, June 22-26
- Youth Exploration Camp, July 20-24 and July 24-31
- Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), July 13-24
- NOMA’s Project Pipeline, July 27-31
- Dentistry Summer Enrichment Program, May 27-June 26
- Nike Soccer Camp, June 29-July 3 and July 13-18
- Summer Reading programs throughout summer
- Special Needs Basketball camp, dates TBD
- Tennis Program, dates TBD
Hosted across UDM’s campuses and online, the University’s summer programming reflects its longstanding commitment to community engagement in conjunction with academic excellence, with camp opportunities in health sciences, business, architecture, engineering, literacy and athletics.
Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors can explore basic investment and financial concepts at the free Beginners Investment Camp, scheduled for June 22–26 on the McNichols Campus. Participants will also hear from industry professionals about career opportunities in the field.
Building on its 60-year legacy of educating high-quality health professionals to meet growing workforce demands, the University’s immersive Youth Exploration Camp aims to inspire the next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals. The camp offers two free, hands-on sessions, July 20-24 and July 24-31. Middle and high school students will be introduced to essential clinical and healthcare skills, including CPR training and emergency response procedures, and will take part in simulation-based escape room challenges at the University’s Simulation, Technology and Research (STAR) Center.
The College of Engineering & Science (CES) has once again partnered with the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) to offer a series of interactive STEM camps for students in grades two through eight, along with a digital advertising camp, at the McNichols Campus from July 13-24. CES and DAPCEP have partnered for more than 30 years to inspire and prepare hundreds of underrepresented minority students for careers in engineering and science.
Aspiring young architects can attend Project Pipeline Camp, hosted by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), July 27-31 on the McNichols Campus. Designed for students in grades 6-12, the program connects underrepresented youth with design professionals and uses the city as a classroom to empower them to be advocates of change through design.
The Dental Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a fully funded, four-week residential early admissions program May 27-June 26 on the Corktown Campus for college juniors, seniors and recent college graduates. Through academic enrichment, mentorship, professional development and hands-on dental experiences, the program prepares students for the transition to dental school. SEP expands access, supports students facing systemic barriers and helps build a diverse, community-focused dental workforce.
Led by Steve Shelton, head women’s soccer coach at UDM, and the Titan coaching staff, the Nike youth soccer camp offers high quality training for ages 6–16 in a fun, challenging and supportive environment. Two sessions run on the McNichols Campus, June 29-July 3 and July 13-17, where players build strong fundamentals, elevate their game and learn to compete at their best.
Among other athletic camp offerings are a tennis camp and special needs basketball camp, with camp dates to be determined.
The University will also continue its partnership with the Institute of Reading Development, offering online summer reading programs for students from pre-K through 12th grade. The program focuses on building reading skills and cultivating a lifelong love of books.
Camp dates, age requirements and registration details vary by program. Learn more about Detroit Mercy summer camps or sign up for a session.
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Detroit Mercy Day with Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Aug. 16
Wednesday June 10, 2026
Alumni Relations is hosting an outing prior to a Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park on Sunday, August 16.
Enjoy tailgate festivities with Detroit Mercy alumni and their families in a private patio inside Comerica Park. Then, cheer on the Tigers to a victory over the Chicago White Sox in seats in one of the 300 sections in the ballpark.
Event schedule:
- Tailgate begins at noon
- First pitch thrown at 1:40 p.m.
Tickets are just $25 per person and include ballgame ticket, UDM tailgate and a Detroit Mercy 150th anniversary commemorative item.
With any questions, please contact Alumni Relations at 313-993-1540 or alumni@udmercy.edu.
For stadium information/policies, visit the Comerica Park website.
Purchase tickets here.
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Street Fest returns Sept. 26: Volunteers and sponsors needed
Monday June 08, 2026
The UDM Street Fest is returning this year, and University departments and colleges are invited to partner in this vibrant campus and community celebration.
The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 2-6 p.m., on the UDM Front Lawn (outside the McNichols gate).
Street Fest is an annual community-centered event that brings together students, neighbors, local organizations and partners for a day of family fun. The event features UDM and local vendors, community art activities and storytelling programs that uplift the unique histories of the neighborhoods around 6 Mile and Livernois. This year, Street Fest is in conjunction with our 150th celebration at Homecoming and the 6 Mile Street Fest hosted by Live 6 Alliance!
Your partnership plays an important role in helping us create an engaging and memorable experience for our students and neighbors alike.
The event fosters healing and trust by strengthening neighborhood relationships with the University while providing direct access to essential resources such as food distribution, job connections and health and social services. By uplifting local artists, amplifying small businesses and creating space for shared stories and dialogue, the event not only celebrates the neighborhood but actively invests in its long-term vitality.
Can your Department/College contribute? We are seeking help with:
- Student/staff/faculty day-of volunteers
- Host a tent and table for your organization or department
- Make a monetary donation toward grilling, paying vendors, paying students designers, or other costs
- Donate a snack item for the food table
- Provide/fund an event/activity. Examples from last year included: Silent disco, miscellaneous lawn games, raffles, photobooth, workshops, crafts and more.
Please contact Sammy Eckrich at seckric@udmercy.edu with any questions.
Sign up to volunteer or co-sponsor 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.