2020 IMPACT REPORT
Stabilizing and preserving the historic Marygrove College campus as an educational anchor in the heart of northwest Detroit. INSIDE LETTER FROM THE THIS BOARD CHAIR REPORT Sister Jane Herb Dear Community Members, The Marygrove Conservancy, Partners and Tenants, “ 3 Letter from the Board Chair: Sister Jane Herb established in 2017, builds on the The Marygrove Conservancy, established legacy of Marygrove College that 4 Letter from the CEO: Tom Lewand in 2017, builds on the legacy of Marygrove provided excellence in education for College that provided excellence in education over 90 years at the Detroit campus.” for over 90 years at the Detroit campus. The Established in 2018, 5 Letter from the COO: Racheal Allen the Marygrove vision of the Conservancy is that we become legacy of the college and the Sisters, Servants an anchor and hub in the city of Detroit. All of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We stand on Conservancy 6 Our Mission who enter the campus will be engaged in a the shoulders of those who have gone before is a nonprofit transformative educational experience. We are us and we join hands with new partners as we organization that 8 Marygrove In The News excited to see the Early Childhood Center forge a path forward. coming to completion and we look forward manages operations to welcoming the little ones on campus in the 10 Campus Map Marygrove College entrusted the Marygrove and stewards the fall. Also, in the fall, the School at Marygrove campus to the Conservancy with these 53-acre Marygrove will welcome 9th, 10th, and 11th graders words: “May each person who benefits from 12 Pandemic Response to campus. This past year we had our first programs and services of the Conservancy College campus in group join the Community Impact Incubator be inspired to make transformative change northwest Detroit as 14 P-20: Cradle-to-Career Campus project. These entities were supported in in their communities, workplaces, and a resource for high- their development of the capacity needed society through deep learning, creativity and to continue their much-needed service to imagination, active compassion for others, and 18 Campus Operations quality uses in the the youth in the city of Detroit. Efforts are life-long commitment to a just, humane and community. Partnering underway to continue the rich tradition of inclusive world.” organizations offering 20 Arts & Culture programs to support arts and culture on campus. educational programs Sincerely, 22 Community Outreach and Engagement are tenants of the Despite the challenges of the global pandemic Conservancy. of COVID-19, the Conservancy Board moved 24 Recognition: Board of Directors and Staff forward with the mission and vision of the Conservancy. While in-person gatherings Mary Jane Herb, IHM 25 Recognition Partners and Donors were at a minimum, the various partners Marygrove Conservancy Board Chairperson continued our joint effort in meeting the needs of the people of Detroit. Concurrently, 26 Looking Forward we are establishing a way to showcase the
3 LETTER FROM THE CEO Tom Lewand LETTER FROM THE COO Racheal Allen Dear Friends and Neighbors, “ We are humbled and inspired by the call to make Thank you for engaging with this report and Dear Marygrove Supporter, We are excited to share highlights transformative change through with the Marygrove Conservancy. We are “ of 2020 while recognizing that grateful for the opportunity to share the our active compassion for As a Marygrove College alumna (Class of ‘06), progress we made throughout the particularly others and an unceasing I’ve spent over twenty years connected to there is more meaningful work turbulent year that was 2020 and preview commitment to a just, humane, the Marygrove campus. As a first-generation ahead of us. We hope you’ll exiting things to come in 2021. college student, I was in awe of the campus’ continue to support Marygrove and inclusive world.” beauty and humbled by the opportunity to Sr. Jane’s letter highlights the words and spirit learn in the College’s Honors Program. through its transformation.” conveyed as Marygrove College entrusted curriculum based on principles of design the campus to the Conservancy. We are thinking with a special focus on social justice. As the founding Chief Operating Officer, it community stakeholders and residents. In humbled and inspired by the call to make The Conservancy, along with partners and has been a professional privilege to continue 2021, we are pleased to be partnering with transformative change through our active friends on campus and in the community, has Marygrove’s legacy while developing new internationally renowned artist and urban compassion for others and an unceasing also been hard at work applying those same partnerships and programs that take us into planner Theaster Gates to extend campus commitment to a just, humane, and inclusive principles in developing a master plan that the future. master planning initiatives ‘beyond the gates’ world. has as its core a focus on justice, inclusion, and into the community. and empowerment. This year, as we continue Initiatives such as our Prenatal to 20th Marygrove’s legacy began in November 1845, construction on the P-20 infrastructure, grade partnership is a ground-breaking We are excited to share highlights of when three women came to Michigan to elements of that plan will begin to take effort to improve access to high quality 2020 while recognizing that there is more start the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate root, enabling us to engage more friends education and programming. The Community meaningful work ahead of us. We look Heart of Mary. Led by Theresa Maxis, a woman and partners in our mission of positive Impact Incubator is an exciting way that forward to your continued support through of color of Haitian origin, they opened an transformational change for our campus and we are activating campus facilities, building our ongoing transformation. academy for women only two months later. In our community. a supportive ecosystem for startups and the years that followed, the sisters continued nonprofits, while building capacity for Black All the best, their bold, sometimes audacious, and certainly We invite you to join us on the journey! leaders serving the Fitzgerald community. transformative efforts to foster and promote the values embodied in those words of Sincerely, While the pandemic paused many campus conveyance to the Conservancy. activities, our team remained hard at work overseeing construction and renovation Racheal Allen The transformative changes started nearly projects, developing campus wide operational Chief Operating Officer two centuries ago continued in 2020, including infrastructure and building relationships with Marygrove Conservancy the introduction of our Community Impact Incubator and the addition of our second Tom Lewand class of students at the School at Marygrove. Chief Executive Officer Those students will experience an innovative Marygrove Conservancy
4 5 1 Educational Legacy
2 Neighborhood Engagement
OUR MISSION The mission of the Marygrove Conservancy is to preserve the 4 legacy of Marygrove College 3 Family through equitable stewardship of a Arts & Economic campus that exemplifies excellence Culture Mobility in education, serving Northwest Detroit and the city overall. We work to accomplish this mission through six areas of focus.
5 Campus Stewardship
6 Nonprofit Support 6 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 AUGUST 2019 SEPTEMBER 2020
Big Plan on Campus Five Youth-Oriented 40 Under 40: “The Marygrove collaboration is a preemptive strike Organizations Selected For Racheal Allen, IN THE against large-scale vacancy. It also leverages local residency as an asset. People who live in the Livernois- Inaugural Phase of Marygrove COO Marygrove NEWS McNichols area will most benefit from this new Conservancy’s Incubator educational opportunity and investment, turning the Conservancy usual gentrification narrative on its head.” “Nonprofit leaders, especially nonprofit leaders of color, often work in silos. Through this program, our organizations will be able to work collectively by SEPTEMBER 2020 providing best in class resources so we can better MARCH 2020 achieve our individual missions.” - Racheal Allen Marygrove Conservancy Community Impact Marygrove Conservancy Names Tom Lewand Incubator Creates A CEO, Expands Oversight of the Campus Leadership Program For Black Leaders “Instead of simply declaring hashtags
MARCH 2020 JULY 2020 and slogans, [we’re] cementing our support for children and family- serving organizations by welcoming [them] to campus.” - Racheal Allen Marygrove Marygrove Alumna Returns To Conservancy Taps Campus To Continue Institution’s Legacy Of Educating The NOVEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 Racheal Allen, Community And Preserving History Tom Lewand for “The Marygrove Conservancy is committed to hiring and contracting with small, local and minority-owned Leadership businesses… ‘It’s important that people who look like me are represented in the way that this organization is Roles developed.’” - Racheal Allen Caring for Kids Conservancy Builds A Place For Community, Learning AUGUST 2020 Radio Show: Ann Kalass, On Site Of Former Marygrove Tom Lewand College Five Detroit Nonprofits Find New “Some of the barriers that keep nonprofits and Shannon from growing are things that could be shared 8 services across the campus. We will provide 9 Space, Support on Marygrove Campus Wilson best-in-class facilities.” - Racheal Allen N 8 Mile Rd
MARYGROVE CONSERVANCY CAMPUS
8425 MCNICHOLS RD. DETROIT, MI 48221 Livernois University of Detroit Mercy
W MCNICHOLS RD 1 LIBERAL ARTS BUILDING 2 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER Home to the School at Marygrove, grades 6-12, The Early Childhood Education Center at Marygrove was Florent Gilet Hall the Liberal Arts Building is in the midst of a designed by internationally renowned architect Martin Blackwell renovation. Upon completion, the building will and funded in part with new market tax credits. The center, which Hartman Hall house a new gym, state-of-the-art engineering will be operated by Starfish Family Services is set to support 144 classrooms and maker spaces in addition to a students ages 0 to 5. dental and medical clinic.
WYOMING AVE Early Childhood GREENLAWN AVE Madame Cadillac Education Center Liberal Arts Building 1 Immaculata Power House 2 3 4
Carpenter Shop Student Center
MARY GROVE DR 3 IMMACULATA BUILDING 4 STUDENT CENTER The Marygrove Conservancy has big plans for the The Student Center at Marygrove is a hub for innovation and Immaculata Building which will house the School at houses small businesses, startups and nonprofits enrolled in Marygrove grades K-5. Details of a renovation are the Conservancy’s Community Impact Incubator and Micro in the works and expected in 2021. Suites programs.
10 John C. Lodge 11 Freeway IN THE SPOTLIGHT SNAPSHOT PANDEMIC RESPONSE DETROIT CITY LIONS Student Center In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marygrove Conservancy took swift action to Micro Suites ensure the health, safety and viability of each life that passed through our gates. Without hesitation we installed sanitizing stations at each entrance and posted and enforced social 1 to 4 person offices distancing requirements. With a bit of innovation and creativity, the Conservancy developed the Community Impact Incubator and Student Center Micro Suites to meet the needs of Tenants include small business owners, startups and nonprofits greatly impacted by the pandemic. start-ups, nonprofits and creative entrepreneurs Fourteen nonprofit organizations Marygrove Conservancy is proud to shine the spotlight on the Detroit were invited to listening sessions. City Lions, who saw tremendous growth and success in 2020 thanks in $250 - $600 per month SNAPSHOT Five were selected to participate in part to their participation in the Community Impact Incubator. the pilot phase: Community Impact Football: Ages 5 to 7 • Pop Warner Regional Championship Grand Champions 1 Detroit Phoenix Center Incubator Provides critical resources to high- As the pandemic progressed, The Marygrove risk and homeless youth Football: Ages 8 to 10 Conservancy observed the toll it was taking on • Pop Warner Regional Championship Grand Champions our community’s nonprofits—the results were • 2020 Pop Warner State Champions— (U8 & U10) JOURNi • harrowing. Critical funding was evaporating; 2 Advanced to 2020 Regional Championship in Indiana (U8 & U10) Provide Detroit youth the tech • programs offering essential services were 2020 AYF State Champions (U9 Team) education needed to compete and • Advanced to 2020 National Championship in Orlando Florida dissolving and our Black leaders were being thrive in the local economy taxed well beyond their capacity, now with few (U9 Team) resources at their disposal. • Ranked 5th of 250 Teams Nationally (U9 Team) In the early months of 2020, The City of Detroit approached The Marygrove 3 Detroit City Lions Football Club Cheerleading: Ages 12 to 14 In response, the Conservancy, in partnership with Strategic Provides high-risk boys and girls with Conservancy (MGC) requesting • Pop Warner Regional Championship Grand Champions Community Partners and The Kresge Foundation, created access to sports programming and assistance for Detroiters with housing the Community Impact Incubator. This year-long personal and academic services insecurities who were unable to quarantine or maintain safe social professional leadership development program that provides SEE SPOTLIGHT ON NEXT PAGE 2020 HIGHLIGHTS subsidized facilities support and capacity building training, aims to distances. help community-based organizations further scale and meet the Program size doubled needs of the Fitzgerald neighborhood. As a result, MGC converted The Student Center into temporary housing from Funded in part 1-on-1 Launched robotics and tutoring programs April to June 2020 for both individuals by The Kresge mentoring and families in need. At the height of the pandemic Marygrove’s nearly vacant Foundation Partnered with Tito’s Vodka to offer hand campus provided a place of sanctuary Monthly for Detroit’s most vulnerable residents. Detroit Youth Choir and sanitizer to youth, volunteers and families Launched in meetings 4 September Performing Arts Company Just one day following the resident’s Offers Detroit youth a world class Received recognition and donation from departure, MGC again worked quickly Professional performing arts experience Subsidized rent development Black Leaders Detroit to convert the Student Center into Micro Suites—a nonprofit and 5 Pure Heart Foundation entrepreneurship hub offering small IT support Executive in Embraces children of incarcerated Served 183 dinners Monday through businesses and start-ups a co-working Residence parents and empowers them to break Saturday to youth through a partnership space to conduct daily business and 12 12 month Dr. Rita Fields the cycle with the Office of School Nutrition further develop their organizations. 13 program P-20 CRADLE-TO- $50 million commitment CAREER CAMPUS from The Kresge Foundation The P-20 Cradle-to-Career Campus at Marygrove is driven by four guiding principles: PRENATAL 20TH GRADE 1 2 3 4
Provide access Offer research- Empower faculty Focus on serving DETROIT’S LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC to educational based programs to become the families of opportunities that allow leaders in their the Fitzgerald INVESTMENT INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD for a diverse students to define field through and Bagley student body their future continuing communities education GOAL To serve 1,000 Detroit children and families
14 15 IN DEVELOPMENT P-20: CRADLE-TO-CAREER CAMPUS (continued) OPEN
OPENING FALL 2021 OPENING FALL 2022 OPENED FALL 2019 OPENED FALL 2020 Early Childhood K-5 Grades 6 to 12 Teaching School Center Marygrove’s partnership with Detroit Public In September 2019, Marygrove welcomed Beginning Fall 2020, Marygrove was elated to Schools Community District (DPSCD) and their inaugural 9th grade class to campus. The welcome college graduates back to campus to P20 educational programs begin with our University of Michigan School of Education curriculum for this class, in tandem with all future participate in our Teaching Residency program. Early Childhood Center. Developed in (UMSE), will provide students grades K-5 middle and high school classes was designed to Much like medical training programs, the partnership with Starfish Family Services the opportunity to experience an innovative develop critical thinkers and community-minded Teaching Residency prepares Detroit’s next it is slated to open Fall of 2021 and will curriculum that emphasizes social justice and citizens by giving them the skills and knowledge generation of educators by allowing newly serve children ages 0-5 from economically leadership through engineering. The elementary required to become the next generation of great certified teachers to teach in tandem with diverse families. school is slated to open Fall 2022. makers and leaders. Marygrove again partnered veteran educators in the primary and secondary with DPSCD and UMSE specifically to develop schools. Our teaching residency program is the engineering and design curriculum. developed and operated by UMSE.
16 17 Highlights
Infrastructure • Student Center deep cleaning, painting and floor waxing • Learning pods from STEM Genius and Midnight Golf
Technology • IT workgroup created to 2020 Tenant List implement infrastructure Throughout 2020 Marygrove’s campus was home to 50 tenant organizations, diverse in their projects makeup, mission and size but united by their services to our families in the Fitzgerald and Bagley • Improved IT security neighborhoods. By offering these organizations a collaborative environment, affordable rents and new • Implemented online booking opportunities, the Conservancy’s tenants were able to provide vital support and programming to for events Detroit residents.
Policies & Systems # 3D Dancing Divas & Divos, INC M Marygrove College CAMPUS A A Ray of Hope Meharry Medical College • Revamped facilities rental Midnight Golf policies B Black Leaders Detroit Moon Reflections Photography • Improved accounts payable Body of Christ MyMentalSpace, LLC OPERATIONS and accounting process C Celeste Productions, Inc. N Narcotics Anonymous In 2020 the Marygrove Conservancy set and Center for Employment Opportunities Inc. (Sunday Morning Success) conquered a goal of improving overall operational Marketing City of Detroit: Department of Housing and Revitalization P Pure Heart Foundation • Website improvements, efficiencies by adding technology improvements Common Chords ROC of Michigan color, pages, calendar R where they previously did not exist; revamping dated functionality and forms D Detroit City Lions Rock City Food policies; refreshing our marketing; designing a campus • Developed branding Detroit Phoenix Center S Sarah Nesbitt master plan and hiring needed team support. guidelines Detroit Youth and Performing Arts Company Seventy Three Sixteen Dignity Detroit Sir Wahee Gallery DMJ Studio Skillset Movement Studios Planning DPSCD – The School at Marygrove St. Peter Claver 1,000 students served • Developed Campus Master F Faith Lancaster Starfish Family Services Planning Report Farmacy Food STEM Genius Foundation H Her Cries Are Heard T Tajo Photography, LLC Support Hubert Massey Murals, LLC TeMaTe Institute for Black Dance 50 campus tenants and Culture • Secured labor team to I IHM The Redeemers Theological Seminary support move outs Institute of Dance and Music The School at Marygrove DPSCD • Omari Colan hired as Jazz Ensemble Campus Operations J U University of Michigan 1 Campus Master Plan JOURNi Manager W Westbank Company, LLC developed alongside K Kaee Johnson Wrapped Productions Misc L Life Directions SmithGroup Lunch Brake 18 • Improvements to Luxe Skin Therapy 19 Brownstone Arts and Culture Tenants
Music • Common Chords • Ron English & The Jazz Ensemble
Visual Arts • Sarah Nesbit • Naomi Tajonera- Huffman Hubert Massey • Kaee Johnson • Faith Lancaster • Moon Reflections Photography • Hubert Massey ARTS AND CULTURE Murals, LLC The Department of Arts and Culture is proud to concentrated her storytelling on the journeys of the offer high quality facilities and nonprofit leadership Community Impact Incubator members. Dance development to support artists and art-centric • Skillset Movement organizations in the city of Detroit. We were able to In August, with the help of Detroit Public television, Studios partner with nationally recognized arts organizations; the Conservancy began filming “From Broadway to • The Institute of develop a department steering committee; provide Obscurity,” a production of Detroit Public Theatre Dance best-in-class facilities for our resident artisans and • International Folk even begin filming a documentary. And in October 2020, in partnership with The Dance Club of Kresge Foundation, we were humbled to engage Detroit On July 29, 2020, Marygrove College alumna and internationally recognized artist and urban designer, • 3D Dancing Divas well-known arts and entertainment writer Biba Theaster Gates in a year-long partnership guiding & Divos, INC Adams was named Chief Storyteller of the Marygrove our campus master planning and neighborhood Conservancy. Biba, who credits Marygrove College redevelopment projects. in allowing her to “find my community my voice,” Legacy Projects • Contemporary American Authors Timeline Lecture Series with Roxanne Gay 2020-21 • Institute for Detroit 2017 2019 2019 2020 Studies Marygrove College Marygrove College Marygrove Conservancy CDAC becomes • Art Infused Undergraduate Graduate School welcomes Center of Marygrove Conservancy Education 20 School closes closes Detroit Arts and Culture Department of Arts and 21 • Marygrove Alumni (CDAC) Culture Association COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT Detroit Collaborative Design Center Marygrove Since 2018 the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) Conservancy has supported the P-20 Cradle-to-Career Campus initiative by designing and facilitating community engagement strategies and Youth Advisory tactics with the P-20 partners. As the Marygrove Conservancy (MGC) continued to grow in 2020, DCDC continued to serve Council as a community engagement facilitator. DCDC advised and supported relationship building, knowledge sharing, and building In partnership with the School at Marygrove a community dialogue between residents and the Conservancy and DCDC, the Marygrove Conservancy while pivoting to ensure safety due to COVID-19. Youth Advisory Council gives students the opportunity to lead and shape the future of Master Planning Neighborhood campus. This student-led collective offers Community Engagement Walkabout insight on educational, arts and cultural, campus planning and community development DCDC worked with In order to share knowledge initiatives. By collaborating with MCYAC, the SmithGroup and Marygrove with residents adjacent to Conservancy ensures that all programs are Conservancy to design a Marygrove, DCDC designed a shaped by the voices and community they survey that invited community postcard that was distributed were created to serve. stakeholders to share insight to neighbors by walking and feedback on master door-to-door throughout the planning topics such as the community. surrounding streetscape, edge condition of Marygrove, Attending Existing programming and resources Meetings on Marygrove, and the entry In order to share knowledge procession onto campus. and build relationships with residents, DCDC helped One-on-One coordinate the attendance of Community Outreach MGC at existing community As a way to continue to meetings build relationships with engaged stakeholders, the P-20 Playbook Conservancy had phone The Playbook tells the story conversations with residents of how Marygrove got to to hear their vision for the where it is today by outlining campus. principles, tactics and lessons learned from each of the P-20 partners.
22 23 PARTNERS P-20 DONORS $100,000+ RECOGNITION Wendy Lewis Jackson Ann Kalass Managing Director CEO The Kresge Foundation Marygrove Conservancy Bauder Endowment Board of Directors $30,000+ Sister Jane Herb Chair Michael Forsyth IHM Sisters Community Member Alycia Meriweather Elizabeth Birr Moje Community Foundation Deputy Superintendent External Dean, School For Southeast Michigan Antoine Garibaldi Wendy Lewis Jackson Partnerships, Enrollment & of Education University of Detroit Mercy The Kresge Foundation Specialty Programming Erb Foundation: Arts & Culture Glenda Price Aaron Seybert Washington Endowment Marygrove College, The Kresge Foundation Campus Operations President Emerita Elizabeth Burns $5,000+ Rose DeSloover Marygrove College President Hudson-Webber Foundation Marygrove College, Professor Emerita Ajara Alghali Live6 Alliance
Staff Arts and Culture Tom Lewand Racheal Allen Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer
Turkessa Baldridge Program Manager
The Marygrove Conservancy would like to acknowledge and extend special thanks to all of the valued suppliers, contractors and vendors who work to support campus operations. Community Partnerships
Report written and designed by Greene Group Communication. FINANCING
We would also like to recognize PNC Bank and Northern Trust Corp Capital Impact Partners, Cinnaire, 24 McCormack Baron Salazar 25 The Powerhouse Project will conduct a feasibility study to support the LOOKING redevelopment of the campus’ former power plant. FORWARD In 2021, our areas of focus will expand beyond campus boundaries to include improving the outcomes for residents and stakeholders in the Fitzgerald and Bagley communities. These renderings reflect possibilities for future campus development projects.
Through civic engagement and meaningful community dialogue, we will seek stakeholder input To support the Marygrove Conservancy, to develop strategic placemaking please send a check or money order to: and programming opportunities. Marygrove Conservancy 8425 McNichols Rd. Detroit, MI 48221
To receive updates on developing programs, campus master planning and more please visit www.marygroveconservancy.org/stay-engaged
As P-20 cradle to career programming evolves, opportunities to redevelop parts 26 of the 53-acre campus may emerge. 27 www.marygroveconservancy.org
(313) 751-5100 [email protected]
8425 McNichols Rd. Detroit, MI 48221