Hey, everyone! Welcome back to Culture Canvas.
A new initiative by Huntington Bank and renowned educator Ron Clark will send hundreds of Metro Detroit teachers on a free trip to a private Atlanta academy to explore a dynamic new curriculum.
Clark is founder of the Ron Clark Academy, which uses unconventional methods to make learning fun. Known for appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and for Matthew Perry’s portrayal of him in “The Ron Clark Story” in the early 2000s, Clark and Huntington launched the partnership in 2022.
I talked to Clark yesterday about the project, called Ignite the Classroom.
Since it began, more than 40 educators in Detroit and Columbus have received scholarships to participate in Clark’s training program. The effort is now being expanded to five cities–Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Clark was frustrated that he could only reach a limited number of educators at one time. Then, Brant Standridge, president of consumer and regional banking at Huntington, suggested he train teachers city by city.
“When I told Brant about what we’re doing at RCA, about how we’re trying to affect the lives of children and teachers and how we really want to spread our mission and connect with communities, Brant was like, ‘That’s the whole mission of what we do at Huntington,’” Clark said.
Clark told me he’s heard positive feedback from educators who have participated in the program, including one teacher who was ready to retire after 30 years, but decided to stay in the profession.
Over the next three years, Huntington and Clark plan to have more than 7,500 educators participate and more than 2,000 will receive scholarships to attend the two-day training.
Also, I’m so glad I finally got to share my story on Def Sound Studios. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you can read it here.
Have a great week!
Cheers,
Micah
313 Scene
- BridgeDetroit reporter Jena Brooker recently discovered Detroit is one of the most single big cities in the country. Three out of every four Detroiters say they are unmarried and more than half have never been married, according to Census data.
- The new “Hollywood-style” Detroit sign was unveiled last week along I-94 and it’s been a hot topic of discussion on social media, drawing mixed reviews. Mayor Mike Duggan said last Thursday at an NFL Draft news conference that a fake Instagram post set flawed expectations for the installation.
- Members-only Carbon Athletic Club in Southwest Detroit is bending its rules this year by allowing the public to attend live music events. MaryBeth Beaudry, the club’s newly elected president, is hoping to expand membership and to ramp up events in 2024.
- The Detroit Jazz Festival announced its 2024 lineup last week, which includes artist-in-residence and two-time Grammy-winning drummer Brian Blade, Carmen Lundy, the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet and more. The festival takes place Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30 – Sept. 2).
What’s Going on in the D?
- Those looking for a night of comedy can check out the Detroit Festival of Laughs at 8 p.m. Friday at the Fox Theatre. The lineup features Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Tony Roberts, Don DC Curry, Coco and Teddy Carpenter. Tickets begin at $59 on Ticketmaster.
- The Detroit Historical Society is partnering with Preservation Detroit for a walking tour of the Cultural Center Historic District at 10 a.m. Saturday. Walkers will explore art installations, including sculptures, murals, and statues. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for guests. The event is part of the historical society’s Concrete Canvas exhibit.
- BasBlue is partnering with Omniwomyn and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for a prom dress styling day 10 a.m to noon Saturday at BasBlue’s headquarters, 110 E. Ferry Street. High school seniors can choose from a variety of prom dresses for the big day.
- The Detroit Historical Society is also hosting an Earth Day event 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. In partnership with Michigan State University’s Science Festival and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the day’s activities will be centered around the natural habitat and human history of Belle Isle. Admission is free with registration.
