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It’s back-to-school time, and our “Black Church in Detroit” series examines the role of the faith-based community in supporting and advocating for students and families in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). Host Stephen Henderson sits down with Bishop Dr. Corletta Vaughn, pastor of Holy Ghost Cathedral and VP of the DPSCD Board of Education, and the Rev. Dr. Steve Bland, pastor of Liberty Temple Baptist Church and a DPSCD Board member.
Bishop Vaughn reflects on how she became active on the DPSCD Faith-Based Council eight years ago. She explains the types of support the faith-based community brings to the schools and how the partnership has grown. Bishop Vaughn also talks about the past challenges and the current successes in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, including a growing student enrollment and a stable financial outlook. Dr. Bland discusses his service on the Detroit School Board and the importance of the church and community in the education ecosystem. He talks about the school district’s critical issues and the positive outcomes that have arisen from the crisis, including a higher graduation rate and several infrastructure projects. Dr. Bland emphasizes the need to embrace the criticisms and views of community advocates and social media influencers so that they all can work toward solutions together.