Detroit HBCU Network: Building Connections and Empowering Students

Education, Legacy, Unity, and Service

The 12th Annual Detroit HBCU Weekend is a series of events and activities that embody the themes of education, legacy, unity, and service for alumni, students, parents, and friends. The weekend aims to connect new alumni, reconnect with those who used to be active, and develop relationships between current students, parents, and local alumni chapters. It also creates a network of students attending the school and individual alumni-to-student mentorships. High school students considering attending HBCUs are connected with current students and alumni to help guide their decision-making process.

Supporting Students with HBCU Care Packages

The HBCU Student Care Package Give-a-Way is an initiative that supports students during their educational journey. In partnership with the Detroit City Lions Youth organization, the Detroit HBCU Network seeks students, parents, and alumni to volunteer in the collection, creation, and distribution of care packages during the weekend. This initiative demonstrates the alumni’s year-round commitment to providing mentorship and resources beyond the classroom for Detroit area students.

Social and Networking Opportunities

Attendees can expect great music, food, and service at the “Weekend Kickoff Event” and “Chill out @ the Griot.” These events contribute to fostering a sense of community among the HBCU network in Detroit by promoting black-owned and alumni-owned businesses. The “Cookout on the Yard” invites vendors to showcase their businesses and organizations, further supporting the local community.

Q&A with Sean F. Rouse

BLAC: How do the various events and activities planned for the 12th Annual Detroit HBCU Weekend embody the themes of education, legacy, unity, and service for alumni, students, parents, and friends?

Sean F. Rouse: HBCU weekend has always served the purpose of connecting with new alumni, reconnecting with alum who used to be active, developing a relationship between current students and parents with the local alumni and chapters, creating a network of students attending the school, creating individual Alumni to student mentorship, and connecting high school students who considering attending HBCUs with current students and alumni.

BLAC: Can you share more about the HBCU Student Care package give-a-way, and how it aims to support students during their educational journey?

Sean F. Rouse: The care package give-a-away provides another opportunity through volunteering to connect with students, student, and alumni. During the month of July in partnership with the Detroit City Lions Youth organization, we will be seeking students, parents, and alumni to help with the collection, creation, and distribution of the care packages during the weekend. Our alumni have always shown our Detroit area students we care year-round in the form of mentorship and resources beyond the classroom.

BLAC: What can attendees expect from the social and networking opportunities provided at the “Weekend Kickoff Event” and “Chill out @ the Griot,” and how do these events contribute to fostering a sense of community among the HBCU network in Detroit?

Sean F. Rouse: Outside of creating more connections they should expect great music, food, and service. Especially from some of our black-owned and alumni-owned businesses. We have always made it a priority during HBCU Weekend recirculate our money back into those that support the Detroit HBCU Network. We invite a number of vendors out to promote their businesses and organizations during the “Cookout on the Yard.”