Detroit Public Schools Community District students presented their projects addressing community challenges at the Aspen Challenge Detroit Solution Showcase, held in partnership with the district on April 28. The event brought together student teams from more than 20 high schools to share ideas for safer spaces, food access, substance use prevention, and youth-led solutions before local leaders.
The showcase aimed to highlight student leadership and voice in solving real-world problems faced by Detroit communities. Top-performing teams will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival in June.
Over nine weeks, student teams researched issues such as substance use, food insecurity, smoking and vaping, community safety, and student support. DeAndre Follower, a ninth-grade student at Central High School, said: “It’s important for my community because some people don’t got safe homes and we wanted to create a safe space for them and other kids. We just wanted it to be a safe space for kids who don’t got a safe space at home.” Kenya Wyatt from Central High School added: “Everybody needs a safe space, but for kids especially.” She said the challenge teaches students how to build together and “come together as a family.”
Kaya Henderson of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Rising Generations said: “Our goal is to ensure that young people, 14 to 24, have opportunities to learn civil discourse, to participate in leadership development, and to engage civically.” Each team received $500 toward their project during the process.
Judges included Mannone Butler and Ebony Walls among others. Walls said: “These students successfully brought the humanistic element to school and local policies. I was brought to tears when I asked what was their personal connection to their gun violence theme…” Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti told participants: “You are all sitting here because you are leaders and your voice matters… Your principals see something special in you.”
Henry Ford High School won grand prize honors for “Disconnect To Reconnect Detroit,” focusing on substance use awareness; Detroit International Academy for Young Women also earned grand prize recognition with “The Pink Planters,” targeting food insecurity. Other awards went to The School at Marygrove (Collaboration Award), Crockett Midtown High School of Science and Medicine (Community Engagement Award), Western International High School (Originality Award), Academy of Americas (Resilience Award), and Detroit School of Arts (People’s Choice Award).
Henderson concluded: “At the Center for Rising Generations we believe that leadership is like driving—the more you do it the better you get at it.”