Detroit leaders reimagine summer programming with purpose, exposure, and possibility

This summer, a group of Detroit leaders are coming together to reshape what summer looks like for children across the city. Moving beyond traditional camps and into intentional spaces designed to expose young people to new possibilities, industries, and ways of thinking about their futures.

At the center of this effort are two programs rooted in education, mentorship, and early career exposure: I Am My City Parks, and Motorsports & Mentorship. Together, they represent a growing movement in Detroit – one that prioritizes access, representation, and community-driven solutions for youth development.

I Am My City Parks, led by Dawn Patterson in partnership with Pashon Murray, is a free five-week summer program for students in 1st through 5th grade. The program blends literacy and math with environmental education, sustainability, and hands-on learning experiences that introduce students to STEM and career pathways early on.

“At I Am My City Parks, our summer program is about reconnecting children to the environment, to their community, and to themselves,” said Patterson. “We’re creating a space where young people can learn through nature, explore sustainability, and understand their role in shaping the world around them.”

For Patterson, the work is deeply personal and rooted in long-term impact. “This program means everything to me because it’s about planting seeds early,” said Patterson. “When children see themselves as caretakers of their environment and contributors to their communities, it shifts how they show up in the world.”

Murray, founder of Detroit Dirt and a partner in the program, sees sustainability as both a teaching tool and a pathway to empowerment.

“Our work is rooted in sustainability, but more importantly, in access to knowledge that has historically not been centered in our communities,” Murray said. “When young people understand sustainability, they begin to see how they can be a part of solutions that impact not just their neighborhoods, but the world.

The second program, Motorsports & Mentorship, led by Julius Curry and Mark Watts, introduces youth to the world of motorsports, engineering, and workforce development through hands-on learning.

“Our program is about mentorship, structure, and exposure,” said Curry, a former NFL player and founder of Curry Motorsports. “When you pair that with exposure to motorsports, it opens up a completely different world.”

Curry, who made history as one of the first Black NASCAR truck owners, emphasized the importance of access. “Every child deserves the opportunity to discover what they love and to chase it,” he said. “But that starts with awareness. If they can see it, they can believe it’s possible for them too.”

Watts, president of Boys 2 Men Youth Mentoring, said the program is designed to build both internal and external growth.

“This program is about growth – both internally and externally,” Watts said. “When youth understand their value and see themselves as leaders, it changes how they move through the world.”

While the programs differ in focus – one grounded in environmental sustainability, the other in motorsports and mentorship– they share a common goal: expanding how young people see themselves and their futures; and that goal feels especially urgent now.

“Now more than ever, our young people need structure, guidance, and real exposure to what’s possible,” Curry said. “This isn’t just about summer. This is about setting them up for life.”

Watts echoed that sentiment, pointing to the broader challenges young people face. “Our youth are navigating a world that is constantly evolving, and not always in ways that center their growth or well-being,” he said. “Without intentional spaces that build confidence, identity, and leadership, it’s easy for them to feel lost.”

These programs also arrive at a time when many families are still navigating access to quality summer opportunities, seeking options that provide not just supervision, but structure, safety, and meaningful engagement.

In that way, both initiatives sit at the intersection of several critical conversations: workforce development, representation in emerging industries, and how cities prepare the next generation for a rapidly changing world. And that impact extends beyond one summer. “We want to shift how young people understand their relationship to the environment and their community,” said Murray. “If we can inspire even a small group of young people to lead with that mindset, the ripple effect is powerful.”

Clarity, too, is at the core of the work. “When young people understand where they fit in the world and feel like they have purpose, it changes everything,” said Watts.

Ultimately, what makes this moment – and these programs – stand out is not just what they offer, but who is building them. These are Black Detroit leaders who understand the gaps in access and exposure firsthand, and who are creating solutions rooted in community, experience, and intention.

“If we truly want to build stronger, healthier communities, we have to invest in the next generation,” said Patterson.

Find more information on each program, their dates, and register for I Am My City Parks, here, and Motorsports & Mentorship, here. Registration is open until May 25th.