Agenda for Detroit Kids

The Agenda for Detroit Kids outlines what the city’s children need in order to have a fair shot at success, and what the Mayor and the city’s parents can do to meet these needs. The agenda was created by Detroit Parent Network based on a survey of over 2,000 city parents.

SAFE COMMUNITIES

Detroit kids have limitless potential and the desire to succeed, but the constant threat of violence often gets in their way. The Mayor must take action to eliminate gangs, guns and drugs from our neighborhoods.

The Mayor must:

• Increase police presence before and after school when kids are walking to and from school and catching the bus.
• Tear down abandoned buildings that often house drug dealers and gang operations and are frightening to children.

Detroit parents will:

• Join neighborhood watch groups and volunteer to patrol neighborhoods.
• Impose strict curfews on children, especially teenagers.

BETTER SCHOOLS

Detroit’s children deserve what many others across the country have – a fair shot at success in the classroom. Our children need modern schools with improved safety, necessary supplies, and smaller class sizes to prepare them for college, their careers, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Quality Education for ALL Detroit kids must be our top priority.

The Mayor must:

• Work more closely with area businesses, high schools and colleges to create mentoring programs and apprenticeships for Detroit kids.
• Work closely with the DPS Foundation to create and sustain arts programs and leverage the dollars for additional State and Federal funds.

Detroit parents will:

• Commit to monitoring and helping children with homework.
• Communicate with their children’s teachers at least once per month.

AFTER SCHOOL TIME OPPORTUNITIES

Children of Detroit are creative and full of energy, but lack extracurricular programs or part-time jobs to keep them occupied during after school time. We must create opportunities for activities that will enrich children’s lives and keep them out of trouble.

The Mayor must:

• Lead an effort to support schools that offer sports and arts programs and help them keep those programs open during non-school hours.
• Create an after school jobs program with local companies and government agencies in which a certain number of jobs are allotted for teenagers.

Detroit parents will:

• Volunteer for existing after school time activities.
• Take children to existing free activities such as those at libraries and sponsored days in arts and community centers.

FAMILY FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOODS

Families should have appropriate activities in their community and should feel safe and proud when they are in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, families in Detroit have to travel to the suburbs to spend time together or to find a neighborhood that feels safe and inviting. We must take pride in our neighborhoods and work to beautify them.

The Mayor must:

• Direct city agencies to acquire empty lots to create new park space and community gardens.
• Make available more tax incentives and grants for retail, restaurant, and entertainment businesses or non-profits.

Detroit parents will:

• Engage local churches and nonprofits to create family entertainment opportunities in the mean time.
• Support local businesses and organize or join community beautification projects.

ACCESS TO DOCTORS AND HEALTHY FOOD

Detroit parents know they must keep children healthy by providing nutritious meals and taking them to regular check ups, but many lack access to healthy food and medical facilities that are nearby and affordable. We must make sure Detroit kids have the opportunity to grow up healthy.

The Mayor must:

• Prioritize funding for clinics and urgent care facilities in neighborhoods rather than large hospitals.
• Take a lead role to ensure that prevention health services for children are increased by improving the City of Detroit Health Department and expanding the support of community-based prevention programs.

Detroit parents will:

• Teach each other healthy cooking strategies using available foods.
• Provide their kids with vitamins and encourage regular exercise and active play.

Keep visiting listenupmayor.org to learn how you can tell the Mayor to LISTEN UP to these priorities and to find resources for creating a better future for our children.