The Heart of Detroit Run for DAPCEP is a 1 mile, 5k and 10k run that raises awareness of the incredible strides Detroit area nonprofits are making toward improving their communities. DAPCEP is a proud 2012 participant and is rallying all parents, friends and supporters to run for our youth! On Sunday, June 24th, Team Captains, Runners and Walkers will lace up their shoes and hit the streets of Downtown Detroit with thousands of other citizens who are passionate about their shared community. Everyone will cross the finish line at Home Plate in Comerica Park! The Team Captains are aiming to collectively raise $50,000 to support DAPCEP.

About DAPCEP
The Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) gives underrepresented youth state-of-the-art educational experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Our youth are exceptionally bright, but because of economic and educational barriers, many are not afforded the opportunity or given an environment in which to succeed. It is DAPCEP’s mission to increase the number of underrepresented students who are motivated and academically prepared to pursue degrees that lead to careers in STEM fields.

They want our youth to not only have the skill set to succeed in STEM fields, but the motivation to take challenging courses and believe in their own abilities. They teach nanotechnology, renewable energy, robotics, computer programming, chemical engineering and much more, to youth who otherwise would not be exposed to these fields. Their programming is facilitated on university campuses, giving these youth the confidence and motivation to graduate from high school and matriculate in college.

Socioeconomic and educational challenges abound in the Detroit area, making it increasingly difficult for our youth to succeed. According to the 2011 Annual Education Report, 68% of Detroit Public Schools have Title 1 status, meaning that these schools have a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students. Research shows that such high concentrations of poverty is directly related to lower levels of achievement, so it is no surprise that 66% of Detroit Public Schools did not meet Annual Yearly Progress and that the graduation rate is just 37.5%. This climate, coupled with national statistics regarding minorities in engineering makes for an extremely challenging environment in which youth can succeed.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

This funding allows for a powerful and positive impact on the lives of 15 youth. Supplemented with foundation funding, DAPCEP is able to give these students experiences that will expose them to college life and exciting science and engineering fields; encourage high school graduation and matriculation in college; and promote self-confidence in moving forward in life and valuing education.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

The youth who go through DAPCEP programming experience bring the excitement and motivation home. The majority of DAPCEP participants also have siblings in the program. Thus, by having one student set the example for his or her family, it promotes a dedication to education within the whole family. Furthermore, DAPCEP encourages a level of parental involvement that will remain with the student throughout his or her educational and professional career. Assuming an average family size of 4, 3 additional people per student (45 total) will benefit indirectly from this program.