Mercy Education Project Summary

2024 Impact 100 Metro Detroit Grant Summary

Grant Finalist: Mercy Education Project

Project: Redesign learning spaces to create flexible functional learning experiences

Background: Mercy Education Project (MEP) was initiated by the Sisters of Mercy in 1992, focusing on after-school tutoring for economically disadvantaged minority girls in southwest Detroit. With many requests from community women for English literacy improvement and high school equivalency certifications, MEP soon expanded to offer Adult Basic Education and GED preparation. Over the years, MEP evolved to provide comprehensive educational and developmental programs for both women and girls. Currently, MEP provides after-school one-to-one tutoring in reading and math to girls in grades 2-12, as well as STEAM education, social emotional learning, college and career readiness, a weekly technology club, and a variety of summer learning camps. Programming for women includes GED preparation, adult basic education, and workforce development. MEP has been in its current location in southwest Detroit for 21 years and has served nearly 5,000 women and girls to date. MEP provides a supportive environment to ensure students can succeed and thrive and helps change the trajectory of students’ lives through education. All services are provided at no charge to students.

Unmet Need: All MEP students come from minority and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The demand for MEP’s services continues to outstrip available resources. The highly successful one-to-one

in-person tutoring model, which is a cornerstone of MEP’s Girls’ Program, includes systematic assessment and structured learning activities, with tutoring provided by vetted, trained volunteers who are paired with the same student throughout the school year. MEP currently enrolls girls from 23 different K-12 schools (Detroit Public Schools and charter schools). Because of physical space limitations and the constraints of spaces that cannot be adapted to meet programmatic needs, MEP is limited in the number of students that can be served in our current learning center and the types of programming that can be provided. To serve as many students as possible, some students and tutors are currently placed in “makeshift” spaces that may not provide an ideal distraction-free, quiet learning place.

Project Summary: The redesigned learning spaces project will update MEP's current facility, which is no longer adequate for the number of students served or the variety of learning experiences offered. The project involves structural renovations and the addition of movable panels, soundproofing, and adaptable furniture to transform existing spaces into versatile learning environments. This redesign will accommodate both large group learning and one-to-one tutoring, ensuring every girl has a dedicated space to focus on achieving grade-level proficiency in reading and math.

Project Impact: Improved, adaptable learning spaces will allow for easy and efficient space conversion, minimizing unnecessary learning time loss. MEP's students enter our program one or more grade levels behind in reading and/or math. 100% of girls who attend MEP on a regular basis are successful in closing learning gaps to move toward grade level proficiency. Current space restrictions limit MEP's capability to give all girls the equal learning experiences they need and deserve. The project will provide equitable learning opportunities, improve academic outcomes, and expand MEP’s capacity to serve more students, enhancing the educational experience for girls in Detroit and potentially increasing high school graduation and college acceptance rates.

Sustainability: Post-project, MEP will sustain the newly created flexible learning spaces through its annual operating budget, ensuring ongoing maintenance and functionality. If necessary, MEP will seek additional grants or sponsorships to cover expenses beyond its annual budget. This approach ensures the long-term viability of the improvements, allowing MEP to continue offering personalized and impactful educational services to women and girls. The project's sustainability is further supported by MEP's track record of successful funding and community support, highlighting its commitment to providing quality education and development opportunities for girls from economically insecure homes in Detroit, thus fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement.