Grown in Detroit

The Detroit Historical Society is celebrating Detroit’s 313th birthday with a full week of activities.

Monday–Friday, July 21–25 — The week will feature extended hours from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include a film screening daily at 1 p.m. and family-friendly hands-on activities and make-and-take crafts centered on our key exhibits each day from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

60 Minutes

Grown in Detroit focuses on the urban gardening efforts managed by a public school of 300, mainly African-American, pregnant and parenting teenagers. In Detroit alone, there are annually more than 3,000 pregnant teenagers who drop out of high school. Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit is one out of only three schools in the U.S for pregnant and parenting teens. Under the inspiring leadership of the principal, the girls bring their babies to school every day and work hard to get their diploma. One curriculum to get them back on track and teach them the basics of life is urban farming. The city, through its many vacant lots, allows the school and other residents to have farms where houses, shops and factories once stood. Taking care of animals, growing produce, earning money to do so, is helping to shape these dejected girls into strong, independent and hopeful women.

This project is funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.