Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN)
Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) at University of Detroit Mercy fosters student and community collaboration for a more food sovereign Detroit.
TENN provides students with real opportunities to apply things they learn in the classroom as they design and lead programs that promote equity and sustainability in the food system.
As part of the Institute for Leadership and Service, TENN student leaders coordinate multiple service opportunities each week that reduce the immediate effects and systemic causes of hunger and food waste.
2024 Numbers & Reflections
pounds of food delivered
was fresh produce
pounds of produce delivered from the TENN garden
families fed through produce deliveries
hours volunteering for TENN events
unique volunteers for TENN events
TENN is more than just service work. You can make real connections and friendships through volunteering. And when someone is thanking you for bringing them food for the week or when you are tending to a community garden, it feels like you are part of the community in a way you couldn't have expected.
— Oliver Gamez, TENN Student Staff Member
Sign Up for Service Opportunities and Events
Join us for a volunteer shift for service-learning, ELP credit, or fun. Sign up below for service opportunities, or email us at tenn@udmercy.edu to be added to our listserv and receive updates about events and opportunities.
Recurring Events:
Produce Deliveries - Every other Wednesday, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and every Friday, 10 a.m. to noon.
Deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to our neighbors on Princeton Street and Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments.
Garden Service - Late March - October
Work in our community garden located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and develop both gardening and leadership skills!
Interested in Getting Even More Involved with TENN?
Want to be a leader who helps plan our great programming on and off campus? We are looking team members to join our planning teams and to help plan sustainability, social engagement, urban agriculture, and fundraising events for TENN. Want to participate in volunteer opportunities? We are also always looking for volunteers for our many service opportunities, including Friday food deliveries and urban agriculture work days.
Join the TENN Team
If you're a Detroit Mercy student who feels passionate about food access, fundraising, event planning, health, or community development, fill out the link below to get more involved with TENN.
Connect with TENN
Check out our TENN Facebook page and TENN Instagram for updates.
Join our TENN Volunteer GroupMe to stay up to date of all volunteer opportunities.
Mission & Vision of TENN
The mission of TENN is to find solutions to challenges in the Detroit food system by engaging student passion and community wisdom. At TENN, community members and students work together to raise awareness, address immediate needs and engage in critical thinking about the systemic causes of these challenges.
At TENN, we envision creative collaboration in Detroit toward an equitable and sustainable food system.
Why TENN?
On Jan. 28, 2021, Campus Kitchen celebrated its 10th anniversary and chose a new name that fits our work and mission: Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN).
Titan: We are proud to be Titans. Community collaboration ignites our students and nourishes growth through meaningful service opportunities and educational engagement.
Equity: We strive for a food system that is grounded in equity because equality does not equate to justice. Through mutually beneficial relationships with our community, we seek to examine and remediable the root causes of food and environmental inequity.
Nourish: We nourish bodies, relationships, minds and the earth. While nourishment can be acquired through food, we also nourish through community engagement, education, and sustainable practices.
Network: We are privileged to be a part of a greater network. In collaboration with Detroit Mercy staff, faculty, and students, community partners and campus neighbors, we work together for a more food sovereign Detroit.
Thank You
Thanks to the Ford Motor Company Fund, United Way of Southeastern Michigan, Sisters of St. Joseph Congregation, #SeedMoney, and Detroit Mercy Libraries, and our many individual donors for donating and organizing critical financial support.
Our programs would not be possible without food donations from Gleaners Community Food Bank.
We are grateful to our the many organizations who collaborate with us on service and educational programs including the the Princeton Street Block Club, Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments, New Martin Park Association, Brilliant Detroit, Make Food Not Waste, Marygrove Garden and JB's Farm.
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Advisory Board
Rev. Dr. Blanton L. Banks is Senior Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Detroit. He is the vice president of New Martin Park District Association. The founder of GSLC and NMPDA Outreach distribution program works closely with TENN on a variety of food access programs.
Bridget Brown '12 was the student manager of "Campus Kitchen," the precursor for TENN. She brings more than 10 years’ experience in operations, development and community engagement at Gleaners Community Food Bank. She was chair of the Livingston County Hunger Council for four years and is currently Chief Operating Officer at the United Community Housing Coalition.
Theresa Tejada has worked for approximately 10 years at the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan focusing on nutrition education, access to food, health promotion, and chronic disease prevention strategies. She currently is Program Manager of NKFM's Community Outreach team and facilitates the Western Wayne County Food Policy Council.
Jim Vella '89 brings expertise in marketing and communication and nonprofit management. He is CEO and founder of the Vella Group, a nonprofit consulting firm. Past president of the Ford Motor Company Fund, and has served on national, state and local nonprofit boards. He has a background in television news.
Joan Walton brings experience and connections from working a variety of nonprofits in metro Detroit including the DIA, Bell Isle Conservancy, Gleaners Food Bank, and Zaman International.
Joe Zalke '60 is a Detroit Mercy alumnus and brings expertise earned from a career in the food industry, including work at RJR Foods and New England Fish Company. In 1980 he started his own company which he ran for 40 years and eventually became InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises, Inc.