Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
University of Detroit Mercy Group Projects Abroad - 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024.
We are proud to announce our 2024 Fulbright Hays Group Project Abroad award in partnership with Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. Congratulations to our 2024 delegation: Project directors Dr. Suzanne Lynch and Lara Wasner, GPA awardees: Dr. Sharde Chapman, Brandon Frazer, Dr. Meg Gillio, Laura Kuznia, Dr. Stephanie Lance, Marquese McFerguson, Justin Montgomery, Cynthia Pryde, Genesis Rosales, Isamar Perez Santiago, and Sarida Scott. We look forward to traveling to Brazil with you and look forward to the scholarly works you develop and share as a result of this experience.
Here is our proposed Brazil itinerary
The University of Detroit Mercy has been awarded four Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPAs) to Brazil in recent years. Our 2022 and 2024 programs are in collaboration with Hillsborough Community College, also awarded a GPA to Brazil in 2019. These prestigious programs - funded by the United States Department of Education & Bureau of Cultural Affairs and administered through the Program Office for International Foreign Language Education - provide U.S educators opportunity to travel abroad to conduct scholarly research, dialogue with community, collaborate with other teachers, and develop curriculum projects that help schools internationalize their curricula in meaningful ways. This competitive grant supports overseas research, training, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, pre-service teachers, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor. https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsgpa/index.html
Our unique group projects, African Contributions and Contemporary Issues in Northeast Brazil (2016, 2018) and A Study of Brazil's African Diaspora Voice (2022, 2024), introduce educators to various locations throughout Brazil, including Sao Luis, Maranhao, Salvador, Bahia, and Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais for one month of educational enrichment, whereby participants gain multiple perspectives of the African American experience(s) throughout the Americas and shed light on various issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The program involves intensive language study so that participants are prepared to communicate overseas, as well as to appreciate the inextricable link between language and culture throughout the learning process.
Upon returning from Brazil, Fulbright GPA awardees produce curriculum projects in order to enhance teaching and learning. These projects and lesson plans are free for all to download and share. (Scroll to Curriculum Projects below.)
Congratulations to our 2016, 2018, and 2022 Fulbright GPA awardees:
Detroit Mercy faculty and administrators:
- Charles Cross, School of Architecture and Community Development
- Ann Eskridge, College of Liberal Arts and Education
- Roy Finkenbine, College of Liberal Arts and Education
- Alan Grigg, College of Liberal Arts and Education
- Gregory Grobis, College of Liberal Arts and Education
- Gail Presbey, College of Liberal Arts and Education
- Renady Hightower, College of Health Professions
- Yvonne King, College of Health Professions
- Daniel Kroupa, College of Liberal Arts and Education
- Jahzara D.E. Mayes, College of Engineering and Science
- Lara Wasner, College of Liberal Arts and Education
K-12, Community college, and pre-service teachers:
- Natalie Barmore, Cass Technical High School, Detroit MI
- William Bowles, Western International High School, Detroit, MI
- Marvin Chatman, Moses Field School and Wayne County Community College & DPSCD, Detroit, MI
- Patrina Chatman, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit MI
- Regina Elamri, Chandler Park Academy, Detroit, MI
- Deneia Fairweather, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
- Marnina Falk, Detroit Foreign Language Immersion and Culture Studies (FLICS), Detroit MI
- Camelia Ramona Gligor, Osborn High School, Detroit, MI
- Kenneth Hawkins, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
- Kamasi Hill, Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
- Donyel Hobbs Williams, Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL
- Roba Hrisseh, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
- Sarah Lauro, University of Tampa, FL
- Suzanne Lynch, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa FL
- Daniel McArthur, Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies, Detroit MI
- Bridget McDevitt, FLICS, Detroit, MI
- Robin Wilson, FLICS, Detroit, MI
- Markita Moore, Detroit Public Schools Community District, Detroit MI
- Carole Morisseau, Cass Technical High School, Detroit, MI
- Jeffrey Rubinstein, Hillsborough Community College, FL
- Karen Russell, Edison Elementary School, Detroit, MI
- Erika Stowall, Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences, Detroit, MI
- Rachael Walker, Birney Middle School, Southfield, MI
- Michael Woodberry-Means, Renaissance High School, Detroit MI
- Alana Wynes, Quarton Elementary School, Birmingham, MI
In June 2018, The U.S. Department of Education interviewed Project Director Lara Wasner for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Grantee Showcase. A recording of the interview can be found here.
We invite you to view and use any of the curriculum projects (below) developed as a result of our 2016, 2018, and 2022 programs.
The contents of this page were developed with a grant from the Fulbright Hays Group Projects Abroad, US Department of Education. These contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education, and you should not assume they represent the views of or endorsement by the Department of Education.
CURRICULUM PROJECTS - download and share for free
These projects, unit plans and lesson plans are listed by participant, in alphabetical order:
Annotated Bibliography - A Collaborative Resource Developed by Multiple Participants
Annotated Bibliography: A Resource to Use and Share
Natalie Barmore: Cass Technical High School, Detroit MI
Minha Communidade (My Community): A Study of History, Culture and Community through Photography
Designed for 11th and 12th Grade College Preparatory Students
William Bowles: Western International High School, Detroit, MI
K-12/cross-curricular: Library Media supplemental resource instruction in the African diaspora to Brazil
Marvin Chatman: Wayne County Community College, Detroit, MI
The Significance of Art within the Diaspora: A Focus on Brazil and the United States - project plan
Foundations of African American Arts course syllabus
Patrina Chatman: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit MI
Say Their Names Project and Museum Exhibit
Charles Cross: Detroit Mercy - School of Architecture
Cartografia: Mapping Cultural Assets, Resources, and Opportunities in Afro-Brazilian and Quilombo Communities
Regina Elamri: Chandler Park Academy, Detroit, MI
Grades 5-9: Current Events & Brazil: A Cultural Study
Geography, Religion, Minorities (powerpoint presentation) - by request at wasnerle@udmercy.edu
Marking the Text & Jigsaw (powerpoint presentation) - by request at wasnerle@udmercy.edu
Afro-Brazilian Instruments (powerpoint presentation) - by request at wasnerle@udmercy.edu
Language and Art (powerpoint presentation) - by request at wasnerle@udmercy.edu
Ann Eskridge: Detroit Mercy - African American Studies/African American Literature
Using Cordel (folhetos) Literature to Create Narrative Stories in Rhythm and Rhyme
Deneia Fairweather: Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
Stepping Forward to Reparations: A Data Driven Approach to Social Justice
Marnina Falk: Detroit Foreign Language Immersion and Culture Studies (FLICS), Detroit MI
Un verano quiolombo book and Afro-Latin Culture. Unit plan, materials, and book
Roy Finkenbine: Detroit Mercy - History
Slave Rebels and Runaways - Course syllabus, comparison chart, and assessment materials augmented by the Brazil GPA experience
https://faithfullymagazine.com/slavery-brazil-us-differed-greatly/
Camelia Ramona Gligor: Osborn High School, Detroit, MI
Brazil: Lessons in Race, Resistance, and Resilience through history, social studies, and language study
Spanish lessons incorporating Brazilian Portuguese
Gregory Grobis: Detroit Mercy - Performing Arts
Unheard Voices: Brazil. Adapting Boal's Methods for my Theater for Social Change class.
Kenneth Hawkins: Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
Police Brutality in Brazil and the United States: Talking About the Future of Policing
Roba Hrisseh: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
A Long Road Ahead for People with Disabilities in Northeast Brazil
Renady Hightower: Detroit Mercy - Health Services Administration
Intersecting Cultural Anthropology & Health Care: Race Does Matter in Community Health
Yvonne King: Detroit Mercy - College of Health Professions
Health and Wellbeing: The Role of Traditional Practices
Donyel Hobbs Williams: Harold Washington Community College, Chicago, IL
Understanding Colorism and Its Impacts throughout the Americas
Sarah Lauro: University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
A Study of Artistic Representations in Literature
The Pregnant Angels of Sao Francisco
Anastasia in Brazil and Brazilian Art https://monumentlab.com/bulletin/anastacia-diptych
Suzanne Lynch: Hillsborough Community College, Tampa FL
Looking at the film Black Orpheus as a research project
Jahzara Mayes: Detroit Mercy - ReBuild Program Director
Abdias de Nascimiento as the Impetus for the Black Arts Movement in Brazil
Daniel McArthur: Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies, Detroit MI
Researching and Documenting Ancestral Knowledge
Bridget McDevitt: FLICS, Detroit, MI
Capoeira Project for elementary grades
Markita Moore: Detroit Public Schools Community District, Detroit MI
Afro-Brazil Music and Culture
Carole Morisseau: Cass Technical High School, Detroit, MI
Healing Wall Interactive Art Exhibit - panels exhibited nationally; panel 5 is comprised of names submitted by the UDM community
African Brazilian Art: A Contrast and Comparison to Contemporary and Historical African American Art - PPT
African Brazilian Art: Unit Plan - Artistic Representations in 10 lessons
Gail Presbey: Detroit Mercy - Philosophy/History
PHL 3560 Peace and Social Justice, University of Detroit Mercy
Unit Plan Summary
Course Syllabus
Jeffrey Rubinstein: Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
Brazilian Music: A History of Militancy and Resistance lesson plan
Karen Russell: Edison Elementary School, Detroit, MI
Grades K-2: Brazil and You: Families Around the World
Erika Stowall: Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences, Detroit, MI
Elementary and Middle School - Candomble: Dance of the Orixas - A blending of African cultural and religious traditions.
Rachael Walker: Renaissance High School, Detroit, MI
9-12 grade arts and social studies: Who Am I? Exploration of Afro-Brazilian History and Culture
Lara Wasner: Detroit Mercy - Language & Cultural Studies
Lessons from Brazil: Detroit Mercy GPA overview (multi-purpose presentation)
Colleague Day 2024 slides and photos
Portuguese Can Do Rubric based on ACTFL's scale
Robin Wilson: FLICS, Detroit, MI
Decodables series - text without illustrations
Michael Woodberry-Means: Renaissance High School, Detroit MI
Dance Unit - Creating Magic from the Shared Black Experiences of African Americans and Afro Brazilians: Deconstructing Pain, Poverty and Persecution in Order to Heal, Rebuild and Regenerate
Alana Wynes: Quarton Elementary School, Birmingham, MI
Grades 3-5 - Transformative Art in Brazil: Exploring printmaking, mask making, and graffiti
African Masks in Brazil (powerpoint presentation) available by request to wasnerle@udmercy.edu
Graffiti in Brazil (powerpoint presentation) available by request to wasnerle@udmercy.edu
For more information, contact project director Lara Wasner at 313-993-1191 or wasnerle@udmercy.edu