Community
UDM News for our Neighbors
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UDM unites for wide-ranging Black History Month celebration
Friday January 23, 2026
A wide variety of events featuring award-winning poets, films, talks and workshops are being planned at all Detroit Mercy Campuses to celebrate Black History Month.The events are designed to show the importance of Black history in the United States.
You’re sure to find something educational, inspiring and entertaining at these events. Please see full listing of events below. Check back regularly as new events and updates will be added periodically.
Full BHM info. -
Titan Winter Blast returns Jan. 24, featuring chili cook-off, Titan basketball and more
Thursday January 22, 2026
The annual Titan Winter Blast, Detroit Mercy’s signature winter event, returns Saturday, Jan. 24, followed by a UDM men’s basketball contest with Oakland University, all taking place on the McNichols Campus.
All Titans — students, alumni, staff, faculty, friends, family and guests — are invited for the winter festivities, camaraderie and fun inside of the Whitty Student Fitness Center from 12-3 p.m.
Various teams of chili chefs from across the University’s campuses will turn up the heat at the wildly popular chili cook-off! Snuggle up for some horse-drawn trolley rides and have an indoor winter blast playing cornhole and games, participating in activities and cookie decorating, and more! Refreshments will be provided by Eastern Market Brewery.
Following the fun, head over to Calihan Hall to cheer on men’s basketball as they battle rival Oakland at 3 p.m.
Cost for attendance is $5 for students and $20 for alumni, faculty, staff and guests. Children 12 and under are free. Admission includes tastings at the chili cook-off, food and refreshments, all games and activities plus a ticket to the men’s basketball contest.
Register for TWB.
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Stories the shape us: ‘Redemption Road,’ special screening set for Feb. 11
Wednesday January 21, 2026
As part of Black History Month, Detroit Mercy will hold a special screening of the award‑winning documentary Redemption Road, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 5:30–8 p.m., in Room 113 of the Ford Life Sciences Building.The documentary tells a story of transformation, tracing the life of Yusef Bunchy Shakur from a childhood shaped by abandonment and violence to his emergence as a respected community leader and thinker.
The screening will be followed by a conversation with Shakur. All members of the campus community are welcome to attend.
This event is supported through a grant from the University’s Mission Microgrant Program.
For more information, please contact Stacey Stevens at stevenst@udmercy.edu.
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Detroit Mercy Eye Institute offering $35 exams for Titans
Wednesday January 21, 2026
The Detroit Mercy Eye Institute is currently offering the Titan community comprehensive eye exams for just $35.Faculty, staff and students at the University can takes advantage of the $35 exams, 50% off optical frames, contact lens exams starting at $70 and 30% off prescription lenses, among other deals and services.
Titans may utilize their Heritage Vision or UnitedHealthcare (Spectera) benefits for additional allowances.
The Detroit Mercy Eye Institute, located at 41555 W. 12 Mile Road in Novi, is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Call 248-675-0800 to schedule an appointment.
Learn more. -
Poet Cate Marvin kicks off Triptych virtual author series, Jan. 15
Tuesday January 13, 2026
Detroit Mercy’s English Department kicks off its annual Triptych series with poet Cate Marvin, who will read her work on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.Triptych is a virtual reading series featuring award-winning authors in conversation with Detroit Mercy’s Poet-in-Residence Stacy Gnall. Triptych events are free and open to the community.
Cate Marvin is the author of four books of poetry: World’s Tallest Disaster, winner of the 2000 Kathryn A. Morton Prize; Fragment of the Head of a Queen, for which she received a Whiting Award; Oracle, which was named by The New York Times as one of “The Best Poetry Books of 2015”; and Event Horizon, which appeared from Copper Canyon Press in 2022.
A recipient of the Kate Tufts Discovery Prize, she also co-edited with poet Michael Dumanis the anthology Legitimate Dangers: American Poets of the New Century (Sarabande Books, 2006). Marvin teaches poetry writing in the Stonecoast M.F.A. Program at the University of Southern Maine and is professor of English at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York.
SAVE THE DATE for authors Ross Gay (Feb. 19) and Ilya Kaminsky & Katie Farris (March 19). Triptych events are held via Zoom on third Thursdays in January, February and March, from 6:30-8 p.m.
Register here!
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Resources, Centers and Clinics
Center for Social Entrepreneurship
The Center provides business expertise and acumen as well as mentors to assist local entrepreneurs, beginning with the “Boost” workshop that aids entrepreneurs in developing business plans to achieve a greater social impact.
Counseling Clinic
The clinic provides no-cost counseling services to Detroit residents who otherwise may not have access to mental health services.
Dental Center
Detroit Mercy Dental offers dental services and education through two clinics, nine outreach clinics, a mobile dental clinic and a school-based dental sealant program.
Dental Mobile Clinic
The clinic travels to local participating schools in Detroit and Wayne County to provide comprehensive care for K-12 children.
Detroit Collaborative Design Center
The design center provides design services to non-profit community and civic organizations to engage communities and enhance neighborhoods.
Detroit Mercy Eye Institute
The Detroit Mercy Eye Institute includes the state-of-the-art equipment and technology needed to diagnose, monitor, and treat numerous eye conditions. The clinic will also provide affordable eyecare to the uninsured and vulnerable populations.
Law Clinics
Detroit Mercy Law provides legal assistance to Detroit area residents through six clinics: Immigration Law Clinic, SADO Criminal Appellate Clinic, Criminal Trial Clinic, Veterans Law Clinic, Juvenile Law Appellate Clinic and Intellectual Property Law Clinic.
Pre-College Programs
Detroit area students in grades 4-12 participate in more than 15 outreach programs annually through Saturday classes, summer camps, and innovative curricula in the sciences, technology engineering, mathematics, architecture and design.
Psychology Clinic
The Psychology Clinic provides assessment and counseling services for approximately 300 clients annually. Fees are based on ability to pay.
Rx for Reading Program
This program increases access to children’s books and supports families in reading to their children. The program has distributed more than 2,000 children’s books a month at a variety of locations, including low-income health, dental and WIC clinics; homeless shelters; and Head Start programs.
Summer Camps
A variety of summer activities available on UDM Campuses. Some are hosted by UDM; some are simply located on our campuses.
Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN)
TENN is a student-led and community-driven food justice program that delivers fresh produce to 60 families in New Martin Park Neighborhood and 80 seniors at Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments.
Alliances and Initiatives
Reimagining the Civic Commons
University of Detroit Mercy serves as one of the institutional anchors for the “Reimaging the Civic Commons” initiative, which is funded through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant. The initiative focuses on the City of Detroit’s neighborhood revitalization priority: the Livernois/McNichols area. The project’s goal is to revitalize the neighborhoods between its two anchor institutions, Detroit Mercy and Marygrove College, creating a denser and more diverse urban community.
Live6 Alliance
University of Detroit Mercy helped to launch the Live6 Alliance in August 2015 to strengthen the Livernois Avenue and McNichols Road commercial corridor in northwest Detroit.
Service Immersion Days / Trips
These experiences give students opportunities to serve in shelters, soup kitchens, after school projects, urban farms and many other important community based projects both locally and nationally.
Directories
Media Experts Guide
Detroit Mercy scholars are experts in their fields and many have agreed to be available to media. Note that experts' views are their own and may not reflect the views of their colleagues or University of Detroit Mercy.
Migration Research Directory
The AJCU Migration Research Directory is an open-access resource for high-quality research on migration, provided by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Faculty members from Jesuit universities around the world provide important migration and refugee research from a wide variety of perspectives.