Community
UDM News for our Neighbors
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Homecoming 2026 Fall Festival with Street Fest set for Sept. 25-26
Friday September 25, 2026
Fall Festival at Homecoming returns to UDM’s McNichols Campus Sept. 25-26. The weekend is packed with activities, and this year Detroit Mercy is partnering with Live 6’s Six Mile Street Fest, providing additional entertainment, local cuisine and family-friendly activities on the UDM Front Lawn (outside the McNichols gate).This two-day event offers something for everyone—from exciting games and tours to informative sessions. Among the highlights are the annual bike tour of the historic areas surrounding the McNichols Campus, an open kickball game, a taping of Detroit Mercy’s long-running show “Ask the Professor” and an improv show as well as an evening of creative writing in the newly established Black Box Theatre in the Student Union.
Attendees can also cheer on the Titans men’s soccer team at Titan Field as they take on Purdue Fort Wayne at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The main event is the Fall Festival which is slated to begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It features arts and crafts, bubble soccer, yard and casino games, an escape room, food trucks, skating, scavenger hunt and much more.
Attendees also have the opportunity to take historical tours throughout campus, even one of Calihan Hall, featuring the newly renovated Titan Club.
After dusk, a bonfire will be lit to celebrate all Titan Athletic teams, followed by the NPHC Yard show, where multicultural fraternities and sororities will showcase their chapter’s history and traditions through steps, strolls, chants or dancing.
Also included in the weekend’s events and numerous reunions are the College of Health Professions Research Symposium, a Golden Jubilee reunion for the Class of 1976 and the presentation of 2026’s Alumni Achievement Spirit Award honorees.
Join in Fall Festival activities as you reconnect with the University during two exciting days filled with food, fun and celebrations.
Register or learn more about Fall Festival/Homecoming. -
Creative Writing Collective to hold first session of school year, Oct. 6
Thursday September 24, 2026
The Detroit Mercy English Department will host the first Creative Writing Collective (CWC) of the fall semester on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 5:15-6:30 p.m., in the Briggs Building, Room 202. The gathering will be led by Senior Adjunct Instructor and Poet-in-Residence Michael Lauchlan.
The CWC provides a relaxed, supportive environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community to read, write and chat together.
All are welcome, and no creative writing experience is necessary.
For questions or if you would like to be added to the CWC mailing list, please email english@udmercy.edu.
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UDM to host NAMI Walk Michigan, Sept. 19; Join the Titans team
Thursday September 17, 2026
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 2026 walk in Michigan is set for Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. All are welcome to join. It’s the third-straight year the University has hosted the NAMI walk.
Join the Detroit Mercy Titans team with your friends, family, colleagues or classmates and support mental health.
Get involved and make a difference in the lives of Americans living with mental health concerns. If you shake a hand, give a fist bump or cheer with your team, this NAMI Walk is one of the most powerful days of the year, and you can make a real difference.
Please save the date and consider signing up for the walk or donating to mental health programs. Further details will be provided soon.
For more information, please contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@udmercy.edu.
Sign up for the Titans team! -
Celebrate community at TENN garden party, Sept. 18
Thursday September 17, 2026
All are welcome to help Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) celebrate our community and bustling garden with an evening of food and harvesting on Friday, Sept. 18.
The garden party is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the TENN and Martin Park Community Garden, located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 16100 Lawton St., in Detroit.
To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.
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Community prayer service for healing and wellness set for Sept. 10
Tuesday September 08, 2026
The Detroit Mercy community is invited to a special prayer service focused on the health and well‑being of local neighborhoods. This gathering offers an opportunity to come together to pause, share space and lift one another up through prayer and reflection.
The prayer service will take place on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m., at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.
Following the service, attendees are invited to remain for conversation and a shared meal. This is an opportunity to connect, meet new neighbors and build community in a welcoming, relaxed setting. Dinner will be provided through the generosity of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan.
All are welcome, whether familiar with prayer services or attending for the first time. The evening is sponsored by Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and University Ministry.
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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.