Community
UDM News for our Neighbors
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Titan toy drive at men’s basketball game, Dec. 20
Wednesday December 17, 2025
Come out to support the local Detroit community and cheer on the Titans men’s basketball team on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m., as they take on Siena Heights inside historic Calihan Hall. Bring a toy for donation and receive a free ticket to the game!
Your toy donation will support local Detroit charities and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan and you’ll enjoy an exciting matchup, all while helping Titan Athletics make an impact on the community.
Fans and children will also have the opportunity for pictures with Tommy Titan dressed as Santa.
Don’t miss this chance to make a difference and root for the Titans!
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UDM’s TENN recognized with awards, grants for its community work
Wednesday December 17, 2025
University of Detroit Mercy’s Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) received several honors and a pair of grants this fall for its work in the community.The organization, which fosters student and community collaboration for a more food-sovereign Detroit, was recognized with a Spirit of Detroit Award by Detroit City Councilmembers Coleman A. Young II and Angela Whitfield Calloway. Nearly a dozen members of TENN received their own plaque acknowledging the award, which highlights outstanding achievement or service to the residents of Detroit.
State Rep. Helena Scott also honored TENN with a special tribute for its work combating food insecurity and promoting equity and sustainability in the community.
“The students were so excited,” said TENN Program Manager Chelsea Manning. “They’re all so busy with taking more classes than I can imagine, and yet, they’re so dedicated to the organization.
“It’s just a really amazing validation that we are reaching our goals and our mission.”
A pair of grants will help TENN’s mission at UDM and in the community surrounding the McNichols Campus.
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund awarded a $180,000 grant to TENN, in collaboration with UDM’s College of Health Professions and the Martin Park and Fitzgerald Neighborhoods, to create a Wellness Council. A $5,000 grant from the Catholic Foundation of Michigan will also support the Wellness Council.
Manning said the Wellness Council will identify needs and develop projects that TENN, its partners and other groups at UDM can implement in the community. The grant from the Catholic Foundation of Michigan is focused on cultivating resident leaders and building the foundation for the Wellness Council through training and workshops.
Manning, who is in her third year as TENN’s program manager, said receiving the grants is a tremendous honor for the organization and its mission.
“These awards will enable us to expand programming while deepening TENN’s relationship-based model,” she said. “Through this support, we look forward to collaborating with the community to identify new opportunities for TENN and other campus partners to enhance health and wellness in the Martin Park and Fitzgerald/Marygrove neighborhoods.
“These grants also affirm the strength of TENN’s strategies and our commitment to community partnerships.”
The Wellness Council is expected to start by spring 2026, with the ultimate goal of sustainability.
“Our goal is to have a lot of capacity building for neighborhood leaders so that this work is sustainable if we can’t carry it on,” Manning said.
In addition to TENN’s awards and grants, Manning was recognized at the Detroit District Two Leadership Breakfast, hosted by Councilmember Whitfield Calloway. Manning was among nearly 20 people honored for their contributions to the well-being of the district’s community this year.
Organizations such as TENN allow UDM students to live the University’s Jesuit and Mercy mission through community engagement.
Last year, TENN delivered more than 24,000 pounds of food in the community, feeding 200 families.
“Chelsea and her team of 12 amazing student leaders are working with community leaders to provide transformational experiences for other students by helping them realize that they can make a difference in the areas of food security and sustainability,” said Fr. Tim Hipskind, S.J., director of Community Engaged Learning at UDM. “In doing so, they are providing experiences that counter the social fragmentation that plagues our world these days by equipping student and community members to work together across difference.”
Through her role, Manning has experienced firsthand how students are impacted by volunteering with TENN.
‘It’s really amazing to see the growth in the students,” Manning said.
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Titan Winter Blast returns Jan. 24, features chili cook-off, winter fun and basketball
Tuesday December 16, 2025
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, cookie decorating, games and activities 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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Giving opportunities for the holidays with UDM
Wednesday December 10, 2025
The Detroit Mercy community offers many ways to help others during this holiday season. To make it easier for you to get involved, the Marketing & Communications team has gathered all volunteer and donation opportunities on one convenient page.Please take a moment to explore the giving opportunities and consider supporting a worthy cause.
UDM giving opportunities. -
Celebrate Detroit Mercy’s 150th anniversary with an iconic journey through Spain, Nov. 2026
Saturday December 06, 2025
In honor of Detroit Mercy’s 150th anniversary, the University will host The Best of Spain: In the Footsteps of St. Ignatius, a remarkable 10-day travel experience from Nov. 2-11, 2026.Join fellow members of the Detroit Mercy community to explore Spain’s rich cultural heritage and Ignatian history, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian and many other inspiring locations.
For more information, contact Peggy Pattison at pattisma@udmercy.edu.
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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.