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| Leila (center) working with clients |
For the residents of Detroit, the city itself has a somewhat bittersweet
feel to it. It’s the city with amazing energy and great innovation. It’s the
city home to the Detroit Tigers and Sugar Man (A.K.A. Sixto Rodriguez) a
musician whose music gained notoriety in South Africa during the Apartheid and
whose documentary won an Oscar this year. Detroit was at the center of civil
rights movement, not to mention the auto industry. However, Detroit is also a city facing
depopulation, inadequate public services, and has appointed an Emergency
Financial Manager to oversee its finances. Having been in Detroit for almost a
year, I find myself identifying with some of the city’s dreams and challenges.
I work at Mercy Education Project (MEP) in South West
Detroit teaching classes for preparation of GED examinations, as well as tutor
middle school students. The service
provided by MEP addresses one of the challenges facing Detroit
residents—illiteracy. Initially, like many who do not reside in the city, I was
skeptical about the prospects of having to live and work in Detroit. Over time;
however, this view has morphed into an appreciation at having the opportunity
to teach and also learn from the women and girls attending the program. The
women I teach are extremely dedicated. Many come from very challenging
backgrounds and at some point in their lives had dropped out of school. In
spite of their circumstances; however, they persevere daily wanting to improve
their livelihood with the goal of attaining a formal education.
The experience at MEP has been extremely valuable and
meaningful to me. Each day I am reminded not to take life for granted and when
or if challenging circumstances arise, to simply forge ahead with a
determination to succeed. Many of the students at MEP embody and convey this
positively infectious attitude.
Leila Manongi - Mercy Education Project - Detroit, MI
