The State Of Detroit Families: Dispatch From Mackinac

By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network

The Mackinac Policy Conference takes place this week on Mackinac Island. It's the one time of the year when legislators, policy makers and the people who influence them converge in a remote location to schmooze and make plans for the year ahead. So what are they discussing that affects families? Everything! Jobs! Education, Food, and Roads top the list of focus areas.

I met up with John Rakolta, CEO of Walbridge and co-chair of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren, at the conference and asked him his thoughts about the state of families in Detroit.

"I recently took on the challenge of walking to school with a parent and child in Detroit to learn firsthand about some of the challenges in the current system of schools. Two hours and two buses later, I was ready to call UBER to pick me up," Rakolta said. "I intentionally dressed warm, but was still cold. I couldn't believe that it took nearly two hours to simply transport this child to school in difficult circumstances daily."
Rakolta believes that it takes an entire support system to raise a child -- that the "it takes a village" metaphor is really right. He had caring adults in his life, including his father, who taught him about business and who attributes his math acuity and drive to. His mother instilled in him the values of honesty, integrity and commitment.

"My mother had a test for her children who wanted to stay home from school for being sick . . . go to school or take on her homemade enema. Needless to say, I had perfect attendance."

There's an apt expression: those with money have loud voices and those in poverty are silent. It's up to us all to be sure that everyone has a voice and is their voice is heard. You don't have to be at an exclusive and expensive meeting like the Mackinac conference to make a difference. Tweet your thoughts about what families need and want with the tag: #DetroitFamilies and let's start a conversation together about what matters to us most.

*Content provided by our sponsor, the Michigan Education Savings Plan.