The Course
The U-M Urban Entrepreneurship Practicum course is designed for students who want to understand more about the process of creating a sustainable business that improves the quality of life in an urban community. A crucial part of that understanding is Community Discovery, the process of learning about and engaging with a specific urban community and the people who live and work there. The centerpiece of the students’ Community Discovery work is the Urban Experience Tour of our focus city, Detroit, Michigan.
The Tour
Students in the Fall 2024 edition of the course completed the tour on October 5. This semester’s tour was more action-packed than ever, as the students visited several businesses and met with entrepreneurs and community members. During lunch at Slows Bar BQ in Corktown, students got a history lesson on the community from Dr. Robin Boyle, former urban planning professor at Wayne State University. They also heard about plans for the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit from incoming director Scott Shireman.
The Hosts
The businesses and entrepreneurs serve as our tour hosts, and they are the main reason why students routinely cite the Urban Experience Tour as one of their most powerful learning experiences.
| Location | Description | Host |
|---|---|---|
| Ginosko Modular | Manufacturing facility for affordable single and multifamily homes | Lorenzo Sewell |
| Durfee Innovation Society | A community-based hub of opportunity for children, students, and adults. | Kennedi Roberts |
| The Lab Drawer | Designers and makers of STEAM (STEM+Arts) experience kits for underserved youth. | Alecia Gabriel and Deirdre Roberson. |
| Bloom at Newlab Detroit | Supply chain infrastructure and platform for e-mobility manufacturers. | Justin Kosmides |
| Michigan Central Station | Former iconic train station converted to multiuse commercial hub anchored by Ford Motor Company mobility operations. | Sean White |
| Sanctuary Farms | Sustainable business dedicated to closing the food loop by cultivating organic produce and creating nutrient-rich compost. | Jon Kent |
| Banglatown/TS4U Engineering Bootcamp | Hamtramck community, home of “Banglatown” Bangladeshi community and TS4U, an engineering and software development training business. | Ehsan Taqbeem |
Many Thanks
I think we have just crossed the tenth year for this Urban Experience Tour, and in addition to being quite a bit of work, it is a labor of love for me and my colleagues. I want to thank Mr. Reggie Barnett who has volunteered to help me organize and execute the tour practically since its inception. His involvement makes the work much more fun than it would otherwise be. I’d also like to thank Jesse Spicer and Christine Gordon and their colleagues in the U-M Center for Entrepreneurship for helping organize and manage the tour. Of course I give hearty thanks to the tour hosts and speakers mentioned above. The tour would not be possible without them.
Our next Urban Experience Tour/Detroit will take place in February, 2025. It will be cold, but fun!