In Detroit public schools, where the scandals, perils and dire conditions are all too well known and are reportedly regularly on the national news to the astonishment of Americans across the country, we knew there were still some diamonds in the rough, with hidden but exceptional qualities and brilliant futures. Eboni Wells of Upward Bound, a federally funded academic enhancement program, knew it too. Rolling out talked with Wells at the Ford Freedom Awards at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Wells discussed the program and her own aspirations. –roz edward
How is the program faring in light of budget cuts?
I work in two Detroit public schools — the Detroit International Academy, which is an all-girls school, and the Frederick Douglass Academy, which is an all-boys school. Because of the cuts on the national level, it was almost cut. A lot of the education programs were the first to go, but we made it through with help from some of our sponsors.
What is Upward Bound?
It’s a government-funded trio program that helps inner-city youth make it to college. In order to make it to college, they need to graduate from high school. We help students succeed in critical areas like math and science, and we also help with reading and English proficiencies, but we primarily focus on math and science.
Does the program offer assistance in any other area?
Upward Bound also helps our students develop their social skills as well. In Detroit we have a lot of students who are susceptible to taking a different route, which might be a negative one. We encourage them to stay on the positive path. We take a holistic approach and target all areas of a student’s life that may impact their success in terms of education.
Why did you choose the work you do?
I am a Detroiter, and I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood. But I learned early on from my parents that it’s important to give back and to have a sense of community. … African American communities have somehow strayed away from that concept, but no matter what I do or what I accomplish, I always want to remember us.
What is the most pressing issue facing Detroiters?
It’s education or the lack of it. It’s astounding. I graduated [from] high school in 2004 and one-third of the schools that were around then, aren’t around now or are in jeopardy of being closed. What will the youth of the city do when the neighborhood school closes and their parents don’t have the transportation to take them somewhere else. What [will] they do?
