Events

We will be having a break in meetings to coincide with Spring Break for our local school districts.  Traditionally this occurs during the last week of March, but we'll verify this once the GP Schools calendar for 2024-2025 is released.

We will hear from our member, Diane Strickler, as she shares a 15 minute video of their safari trip in Tanzania. We will see family photos, a lot of animals, native people including the Massai, a school visit, their accomodations, parks and a balloon ride over the Serengti.

Diallo, President and COO of Life Remodeled, will discuss their new project very close to Grosse Pointe. The Anchor Detroit project will repurpose the former Dominican High School (I-94 and Whittier) into their next opportunity hub. The future of this school will create a large social impact on the east side of Detroit.

Alex Allen, President & CEO of Chandler Park Conservancy, 

The Chandler Park Conservancy is a non-profit corporation, formed in 2014 by the Chandler Park Promise Coalition, a project of the Eastside Community Network. The mission of the Conservancy is to develop exceptional educational, recreational and conservation opportunities at Chandler Park for youth, and people of all ages.

The vision of the Conservancy is a revitalized Chandler Park, which is one of only four 200-plus acre “regional parks” in the City of Detroit.  The Conservancy is working to develop a multi-facility “urban conservation campus,” the only one of its kind in the state of Michigan. 

The facilities will complement the existing Chandler Park Golf Course and Wayne County Family Aquatic Center.  The campus will include but not limited to: spectacular outdoor sports venues for all ages and genders, community outing venues, community gardens & wetlands, skatepark, self-contained stormwater management system, walking path, and special installations to convert Chandler Park as a “living lab” for environmental and ecology-related education for school age children, and the entire community.

Mary Howlett, marketing manager for Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, will share about the 20+ years of development along the Detroit Riverfront, detail some of their most popular programs, upcoming developments and grand openings - including the 22 acre Ralph C Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park on the West Riverfront that is currently under construction.

Tracey is the founder of We Fixin' To Fish,a non-profit with a mission to connect youth and families to nature through the sport of fishing. They hold free, public events for children to learn to fish from volunteer fisherman. They also hold private events for organizations such as Downtown Boxing Gym and Boys & Girls Club. 

We will hear from Mike Hollerbach and Grosse Pointe Public School System's Career/Technical Education (CTE) program for a brief description of their program - taking students into our businesses/workplaces to get some real-world experience. 

Rather than heading to the Village Grille for our regular meeting, join us for our (almost) quarterly fellowship dinner this evening. There will be no formal meeting during this event, but plenty of time will be available to socialize and connect with Rotarians over a meal. The location and exact timing are TBD and will be shared as soon as possible. RSVPs are required; please get in touch with Cissie Cappola to let us know you're coming.

Jill, Vice President of Engagement and Xavier, Assistant Project Manager are joing us from Detroit based general contracting firm, Sachse Construction, to share about The Sachse Construction Academy. This is a one-day event where Detroit high school students gain hands-on experience in skilled trades at an active construction site. From using tools to learning from professionals, it's their chance to explore careers and build a future in construction. 

Taylor Mae is the host of Creative Mornings Detroit, our local chapter of one of the world's largest creative communities. Creative Mornings was started in 2008 in New York out of a desire for an ongoing, accessible event for their creative community. The concept is simple: breakfast and a short talk one Friday morning a month. Every event is free of charge and open to anyone. 

Our Club's Annual Passing of the Gavel Event, which will be celebrating the transition from President Neil Sroka to President Jackie Dale, will take place on Wednesday, June 25th, at the Grosse Pointe Club (The Little Club) in Grosse Pointe Farms.  Details will be forthcoming, including the exact time and how to reserve your spot (required).

Kelly is the president of Alliance for Grosse Pointe Public Schools, a non-profit whose vision is to build a coalition of community partners advocating for Grosse Pointe Public Schools. They seek to partner with Grossse Pointe and Harper Woods communities in the collective effort to create a safe and inclusive learning environment where students can achieve academic success, maximize potential and become engaqged citizens in a vibrant democracy. 

Veloris Alexander, Founder of RedeemHer, will share how her organization is dedicated to empowering women and girls from marginalized communities on their paths to redemption from significant challenges, such as poverty, abuse and additction. They foster respect, resilience and self-sufficiency and address critial needs such as lack of support, limited access to resources, mental wellness and inadequate education. They offer mentorship, vocational  training, community engagement, support groups and advocacy to equip women with the tools they need to overcome life's challenges, build supportive networks and achieve their full potential. 

Barb, a member of Daughters of the American Revolution and GP Historical Society, will share some intersting information about the early days of Grosse Pointe. The program will mostly focus on Pierre Provencal, his farm and existing house, and the early days of GP ribbon farms. 

Rich Homberg, CEO of Detroit PBS. Presentation description pending.