On Wednesday night, we were joined by Ciara Ginyard from Detroit Horse Power. 

Ciara has worked in youth community development for over 20 years, including serving in the Peace Corps as a Youth Development volunteer in Central America. Currently, Ciara serves as the Development Director for Detroit Horse Power. Launched in 2015, Detroit Horse Power works within communities in Detroit to support students in 6th-12th grade, offering camps year-round and targeting over 100 students per season. They offer weekly camps during the school year and over the summer, so students can spend time with their horses. Detroit Horse Power focuses on "PERCS": perseverance, empathy, responsibility, confidence, and self-control. During weekly camps, Detroit Horse Power offers classes to teach students skills that will help them later in the workforce. Detroit Horse Power has helped students get on the college path to become first-generation college graduates.

Currently, Detroit Horse Power is working on securing its own space near Hope Village in Detroit. This year, they will start construction on a 14-acre property with horse stables to accommodate over 15 horses. The building will have a community center with classrooms and designated spaces for businesses and companies to teach students about their work. Once completed, it will be the largest urban equestrian center in the US.

Ciara brought Elizabeth Tick, a resident of Grosse Pointe, to Detroit Horse Power, where they witnessed the impact firsthand. Thank you Ciara for educating us!