The Detroit Cultural Center Association today announced the second district-wide Educators’ Night, held from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24. The event is an exclusive opportunity for K-12 educators from Detroit and the surrounding metro region to explore and harness the educational treasures offered by the Cultural Center institutions.
Educators’ Night promises an evening of inspiration and discovery, featuring a wide array of engaging activities, hands-on demonstrations, educational displays, tours, and more. This event is designed to introduce teachers of all grades and subjects to the wealth of educational resources available to schools within the Detroit Cultural Center and beyond.
“As a vibrant hub of culture and knowledge, the Detroit Cultural Center Association is proud to host Educators’ Night for the second year. This event underscores the district’s commitment to supporting educators and enhancing classroom experiences for students,” said Susan T. Mosey, interim executive director of DCCA, which aims to create a vibrant, collaborative, connected, and sustainable district, uniting an iconic hub of artistic, educational and cultural institutions to benefit the community, visitors and future generations.
Key objectives of Educators’ Night include:
- Building Strong Relationships: The event seeks to foster stronger connections between the Cultural Center institutions and teacher audiences, opening doors to enriching educational partnerships.
- Showcasing Opportunities: Educators will learn about a wide range of opportunities for both students and teachers, such as field trips, workshops, traveling programs, and summer camps aimed at expanding engagement with cultural organizations.
- Resource Empowerment: Educators will gain insights into the use of curriculum materials, videos and resources developed by participating organizations, allowing them to create dynamic and enriching classroom experiences.
Seven cultural institutions will be open and will host other organizations from around the metro Detroit area, themed around the following disciplines: Art and Design; Early Childhood Development and Literacy; Educational Wellbeing; Culture, History, and Theatre; History Resources, Natural History and Geography; Music; and STEM. Designed as an open house format, teachers are encouraged to check in at the institution that best matches their teaching discipline and then visit all the other six institutions throughout the night. More than 40 arts, cultural and educational organizations will be onsite sharing resources exclusively for teachers in a unique and immersive environment.
This year, Educators’ Night proudly welcomes two new participating venues: Wayne State University and the Detroit Public Library. For the first time, educators will have the opportunity to visit Wayne State University’s Welcome Center, where the College of Education will offer valuable resources, including educational well-being talks on supporting student and educator wellbeing.
“At Wayne State University’s College of Education, we believe in the transformative power of education, and we are excited to be a new hosting venue for the Detroit Cultural Center’s Educators’ Night. We know the challenges teachers and students face in supporting educational wellbeing and are committed to helping overcome those barriers. Teachers who stop by our WSU Welcome Center during the event will receive insights in our ED Talks, resources to support their students’ well-being and their own, and it’s an opportunity for them to share what they love about teaching. Together, we can elevate, innovate and transform the public good for educators and students,” said Denise Taliaferro Baszile, Dean, College of Education, Wayne State University.
The Detroit Public Library is also joining the event, highlighting the importance of early childhood literacy and offering tools to enhance student reading engagement. September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and the library encourages educators and students to sign up for a library card, granting access to an array of free educational and literacy resources.
“At the Detroit Public Library (DPL), we believe early childhood literacy must be a top priority. Research shows that reading success in early grades is a major predictor of future academic achievement. DPL is excited to host Detroit Cultural Center’s Education Night, where organizations like Brilliant Detroit, PBS Kids and The Henry Ford will offer valuable resources to support student literacy engagement efforts.
We invite all K-12 educators to stop by and discover the tools that will help students thrive in reading environments and beyond,” said Christopher J. Korenowsky, Chief of Operations and Customer Experiences Officer, Detroit Public Library.
During the evening, participants will be the first to hear about the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum earning the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation, enhancing accessibility for autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors. With more than 75% of staff trained to support these guests, the museums are committed to creating inclusive experiences. Attendees can learn more about this certification and the museums’ efforts to improve accessibility for all students by visiting the Detroit Historical Museum and speaking with staff.
The seven hosting venues for the night include:
The Carr Center (Music) – 15 E. Kirby St., Ground Floor
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Culture, History, Theatre) – 315 E. Warren Ave.
Detroit Historical Museum (History Resources, Natural History/Geography) – 5401 Woodward Ave.
Detroit Institute of Arts (Art and Design) – 5200 Woodward Ave.
Detroit Public Library (Early Childhood Development and Literacy) – 5200 Woodward Ave.
Michigan Science Center (STEM) – 5020 John R St.
Wayne State University–Welcome Center (Educational Wellbeing) – 42 W. Warren Ave.
Other participating organizations include:
Akropolis Reed Quintet, Awishinaabe Cultural Consulting, Brilliant Detroit, City of Detroit-Department of Innovation and Technology; College for Creative Studies, Cranbrook Science Institute, Detroit Puppet Company, Doodles Academy, Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit, Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, Green Living Space, Historical Society of Michigan, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, InsideOut Literary Arts, Kiwanis Detroit #1, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University-Detroit Center, Mint Artists Guild, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), Motor City Alliance, Outdoor Adventure Center/DNR, PBS Kids, Pewabic Pottery, SPE Foundation, The Ford House, The Henry Ford, The Scarab Club, Wayne RESA, Wayne State University-Anthropology Museum, Wayne State University- Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, Wayne State University-College of Education, Wayne State University-College of Engineering Summer Academy, Wayne State University-Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Wayne State University-Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute, Wayne State University-Planetarium, Wayne State University-Student Disability Services and Wayne State University-Warrior 360.
To participate, K-12 educators must register for free at https://bit.ly/CulturalCenterDetroit.
More information and questions about this year’s Educators’ Night can be directed to Annmarie Borucki via email at annmarie@detroitculturalcenter.org.
Educators’ Night is made possible by the The Skillman Foundation and theFred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, through the collaborative efforts of the DCCA.
The DCCA extends its gratitude to the Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Public Library, Michigan Science Center, The Wright Museum and Wayne State University for their generous support and participation.
About Detroit Cultural Center Association (DCCA)
Launched in 2024, Detroit Cultural Center Association (DCCA) is a nonprofit organization that represents 11 of Detroit’s arts, cultural, and educational organizations, including The Carr Center, College for Creative Studies, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Hellenic Museum of Michigan, International Institute of Metro Detroit, Michigan Science Center, The Scarab Club, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and The Wright Museum. Learn more at midtownculturalconnections.com.