On Oct. 17, the Detroit Regional Chamber held the Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative (D3C3) Fall Welcome at Macomb Community College. During this event, Precious Miller, Director of Basic Needs and Belonging at the Michigan Community College Association; Sarah Strohbeck, Career Readiness and Counselor Consultant at Macomb Intermediate School District; and Cheryl Thompson, Founder of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement, led engaging discussions on producing tangible outcomes through equitable practices in higher education, K-12 institutions, and the workforce.
Following these presentations, college partners reflected on their internal equity data and discussed strategies for reducing racial disparities at their institutions. Partners also collaborated and shared insights across institutions to advance shared regional strategies and priorities with a focus on equity. Below is a summary of each cluster session.
Student Success
In the student success cluster breakout session, attendees explored the Strategic Doing framework, using it as a structured approach to foster generative collaborations aimed at achieving measurable outcomes. The session highlighted the immense opportunities for shared learning among participants, as each college presented a five-minute overview of a change being implemented on their campuses in partnership with D3C3.
K-12 Alignment
In the K-12 alignment cluster breakout session, participants engaged in a dynamic consultancy protocol where representatives from each college presented a specific dilemma they were facing. This exercise encouraged peer-to-peer feedback and shared problem-solving. The session facilitated meaningful dialogue while also reinforcing a collective commitment to improving dual enrollment practices across the Detroit Region.
Employer-led Sector Strategies (Mobility)
During the meeting, the mobility cluster continued building out regional strategies that address the systemic challenges facing the talent pipeline in the Region. Attendees shared updates on progress and identified challenges and strategic priorities for the cluster moving forward.
