YPSILANTI, Mich. - It's supposed to be a safe place to learn and grow, but some youth advocates say in Michigan there is a growing tendency to criminalize rather than educate children, which is why they are working to fight what's been dubbed the "school-to-prison pipeline."

Peri Stone-Palmquist, executive director of the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan and a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Michigan, says policies such as zero tolerance discipline and mandatory expulsions and suspensions often push the most at-risk kids right out of school and into the criminal-justice system.

"Michigan, in particular, has sort of gone beyond what the federal intent certainly was, which was not to allow kids to have guns in schools," she says. "We have actually one of the harshest and overly broad discipline codes in the country."

The Gun Free Schools Act of 1990 mandated zero tolerance for firearms and referrals to law enforcement for violators, but Michigan has since adopted legislation requiring suspension for many other offenses.

Stone-Palmquist acknowledges school discipline is difficult, and often requires split-second decisions on the part of teachers and administrators, but she feels it's important to move toward a more nuanced approach.

"What is the student trying to tell us?" she asks. "Really understand the family situation - was there a crisis in the family? Almost always, the students I see, there's been something going on either in school, with their peers, or something going on at home. So how can we provide support?"

She adds that the job of adults is to give kids the space to make mistakes and help them learn from those choices.

"I have kids in school, I want them to be safe, but I don't actually think we're creating a climate of safety when all we're doing is pushing kids out and not inviting them back in," she says. "That's not teaching them how to make better choices. "

Stone-Palmquist praises discipline techniques such as the "Restorative Approach," which brings together all those affected to work to repair relationships. Several Michigan schools have taken a pledge called "Solutions Not Suspensions," affirming a willingness to re-evaluate discipline policies.

NASW Michigan is actively working toward closing the school-to-prison pipeline, and putting an end to zero tolerance.


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Two youth-focused nonprofits in Pennsylvania are expanding enrichment and mentoring programs, thanks to $500,000 in grants benefiting hundreds of kids in Chester City and Philadelphia.

The funding comes from Power Home Remodeling's employee-led Circle for Good initiative, part of an over $3 million national effort with partner organization Philanthropy Together.

Jim Myers - director of community impact with Power Home Remodeling - said his company aims to unlock untapped potential by improving schools, and is choosing to support Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region to meet their goal.

"The $200,000 grant went towards their Power UP program," said Myers, "and this whole effort is centered around school-based mentorship, and so we're helping engage educators and students and families, and creating environments where all youth can feel valued and connected."

Myers pointed out that around 98% of youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region graduate at higher rates, avoid substance use, and build strong social skills.

He added that their mission aligns perfectly with the company's values, making this partnership a natural fit.

Tyeshia Wilson, senior director of community with Philanthropy Together, said 21 giving circles consisting of over 500 people helped select the 21 grassroots nonprofits that received grant funding.

Wilson explained why the Boys and Girls Club in Chester City was chosen.

"They wanted an organization that was in alignment with their values, and that also was within their particular focus area of like youth mentorship, empowerment," said Wilson. "The end result was them choosing the Boys and Girls Club - because that organization, to them, was in alignment with the values that they chose as a group."

Wilson said the Boys and Girls Club of Chester got $300,000 through the grant program.

She noted that there are over 4,000 giving circles nationwide that support nonprofits in Chicago, Austin, Houston, Tampa Bay, Denver, and San Antonio.



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A new public service announcement spotlights a Michigan teen, in and out of foster homes, who was adopted after a holiday visit turned into a permanent stay.

The PSA is part of a national campaign by the Dave Thomas Foundation, focusing on what it is like to bounce between foster homes, to finally finding a place to belong.

Almost three years ago, Bridgett, 15, faced losing her foster home at Christmas until her high school principal, Jeremy Wright and his wife Jenny, who already had a son, offered her a temporary stay. The visit ultimately became a permanent, loving home. Together, Jeremy, Jenny and Bridgett shared highlights of their adoption journey.

"There's a bunch of kids out there that need structure and need a family, and it's kind of sad but it's also rewarding and challenging," Jeremy said.

"When I look back now on the journey that we've had the past two and a half years, I'm so much better for it," Jenny recounted.

"It feels good to be adopted," Bridgett added.

About 3,000 children in Michigan are in foster care and legally available for adoption. Nearly 300 do not have an identified adoptive family and are actively waiting for a permanent home.

Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted himself, became a vocal adoption advocate, testifying before Congress, expanding efforts to Canada, helping launch the U.S. adoption stamp in 2000 and appearing in PSAs.

Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the foundation, emphasized how their PSAs continue to play a vital role in raising awareness.

"It just opens people's eyes, I think, to the fact that it's an absolute human right to have a family, and to have a safe and loving family," Soronen explained.

The foundation focuses on helping children who are, on average, around 14 years old, and about 87% of them have a diagnosed special need, such as ADHD or the effects of trauma.

By Enrique Saenz for Mirror Indy.
Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration.

For more than seven decades, the Wilbur Shaw Memorial Soap Box Derby Hill has served as a place for Indianapolis families with the need for speed to get their thrills.

The 1,000-foot hill on West 20th Street near Marian University is the country’s longest track. At the city park, drivers climb into aerodynamic fiberglass cars on top of the hill and harness the power of gravity to get to the bottom as fast as possible.

Indianapolis Soap Box Derby racers go downhill at speeds of more than 30 miles per hour — fast enough to get a speeding ticket in some parts of the city.

Racers meet at the hill several times a year for races. They accrue points at the events that allow some to compete at the national level — the Soap Box Derby World Championships in Akron, Ohio.

For 13-year old Shelton Taylor, soap box racing is in his blood. His great uncle was a soap box racer, but Taylor didn’t become involved in the sport until a fateful drive past the Wilbur Shaw Hill.

“Me and my mom were driving past the track, and we saw a whole bunch of people just coming down the track. She asked me if I wanted to do it. I said, ‘Yeah,’ so she did a U-turn to the top of the gate,” Taylor said.

Taylor signed up, learned how to race and a few years later became the Indianapolis 2024 All American Super Stock Challenge champion, the first African American to do so.

His father, Marvin Taylor, sees soap box derby racing as a family sport.

“It’s a good sport for young kids to get involved in,” Marvin Taylor said. “It’s something different than basketball or soccer. It’s just like the Indy 500 without an engine.”

It’s not just Indianapolis families that come to the hill. Families from around the Midwest and the South make the trip to Indianapolis’ west side to compete.

The Weaver family makes the trek from Owensboro, Kentucky several times a year.

The kids, 12-year-old Melanie and 13-year-old Brandon, drive the cars — and parents Eddie and Effie act as the pit crew.

“We quickly realized it’s a family sport. It’s one of the only sports where parent involvement is critical. It’s like you’re a team with your child,” said Effie Weaver.

For the driver, racing is a thrill. They go down the hill with their heads tucked in to increase speed. They control the car through a pulley system found inside the frame. Drivers only expose a small bit of their face to reduce drag. As a result, they can only see a small portion of track ahead of them and must plan their moves ahead of time.

“At first, I was like, ‘So you’re telling me I’m going down a hill in a plastic car with a wood bottom, and you’re expecting me to trust that,’” said Melanie Weaver. “It’s fun, but at the same time it’s a little stressful.”

More experienced racers drive sleek cars, called Masters Cars, where they essentially drive lying on their back. They wear a helmet that reduces wind resistance but leaves only a small crack between the bottom of the helmet and the top of the car frame through which the driver can see.

Haughville resident William Pickens, 16, drives a Masters Car, but his 6-foot, 2-inch tall frame has to slowly squeeze into a car designed for, at most, a 6-foot-tall child.

“My feet do hit the end of the car, but it’s not that bad,” Pickens said.

The sport is open to children and young adults ages 7 to 20. Indianapolis Soap Box Derby director Bob Getts said the association helps families get into the sport by having cars that families can use to start racing.

“We have more cars than kids right now, and we try to make it easy for families to try and see if it’s something for them,” he said. “We get them in one of our cars, let them get the thrill of the hill and see where it goes from there.”

Car prices range from $700 to $1,500, but the association helps racers find sponsors to defray the cost.

The International Soap Box Derby, the Indianapolis association’s parent organization, also has a program for children with disabilities called the Super Kids League. The league uses two-seat, dual-control derby cars that pairs kids with an experienced co-pilot to compete.

To learn more about the Indianapolis Soap Box Derby, head to the association’s website or call 317-446-5462.


Enrique Saenz wrote this article for Mirror Indy.


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