DETROIT – About 200,000 children in Michigan have a parent who is incarcerated, and in Detroit, nonprofits are working to make sure those young people don’t fall through the cracks.
One of those organizations, Developing Despite Distance, is taking its outreach into the community, trying to find teens who may be struggling quietly and connect them with support.
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“You’re pretty passionate about this?” I asked Tiffany Brown.
“Absolutely. Nothing else that I see myself doing besides supporting children of incarcerated parents,” Brown said.
Brown is the founder and executive director of Developing Despite Distance, a nonprofit focused on helping youth who have at least one parent in jail or prison.
She said those children are often isolated and frequently overlooked in programs and resources.
“I grew up here in Detroit, and when I was a teen, my mother was incarcerated,” Brown said. “So, I know first-hand the experience of what it is to have an incarcerated mother or father.”
New summer camp launching at Marygrove campus
This summer, Developing Despite Distance is launching its first summer camp, a six-week program designed to keep teens engaged academically, socially, and professionally.
The camp will be held on Marygrove’s campus in Detroit, running from June 29 through Aug. 7.
“So, we have a paid six-week summer camp happening here on Marygrove,” Brown said. “It’s a full day of academics and learning and fun. But our youth will be paid. Almost $1,500 for coming with us.”
Organizers say the program will also introduce teens to future opportunities they may not otherwise see.
“This summer we’ll be focusing on showing them career paths and skills that a lot of schools do not teach them,” said Chandler Bermudez, a program assistant. “So, they’ll be able to go on field trips of learning about different jobs they can look into.”
‘A village of support’
Beyond academics and career exposure, staff members say the larger goal is to build a community for teens who share a lived experience that many don’t talk about.
“It’s not just another program. It’s not just a resource provider,” said Alicia Bonner, program manager. “But we are truly a village of support for one another.”
Enrollment deadline is May 14
The nonprofit is working quickly to recruit campers, with the enrollment deadline set for Thursday, May 14. Brown said there are limited spaces left.
“We have just a few limited spots. About 15 spots left over, just for Detroit youth that are over the age of 14,” Bonner said.
I asked Brown what she hopes teens ultimately take away from the summer camp.
“We hope that we are building community with a population of youth who are often by themselves with this experience,” Brown said. “So that they walk away with positive connections with peers and caring adults who understand their lived experience.”
For more information, visit https://www.developingdespitedistance.org or the organization’s Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/developingdespitedistance.