The Gallimores Support Brilliant Detroit

This year, in lieu of a 33rd birthday celebration I'm hoping to raise $500 for one of my favorite organizations in the 313 (Detroit) - Brilliant Detroit. 

I worked closely with the founder and CEO, Cindy, during my time at the City of Detroit working on early childhood education initiatives and they are one of the best around. Their business model encompasses caring for the whole child and uplifting the whole family in a way that is neighborhood-focused and neighborhood-led - they refer to this principle as "with, for and by". They take empty homes across Detroit and transform them into beautiful gathering spaces offering education, fun, health resources and job opportunities for surrounding families. Their employees are like family and some of the happiest people I've ever met! 

One of my favorite things they offer is a "Mother's Closet" - new mothers can come "shop" the closet as they need to and they keep it well stocked with donations of both new and used items. 

A $50 donation will go a long way in helping them maintain these special places and provide a cushion for extra supplies needed during the pandemic. In celebration of my 33rd rotation around the sun, I'd love for you to help me support this gem of a program!

Another reason I like to support their hard work  is their commitment to listening to the data. They are part of a data collective for early childhood education that is city-wide and Cindy always ensures the tools and practices they use are grounded in evidence that they will actually work for our families. 

If you can't do $50, even $25 will help me get to my $500 commitment goal by my birthday (Aug. 24th).

If it's easier for you to make a contribution - you can also make it through me via check or venmo or paypal and I will add it here!

Please read on and support this necessary work.

From reading the news on your phone to the subtitles on your favorite movie, it is universally agreed that reading is paramount to success in life.  But when students are failed by a misaligned system that is not centered on them, it becomes the community’s responsibility to step in and fill that void.  That’s where Brilliant Detroit steps in.  We connect families with young children to proven programs through community hubs all across the city to ensure they reach their fullest potential.  This kid success movement is powered by supporters like you.

Jasmine, a volunteer and participating mom at our Osborn hub, says it best: “Organizations are there for programs and services, but a community is there for each other.” Brilliant Detroit is both, building communities from the ground up and connecting them with more than 90 organizational partners and their high-quality programming.  This creates an environment of love, safety, and growth, equipping children with the tools they need for success.  

COVID has seriously impacted the Detroit community, but we are determined to keep pushing forward with a literacy-based mission that strives to create a better Detroit for everyone.  During these times, our deep relationships have led the way, ensuring families have their basic needs met while still moving on a path to growth. With your support through the Rock Community Challenge, we can continue to expand our horizons, offering more programming and support to more families in more neighborhoods across Detroit.  We plan to have 24 sites in the next 3-4 years and we hope that you will come on this journey with us.