Educate

DCDC is a program of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD). We have a year-round full-time professional staff with a range of experiences and training. We are also joined by 2-4 student designers every semester who learn the practice of community-engaged design by working alongside our staff and partners. DCDC is committed to growing the practice of community design by supporting a diverse field of future practitioners. 

Co-op Program 

Every semester DCDC hires two to four SACD students who have co-op work experience as part of their degree. Student designers work alongside DCDC staff learning about community-engaged design by doing. 

Public Interest Design Studios, SACD Core Curriculum + Master of Community Development Program 

DCDC staff teaches Public Interest Design (PID) architecture studios in the SACD curriculum every year, focusing on a Detroit project with community and collaborative implications. DCDC staff also teach and speak in the Master of Community Development Program and lead SACD core courses. Recent courses and select projects are featured below. 

High School Interns 

In Summer 2022 DCDC will launch a high school internship program in an effort to mentor Detroit high schoolers interested in design and provide aspiring designers their first job in the field.

Recent Courses & Select Projects

Architecture Program

• Community Resilience Hubs: Designing Just Environments, Instructors Josh Budiongan + Ceara O’Leary, Fall 2020

• Site Analysis + Design, Instructor Charles Cross, Fall 2020

• Fostering Intergenerational Community, Toni Henry + Erin Porter, Winter Studio 2019

• Public Re-Purpose, Ceara O’Leary, Fall Studio 2019

Master of Community Development Program

• Introduction to Physical Development, Instructors Christina Heximer + Virginia Stanard, Summer 2019 & Fall 2020

• History, Theory and Practice of Community Engagement, Instructor Ceara O’Leary, Summer 2019 & Summer 2020

• Master of Community Development Workshop Series, Coordinator Toni Henry, Fall 2019 & 2020