The Day 9,000 Volunteers Showed Up To Repair A Crumbling Detroit High School

The Day 9,000 Volunteers Showed Up to Repair a Crumbling Detroit High School

This article is part of a series by The Seventy Four that showcases the inspiring stories, acts of kindness, and unexpected surprises happening in schools all across America. For more uplifting stories, visit The74million.org/series/inspiring.

The sound of lawnmowers and hammers filled Detroit’s Osborn neighborhood last week. This was all part of the annual week-long project called Life Remodeled, which aims to renovate rundown schools and their surrounding communities.

Alice Thompson, President of Black Family Development, explained the importance of creating a beautiful environment for children. She stated, "Children are influenced by what they see in their neighborhoods, so if we want them to excel in school and be inspired, we must provide them with a positive and attractive environment."

Approximately 9,000 volunteers came together to lend a helping hand. The project caught the attention of local corporations such as General Motors, with over 3,700 of their employees joining volunteers from Quicken Loans, BASF, Taubman, and Chrysler to donate their time for this cause. GM construction and its suppliers also contributed to the project.

Mark Reuss, an executive vice president with GM and member of the Detroit Public School Coalition, expressed his gratitude for the involvement of their suppliers. He stated, "It means a lot that our suppliers are working alongside teamGM Cares volunteers, using their expertise to make a difference and help revive a community that has faced many challenges over the years."

The volunteers are focusing on extensively cleaning Osborn High School, creating safe pathways to the school, removing weeds, and renovating 21 homes. They will also be boarding up over 400 abandoned houses, which have become hubs for criminal activities like human trafficking, and demolishing 20 burned-out houses.

This project aims to revitalize 300 blocks, covering a total area of 4.5 square miles.

However, the main objective for this year is to repair the 150,000 square-foot roof of Osborn High School. Chris Lambert, CEO of Life Remodeled, described the dire situation inside the school when it rains. He said, "When it rains, it literally pours inside the school. You would see children trying to avoid raindrops as they move from one side to the other. It’s truly absurd."

This is the second year of Life Remodeled. In the previous year, the program successfully revitalized Cody High School and raised $1 million for a new football stadium for the school.

As a testament to the positive impact of Life Remodeled on the communities it serves, students from Cody High School volunteered to assist with the efforts at Osborn this year.

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