Cardinal pledges cooperation in city education initiatives
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 24, 2007
|
Photo courtesy of Covenant House
Cardinal Adam Maida speaks at the Aug. 14 dedication ceremony at Covenant House. With him on the dais are (from left) Cynthia Canty of WMGC Radio (105.1 FM) and David Brennan, founder of White Hat Management, which developed the Life Skills Center concept. |
Detroit — Cardinal Adam Maida stated his hope that closed Catholic school buildings in Detroit might be used in new education efforts at an Aug. 14 ceremony to dedicate a new alternative high school building on the campus of Covenant House Michigan.
"I am asking my staff to look into ways we could make more of these buildings available for groups wishing to provide educational services for students from kindergarten through 12th grade," the cardinal said.
He said he hoped such services could include education toward obtaining general equivalency degrees, vocational education, family counseling, and drug treatment.
"In much the same way that Covenant House emphasizes the whole spectrum of gifts and needs, I would hope we could do something similar, creating a comprehensive program of formation," Cardinal Maida continued.
Citing the Catholic Church's long history of sponsoring educational opportunities in Detroit, he added, "All of my predecessors, without exception, have given time and energy to the building of schools, and each, in his own way, had to come up with creative strategies to maximize the use of resources, responding to the needs of the day. I believe we are doing the same here and now with my proposal."
The cardinal said the Church has "buildings, vision and experience as educators."
"As people committed to the Gospel, we stand ready to partner with members of the business and civic communities in providing ever-new solutions for the young people of our urban area."
The new Kathleen and William Brodhead Education Building, which Cardinal Maida blessed and dedicated, will house Covenant House Life Skills Center-Central, which is set to open this fall with a capacity of 350 students.
The new charter school is designed to offer high school dropouts and at-risk youth a chance to obtain a diploma.
Also housed in the building will be Covenant House's Community Service Center-Central, which will serve youths attending the school and other at-risk youths in the community surrounding the Covenant House campus at Martin Luther King Boulevard and the Jeffries Freeway (I-96).
The event also included a naming ceremony for the Richard and Angela Wolohan Commons Center and the Peter and Connie Cracchiolo Youth Home on the campus.
Cardinal Maida praised the work of Covenant House, which not only provides "an oasis for young people who are troubled or have no home of their own," but also teaches them a skill set for future employment.
And he called it "a good and sacred thing" that it conducts its ministry within a faith context.
"The new Life Skills Center we dedicate today allows for all dimensions of the Covenant House program to be fulfilled; residents will be able to enjoy a full spectrum of athletic, social and religious opportunities," the cardinal said.
With the addition of Covenant House Live Skills Center-Central to similar programs on the city's east and west sides, Covenant House will be able to help more than 1,000 former dropouts get an actual high school diploma, which it believes makes its graduates more easily employable than former dropouts who earn GEDs.
Bill Brodhead, chairman of Covenant House Michigan, said the CHM Life Skills Centers give kids a second chance at success."
"Kathi and I are very grateful for the wonderful life we have had here in Detroit, and this is our way of saying thanks," he added concerning the new building.
Covenant House Michigan began its operations 10 years ago this October, providing food, clothing, shelter, education and vocational services to homeless youth ages 18-22.
|
