SCORE's leadership team recently ended their hiatus and made a powerful visit to Detroit, Michigan, planting new roots and strengthening national partnerships in our ongoing mission to eradicate systemic racism, amplify underrepresented voices, and empower local artists. This trip wasn’t just about conversation—it was about collaboration, action, and expansion.
Over the course of several days, SCORE representatives met with nonprofit leaders, creatives, educators, and activists across Detroit to explore ways to support local filmmakers, elevate spoken word artists, and build sustainable pathways for youth and community advancement.
The city’s spirit—resilient, creative, unapologetically bold—mirrored SCORE’s own values, making Detroit a natural home for the next phase of our work.
Building a Coalition for Change
One of the core goals of this trip was to participate in a multi-organization collaborative focused on racial equity. SCORE was invited to bring its perspective, models, and programming to a regional table of changemakers working across education, media, and the arts.
The conversations centered around more than just theory—they focused on tangible strategies for:
- Disrupting school-to-prison pipelines
- Creating economic opportunities for local Black creatives
- Supporting youth through culturally responsive mentorship
- Funding arts programs that are rooted in lived experience, not corporate metrics
For SCORE, this was an opportunity not only to contribute to a meaningful dialogue, but to actively co-design equity frameworks with Detroit-based leaders who are doing this work every day.
Uplifting Local Artists: Filmmakers and Poets
True to our mission, SCORE also spent time connecting with Detroit’s local film and spoken word community. In collaboration with partner organizations, we explored how to:
- Provide distribution opportunities through OnWatch TV’s Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and VIDAA TV platforms
- Create short film challenges and poetry features highlighting community stories
- Offer media training and production support for up-and-coming youth artists
Several artists and producers have already expressed interest in working with SCORE to bring their work to new audiences—proof that when you invest in community talent, the return is transformative.
Growing the Team in Michigan
As SCORE continues to scale its impact, Detroit is now home to our newest team member—a passionate, local leader who will serve as our Michigan-based point of contact and program developer. This expansion will allow us to:
- Deliver localized programming with cultural specificity
- Build new internship pipelines for youth in Detroit
- Host community-based screenings, workshops, and storytelling projects
This is not a one-time visit. It’s the beginning of a long-term commitment to building equity-centered infrastructure in Michigan that reflects the energy and excellence already alive in Detroit.
Looking Ahead
The Detroit trip was more than productive—it was personal. It reminded us of why SCORE exists in the first place: to center community, to listen deeply, and to create systems that uplift rather than exclude.
Whether through film, poetry, or partnership, we are committed to doing the work in every region we touch. Detroit welcomed us with open arms, and we’re ready to grow, build, and amplify together.
If you're based in Michigan and want to collaborate with SCORE, host a workshop, or submit content to be featured on OnWatch TV, reach out to us. This is just the beginning.
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