ANN ARBOR—The Lives of Urban Children and Youth (LUCY), a new program launched by the University of Michigan, endeavors to attract diverse students and prospective professionals who are interested in working with children and youth in urban settings. This initiative is a joint partnership of the U-M’s School of Education; Michigan Community Scholars Program; College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning; and the Office of the Provost.

LUCY is offered as a core course within an existing undergraduate Living / Learning program—Michigan Community Scholars Program, a community life-focused residential program at Couzens Residence Hall. As part of the course, student participants have the opportunity to work with LUCY organizations and community mentors, or partners, to gain hands-on experience in urban communities. Participation in LUCY provides students with experiences that will more directly and explicitly prepare them for certain professional school endeavors in their junior and senior years.

Among LUCY program goals is the preparation of students to think critically about challenges facing America’s urban communities; opportunities for in-depth inquiry into the major life themes of children living in urban settings; preparation of students to communicate and interact effectively in urban settings through direct experience and mentoring; and the establishment of long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between urban community organizations and the U-M community.

LUCY will unfold over the next two years. For students in their first-year, the academic focus of the MCSP includes service-learning components, opportunities to explore social change models and community service work, and a presentation and discussion series. In the second year, the program moves into methodologies of inquiry. Program participants strengthen ties with community-based organizations and schools in Detroit and other nearby urban settings. In the spring semester, students can serve as interns for community groups, potentially co-designing summer opportunities for youth.

The longer term prospective for LUCY is the compelling nature of the program for those who wish to do interdisciplinary studies involving psychology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, English, literacy, mathematics education, history, and other studies relevant to urban concerns. In its current form, the program is particularly beneficial for those considering careers in education or social work. Future constructs to professional schools and colleges also could comprise public health, information, and architecture and urban planning, among others.

As the United States is facing a significant teacher shortage, particularly in urban settings, the LUCY program can be helpful in preparing students to enter this field. The program offers an opportunity for undergraduates who have a commitment to local communities to gain a vision of themselves engaged in work in an educational and urban environment.