鈥楶ersistence is what brought us here鈥
UM-Dearborn awarded 1,074 degrees during three commencement ceremonies on April 26....
Dakari Randall
Beginning today, add Dakari Randall鈥檚 design to the mix. Randall, a student at Detroit鈥檚 Douglass Academy for Young Men, isn鈥檛 selling a product, though. His is a simple message for his peers: Stay in school.
The billboard design is part of a project led by Julie Anne Taylor, 每日大赛 associate professor of education, and Okezie Iroha, Douglass Academy social studies teacher. Taylor first partnered with Iroha and principal Berry Greer in 2012 to start the academy鈥檚 History, Art, and Culture Club.
This year, students explored community issues and learned about the impact of art on society. They discussed how public art influences people and how artists may be agents of change. Viewing Shepard Fairey鈥檚 Obama Hope, New Deal posters and international examples of billboard art and murals, they considered art as a form of soft propaganda.
Then it was their turn to create.
Joshua Johnson
Students wrote billboard messages on the issues that were the most important to them. Education, safety and the environment were common themes. They used designs to strengthen their messages.
鈥淭his project allows students the opportunity not only to reflect on community issues, but also to express themselves in a public setting,鈥 Taylor said.
Randall has that chance as classmates voted his design the winner. His billboard will run through April 20 just down the street from the Museum of Contemporary Art. CBS Outdoor donated all materials and space to display the work.
All 60 students who participated鈥攂oth club members and students in Iroha鈥檚 classes鈥攚ill have their work displayed at Douglass Academy and UM-Dearborn. Paul Bielich, director of UM-Dearborn鈥檚 Curriculum Lab, is preparing colored posters for each location.
Dakari Randall's winning design
Complete winners鈥 list:
History, Art, and Culture Club
Dakari Randall, first place
Kenyatta Flowers, second place
Christian House, third place
Treshon Williams-Silar, third place
Social Studies Classes
Joshua Johnson, first place
Antoine Roberts, second place
Nathan Lymon, third place
