鈥淚 want to see Detroit as I saw it as a little girl,鈥 she said, 鈥渁s a place for opportunity and prosperity.鈥
That鈥檚 why Bennett founded S.T.A.R.R. Movement鈥擲tanding Together, Agreeing, Representing Revolution鈥攁n organization dedicated to youth leadership development and local civic service engagement.
The organization鈥檚 first project, S.T.A.R.R. Leaders, launches this January. The goal? Challenge Detroit youth to actively participate in the revitalization of their neighborhoods.
S.T.A.R.R. Leaders will meet two Saturdays a month on UM-Dearborn鈥檚 campus. Guest speakers will cover topics like community organizing, urban renewal, social justice and advocacy. Then, students will head out into the community to work on service projects鈥攔emoving blight, cleaning up neighborhoods around schools and volunteering in soup kitchens are on the schedule.
鈥淵oung people have such a spark,鈥 Bennett said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to miss the opportunity to light that spark. I want to pour into them and mold them and challenge them to change their communities.鈥
In many ways, she sees her work as an opportunity to pay it forward. Bennett has been on the receiving end of mentorship, especially during her time at UM-Dearborn.
鈥淯M-Dearborn functions as a community. I can鈥檛 talk about S.T.A.R.R. Movement without talking about the university,鈥 Bennett said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful for Amy Karaban Finley鈥檚 mentorship and leadership and for the 鈥榗ommunity of higher education鈥 that Vice Chancellor Henderson always talks about.鈥
Bennett first dreamed up the idea for S.T.A.R.R. Movement as her vision project for the university鈥檚 Blueprints Leadership Program, led by Karaban Finley.
鈥淪herra is committed to making change for young people in the community she loves, Detroit. I鈥檓 not surprised that her inspired vision has captivated the hearts of many friends and funders,鈥 said Karaban Finley, assistant director for CIViC engagement. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be prouder of her for taking this idea from vision to reality.鈥
Bennett鈥檚 work on S.T.A.R.R. Movement has started to gain national traction. In April, she won the Summit Award and Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award at Mobilize.org鈥檚 Detroit Summit. And last month she was named Ashoka U鈥檚 Changemaker of the Week.
The recognition drives Bennett to continue to build the program and dream about the future, saying, 鈥淢y impact is only as large as my vision.鈥
