DCDS Students to Create a Detroit Freedom Trail

Eighth grade students at Detroit Country Day School are embarking on their own social revolution to create a version of the Boston Freedom Trail attraction that showcases pivotal historic and cultural locations in the City of Detroit. Now the students are bringing their research to life by presenting their ideas to local business and cultural leaders.

Inspired by the annual class trip to visit sites along the Boston Freedom Trail in which students research stops to act as expert guides, the project has grown into a multifaceted history program where students explore their city and learn about social revolutions taking place in Detroit, such as gender equality, racial equality, the Detroit Race Riots, role of Detroit in the Underground Railroad, Industrial Revolution of Detroit, auto industry, Motown music revolution and more.

“Our students are learning to experience Detroit as a major social, historic and cultural epicenter, and are very excited to share their final projects to local influencers and members of the community,” said Kevin DuRoss, DCDS Middle School History Department Chair. “The program’s ultimate objective is for students to understand social revolutions and to learn that they can make an impact and leave a lasting legacy—which in this case could be the creation of a Detroit Freedom Trail.”

The presentations included multiple revolutionary trails with student-created videos accompanied by oral presentations where students have the opportunity to “pitch” their idea to their classmates, teacher, and authentic audience members. The project aims for students to learn about their community’s history and significance in the context of social revolution, and see that they can take action to make a difference in their city.