Suburban Church and African Centered School in Detroit Create Volunteer Program

Renaissance Unity Church in Warren, Michigan and Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology, an African-centered, DPS charter school on the East Side of Detroit, Create Unique Volunteer Project Geared to Student Success

During Timbuktu’s Back to School Open House Wednesday, September 1 at 11:30 A.M., Renaissance Unity volunteers are shelving over 2,000 donated books and setting-up the newly refurbished library. They are also bringing donated back packs filled with school supplies for each student

(Detroit, MI)---Renaissance Unity Church in Warren, Michigan and Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology, a K-8 Detroit Public School charter located on the east-side of the city, have created the T.R.U.E. Project, “Timbuktu, Renaissance Unity Education” Project, a unique Detroit school and suburban church collaboration that brings together volunteers from the congregation who are supporting students through tutoring, mentoring and school initiatives. Volunteers completed a school orientation last spring and began working with students. Relationships are forming and both students and volunteers look forward to their interaction. Many volunteers are sharing how much the experience is enriching their lives.

Timbuktu is an African-centered learning environment where the teaching methodology is student centered with images, subjects and lessons that are taught by teachers in a manner that reflects and reinforces the contributions to the world of African and African-American cultures in the areas of math, science, technology, entrepreneurship and the arts.

The T.R.U.E. Project is being hailed as a success by the church volunteers, students and staff. The volunteer collaboration discussions began last February with Renaissance Unity’s senior pastor, Rev. Jim Lee, who is African American, when he was introduced to Timbuktu by school administrators who heard him speak of his commitment and desire to have the Warren church involved with education and community outreach in the city of Detroit.

Rev. Lee was invited to the school where he met the staff, toured the building and saw the students in their classes excited about learning from their enthusiastic teachers. He was impressed and requested Timbuktu administrators meet with the church leadership to explore the possibilities of a volunteer program. After several meetings, Rev. Lee introduced Timbuktu to the congregation during a church service where parents, students and the principal Brenda Parker, spoke about the school and its impact in the community; a community that is surrounded by unsafe streets, abandoned, burnt out buildings and more than 95% of the students eligible for free and reduced lunch based on family income levels. They proudly expressed how the students continue to improve academically as documented by their MEAP scores and the school’s successful completion of the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as monitored by the state of Michigan.

T.R.U.E. project initiatives include refurbishing the school’s library with bookshelves and reading modules and the book drive that has collected more than 2,000 new and gently used books donated to the school by Renaissance Unity. Members of the church volunteered to catalogue the books by age and grade levels and are delivering them to the school Wednesday, September 1 during the annual Open House. In addition, more than 200 book bags filled with school supplies are being delivered to the school to be given to the students for the new school year.

The Timbuktu student art exhibit was placed at the church this summer and the members were so impressed with the caliber of the creative works that many asked to purchase some of the art. “This unique collaboration is an example of how we can eliminate barriers and distance to make a difference in the lives of our children,” said Rev. Lee. “Timbuktu is thrilled to have so many dedicated volunteers from Renaissance Unity giving of their time, talent and money to help our students and the school. This is a prime example of creative and unique opportunities that can help children,” concludes Timbuktu principal Brenda Parker.

Timbuktu is located at 10800 East Canfield in Detroit. The telephone number is 313-823-6000.