Play, Wander & Connect: Youth Engagement in Little Village

This Urban Technology studio teaches students to develop strategies for change by creating proposals that are situated in a specific place, addressing a system in meaningful ways, and seeking positive impacts such as sustainability, justice, and humanity.

This project is inspired by a world where a child can safely walk the streets of Detroit alone to get to school. It explores how innovative urban systems—both physical and digital—can support the needs and daily experiences of a neighborhood's youth, emphasizing independence, recreation, and safety. To achieve this, students designed a system centered around Detroit’s underused alleyways, creating a place for kids to be kids, a safety surveillance tool for parents to check in remotely, and a Community Alley Trust to foster a neighborhood culture rooted in safety and youth support.