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Detroit Regional Chamber > Open Door

Open Door

Open Door

Too many students leave college because of housing instability, financial emergencies, lack of child care, transportation gaps, or food insecurity.

Open Door is an on-campus, in-person student support program developed by the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Drives Degrees program in partnership with Henry Ford College, Wayne State University, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan to help students navigate non-academic barriers by connecting them directly with resources and support.

Open Door meets students where they are. While the program is focused on students participating in Detroit Promise, Detroit Reconnect, and Michigan Reconnect at Henry Ford College and Wayne State University, no student seeking support will be turned away.

There is no such thing as a prosperous region that is not also highly educated. Helping students overcome unexpected, real-life challenges to continue through their education will produce more graduates, building a more robust talent pipeline to grow the regional workforce.

What Makes Open Door Unique

 

  • Students are met where they are, connecting one-on-one with someone from the United Way for Southeast Michigan on their campus.

 

  • Students only have to tell their story once.

 

  • Students receive clear next steps and direct connections to campus and community resources.

 

  • Support continues until solutions are in place; this is not just a referral.

Support Areas

Housing Stability

Emergency shelter, rental assistance, and housing navigation

Financial Support

Benefits navigation, emergency funds, and application assistance

Child Care

Subsidies, programs, and community options

Transportation

Transit programs and campus access options

Food Security

Food pantries, SNAP enrollment, and community meals

Meghan Schmidbauer headshot

“We know many students leave college not because of academic challenges, but because of unexpected life circumstances, and the Chamber, with our partners at United Way, Henry Ford College, and Wayne State University, is deeply committed to ensuring students don’t bear those burdens alone or without support. Open Door is a truly collaborative effort to help more students complete their education and enter the workforce prepared and empowered.” 

– Meghan Schmidbauer, Senior Director, Detroit Drives Degrees, Detroit Regional Chamber

Sandy K. Baruah

“Michigan’s economic future, competitiveness, and workforce depend on more students completing postsecondary credentials, and the data proves it. Our State of Education and Talent report showed that those with a bachelor’s degree or higher achieve a net worth five times that of those with just a high school diploma, and nearly two-thirds of the state’s top-paying jobs go to those with four-year degrees. Continuing the work to eliminate barriers to student success is imperative, and the Chamber is proud to innovate in that space through Open Door.” 

– Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber

Get Involved

 

Interested in being a part of Open Door? Contact Meghan Schmidbauer, Senior Director of Detroit Drives Degrees, at mschmidbauer@detroitchamber.com to learn more.