Supporting School Access for Detroit Families
WITH EXCELLENT SCHOOLS DETROIT + DETROIT PARENT NETWORK
Research, Writing, Design, and Communication Strategy to Support Detroit FamiliesNavigating Detroit’s education landscape can be overwhelming, especially for families with young children or those unfamiliar with available options. In partnership with Excellent Schools Detroit and Detroit Parent Network, we created two tools to make school information more accessible: one to guide families in choosing a K–12 school and another to raise awareness about affordable preschool programs.
We began by interviewing parents and caregivers across public, charter, and early childhood settings to understand the real questions and barriers families face. These insights shaped both content and design through a participatory process that prioritized clarity, cultural relevance, and low-literacy accessibility.
To support families navigating K–12 options, we created “How to Choose a School,” a print and digital resource that outlines four clear steps to help parents make informed decisions. The guide encourages caregivers to ask questions and find the best fit for their child’s needs. Printed in a run of 20,000 copies, it was distributed door-to-door alongside other Detroit Parent Network materials. View How to Choose a School.
For families exploring preschool, we designed “The Early Kid Gets Ahead!” to highlight three key programs: Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program, and Michigan’s Child Care Subsidy. The booklet, available in English and Spanish, translated institutional information into an easy-to-use guide grounded in parent feedback and real-world testing. View The Early Kid Gets Ahead.
Both projects reflect our commitment to working with communities to create public resources that are clear, practical, and people-centered.
