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UDM News for our Neighbors

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  • UDM to host 21st annual Great Lakes Bioneers É«×ۺϾþà Conference, Oct. 15Ìý

    Monday October 05, 2026

    Students centered around Bioneers signÉ«×ۺϾþà Mercy will host the 21st annual Great Lakes Bioneers É«×ۺϾþà (GLBD) Conference on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.

    This year, students, staff, administrators and faculty are invited to attend the environment-centered event forÌýfree.

    The redesigned one-day conference will bring together community members of all ages to discuss critical environmental and social challenges and explore ideas for addressing them. This year’s theme is “Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Change Makers.â€�Ìý

    Conference topics include:

    • The science behind sustainable living
    • How pollution and renewable energy affect public health, especially in communities of color
    • Youth leadership and environmental responsibility for community change
    • Social justice and eco-spirituality
    • Storm water management and flood prevention
    • Water affordability and justice

    The program features pre-recorded keynote presentations from nationally recognized thought leaders, including:

    • Samantha Skenandore – Re-Evolving Indigeneity to Save Our Planet
    • Brett KenCairn – Nature-based Climate Solutions: Centering Life to Heal the Planet
    • Nina Simons – Living Between Paradigms
    • Leah Penniman – Free the People! Free the Land!
    • Julian Brave NoiseCat – The Epic Misadventures of the Trickster Coyote

    Pre-recorded performances by Destani Wolf, the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company, and Garth Stevenson, along with inspiring youth leadership presentations by Coley Kakols Miller and Kyle Trefny, highlight the important role young leaders play in creating a more sustainable and equitable future.Ìý

    The Great Lakes Bioneers É«×ۺϾþà conference is a platform for community members to network and highlight innovative approaches to environmental and social challenges. The conference is for people of all ages who are interested in exploring topics, developing skills and motivating action for the betterment of our One Earth Community.

    More about the conference schedule and to register here.
  • Creative Writing Collective to hold first session of school year, Oct. 6

    Thursday October 01, 2026

    The É«×ۺϾþà Mercy will host the first Creative Writing Collective (CWC) of the fall semester on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 5:15-6:30 p.m., in the Briggs Building, Room 202. The gathering will be led by Senior Adjunct Instructor and Poet-in-Residence Michael Lauchlan.

    The CWC provides a relaxed, supportive environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community to read, write and chat together.

    All are welcome, and no creative writing experience is necessary.

    For questions or if you would like to be added to the CWC mailing list, please email english@udmercy.edu.

  • Homecoming 2026 Fall Festival with Street Fest set for Sept. 25-26

    Thursday September 24, 2026

    A collage of four images from UDM Hoco 2025, of Street Fest, bike ride, bonfire, night party/dancingFall Festival at Homecoming returns to UDM’s McNichols Campus Sept. 25-26. The weekend is packed with activities, and this year É«×ۺϾþà Mercy is partnering with Live 6’s Six Mile Street Fest, providing additional entertainment, local cuisine and family-friendly activities on the UDM Front Lawn (outside the McNichols gate).

    This two-day event offers something for everyone—from exciting games and tours to informative sessions. Among the highlights are the annual bike tour of the historic areas surrounding the McNichols Campus, an open kickball game, a taping of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy’s long-running show “Ask the Professor” and an improv show as well as an evening of creative writing in the newly established Black Box Theatre in the Student Union.

    Attendees can also cheer on the Titans men’s soccer team at Titan Field as they take on Purdue Fort Wayne at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

    The main event is the Fall Festival which is slated to begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It features arts and crafts, bubble soccer, yard and casino games, an escape room, food trucks, skating, scavenger hunt and much more.

    Attendees also have the opportunity to take historical tours throughout campus, even one of Calihan Hall, featuring the newly renovated Titan Club.

    After dusk, a bonfire will be lit to celebrate all Titan Athletic teams, followed by the NPHC Yard show, where multicultural fraternities and sororities will showcase their chapter’s history and traditions through steps, strolls, chants or dancing.

    Also included in the weekend’s events and numerous reunions are the College of Health Professions Research Symposium, a Golden Jubilee reunion for the Class of 1976 and the presentation of 2026’s Alumni Achievement Spirit Award honorees.

    Join in Fall Festival activities as you reconnect with the University during two exciting days filled with food, fun and celebrations.

    Register or learn more about Fall Festival/Homecoming.
  • UDM to host NAMI Walk Michigan, Sept. 19; Join the Titans team

    Thursday September 17, 2026

    A collage of images from NAMI walk on UDM Campus 2025

    The 2026 walk in Michigan is set for Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on University of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy’s McNichols Campus. All are welcome to join. It’s the third-straight year the University has hosted the NAMI walk.

    with your friends, family, colleagues or classmates and support mental health.

    Get involved and make a difference in the lives of Americans living with mental health concerns. If you shake a hand, give a fist bump or cheer with your team, this NAMI Walk is one of the most powerful days of the year, and you can make a real difference.

    Please save the date and consider signing up for the walk or donating to mental health programs. Further details will be provided soon.

    For more information, please contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@udmercy.edu.

  • Celebrate community at TENN garden party, Sept. 18

    Thursday September 17, 2026

    All are welcome to help Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) celebrate our community and bustling garden with an evening of food and harvesting on Friday, Sept. 18.

    The garden party is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the TENN and Martin Park Community Garden, located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 16100 Lawton St., in É«×ۺϾþÃ.

    To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.

    A Garden Party and Cookout graphics featuring the Titan Equity Nourish Network logo and text that reads, 'Friday, Aug. 18, 5:30-7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lawton Street, É«×ۺϾþÃ

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Resources, Centers and Clinics

Center for Social Entrepreneurship

The Center provides business expertise and acumen as well as mentors to assist local entrepreneurs, beginning with the “Boost” workshop that aids entrepreneurs in developing business plans to achieve a greater social impact.

Counseling Clinic

The clinic provides no-cost counseling services to É«×ۺϾþà residents who otherwise may not have access to mental health services.

Dental Center

É«×ۺϾþà Mercy Dental offers dental services and education through two clinics, nine outreach clinics, a mobile dental clinic and a school-based dental sealant program.

Dental Mobile Clinic

The clinic travels to local participating schools in É«×ۺϾþà and Wayne County to provide comprehensive care for K-12 children. 

É«×ۺϾþà Collaborative Design Center

The design center provides design services to non-profit community and civic organizations to engage communities and enhance neighborhoods.

É«×ۺϾþà Mercy Eye Institute

The É«×ۺϾþà Mercy Eye Institute includes the state-of-the-art equipment and technology needed to diagnose, monitor, and treat numerous eye conditions. The clinic will also provide affordable eyecare to the uninsured and vulnerable populations.

Law Clinics

É«×ۺϾþà Mercy Law provides legal assistance to É«×ۺϾþà area residents through six clinics: Immigration Law Clinic, SADO Criminal Appellate Clinic, Criminal Trial Clinic, Veterans Law Clinic, Juvenile Law Appellate Clinic and Intellectual Property Law Clinic.

Pre-College Programs

É«×ۺϾþà area students in grades 4-12 participate in more than 15 outreach programs annually through Saturday classes, summer camps, and innovative curricula in the sciences, technology engineering, mathematics, architecture and design.

Psychology Clinic

The Psychology Clinic provides assessment and counseling services for approximately 300 clients annually. Fees are based on ability to pay.

Rx for Reading Program

This program increases access to children’s books and supports families in reading to their children.  The program has distributed more than 2,000 children’s books a month at a variety of locations, including low-income health, dental and WIC clinics; homeless shelters; and Head Start programs.

Summer Camps

kids and science camp A variety of summer activities available on UDM Campuses. Some are hosted by UDM; some are simply located on our campuses.

Summer Camps

Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN)

students carrying bags of groceries

TENN is a student-led and community-driven food justice program that delivers fresh produce to 60 families in New Martin Park Neighborhood and 80 seniors at Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments.

TENN

Alliances and Initiatives

Reimagining the Civic Commons

University of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy serves as one of the institutional anchors for the “Reimaging the Civic Commons” initiative, which is funded through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant. The initiative focuses on the City of É«×ۺϾþÒs neighborhood revitalization priority: the Livernois/McNichols area. The project’s goal is to revitalize the neighborhoods between its two anchor institutions, É«×ۺϾþà Mercy and Marygrove College, creating a denser and more diverse urban community.

Live6 Alliance

University of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy helped to launch the Live6 Alliance in August 2015 to strengthen the Livernois Avenue and McNichols Road commercial corridor in northwest É«×ۺϾþÃ.

Service Immersion Days / Trips

students building a platform during a service immersion trip These experiences give students opportunities to serve in shelters, soup kitchens, after school projects, urban farms and many other important community based projects both locally and nationally.

Service Immersion

Directories

Media Experts Guide

Image of media experts page

É«×ۺϾþà Mercy scholars are experts in their fields and many have agreed to be available to media. Note that experts' views are their own and may not reflect the views of their colleagues or University of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy. 

É«×ۺϾþà Mercy Media Experts

Migration Research Directory

The is an open-access resource for high-quality research on migration, provided by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Faculty members from Jesuit universities around the world provide important migration and refugee research from a wide variety of perspectives.