In early May, a group of Michigan State University faculty members and administrators set out on the second Spartan Bus Tour to learn more about the communities in Detroit and how MSU works with partners to support the city’s economic development, advance the arts, transform schools, improve health and protect the environment.
Dr. Kelly Klump, MSU Foundation Professor and Dr. Kaston Anderson Jr., an associate professor, both in the Department of Psychology, were two of the 60 delegates on the bus.
Over two days and 254 miles, the group visited 14 spots including the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Research Center, the MSU Community Music School in Detroit, and the Apple Development Academy. The tour also included the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Motown Museum, the Arab American Natural Museum, and the Zekelman Holocaust Center.
“The community sites we visited reaffirmed my faith in humanity's resilience. Our greatest strength is in our sense of community—working together to build something far greater than ourselves,” said Anderson.
Being a part of this bus tour reminded Anderson of a quote by Lebanese poet and writer Kahill Gibran that says, “Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.”
“Detroit and MSU are living, breathing embodiments of Gibran's philosophy. Every one of us—regardless of our skin color, gender identity or sexual orientation, beliefs, or background, has a gift that deserves to be shared,” said Anderson. “And it's our responsibility to create welcoming spaces for everyone to share those gifts for the advancement of humanity.”
For Klump, it was important to join the tour as a Spartan and as a researcher.
“I am an MSU alum (1993 B.S. in Psychology!), and I quite literally, bleed green! I felt it was important for me to learn more about how MSU was impacting communities in the Detroit area but, more importantly, how we could expand our reach and create positive impacts for the communities that support us and so many in our state,” said Dr. Klump. “It was truly an inspiring trip that I am so grateful and proud to have been a part of!”
As a clinical psychologist, the stop at Henry Ford was invaluable to Klump.
“Our stop at Henry Ford was an important one for me in terms of learning how I could partner with scientists there in our studies of genetic and hormonal risk for psychopathology,” said Klump. “I was amazed at the science and clinical work that is being done at Henry Ford and am eager to see all the partnerships we can develop moving forward with the new buildings/labs being constructed and the increased connection between our institutions!”
Klump was also inspired by the creativity of the students at the Apple Academy, particularly the innovative practice of creating individual user manuals before team projects. These manuals help clarify work preferences and communication styles, fostering collaboration and enhancing productivity. She looks forward to incorporating these ideas into her classes and laboratory at MSU to help maximize students’ fulfillment and achievement.
For Anderson, the bus tour was an experience he will never forget.
“This was a transformational experience that reaffirmed the importance of community-academic partnerships. It was gratifying to see, in action, MSU’s firm commitment to reimagining and redefining what it means to be cocreators of knowledge with communities we serve,” said Anderson. “The Spartan Bus Tour fostered new collaborations and community partners, as well as innovative ideas to center community voices that are too often silenced.”
Photo credits: Derrick L. Turner, Nick Schrader and Garret Morgan.