Celebrating Transformation at the ARC Fellowship Show & Share Exhibition

ARC Fellows Share Powerful Stories of Culturally Responsive and Restorative Action

On May 3, educators from HFLI’s Allies for Radical Collaboration (ARC) fellowship came together for a vibrant Show & Share Exhibition, the culminating event of a months-long journey of personal and professional transformation. In this "science fair-style" showcase, ARC Fellows shared stories of change—how they identified key challenges within their educational ecosystems and took culturally responsive, restorative action to address them.

ARC cohorts focused on creating deeper, more equitable learning environments by looking inward, building authentic community, and rooted in identity, connection, and agency by designing interventions rooted in activating culturally responsive and restorative practices. Through the ARC Fellowship, participants explored how their personal and social identities influence their teaching, engaged in community fieldwork, and carried out personal action research projects that addressed real needs in their schools.

What Did the ARC Fellows Do?

ARC Fellows followed a powerful, reflective process to bring their projects to life:

• Ecosystem Mapping: Fellows created context maps that visualized the systems, people, and spaces they interact with daily, helping them identify leverage points for change.
• Intentional Action: Drawing on culturally responsive teaching practices and restorative justice principles, each fellow selected a focused action to positively impact students and their broader community.
• Data Collection & Analysis: After two months of implementation, fellows reflected on the effects of their actions, received peer feedback, and refined their approaches to achieve a deeper impact.
• Reflection & Storytelling: Each fellow synthesized their learning into a visual presentation using student work, documentation, and data to share the why, what, and how behind their project.

ARC in Action: Building a Better Future

The ARC Show & Share was more than an exhibition—it was a celebration of what’s possible when educators are given the space to reflect deeply, connect with purpose, and take action with intention. As ARC Fellows return to their schools, they carry with them not only new tools and strategies but also a renewed sense of agency and a network of peers committed to transformative change.

Thank you to our ARC Fellows for your dedication, leadership, and bold vision for the future of education. We are proud to support your journey.

Ford Law Career Academy Students Dive Into a Legal Experience at Brooks Kushman

In May, a group of bright, ambitious students from the Ford Law Career Academy at Henry Ford Academy visited Brooks Kushman Law Firm in Royal Oak for a hands-on field experience centered on the art of negotiation.

Brooks Kushman, a nationally recognized intellectual property law firm, opened their doors to the students as part of its ongoing commitment to community engagement and diversity in the legal field. Attorneys and staff welcomed the students with mentorship and encouragement, offering real-world perspectives on the day-to-day responsibilities of legal professionals.

Students participated in a simulated negotiation guided by legal professionals, focusing on two key learning objectives: “I can represent a client in a negotiation” and “I can identify the interests of a client.” The interactive session provided insight into the complexities of legal negotiations and helped students continue to develop the critical thinking, communication, and advocacy skills essential in legal practice. However, it was not just about developing negotiation skills, but seeing themselves in legal spaces and envisioning a future in which they belong.

The visit was part of Ford Law's structured approach to preparing underrepresented high school students for careers in law through immersive, real-world experiences. Through partnerships with law firms, courts, and legal educators, Ford Law equips students with foundational legal knowledge, practical experience, and professional mentorship, providing them with an early start on their journey to becoming future lawyers, advocates, and leaders in justice.

As a high-energy warm-up before their Show & Share Exhibition, our ARC Fellows kicked things off with Snap, Clap, Stomp. It's a fast-paced, laughter-filled game designed to loosen up the body and energize the room. With no materials needed and just a few simple rules, this 10–15 minute activity challenged pairs to replace numbers with gestures in a counting game that got progressively harder (and sillier). Beyond the fun, the game offered a playful reminder of how focus, teamwork, and embracing mistakes are key to collaboration—lessons our Fellows carried into their final presentations.