St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center

From GED to Healthcare Hero 💙🎓

Success stories like this remind us why our mission matters.

We're proud to celebrate one of our St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center GED graduates, recently featured in the Henry Ford Health Workforce Development Newsletter. Through determination, partnership, and opportunity, she earned her GED, completed medical assistant training, and is now building a rewarding career with Henry Ford Health.

This achievement is more than a personal milestone; it's proof that education opens doors, strengthens families, and creates brighter futures for our community.

Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment! Your journey inspires us all.

***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER***

SVSF Center is proud to support the Detroit Police Department's 9th Precinct and their ongoing efforts to strengthen community connections through Walk a Mile Wednesdays.

Join neighbors, community leaders, and DPD members for an evening walk focused on building relationships, promoting safety, and fostering a stronger Detroit, one step at a time.

📅 Wednesday, June 17
📍 Jesus Tabernacle of Deliverance Church
11001 Chalmers, Detroit, MI
🕠 Assemble at 5:30 PM | Walk begins at 6:00 PM

At SVSF Center, we believe that strong communities are built through connection, collaboration, and engagement. We encourage our friends and supporters to come out and walk alongside those working to make our neighborhoods stronger.

Walk A Mile Wednesday is coming back next week! All are welcome. Get free resources, food and meet your local officers. We’ll be here in person for whatever you need.

📍Where: Jesus Tabernacle of Deliverance Church, 11001 Chalmers St
⏰ When: Wednesday, June 17th | Meet-up at 5:30PM, Walking starts at 6PM
🫵 What to do: Show up! Don’t miss out!

This , we honor Juneteenth: a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of opportunity for all.

At St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center, we believe education is one of the strongest pathways to opportunity. From children strengthening their reading skills to adults earning their GEDs and preparing for new careers, every learner’s journey represents hope, growth, and possibility.

For more than 180 years, SVSF Center has been committed to helping individuals and families build brighter futures through education and support.

As we reflect on Juneteenth, we invite you to learn more about its history and significance here:
https://www.history.com/articles/what-is-juneteenth

This Mission Monday, we invite you to join us in celebrating the transformative power of education and the opportunities it creates for generations to come.

Together, we are building pathways to self-sufficiency, one learner, one family, and one success story at a time. Thank you for being part of our mission.

What Is Juneteenth? | HISTORY A federal holiday, Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States when news of the Emancip...

St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center was proud to host a Detroit Reconnect Café, welcoming adult learners into a supportive, no-pressure space to explore their next steps toward college and career pathways. The event brought together community members seeking guidance on returning to school with resources and funding opportunities like Michigan Reconnect.

We were grateful to see strong participation and meaningful conversations. Events like this reflect SVSF’s mission of walking alongside individuals as they build confidence, overcome barriers, and take real steps toward educational and economic mobility.

Building on the momentum of this successful event, we look forward to continuing the work of helping more members of our community move forward in their educational journeys.
SVSF continues to ensure that adult learners have the support they need not just to access educational opportunities, but to succeed and thrive.

Last week, St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center had the privilege of hosting a Career Readiness Panel in partnership with Lear Corporation. Our students heard firsthand from Lear representatives Ethan Simmer, Jacienta Dozier, Parker Wheatley, and Kya Schultz about their career paths and the important roles they play in Human Resources, Production, Quality, and Union Representation.

During the panel, the speakers shared valuable insights on the hiring process, interview preparation, workplace expectations, and the importance of paying close attention to detail. One powerful takeaway was the idea that every task matters, just like one piece on a production line can impact the success of the entire product, each individual’s effort contributes to the bigger picture.

We are grateful to Lear Corporation for investing time in our students and helping them build the skills and confidence needed for future career success.

At St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center, investing in our students starts with investing in our team.

As a member of the inaugural Detroit College Access Network University Certification Cohort, Adult Instructor/Navigator Beth Kraft is participating in an immersive professional learning experience focused on strengthening advising skills, postsecondary planning, and student success strategies.

Last week, Beth presented on SVSF's P.U.M.P. (Pathways to Upskilling and Mobility Program), sharing how the program helps adult learners build skills, pursue educational opportunities, and advance toward meaningful careers.

Through the cohort, Beth is also exploring ways to strengthen P.U.M.P. through more accurate data tracking and outcome measurement, helping SVSF better understand student progress, identify opportunities for support, and increase the program's impact.

By bringing new insights and best practices to SVSF, Beth is helping us create even more pathways to opportunity for the students and families we serve.

💙Mission in Motion: From Detroit to Lansing 💙

Last week, the mission of St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center traveled beyond the Center walls and into the State Capitol.

Executive Director Diane Renaud and Director of Development April Patti headed to our State Capitol to testify on behalf of the Center, before the State of Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity. This testimony shared how the Center is breaking barriers and bridging the gap between education and employment.

Through Adult Education and our PUMP (Placement, Upskilling, Mentoring Program), we are connecting education, workforce readiness, career pathways, and opportunity.

Our message was clear:
Adult education is workforce development.

Watch the testimony and learn why investing in education is investing in Michigan's future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7gYftiOvnI&t=10s

Every GED earned represents more than a credential. It represents perseverance, possibility, and a pathway forward, opening doors to employment, economic mobility, and a brighter future.