By Tamara Laska
During the Fall 2024 semester, students in Dr. Sigrid Streit’s ENL 4070: Grant Writing class collaborated with Arts & Scraps, a local Detroit non-profit, on a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) project. The students learned from Arts & Scraps about their work in the community. They then researched and wrote grant proposals the non-profit will use to support its mission. Tamara Laska reflects on her experience.
“We don’t separate kids by zip code.”
As I sit on my couch now, thinking back to the last day of Grant Writing class, those words from Ang Adamiak, the Executive Director of Arts & Scraps, come rushing back to me. It feels surreal to reflect on how much this experience has shaped not just my academic journey but my understanding of community and purpose.
Junior year has been the most challenging year so far, balancing pre-med coursework with MCAT prep and the pressure of staying on top of everything was something else. At first, I thought adding a Grant Writing class might be too much. But looking back now, I realize it was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made. This wasn’t just a writing class; it was a community-engaged learning experience that showed me how powerful words can be when they’re used to advocate for meaningful change.
Grant Writing, as we learned, is the art of crafting persuasive and purposeful proposals to secure funding for organizations. It’s not just about presenting facts; it’s about building a compelling case for why an organization deserves support. In our class, we focused on developing skills like researching, analyzing, and writing grant proposals. It was challenging work, but it taught us how to tell a story, one that could inspire action and unlock potential.
Our class partnered with Arts & Scraps; a nonprofit organization based in Detroit. They specialize in turning recycled materials into art supplies, using creativity to inspire learning, especially for children in underserved communities. Their focus is on providing STEM classes to children in neighborhoods throughout Detroit and the Detroit Metro area. They are preparing and exposing these kids to STEM classes at a very early age, which will help them with decisions that they want for the future. Visiting Arts & Scraps’ facility was a turning point in our work and understanding better of how this organization works.
At the beginning of the semester, Ang had a zoom video call with our class, presenting Arts & Scraps to us and sharing the main idea of what they do and why they do it. This is how our interest in this organization started and also increased our interest to go and visit Arts & Scraps at their location in person.
As soon as I pulled into the parking lot of Arts & Scraps, I felt the energy of the place. The building’s colorful walls, painted with vibrant flowers, seemed to radiate creativity. Walking inside was like stepping into a wonderland. Shelves were filled with every kind of material imaginable—fabric swatches, cardboard shapes, plastic pieces, and buttons—all waiting to be transformed. It wasn’t just a store; it was a community hub where creativity and sustainability came together.
What stood out most during the visit was how Arts & Scraps brings people together. Ang talked about how families from all over the city come to the store, breaking down barriers of zip codes and backgrounds. She shared stories of children’s eyes lighting up as they picked out supplies, parents brainstorming project ideas, and teachers finding affordable ways to deepen their mission: to make creativity and learning accessible to everyone, no matter their circumstances.
The visit solidified our commitment to writing a grant proposal that would truly reflect the heart of Arts & Scraps. Back in class, our group focused on neighborhoods like Martin Park and LaSalle Gardens, identifying the unique challenges they face and the ways Arts & Scraps could address them. It wasn’t always easy deciding on the right approach; conducting research and ensuring we stayed true to the organization’s voice required a lot of collaboration.
But our team sessions were where the magic happened. We brought different strengths to the table, refining ideas together and pushing each other to dig deeper. I remember feeling inspired during one of our brainstorming sessions, realizing that we weren’t just writing a document—we were building a bridge between Arts & Scraps and potential funders, helping to expand their reach and impact.
During the semester we had different presentations and speeches, but the most important ones were with Ang present in class. Our research project was presented to Ang herself and we could see how proud she was for all our work. Of course, she pointed out different things that might’ve looked “odd” to her or the organization itself, but in general remarked that we had provided solid work that might change the life of lots of kids in the future.
On the last day of class, I thought about how far we had come. Our work wasn’t just academic; it was rooted in a real-world mission to empower kids and families through art and education. The experience has changed the way I see community work. I’ve learned that grant writing isn’t just about securing funding; it’s about telling a story, one that inspires others to invest in change.
Now, as I sit here on my couch, with my hot chocolate in my hands, looking at the fireplace, I feel proud of what we accomplished. Visiting Arts & Scraps showed me the power of seeing value in the overlooked, whether it’s a piece of scrap material or a child in need of opportunity. I’ve gained skills, yes, but more importantly, I’ve gained a new perspective on the kind of impact I want to have.
Tamara Laska is a third-year international student from Albania studying at the University of Detroit Mercy. She is pursuing a major in Biology with a pre-medicine focus, reflecting her ambition to enter the medical field. Despite her busy and messy academic schedule, her passion for writing inspired her to find a way to incorporate it into her studies. To nurture her creative side, she decided to minor in English, specializing in creative writing. Additionally, Tamara is a proud member of the university’s Honors Program, further demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and personal growth.