“The Boulevard House”: A SETTLEMENT HOUSE APPROACH TO PROJECT BASED LEARNING IN URBAN COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The Boulevard House is a theoretically framed project-based learning initiative in Southwest (SW) Detroit, the location of multiple projects by faculty in the three UM schools of social work (SSW), music, theater and dance (SMTD) and the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design (PSSA&D). We implement and evaluate the Settlement House approach to enact and measure the effects of this form of project coordination, shared learning opportunities, scholarly and professional contributions and community-university change making. The findings and outcomes can situate discussions of replication of the Settlement House approach to other venues in Detroit and Michigan. The shared learning experiences for students and faculty in these three professional schools can create a space and agenda to develop a more enhanced collaborative program between the SSW, PSSA&D and SMTD for pedagogy of community engagement and social change.