By: K. Michelle Moran | Grosse Pointe Times | Published September 24, 2024
GROSSE POINTES/HARPER WOODS — Adults with diverse learning needs will have more opportunities to further their educations and develop new skills, thanks to a new initiative.
The Grosse Pointe Park-based nonprofit Michael B’s Cafe and Wayne County Community College District have teamed up to assemble continuing education and other classes for adults with autism and other divergent learning conditions. The first classes, in cake decorating and watercolor painting — both continuing education — were slated to start the week of Sept. 30. A photography class is also slated to be taught at the scenic Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores.
“We’re pretty excited about this,” said Alicia Carlisle, the founder of Michael B’s Cafe.
The cost of the classes this fall is $45 apiece.
“That is the beauty of community college,” Carlisle said. “We’re looking to keep costs down and provide really great instructors.”
WCCCD will supply the instructors, Carlisle said. Most classes will be offered at WCCCD’s Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center in Harper Woods.
Pointe Area Assisted Transportation Services, or PAATS, will be providing rides to and from classes for students who need them.
When Carlisle approached WCCCD’s Denis Karic, associate provost of the Mary Ellen Stempfle University center, he enthusiastically embraced the idea.
“I think it’s the mission of community college to make a commitment to make education accessible to everybody,” Karic said.
The program is so new, it doesn’t have a name yet, Karic said.
When the winter semester starts in January, Carlisle said, they expect to start offering curriculum classes toward an associate degree or a certificate, along with additional continuing education classes.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Carlisle said.
Classes in daily living skills are another thing they’d like to offer, Carlisle said. She said they’re hoping to get feedback from the community as far as what they feel would be beneficial.
Karic said WCCCD wants to “make sure everyone has the opportunity to thrive academically and personally.”
He said they’re working closely with Michael B’s to tailor these classes to best meet the needs of students and create an environment conducive to learning. Karic said this partnership reflects WCCCD’s efforts to be inclusive. He said they hope this program has a positive ripple effect on the community. It could end up being a model for other institutions of higher education to replicate on their campuses.
“I think we’re really excited about the possibilities this partnership with Michael B’s represents,” Karic said.
WCCCD’s Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center is located at 19305 Vernier Road in Harper Woods. To register or for more information, visit www.wcccd.edu or call (313) 962-7150. A registration form can also be found on the Michael B’s Café website at michaelbcafe.com.