The Detroit River Story Lab’s Skiff and Schooner Program is setting sail for its second summer, this time accommodating even more students in its quest to foster connection between the river and its communities.

Jamon Jordan, or Baba Jamon to his students, started educating people about the history of Detroit long before he was named the city’s first historian last October. An elementary and middle school teacher for 16 years, Jordan has strived to educate his students about history in a way that is inclusive and engaging.

The schooner outings are part of the Detroit River Skiff and Schooner Program, which was created by the University of Michigan’s Detroit River Story Lab in partnership with the Detroit Outdoor Adventure Center, the Green Door Initiative, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. On the outings students learn about what it takes to sail the boat, as well as about the river’s plant and animal life, the history surrounding the river, and much more.

The Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project connects small businesses with University of Michigan students and staff to help solve the issues they face involving law, business, finance and more. Since its founding, the project has helped 423 businesses, 95% of which are minority-owned.

Since 2009, Semester in Detroit has offered students a completely immersive experience studying, living and working in the city for an entire semester. The goal is not only to foster a greater understanding of Detroit, but also to encourage students to learn from and build relationships with long-time community members while contributing to the causes of partner organizations focused in food accessibility, education and youth development, environmental justice and more.