The Metro: Detroit nonprofit helping to break higher ed barriers

Kelli McCloud, liaison for Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars, joined the show to talk about the nonprofit and getting high schoolers ready for college.

Kelli McCloud is a 2024 Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars Spark Award recipient for her impact and influence in education for the past three decades.

Kelli McCloud is a 2024 Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars Spark Award recipient for her impact and influence in education for the past three decades.

It’s that time of year again — back to school. Teachers are getting their classrooms ready and kids are soaking up the last days of summer vacation.

The Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars is a nonprofit that helps students from around southeast Michigan prepare for life after high school. 

Kelli McCloud is a liaison for Dollars for Scholars and works at Utica Community Schools supporting a group of sophomores, juniors and seniors. She joins The Metro on Tuesday to talk about getting high schoolers ready for the next chapter of their lives.

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McCloud says Dollars for Scholars helps students overcome barriers that prevent them from education opportunities beyond high school.

“Students are able to apply to get into this program, and this program gives them the opportunity to get SAT prep, which we all know the SAT,” McCloud said. “As much as we don’t want that score to mean everything, it means a lot when it comes to college money. And then it gives them opportunities to be able to go on campus tours, so just kind of opens up to all the different colleges that are out there. And then at the end of the program they get $4,000. So that’s one of the biggest stresses: money.”

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with McCloud.

More headlines from The Metro on Aug. 20, 2024: 

  • It’s the Detroit Public Theatre’s 10th Season! The organization produces nationally recognized plays from world-class writers, directors, actors and designers – all in the Midtown Detroit Neighborhood. Co-founder and Artistic Director of Detroit Public Theater  Courtney Burkett joined the show to preview the theatre’s upcoming season.
  • Oakland County Parks is hosting its final Diverse-Ability Day event of the summer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 WDET’s Sydney Waelchli spoke with Oakland County Parks and Recreation Supervisor Sandy Dorey on adaptive outdoor activities at the event and how they’re trying to make parks more inclusive.
  • Last month, the Michigan Supreme Court made a pivotal ruling that will increase the minimum wage and require businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees. President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan Brian Calley joined the show to discuss the ruling. He says that paid sick leave makes life harder for both business owners and workers. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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