Detroit knows how to take care of its own, especially when the next generation is on the line. This Saturday, families will gather at the Durfee Innovation Society for a Back-to-School Celebration and Supply Drive hosted by Hill Harper. The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs throughout the day at 2470 Collingwood Street, offering a mix of resources and joy that reflects what community looks like when people show up for each other.
Presented by City Sweat Club, the celebration will feature music from DJ Hi-Def Steff, free backpacks and essential school supplies while they last, and activities designed for children to feel excited about the school year ahead. Local organizations will also be on hand with information about youth programs, health resources, and enrollment opportunities.
Harper says the goal is simple: make sure Detroit kids head back to class ready and confident. “Every child deserves to start the school year equipped and encouraged,” he said. “When the community shows up, with supplies, love, and joy, we’re telling our young people: we believe in you, and we’re standing with you.”
For families across the city, the cost of starting school isn’t light. Backpacks, notebooks, and uniforms add up quickly, and for households already balancing rent and groceries, the strain is real. Events like this step in where systems often fall short. They bring parents the support they need without judgment. They bring children what they need to learn without delay.
These gatherings do more than fill bookbags. They strengthen the bonds that hold a neighborhood together. A parent might leave with more than pencils; they might leave with a new connection for tutoring or a lead on a youth mentorship program. A child might come for a backpack but walk away with a sense that the city cares about their success. That feeling matters as much as any supply on the list.
Detroit’s history tells this story over and over. When the city faced hard times, it was churches, block clubs, and local leaders who carried the load. Today is no different. The Durfee Innovation Society, once a school and now a hub for nonprofits and entrepreneurs, stands as proof that reinvestment is possible when the community takes the lead.
Saturday’s event is another chapter in that tradition. It’s about sending kids to class prepared, yes, but it’s also about sending a message: you are not invisible, and you are not alone. That message lasts long after the backpacks are gone.
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