Randolph Career Technical Education School in Detroit becomes 1st educational partner in Project Green Light

• Detroit Employment Solutions Corp. pays for installation of 23 cameras
• Cameras being monitored at DPD’s Real Time Crime Center
• Project Green Light now has more than 300 partners citywide
The City of Detroit’s innovative crime reduction program Project Green Light has signed up its first partner in the education field: The Phillip C. Randolph Career Technical Education (CTE) School on Hubbell Street.
Through a partnership between the Detroit Public Schools Community District, the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) and several private funders, Randolph CTE has greatly expanded its daytime and nighttime skilled trades training program. Currently there are 300 students taking classes throughout the day and the city is in the process of enrolling 300 adults for nighttime classes.
“DPSCD students’ safety is key to increasing our enrollment and creating a learning environment where students can focus on their education,” said Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, DPSCD. “We are grateful for the security camera infrastructure that will protect not only the investments that were made to bring Randolph Career and Technical Center back to a thriving educational institution, but the newly installed cameras will also ensure the safety of our faculty and guests as well.”
As part of the new partnership, DESC has paid for the installation of 23 cameras on school’s exterior (21 exterior and two interior entrance cameras), which were installed by Detroit-based Infinite Technologies. The cameras will monitor the schools large parking lot, as well as entry and exit points of the school building. Vitti also said that he is in talks with the city about expanding Project Green Light to other DPSCD schools.
Project Green Light, which now has nearly 300 locations, has played a key role in reducing crime at partnering businesses, according to Chief James Craig. The original 8 gas stations that became a part of Project Green Light two years ago have seen a nearly 60% reduction in violent crime at or adjacent to their businesses. Across all 300 Green Light Businesses, whether they joined the program early on or as recently as 2018, there has been an average 30% reduction in violent crime from 2015-2017.
“Ensuring the safety and security of our residents is our number one priority,” said Chief James Craig. “With this exciting new partnership, we will continue our efforts in creating a safe environment for all who live, work and play in the City of Detroit.”