Civic Leaders Bring New Model of Urban Schooling to Detroit With Help of Kmart Corporation; Dedication to Take Place Oct. 23

WHAT: A group of civic leaders including former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Doug Ross, and Dean of the School of Education at the University of Michigan Karen Wixson, have brought a new model of urban schooling to Detroit that has succeeded in other cities in graduating 90 percent of minority students from high school and sending 90 percent of those graduates on to college.

The school, University Preparatory Academy (UPA), will officially dedicate its new building near Detroit's cultural center this Tuesday. The purchase of the new facility was made possible by a significant contribution from Kmart Corporation. Chuck Conaway, Kmart Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will present the gift at the official school opening.

  WHO:    Doug Ross, UPA Co-Principal
          Jean Baker, UPA Co-Principal
          Charlene Johnson, UPA Board President
          Chuck Conaway, Kmart Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  WHEN:   Tuesday, Oct. 23
          10 a.m.

  WHERE:  University Preparatory Academy
          5310 St. Antoine (1/2 block north of Warren)
          Detroit, Mich.

CONTACT: Doug Ross, UPA Co-Principal, +1-313-831-0100; or Julie Fracker of Kmart Corporation, +1-248-463-1021.

PRNewswire -- Oct. 19

SOURCE: University Preparatory Academy