Posted March 12, 2026 in Life at Lawrence
Last month, Lawrence’s Black Student Union (BSU) traveled to Detroit for a day rooted in service, culture, and connection. From exploring food justice at the Detroit People's Food Co-Op to a powerful guided tour at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, our students immersed themselves in the legacies of resilience and innovation.
The trip was a meaningful way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.
Reflections on the Journey from Rian Brown, Upper School Learning Strategies Teacher and BSU Advisor
Thank you to Mrs. Lanay Gilbert-Williams, President of the Detroit People's Co-Op, for generously dedicating her time to provide an inspiring and educational guided tour of the facilities to our student leaders. Her innovative insights on business operations, the community-oriented structure of cooperative economics, and encouraging students to follow opportunities for pursuing passions and the importance of self-determination were truly impactful. The students found the Co-Op model of grocery stores to be both inspiring and feasible, recognizing the importance of hard work and strategic planning in goal setting.
Thank you to Xavier Jack, our engaging tour educator at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, for making such a meaningful impact on our students. Their enthusiasm was so great that they did not want the tour to end. Xavier presented complex histories in a way that both acknowledged the realities and highlighted the empowering themes of resilience, innovation, and justice. As future leaders, our students have the opportunity to carry forward these legacies. We sincerely appreciated the thoughtfully curated experience in this historic museum.
This trip was highly meaningful to me as a Black educator and as an advisor to this club. It was BSU's way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and provided an opportunity to witness student leaders develop skills in planning, fundraising, and commitment to extending their education beyond the classroom. I am grateful for the chance to support the transformative, student-led programming that Black Student Union inspires.