SOUND MIND SOUND BODY IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST PROGRAM AT THE SOUND MIND SOUND BODY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER

Summer Discovery Returns in 2025—Now Bigger, Bolder, and Backed by Ballmer Group, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and Sound Mind Sound Body

June 23 - July, 2025 (28 Days)

Sound Mind Sound Body is proud to announce the first program at the Sound Mind Sound Body Community Engagement Center. The SMSBCEC is the only community center serving the 48224-zip code.

This unique initiative will host over 220 rising 9th-grade male students, providing academic support in English and math led by certified teachers, along with enriching activities including field trips. The program runs for 25 days, with an 80% attendance requirement for all participants.

Becoming a Summer Discovery grantee allows sites to offer students the opportunity to explore their interests, engage in their communities, and discover their potential through robust enrichment and academic programming. This free program provides hands-on, fun learning experiences to support the whole child in their educational journey and life beyond the classroom.

Summer break is a time of relaxation for some, it can also be a period of academic decline for many students, especially Black children in poverty. Myths suggesting a lack of interest in summer learning among Black families continue to mask systemic barriers like access and affordability. A 2021 America After 3PM study revealed that nearly 70% of Black families would enroll their children in summer programs if cost and access weren’t obstacles.

Thanks to the transformational support of Ballmer Group and United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Summer Discovery is back—and it’s bigger than ever. In 2025, the program will expand to more than 180 sites, reaching over 30,000 students across Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties with high-quality enrichment, academic support, and memorable summer experiences—all free for families.

Steve Ballmer, Co-Founder of Ballmer Group and proud Detroit native, emphasized the importance of equity in opportunity: “Ballmer Group is proud to invest in summer learning and exploration for students in Southeast Michigan. We know the importance of summer in maintaining students’ progress and providing enrichment. We’re supporting schools to offer opportunities to kids in Southeast Michigan who wouldn’t have the same chances as kids in other parts of Michigan. The importance of access to opportunity cannot be overstated.”

Field Trip Fridays include visits to: