Brilliant Detroit, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting early childhood education in underserved communities, is expanding its innovative neighborhood-based model beyond Detroit. Brilliant Detroit, soon to be rebranded as Brilliant Cities, will launch in three additional cities – Philadelphia, Chicago, and Cleveland – in the coming year. The announcement of this expansion is expected to be made during the nonprofit’s annual benefit in Detroit.
Since its establishment in 2016, Brilliant Detroit has seen immense success, with 24 neighborhood hubs in Detroit helping families prepare their children for kindergarten and ensuring they read at grade level up to the third grade. These hubs, set up in renovated abandoned houses, provide educational, health, and social support to children and their families. The nonprofit currently serves around 24,000 individuals across these hubs in Detroit, with studies indicating significant improvements in the reading levels of children in the program.
Cindy Eggleton, CEO of Brilliant Detroit, credits the community support and engagement for the organization’s success. She highlights that Brilliant Detroit only expands into neighborhoods where they are invited and makes it a point to hire 33% of staff from the local communities. This community-led approach has garnered recognition for Brilliant Detroit, including honors from The Elevate Prize Foundation and the AARP Purpose Prize.
Vance Lewis from the nonprofit Promise Venture Studio commends Brilliant Detroit’s success, noting that the organization’s community-driven approach sets it apart from other early childhood programs. Despite a reduction in support for education programs from major donors, Lewis encourages funders to consider supporting successful models like Brilliant Cities to make a positive impact.
With Philadelphia as the first city for expansion, Brilliant Cities aims to bring its model of mobilizing neighborhoods to other organizations at no cost. Eggleton emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of connectedness and family-centric initiatives, reinforcing the belief that communities play a crucial role in supporting early childhood development. Brillant Cities plans to offer its expertise in community engagement to organizations beyond early childhood and families, demonstrating its commitment to empowering communities nationwide.
