Brightmoor Neighborhood Gains Multilingual Learning Center

February 25, 2026

Detroit educator Jessie Feliz, who grew up in the Brightmoor neighborhood, has established a comprehensive learning center on Schoolcraft that addresses a critical gap in accessible community education. The facility provides afterschool tutoring and enrichment programs for children aged 5-12, while also offering adult language courses and specialized programming for neurodiverse learners, including those on the autism spectrum. With support from a $50,000 Motor City Match grant that funded essential accessibility improvements and building renovations, the center employs four staff members and can serve up to 30 students simultaneously.

Who is affected

Brightmoor families and residents on Detroit's northwest side
Children ages 5 to 12 seeking afterschool programming
Children on the autism spectrum and other neurodiverse learners
Children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Adults seeking Spanish and American Sign Language education
Parents of neurodiverse children facing limited local support options
Four staff members employed at the center (three of whom are Detroit residents)
Schools and organizations in Detroit, Michigan, and Georgia using Feliz's Spanish Swag curriculum

What action is being taken

The Jessie Feliz Learning Center is operating afterschool programming Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.
The center is providing Spanish instruction, tutoring, dance, and arts-based learning
Sensory Superstar Sundays programming is being offered for children on the autism spectrum and neurodiverse learners
Adult Spanish and American Sign Language classes are being conducted
Dance programming designed for deaf or hard of hearing children is being delivered
The center is serving up to 30 students at a time

Why it matters

This center addresses multiple critical gaps in Brightmoor by providing neighborhood-based educational resources that families can access without traveling across the city. The significance extends beyond convenience: it creates culturally responsive, inclusive programming for neurodiverse children who often face limited local options and long waitlists, while the bilingual focus supports economic mobility since bilingual workers earn approximately 19% more than English-only peers. The center represents tangible, immediate investment in a neighborhood that has long been part of city planning conversations but often waits years for usable community resources. By being led by a neighborhood native who understands local needs, the facility demonstrates community-rooted entrepreneurship that creates local jobs while treating bilingualism as a community asset rather than a luxury.

What's next

Feliz plans to expand staffing as summer programming grows.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle