Kit Solowy

“…critical thinking–thinking which discerns an indivisible solidarity between the world and the people and admits of no dichotomy between them–thinking which perceives reality as a process, as transformation, rather than a static entity–thinking which does not separate itself from action, but constantly immerses itself in temporality without fear of the risks involved.”

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Page 92

– Paulo Freire

I see my time in Detroit as a capstone to my academic trajectory which has fully Realized the myriad advantages of pairing theory with practice and the dialectic process; I feel privileged to have such an interactive and engaging undergraduate experience.

My internship at Matrix Theatre has me focused on the Ghostwaters Initiative: a three-year project providing various environmentally based educational and artistic opportunities to the Detroit community. The term “Ghostwaters” implies a lot, especially in a city like Detroit. Waterways, rivers, and marshlands, being, at one time, the most ecologically represented features of the Detroit area, are now buried under city streets, high rises, and highways. Through historical awareness and artistic expression, it is the mission of Matrix to create a certain consciousness around this forgotten “ghost” water and, thereby, engage Detroiters with their surrounding landscape.

As a graduating senior, I plan to spend the next year volunteering somewhere in the continental United States. Through this year of service, I will reflect on my experience at the University of Michigan with the hopes of pursuing a Masters of Social Work or Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre/Acting.