Rashid Faisal (’05 M.A.) is the founding principal at Frederick Douglass International Academy, a preK-8 charter school in Oak Park, Michigan. By leveraging school and community resources, he provides students from underserved communities with access to college, career and life resources. Faisal partners with UM-Dearborn CEHHS, Office of Metropolitan Impact and UM-Detroit Center in implementing a variety of development programs for his students at Frederick Douglas Academy. A current doctoral student at UM-Dearborn, he serves on the Bicentennial Student Advisory committee for both UM-Dearborn and UM-Ann Arbor. Faisal has also secured a $10,000 Student Initiative Grant from University of Michigan’s Bicentennial Office with CEHHS support to help provide six week career and life readiness workshops to Frederick Douglass Academy students. His dedication to change extends beyond UM-Dearborn with his involvement in the Campaign for Black Male Achievement and Broadside Lotus Press.