What's the Tea with Ministry?

Service Immersion, Justice, and Community

What if a single week could expand your world—and reshape how you serve back home? We sit down with campus minister Sammy Eckrich and nursing student Kylee Foster to trace the arc of Detroit Mercy’s service immersion program, from building a ramp in Appalachia to standing beneath the steel columns of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. The thread that ties it together is simple and demanding: service with, not for. Kylee shares how a mindful, shared living routine—one mug all week, budgeted meals cooked as a team—turned daily choices into values in action. Working alongside community partners, she learned the crucial distinction between giving aid and practicing solidarity, a shift that now guides her approach to nursing, advocacy, and cross-cultural care. Sammy opens the curtain on how we design trips that go beyond manual work: strong partners who teach context, daily prayer and evening reflection that turn experience into meaning, and museum visits that immerse us in the living history of civil rights and the ongoing struggle for justice. Together, we explore the program’s Jesuit and Mercy roots, the Mercy Critical Concerns, and the vocational “sparks” that often follow—students bringing their skills back to Detroit, reimagining majors through the lens of sustainability and data for good, and choosing careers with compassionate impact. Expect stories that are honest, grounding, and practical: what a typical week looks like, why relationships matter more than checklists, and how standing in the places where history happened changes how we show up today. Ready to rethink spring break—and maybe your path? Listen, subscribe, and share with a friend who’s curious about service, social justice, and meaningful travel. If this conversation moved you, leave a review and tell us: where should we go next, and what would you want to learn there?

Core Values Unveiled: A Conversation with Fr. Charles Oduke

What makes Detroit Mercy unique among thousands of universities worldwide? Father Charles Oduke, Vice President for Mission Integration, reveals the answer through our newly articulated core values that braid together our Jesuit and Mercy traditions. "These values aren't new—they're newly articulated," Father Charles explains, highlighting how they've always been part of our identity since the 1990 consolidation of the two sponsoring traditions. What makes them special is their emphasis on action verbs: educating the whole person, cultivating a diverse community, embodying mercy and compassion, fostering faith and justice, and serving and leading in Detroit. The process of creating these values involved representatives from all eight colleges working to find language that would be welcoming and inclusive while remaining faithful to both founding traditions. Father Charles shares how they deliberately moved away from insider jargon to create accessible phrases that anyone—regardless of background, role, or religious tradition—could connect with. "We have a big tent," he notes, "and that language of inclusion is what made it possible." Through rich examples and personal insights, Father Charles reveals how these values integrate the priorities of both the Sisters of Mercy and the Jesuits while creating something uniquely Detroit Mercy. He explains how they're already being implemented across campus and how they help answer the "why" behind our university's work. As we approach our 150th anniversary, these values provide a framework for sustaining hope and continuing our transformative mission. Whether you're a student, faculty member, staff, or alum, this conversation offers a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of the Detroit Mercy community and how these core values can help us develop that sense of Titan pride that makes us who we are.

Tutoring Beyond Hours: Service in the City's Impact on Detroit Education

The Service in the City program stands at the heart of Detroit Mercy's commitment to educational equity and community engagement. This powerful tutoring initiative connects university students with three vital community partners—Loyola High School, La Casa Guadalupana, and Brilliant Detroit (now Brilliant Cities)—each addressing unique educational needs within our city. What distinguishes this program from conventional volunteer opportunities is its thoughtful balance of weekly service and structured reflection. Beyond collecting service hours, participants examine the systemic issues behind Detroit's educational challenges. They learn startling statistics, like how 47% of Detroit students are chronically absent, missing more than 10% of the school year due to complex barriers including transportation difficulties, safety concerns, and economic hardship. Through guided discussions, students connect these realities to broader patterns of educational inequity while imagining practical solutions. The experience transforms both tutors and students. As sophomore Chrestina Yaqoob shares, what began as a course requirement evolved into a passion project. At Brilliant Detroit's New Martin Park location, tutors don't just help with reading—they become consistent presences in children's lives, participating in everything from impromptu dance breaks to exploring hydroponically grown vegetables. When Christina misses a session, students immediately ask, "Where's Ms. Chrestina?"—a testament to the meaningful connections formed. The program beautifully embodies Detroit Mercy's Jesuit and Mercy traditions through its commitment to both reflection and action. As program coordinator Becky Vires explains, "We don't act without reflection, and we don't reflect without action." Each semester, approximately 40 Detroit Mercy students participate, though there's capacity for many more, especially through Brilliant Detroit's numerous neighborhood hubs. Ready to make a difference in Detroit's educational landscape? Visit University Ministry at the beginning of each semester to join this transformative program that goes beyond tutoring to address the root causes of educational inequality while building meaningful relationships with the next generation of Detroiters.

Every person matters: How equal opportunity shapes our university community

Megan Novell brings a passionate optimism to her role as Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at University of Detroit Mercy. Despite the complex challenges facing DEI work today, she remains steadfastly committed to creating spaces where everyone can thrive regardless of gender, race, disability, or any other aspect of identity. During our wide-ranging conversation over cups of tea, Megan unpacks the intricate work of ensuring compliance with civil rights laws across our multi-campus university. Beyond simply responding to discrimination complaints, her work focuses on proactively building an environment where no one's education is limited "because of who they are." What's particularly striking is Megan's natural disposition toward questioning arbitrary rules. From becoming a vegetarian at age seven to challenging her Catholic school uniform policies as a teenager ("Show me in the policy where it says I can't do this"), she's been fighting for fairness her entire life. This personality trait perfectly positioned her for a career ensuring equal access to education – something she considers "the worthiest goal" possible. Beyond her administrative duties, Megan finds joy teaching in the Women and Gender Studies program, where she witnesses students making powerful connections between academic concepts and their lived experiences.  Want to support equality in your own life? Start by recognizing that human diversity isn't going anywhere, regardless of political climate. As Megan reminds us, "No one can take your principles away from you." In challenging times, remember that the work of creating equal access benefits everyone – and that, historically speaking, "the right prevails."

Ramadan: Fasting & Striving for God Consciousness

Step into the heart of Ramadan as we explore its profound significance in the Muslim faith. In this enlightening episode, we engage with guests Oussama Ajerd and Hisham Almadani to share personal insights and traditions surrounding this special month. Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink; it is a time for spiritual growth, charity, and community bonding, enriching lives through shared experiences. Listeners will learn that fasting fosters a deep sense of God-consciousness, inviting individuals to reflect on their actions, words, and interactions throughout the day.  The episode also covers the community gatherings that occur during Iftar, where breaking bread together cultivates connections among diverse individuals. Join us to celebrate the values of inclusivity and connection that Ramadan inspires!