Earlier this year, a group of Global Educators Cohort Program (GECP) students visited Dearborn, MI, through the two-day GECP Dearborn Learning Experience. Read on to hear about secondary education student Blossom Lor’s experience learning about the culturally and linguistically diverse community.
“Stepping into Dearborn felt like entering a new world, even though the city was only two hours away from Michigan State. In every corner, there are restaurants with different traditional foods, shops to buy baked goods, and attractions displaying culture, showing how much the Arab American community values their heritage and identity in such a large part of the world that holds many other identities.
The trip with other GECP students and faculty was filled with fun and especially a lot of learning and unlearning. The very first place we visited was the Qahwah Coffee Headquarters to learn about the origin of Yemeni coffee. We were even treated to Yemeni drinks and pastries. The hospitality was beyond anything I’d experienced, and I later learned at the Arab American National Museum (AANM) that hospitality is a big part of Arab culture — it’s important to make sure that guests are pampered and feel like family. While on the tour at the AANM, I was in a group introduced to the lives of some Arab families in America. One important thing that I, and many others, took away from this is that, while Arabs have moved here and become “Americanized”, it is so important to appreciate, cherish, and see how they preserve cultural values and traditions.
We also had a chance to visit nearby schools in the Dearborn School District, which was by far my favorite activity as a future educator. I was able to visit different classrooms to observe how students and teachers engage, class management skills, and the overall culture. With the school I visited being a 4-8 grade school, I couldn’t help but notice how welcoming and familial the environment was, even with the large population. Staff and faculty always greeted me first, students were open to conversations, and I never felt out of place, even as an observer. This experience was such a contrast to the schools that I had attended growing up, as well as the classroom I had interned at. This school environment was full of so much love and care that it felt like a safe space. This is family.
This trip was more than just a visit — it was a transformative experience that reshaped the way I view community, culture, and education. As a future educator, I’ve come to understand that teaching goes far beyond lesson plans; it’s about building relationships, creating inclusive spaces, and being culturally responsive. Dearborn taught me that students thrive when their identities are acknowledged and celebrated, and I now feel more prepared to support students from diverse backgrounds with empathy and intention. I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the strength that comes from holding onto one’s heritage, and I recognize the responsibility educators have in honoring that. This experience reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place — to not only teach, but to learn from every student who walks into my classroom. If I ever get the opportunity to return to Dearborn, I would go a hundred more times, knowing each visit would bring new insights and connections.”
For reflections from past GECP student visits to Dearborn, read GECP trip to Dearborn: Learning through differences and GECP trip to Dearborn: Experiencing the culture.