Celebrating 60 Years in our Community

Rising 7^th graders from the Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA) in Detroit have first-hand knowledge of the energy industry after a tour of Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery and met with some of the women who work there.  

 

The Women’s employee network chapter at the Detroit refinery hosted the field trip in July for students participating in the GEA summer program, created by the Engineering Society of Detroit. GEA was developed to prepare and encourage middle school girls, particularly students from Detroit, to enter college and study engineering. Every week, the girls take field trips to local companies to get exposure to different industries. This was the academy’s first time visiting the Detroit refinery.  

 

The girls learned about the refinery and saw samples of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and asphalt. Refinery leaders took the students on a driving tour of the plant while they completed a scavenger hunt. They heard about different jobs held by women working at the refinery during a career panel. Volunteers coached the girls through an activity building molecules using marshmallows and toothpicks. 

 

“On the tour group I was with, the girls seemed most excited about the salt mine, seeing where the trucks come to load up the charcoal, Marathon staff working on one of the pipes and learning that people were out there working on even the hottest and coldest days,” said Alexandra Lofton, Program Coordinator, Girls in Engineering Academy. “They also loved the marshmallow activity of course even though they haven’t taken chemistry yet. They will be taking that class with us next year, and we will be sure to remind them of that activity!” 

A vegan enthusiast who loves to run found herself inspired to find more ways to stay healthy. In June, health advocate and business owner Asia Rawls hosted a booth at the Health and Fitness Fair at the Kemeny Recreation Center in Detroit. She regularly attends health events in the city to learn and educate others and said this fair was one of the best she’s ever experienced.

“It felt great to immerse myself in Southwest Detroit and meet new faces. I couldn’t think of a better way to motivate and celebrate health and fitness for all ages, genders, and ethnicities,” said Rawls, owner of Brown Bambi, a health and fitness business that hosts health classes and pop-up exhibits. “It meets the mission and vision of a forward city by putting people first. By the end, we were all inspired to live healthier as a community.”

The Health and Fitness Fair sponsored by Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery was part of its Fueling Detroit Event Series. Attendees had the opportunity to visit a dozen health resource organizations that ranged from physical to mental health.

 

Frances Turner grew up in Southwest Detroit and said after losing several relatives to health issues like heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and colon cancer, she realize

d that life cannot be taken for granted.

“I decided to attend the health fair, because I believe knowledge is very important,” said Turner. “It is the perfect place to gain resources and explore healthy alternatives. It is also nice to get out into the community and network with like-minded neighbors.”

Turner took her 16-year-old son with her, and they both participated in yoga and meditation classes.

“I learned yoga positions that I can do at home. The instructors were very thorough, and I intend to continue those exercises,” said Turner. “I encourage everyone to catch the next health event. You’ll have a good time and enrich your lifestyle.”

The Detroit refinery brought together people and organizations to teach healthy eating and cooking classes, two group fitness classes and a sound meditation session that had residents feeling mentally refreshed. All residents in attendance were offered free fresh produce boxes from Forgotten Harvest and a warm meal home from the 48217 food truck, Clean Street Food, and fresh squeezed juice from Southwest Detroit small business El ArteSano Juice and Café Bar. The refinery’s women’s employee network chapter partnered with Helping Women Period to pass out free feminine hygiene products.

“There is so much potential for this to grow bigger,” said Rawls. “I look forward to more events like this in the future.”