482 Forward

Mission: To create a Detroit where every student graduates ready to become a fully engaged participant in the world, equipped with the character and the capacity to negotiate her environment and change it for the better.

482Forward is a citywide education organizing network in Detroit. We are neighborhood organizations, parents, and youth committed to ensuring that all Detroit children have access to an excellent education, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status. Together, we are building power to make systemic change and win educational justice for our communities.

Through grassroots organizing and advocacy, our members lead campaigns that create lasting change in schools and communities.

• School Funding – We advocate for full and fair funding, equitable formulas, and transparency in how public dollars—like ESSER funds—are spent, especially in under-resourced districts.
• Elections & School Leadership – We engage and train community members to vote and run for school board, making sure school governance reflects the voices of our neighborhoods.
• Health & Wellness – We push for trauma-informed practices, mental health resources, and a shift from policing to counseling in schools.
• Cultural Competence – We promote ethnic studies, language access for families, and culturally competent services. Our Detroit Muslim Youth Council uplifts Muslim student voices and leads advocacy efforts.
• Defending Public Education – We oppose school vouchers that drain public funds into unaccountable private schools, fighting to keep resources in our public education system.