Opportunities From: United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Before we head into the winter season, our Russell Woods team is looking for a crew of passionate volunteers to help give our Brilliant hub’s storage space a fresh start!

Brilliant Detroit works alongside families and neighbors to create welcoming, community-centered hubs where children and families can access resources, programming, and opportunities to thrive. With programming happening year-round at our hubs, we want to make the most of every inch of our space, including our storage areas.

We’re looking for volunteers to put their home organization skills to work as we sort and organize seasonal decor, programming materials, event supplies, gardening tools, and more, revitalizing the garage and transforming it into a more functional space for our Brilliant community.

Come lend a hand, work alongside the Russell Woods team, and experience the satisfaction of an impressive before-and-after!

Thanks to a recent grant, we're installing a rain garden at our Boynton, Detroit location on Tuesday, September 15th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and we're inviting volunteer groups throughout the day to help plant!

The garden will feature 250+ native plants, which will create a diverse habitat for pollinators and wildlife while also improving our water quality and helping manage stormwater runoff. 

We'd love your support in helping our green spaces bloom into a beautiful community gathering place where our Brilliant families can connect with nature, spend time together, and inspire our youth through hands-on environmental stewardship. This is a full-day project, with the opportunity for flexible volunteer shifts between the building of the rain garden’s foundation, adding compost, and planting the native plants.

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or simply enjoy creating something beautiful, we’d be grateful for your support in helping us create a thriving community rain garden!

Following the successful completion of our Boynton hub's community rain garden, we celebrate a job well done while honoring the rich history and heritage that makes our world a better place.

Our Boynton hub's Heritage Month Celebration is a family-friendly event that will bring together neighbors and community partners to recognize the collective effort that created a lasting environmental asset. Enjoy the beauty of the new rain garden, learn about its role in improving local ecosystems, and take part in activities that celebrate our shared history, culture, and community spirit. Come connect, celebrate, and see how working together can create a healthier, greener future for generations to come. 

Volunteers will assist with event set-up, welcoming guests, managing event activity stations, sharing information about the rain garden, supporting educational displays, and ensuring visitors have an enjoyable experience throughout the event. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm will help create a memorable celebration for our Brilliant community!

Our Morningside hub is hosting its first community dinner of the fall season to celebrate all that our Brilliant kids are already accomplishing in their new school year! They’re opening their orange door to families and neighbors for an evening of connection, a shared meal, meaningful conversation, and a fun affirmations activity.

We’re looking for volunteers to help set up the dinner area, welcome community members to our Brilliant Morningside hub, support hub staff in facilitating the positive affirmations craft activity for kids, and assist with cleanup by returning event materials to their original spaces. Your engagement will help create positive connections with school and learning that build momentum and excitement throughout the year!

Each year, our hubs celebrate the joy and excitement of summer while welcoming the new school year with multiple days of Brilliant Back-to-School Bashes!

We're looking for volunteers to help make these celebrations unforgettable by encouraging our Brilliant students to begin the school year with confidence and the resources they need to succeed. Our celebrations connect families with essential school supplies, community resources, and support services, helping reduce barriers to learning and setting students up for a successful year ahead.

As a volunteer, you'll play a meaningful role in creating a welcoming, fun, and supportive experience for families preparing for the new school year ahead. Whether you're distributing school supplies, assisting with event activities, greeting families, or helping connect them with valuable community resources, your contribution will make a direct impact on students' readiness to learn and thrive.

We'd love to see you at one of our events:

If you're interested in attending one of our events, please complete this interest form and a member of our Brilliant Volunteer Team will follow-up via email.