Invitation to Recruit & Connect at Detroit Reconnect’s Future Forward Resource Fair

[Jonathan Miller II]

Dear Adult Learner Champions -- 

We are pleased to invite you to participate as a postsecondary partner at the Detroit Reconnect: Future Forward College, Career & Family Success Resource Fair, taking place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Henry Ford College.

Detroit Reconnect, an initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber, supports adult learners throughout southeastern Michigan by helping them access, enroll in, and complete postsecondary education that leads to family‑sustaining careers. While our work includes a strong focus on Detroit residents, Detroit Reconnect is not city‑specific and serves adult learners across the broader region through advising, navigation, and partnerships with colleges, universities, workforce providers, and community organizations.

The Future Forward Resource Fair is a high‑touch, community‑centered, one‑stop experience designed for adult learners and families who are ready to move from interest to action. From an enrollment management perspective, this event offers a valuable opportunity to connect with motivated adult learners from across southeastern Michigan, support informed decision‑making, and encourage near‑term enrollment steps.

Importantly, this event is also designed to support currently enrolled adult learners. With a wide range of community, career, and family‑support organizations present, the resource fair provides meaningful wraparound resources that can help students persist, re‑engage, and succeed—making it an excellent opportunity to share with both prospective and current students.

Event Details  

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026  

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM  

Location: Henry Ford College  

5101 Evergreen Rd, Dearborn, MI 48128

Vendor setup begins at 9:00 AM, and all tables must be fully set up by 10:00 AM.

While the event is hosted at Henry Ford College, it is open to the broader community and is in no way limited to current or prospective Henry Ford College students.

Partner Engagement and Recruitment Opportunities  

We encourage participating institutions to think intentionally about how they engage adult learners at this event, including identifying adult‑learner‑facing points of contact—such as admissions, advising, enrollment navigation, or financial aid staff—who are best positioned to support informed, next‑step‑focused conversations.

Where possible, we also encourage institutions to offer on‑site admissions, application assistance, or same‑day next‑step opportunities, which can help adult learners maintain momentum following the event.

Institutions are invited to:

• Host a table to recruit prospective students, highlight adult‑learner‑friendly programs, and provide admissions and financial aid guidance
• Facilitate a workshop or presentation on an engaging, relevant topic for adult learners (optional)

Each participating organization will be provided with one table and light refreshments. If you will need access to a power source, please indicate this need on the registration form so we can accommodate. Organizations that are able are also encouraged to bring items to raffle, which helps drive engagement and interaction throughout the event.

Marketing and Outreach  

In the coming week, we will share additional information and materials to support marketing this event to prospective/current students and families. We also strongly encourage partners to share this opportunity with currently enrolled adult learners, as the event offers access to general community, career, and family‑support resources that can enhance persistence and success.

Registration  

Space is limited, so we encourage you to register your organization as soon as possible to confirm participation. Once the registration form is completed, a member of our team will follow up with next steps and additional details.

If you have any questions, please reply to this email.

We look forward to partnering with you to support adult learners across southeastern Michigan while advancing our shared 60x30 goals!

Regards,

Jon

--

Jonathan Miller II

He/Him/His 

Community Engagement Coordinator

Detroit Reconnect | Detroit Promise

Detroit Regional Chamber

Phone: (248) 987-8685

Book time to meet with me

This Internet message may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure. It is intended for use only by the person to whom it is addressed. If you have received this in error, please (1) do not forward or use this information in any way: and (2) contact me immediately. Neither this information block, the typed name of the sender, nor anything else in this message is intended to constitute an electronic signature unless a specific statement to the contrary is included in this message