The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) works to enrich the quality of life in Washtenaw County by supporting organizations that foster learning, creativity, and connection. Dzanc House is a longtime community partner whose literary and arts-based programming centers on youth voice, self-expression, and belonging.

Literacy Rooted in Creativity

Dzanc House’s youth programs, Roots & Wings for elementary students and EmpowerED for high school students, approach literacy as an active, creative practice. Through poetry, storytelling, and visual art, students build foundational reading and writing skills while learning to think critically, collaborate, and express their ideas with confidence.

Workshops introduce students to literary techniques, creative prompts, and artistic inspiration drawn from gallery exhibitions and visiting artists. These experiences encourage curiosity and imagination while reinforcing that every student’s voice has value.

Through funding from AAACF’s Arts & Culture Program, the EmpowerMENt Fund, and the African American Endowment Fund, AAACF’s support of Dzanc House throughout 2024 and 2025 helped sustain accessible, arts-based programming that strengthens youth literacy, leadership, and belonging. The Arts & Culture Program advances creative expression as a vehicle for racial equity and community connection, values deeply embedded in Dzanc House’s work with young writers and artists. Support from the EmpowerMENt Fund specifically uplifted educational success for young Black males through holistic approaches that include literacy, mentorship, empowerment through the arts, and leadership development. In addition, funding from the African American Endowment Fund, established in 1993 to improve the social, educational, and economic conditions affecting African Americans in the Ann Arbor area, further reinforced Dzanc House’s commitment to equity-driven youth programming.

From Individual Expression to Community Impact

Dzanc House extends learning beyond the page by creating opportunities for students to share their work through recordings, exhibitions, and seasonal celebrations. These moments help young people see themselves as contributors to a broader creative community, strengthening confidence, leadership, and pride.

Families and community members are invited to participate in this process, reinforcing literacy as a shared experience that connects generations and builds lasting relationships.

Growing Impact Through Partnership

AAACF’s continued support allows Dzanc House to expand access to arts-based literacy programs and deepen its impact across Washtenaw County. Our partnership demonstrates how investing in youth creativity, leadership, and community connection creates pathways to lifelong learning and positive change.

Learn more about Dzanc House youth programs: dzanchouse.org/youth-programs-overview

“We are deeply grateful to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation for their unwavering support of Dzanc Books and Dzanc House. Your investment is not just in programs - it is in literature, in youth, in independence, and in the ongoing vitality of culture itself. Because of AAACF, we are able to engage a vital generation of creators, thinkers, and leaders, providing spaces where literature and the arts remain vibrant, inclusive, and deeply human.” - Charlene Choi, Dzanc House Director of Development, Programs, & Communications.

Share Your Story

Every story and experience makes a difference. At AAACF, we believe community impact is rooted in the lived experiences of those who call Washtenaw County home, and in the organizations that help amplify their voices. Share your story or a brief quote about how AAACF’s programs, partnerships, or grants have made a meaningful difference in your life, organization, or community. 

Share Your Story