Welcome to the 2026 Aspen Challenge: Detroit Challenge Forum!  We are thrilled to be entering into our 13th city, Detroit, and working with the brilliant and talented students and educators of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). We are excited to be in community together, discussing societal challenges you may be facing in Detroit and that young people experience across the country. Today, we will hear from leading thinkers who tackle some of our world’s toughest problems. These experts will pose their challenge statements to you, tasking you to design creative and innovative solutions that will benefit your community, your city, and beyond. We believe that you have what it takes to make demonstrable change in Detroit and we can’t wait to see the unique solutions you design over the next ten weeks!

The Detroit Public Schools Community District, Michigan’s largest public education system, serving 52,528 students across 108 schools. It is governed by a locally elected, seven-member board with Dr. Nikolai Vitti serving as superintendent. Anchored by its mission to educate and empower every student, in every community, every day, to build a stronger Detroit, the district is guided by a whole-child approach that provides rigorous, standards-aligned instruction, expanding arts programming, and comprehensive wraparound services to prepare students for college, careers, and leadership in the city. In collaboration with more than 200 business, civic, community, and faith-based partners, the district continues to strengthen student achievement and advance educational excellence across Detroit.

The following 24 schools will participate in the Aspen Challenge: Detroit 2026: