Despite some significant progress over the past five years, Detroit continues to be one of the impoverished cities in the United States.  The city of Detroit is fifth in the nation in concentrated poverty, with over 30% of the total population living at or below the poverty line, a high school graduation rate of 80%, but an adult functional illiteracy rate of just under 50%.  Over 80% of the residents of the City of Detroit are African American, with 50% of African Americans living at or below the poverty line.  The surrounding tri-county area (Wayne, Oakland and Macomb) is home to 42% of the state of Michigan’s below poverty population.  Children have been hit particularly hard, with nearly 60% of children in the city living in poverty according to the last census; more than double the rate in the state of Michigan and representing a 10% increase over pre-2008 recession estimates.  Research has consistently shown the harmful effects of persistent poverty on IQ, school achievement, and social and emotional functioning. 

 

Nearly 1 in 3 children aged 10 to 17 in the State of Michigan are considered overweight or obese, increasing nearly 5-fold over the last 5 years in children ages 6 to 11 years.  It has been estimated that only 25% of Michigan adolescents are physically active for at least one hour per day, and 15% of youths do not participate in any physical activity