"Challenge: Overall public sentiment about higher education has been declining across the U.S. There is a perception that universities are elitist and out of touch with the real world. Many Michigan residents do not understand the value of the University of Michigan (U-M) or how it benefits the state and their lives directly.
Solution: The U-M Office of the Vice President for Communications developed a compelling video storytelling campaign featuring Michigan residents who have benefited from our education, healthcare, outreach, or research. Each video features the beneficiaries’ unique perspective and voice to demonstrate the impact of various U-M efforts.
This video, “Reviving Hope & Community,” tells the story of how a recent UM-Flint alum Egypt Otis decided to bring her community together by opening the Comma Bookstore & Social Hub during the pandemic. It is one of only 6% of U.S. bookstores that are owned and operated by Black entrepreneurs. Comma stocks mostly Black and brown books by Muslims, African Americans, Indigenous, and Latinx people."
From the Judges
Low budget with high impact telling the stories of how higher education helps Flint.
