The Urban Learning and Leadership Collaborative (ULLC) is a partnership forged between HOPE Village leaders and stakeholders to leverage and coordinate university resources in support of neighborhood initiatives. This is done in order to address pervasive problems in the HOPE Village community. ULLC is an innovative model of community–university collaboration that builds on the assets of all groups in order to enhance learning and knowledge and become a catalyst for accelerating community change. 

The ULLC is an independent, community-based initiative (not a branch of U-M). ULLC members, especially members who are community residents of Detroit’s Hope Village neighborhood, inspired DSTOPP’s focus. The following community residents are, or have been, a special part of the DSTOPP initiative:  Baaquar Ellis, Stephanie Johnson-Cobb, Julie Rice, Lisa Robinson, and Dell Stubblefield.