The Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS) brings together K-12 educators, district staff, community partners, students, universities, municipal organizations, and youth activists. We integrate the art and science of Place-Based Education into schools and advocate for deep, long-term changes in K-12 institutions and higher education to serve all living systems. We see schools as centers of possibility, capable of thriving in sustainable, healthy, and just communities.

We support teachers in connecting classroom learning to the community, enabling students to work alongside others to solve real-world problems and drive positive change. Through place-based education—an immersive, hands-on approach—students become environmental stewards, caring for themselves, their peers, and their surroundings. Guided by an Ecojustice Education framework, we critically examine the world and center justice in our teaching, instructional design, and learning experiences for both students and educators.

SEMIS employs research-based practices in teacher development and coalition building, providing year-round professional learning, including an intensive summer institute. We foster partnerships between schools and community organizations, offer annual series as well as on-site professional learning facilitation, classroom coaching, and collaborate closely with school administrators to support meaningful, sustained change.