Edgar L. Perkins – Cass Technician Award
Annual Scholarship Fundraising Campaign
For more than 30 years, Urban Solutions has helped young people get closer to their dream of higher education. Since 1982 Urban Solutions has award scholarships named in honor of influential Detroiters. It started with entrepreneur and education benefactor Pressley Green. This year the tradition continues by honoring Engineer & Educator Edgar L. Perkins.
In Honor of Edgar L. Perkins
Edgar Leon Perkins was born in 1937 at his home in downtown Detroit. A graduate of Cass Technical High School in 1956, Edgar played on the Varsity Basketball team and found his love for engineering.
Upon graduation from high school, Edgar went on playing basketball for Wayne State University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, graduating second in his class in 1960 and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering 1963. He started his engineering career at General Motors, then Vickers, were he successfully patented two inventions.
Later, Ed became very involved with Sunday school education at both the Lutheran and United Methodist Churches. This lead to his lifelong commitment as an educator, providing early childhood education (Sugar N Spice Nursery) and elementary (Pyramid Elementary School) education at schools he founded in Northwest Detroit with his wife for over 25 years. He spent his spare time with his family in Tot’s N Teens, Tuesday Nighters’ Bridge Club, Bridge Club and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
His biggest accomplishment was his inter-generational CT family (Julie Perkins, 1980: Steven Perkins, 1982: Todd Perkins, 1986: Susan Perkins, 1987: Haille Perkins, 2010)
History
It all started in 1982 with The Pressley Green Scholarship, in honor of Pressley Green, a successful business leader that realized that he had to help our young people reach their goals. He did this by personally financing the education of many young people in the community.
Mr. Green was brutally murdered by several misdirected young men, lost in the wrong pursuit of life. Today, Urban Solutions, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) corporation continues this tradition with the generous help of the many, concerned community leaders, and family members. Our young people are the future and they need you.
Each year students are selected that have proven themselves academically and have demonstrated a commitment to the community. These scholarship funds are used for gap financing where a few dollars will make between attending and not attending school. We have found that only a $1000.00 to $1500.00 can make the difference.
About Urban Solutions
Urban Solutions inc. is a non-profit corporation devoted to solving tomorrow’s problems today. Every year since 1982 scholarships been given to young college bound Detroiters. Often, $250.00 to $1000.00 is all it takes to make it possible for a student to reach their career goal and become a productive member of the community. We fill this gap.
Additionally, Urban Solutions, Inc. collaborates with committed community groups, agencies, religious organizations and individuals to provide programs for inner city youth which help over a 1000 youth each year. We also assist organizations, enabling secure resources to help strengthen their programs and activities. As you know, when we, the community, all work together, we can eliminate crime, improve the health status of our citizens, educate our children and improve our economic base. These are the goals of Urban Solutions, Inc.