It was with great pride that I watched Southwest Detroit community icon Ricardo Guzman receive an honorary degree, the Doctor of Law, honoris causa, at Wayne State University’s graduation ceremonies Thursday, May 7th. The event was notable for a number of current and former Southwest Detroit residents who have been lucky to know and call him friend.
The commencement program stated: “At Wayne State University, Guzman demonstrates a deep commitment to education, mentorship and opportunity. His involvement in shaping the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, Latino En Marcha Scholarship Fund, along with his mentorship of countless students, has supported student success and strengthened pathways to leadership for future generations. Through sustained service and advocacy, he has built a legacy at Wayne State and in the Detroit community.”
The University President Richard Bierschbach in his introductory remarks further elaborated on Ricardo’s role in the establishment of Latino En Marcha, now known as the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies. He noted that the program would go on to play a historic role not only at the university but also in developing Detroit area leadership. Established in 1971 by Wayne State through a collaborative effort with Southwest Detroit’s social services agency LASED and New Detroit, established just a few years before in response to the 1967 Detroit Riots/“Detroit Rebellion” the program is now 55 years young. It is one of the oldest such programs in the nation. With well over twenty-five hundred (2,500) alumni it continues to pursue its original community driven mission though it sits in an academic institution.
Mr. Guzman received his Masters’ of Social Work from Wayne State and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As the CEO of CHASS, Southwest Detroit’s community health center, over the decades he led that agency in providing critical health and social services. Its success led to national recognition as one of the best in the country. Ricardo would play a leading role in health policy and advocacy through his affiliation with the National Association of Community Health Centers serving as the chair of its Policy Committee and eventually as the Chair of the Association’s Board. In that capacity he has testified before Congress in Washington, D.C. and in front of the Michigan Legislature. He has been a recipient of numerous awards and was a 2021 Michiganian of the Year.
In his acceptance speech, Ricardo spoke about his upbringing in the shadow of Southwest Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge. He went on to explain how after a period of odd jobs and trying to find his niche he enrolled in Latino En Marcha and credited it as a life changing experience. That would also echo for many of his compatriots and in fact would change the trajectory of Detroit’s Latino community.
I stated at the beginning of this article how I watched his acceptance of the degree with pride. You see, he was one of my first mentors, having taken me under his wing when I was in my mid-teens. His guidance is really what started me on a path of community and social activism. This included our time together in Latino En Marcha. Thus, when Ricardo in accepting the honor stated he did so on behalf of the others who accompanied him in that journey, and those who supported us, I was moved to emotion.
He has been there for me over the decades. Someone I could always call upon when I needed to process a major event in my life and/or career. Whether it was as a fledgling youth and community organizer during the 70’s, as a substance abuse counselor during the 80’s, or as a fellow agency director and university administrator during the 90’s and beyond. Ricardo played that same role for numerous others.
Given this lifetime of service, sacrifice and activism it was no surprise to hear him end his comments that day paraphrasing the famous John Lewis quote. “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” He has motivated so many of us to get into “good trouble”.
Gracias mi hermano! Con mucho carino y amor!
