Martec Partners with Racquet Up Detroit to “Support and Empower Detroit Youth So They Can Achieve Their Full Potential”
By Caitlin Dixon, Analyst
At The Martec Group, we are proud to share that one of our key core values is Caring. To us, this is more than a bullet on a long list of aspirational platitudes. It’s meaningful to us…because we can do meaningful things and make meaningful impact using our professional expertise and our passion for giving back to the communities we serve.
Caring is essential to who we are as a company and as individuals. It informs how we work with clients, how we support one another as colleagues, and how we engage with the world beyond our office walls.
Today, I’m thrilled to officially introduce Martec Cares—our freshly formalized community impact initiative—and share the story of a recent pro bono research partnership under this banner.
While we have a long tradition of working to give back to the community, whether volunteering to raise money for charity or donating our services in kind, we pride ourselves on living our core value of Caring as much as we can.
This is just the latest example of that mission in action. And we are happy to report: mission accomplished!
But First: What Is Martec Cares?
Martec Cares is our commitment to using our time and talents to make a meaningful difference in our communities. Our team is passionate about issues that matter—locally, nationally, and globally—and we believe that companies have a responsibility to give back.
Through Martec Cares, we provide:
- Pro bono research and consulting services for nonprofit organizations;
- Volunteer opportunities for our team members to engage directly with causes they care about; and
- Resources and tools to help employees stay informed and get involved in ways that are personal to them.
While this work has been happening informally for some time, the momentum we’ve built over the past year inspired us to put a formal name to our mission and start sharing our efforts more broadly.
Our Latest Pro Bono Project: Racquet Up Detroit
Our inaugural project under the official Martec Cares moniker was a collaboration with Racquet Up Detroit, a nonprofit organization with a powerful mission:
“To support and empower Detroit youth so they can achieve their full potential through a long-term, demanding, and inspiring mentoring program of squash, academics, and community service.”
Brought to us by our President Rick Claar, who is a passionate squash player and long-time supporter of the organization, this opportunity allowed us to offer strategic insights to support Racquet Up’s continued growth and impact.
Here’s how it unfolded and what we are proud to say we have accomplished in partnership with this important organization.
The Opportunity:
Racquet Up wanted to understand how the neighborhoods they currently serve have changed over time—perhaps as a direct result of the impact of their efforts—and how these areas compare to other neighborhoods across Detroit and the rest of Wayne County. We also explored how former students viewed their experience with the organization and what improvements might enhance future programming.
Our Approach:
This was a multi-faceted research engagement that combined:
- Quantitative analysis of socioeconomic trends using U.S. Census American Community Survey data;
- Predictive modeling to forecast neighborhood trends through 2028; and
- Qualitative interviews with former Racquet Up students, both program graduates and those who withdrew early.
To complete the predictive modeling portion of the project, we partnered with Intero Consulting, a data science firm that generously contributed their services pro bono as well. Their team conducted socioeconomic and predictive data analysis using U.S. Census data to examine neighborhood trends and apply forecasting models that offered insights into broader patterns across the city.
Key Findings:
Our research uncovered some eye-opening insights:
- Positive Neighborhood Trends: Racquet Up’s current home tract and neighboring areas are outperforming broader Wayne County in key metrics—poverty is down, high school graduation rates are up, and bachelor’s degree attainment is on the rise. While we can’t draw a direct causal line, it’s clear that programs like Racquet Up are making a real impact.
- Comparative Neighborhood Exploration: We identified and examined three Detroit neighborhoods that share similar characteristics with the communities currently served by Racquet Up. This exploration aimed to better understand how neighborhood-level trends vary across the city and to place RUD’s existing service areas within a wider urban context.
- Student Feedback: Students consistently reported positive experiences in the program, highlighting its supportive environment and valuable learning opportunities. Even those who chose to withdraw early did so due to personal circumstances rather than dissatisfaction and still expressed appreciation for the time they spent in the program. Feedback on areas for improvement included enhancing areas like financial literacy and alumni engagement, reflecting a continued interest in the program’s long-term success.
Recommendations:
We delivered a comprehensive report to the Racquet Up team that combined data-driven insights with actionable guidance. The report celebrated the organization’s ongoing success and offered strategic considerations for future growth and program enhancement. These considerations were designed to support continued excellence in their current work and strengthen long-term engagement with participants and alumni.
We recently visited Racquet Up to present our findings in person, and we were humbled by their response. As Rosemary O’Connor, Executive Director at Racquet Up Detroit, put it:
“Thank you so much for the thoughtful work. We’re really grateful for your partnership and the care you’ve brought to understanding our community and students.”
Looking Ahead with Promise and Even More Caring
This project has been incredibly meaningful to me, both professionally and personally—as it has to the entire Martec team. It was the first initiative I worked on after returning from maternity leave, and it reminded me of the deep purpose and potential our work holds. It can be easy to forget how powerful market research can be; but when used in service of a mission like Racquet Up Detroit’s, it has the power to become truly transformative.
Our promise is that this is just the beginning. With Martec Cares, we will continue supporting nonprofits doing vital work in our community and continue to deepen our commitment to community impact.
