The Legacy of Merze Tate: Merze Tate Explorers

The Merze Tate Explorers are on the move and are once again joining Kalamazoo Valley this academic year. Merze Tate Explorers is a local organization dedicated to providing educational, career, life enrichment and travel opportunities to girls in Michigan, grades three - 12.

The original Merze Tate travel club was created in 2008 by its Founder and Executive Director, Sonya Hollins, and honors the legacy of Dr. Vernie Merze Tate - a trailblazing African American whose vision continues to impact the community. A dedicated educator, Tate traveled the world twice and went to great lengths to ensure the success of her high school and college students. She attended Western State Teachers College, now known as Western Michigan University, where she graduated in 1927 with the highest academic record at its time. The University later bestowed her with an honorary Ph.D. as a distinguished alumnus and named a college in her honor decades later in 2021. Tate also earned a Master's degree from Columbia University as well as doctorates from Oxford University and Harvard's Radcliffe Women's College.

When Tate first graduated, many African American educators struggled with career limitations imposed by Jim Crow laws. The accomplishments of Tate and other African American educators of the era provided a foundation for the success of others to come. Tate worked as a researcher for the U.S. State Department, international correspondent for the African American Press, inventor, author and filmmaker, all while juggling her role as a dean and professor at multiple universities and colleges throughout her lifetime.

Hollins often uses Tate's accomplishments as a template for educational and career enrichment activities for the Explorers. The young travel writers have interviewed noteworthy individuals, written stories for their own curated Girls Can Magazine and have traveled the U.S., Canada, Japan, France and Italy.

Over the years, the Merze Tate Explorer's have been welcomed to Kalamazoo Valley with educational and career development activities, all part of a partnership with the college. Deborah Coates, Ed.D., dean of early/middle college at Kalamazoo Valley, coordinates many of these activities. At the Explorer's 14th Annual Academy Kick-Off Celebration on Oct. 7, Coates received the organization's Shero Award in recognition for her role as an educator, mentor and leader for students of all ages in the community.

"I was very touched and humbled that they honored me with this recognition. I am so honored to work with this group," said Coates. "The event was beautiful; they are truly a joy to work with."

As a 1991 graduate of Kalamazoo Valley, Hollins has expressed her gratitude for the college's support of her organization and thanks Coates as well as college President, L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., for opening doors of opportunity.

"It is an honor to have support from the college for my own organization," said Hollins. "There are so many opportunities for our youth to explore careers on a community college level."

The Explorers have been enjoying many college and career focused activities that Coates has planned. More than two dozen girls visited the college's Food Innovation Center, where they learned about careers in the floral industry and created their own flower arrangements. The girls then used their creations for applying techniques of business promotion and marketing concepts centered around pitching hypothetical business proposal ideas.

Other activities coordinated by Coates includes a wellness and physical education course as well as public safety and crime solving programs. Additionally, the girls will be joining the Kalamazoo Valley Museum to take part in interactive museum curation activities.

Click here to learn more about Merze Tate and the Merze Tate Explorers.