As part of an ongoing push to broaden its message about its community engagement efforts, Wayne State University is teaming up with local broadcast luminary Mildred Gaddis this week to kick off a new radio segment aimed at African Americans and other diverse audiences.

Starting at 10 a.m. this Wednesday  on WPZR-FM 102.7 (Praise FM), Gaddis will sit down each month with Wayne State University Associate Communications Director Darrell Dawsey for a 15-minute chat during The Mildred Gaddis Show. The segments will also include various Wayne State administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Topics will range from the university’s work in Detroit communities to its on-campus efforts to ensure access and equity. The segments will also include general information designed to help students and families prepare for and successfully navigate college.

“We’re thrilled with this opportunity because we do a lot of great work that our communities should know about but often don’t,” said Dawsey. “And there’s no better platform to reach Detroiters than The Mildred Gaddis Show.

“More than just promoting the university’s work, we have a chance to inform Detroiters directly about the higher-education issues that matter most, from diversity in the classroom to admissions to college affordability. In tackling these and other subjects, we’re hoping to not just talk about outreach, but to have the very conversation itself provide a community service.”

The inaugural segment will air on Wednesday, but each following segment is slated to air live on Mondays.

Afterward, clips of the live broadcast will be replayed throughout the week on WPZR and on WDMK-FM 105.9 (KISS) and WFPR-FM107.5 (HOT) WGPR-FM, all of which are owned by Radio One.

The first installment will feature Dawsey and Gaddis talking with Wayne State Provost Keith Whitfield about the university’s ongoing commitment to boosting African American achievement and graduation.