About
Imagine a world where every person has an equitable opportunity to gain the tools, courage and capacity to take charge of their impact — for themselves and for others.
At Henry Ford Learning Institute (HFLI), we envisioned this world and through the commitment and collaboration of our visionary partners, we are making it a reality.
HFLI was founded in 2003 by The Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company Fund to model new ways of teaching and learning for ambitious student outcomes and positive social change.
HFLI developed and opened four Henry Ford Academies Henry Ford Academies in Detroit, San Antonio and Chicago — nationally-recognized K-12 schools that serve as powerful innovation models.
All of the schools were created through public school partnerships with institutions of higher education and community organizations. They share the same progressive approaches to teaching and learning, work tirelessly to address barriers to equity, and are located in adaptive reuse projects; however, they are wonderfully different because they reflect the needs of their specific communities.
Today, our work isn’t limited to education. We create immersive learning experiences for a range of people — educators, non-profits, workplace learners and youth — and sponsor organizations who believe there is “a better way” to learn and lead.
Our pairing of deep education experience with the strategic use of tools and methods from design drives the care our dynamic team puts into every touchpoint, every engagement.
We believe that together with our diverse partners, we can empower people to create transformational change in, with, and for their communities.
People
Board Members
Chairman
Mike Schmidt
Ford Motor Company Fund
Townsend McNitt
Strategic Consultant
Henry R. Muñoz, III
Muñoz and Company
Vice Chair
Brent Ott
The Henry Ford
Secretary
Deborah Parizek
Henry Ford Learning Institute

Treasurer
Cora Christmas
Henry Ford Academy
Chair Emeritas
Steven K. Hamp
SKH Advisors
Trustee Emeritas