This paper will follow the course work and projects in the advanced studies GIS program in Detroit Public Schools. This paper will look at the class from three perspectives: the engineering volunteer, the teacher, and the student. This paper will look at how this program can help meet industries' need for qualified personnel and the students' need for world perspective to education. The facilitator of this process is the instructor, who needs to balance the abilities of the education system and the needs of the community. This course will provide context of GIS by using local data sets and local projects in the education process.