DETROIT - Rows of homes, many unoccupied, stand interrupted by empty lots dotted with piles of trash composed of bricks, twigs, leaves, dirty diapers and other items.

This was the scene at Brightmoor, a neighborhood in northwest Detroit, before students participating in DP Day arrived Saturday.

But by the time students left the scene looked much different. Gone were the abandoned tires. Erased was the overwhelming urban blight.

More than 1,000 students participated in the day, which was hosted by the Detroit Project. The students came from five universities - the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan Unversity, Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Detroit Mercy.

They assisted in cleaning up and beautifying Detroit neighborhoods by doing things like picking up trash, painting murals and making flower beds in more than 63 parts of Brightmoor.

But the day isn't just about spring cleaning.

A few years ago, amid concerns about what students were really getting out of a single day of service, DP mandated that its student leaders go through a training process to teach them about Detroit's economic and social situation.

This education sessions also serve to lessen the stigmas associated with the city.

"Everyone thinks, aw, man wear you bullet proof vest in Detroit. It's not like that at all," said LSA senior Paul Teske, a DP Day director who has been involved with the project since his freshman year.

Students reflected as they worked.

Describing a demolished house, Engineering senior Tim MacGuidwin said, "It's sad once you think about it. You think, this was someone's house, there were kids here, there was a Tickle-me-Elmo doll."

Seven years ago, DP Day began as a small effort to clean up Detroit. Today it has grown into a organization that sends members into the city every day in addition to hosting weekly projects. Students travel to Detroit to participate in activities like tutoring elementary school children in math and reading. DP Day is the year's culminating event.

DP Day works closely with about 30 other schools and community organizations in the Detroit area. It is also part of the Brightmoor Alliance, a group of organizations dedicated to improving the city and forming a partnership between Detroit and Ann Arbor.

After working for almost five hours, participants and site leaders gathered at a stage in Stoeple Park to listen to the Friars, a University a cappela group, and two inspirational speakers who talked about their efforts to aid the city.