Grow Detroit’s Young Talent jobs program kicks off 10th year of summer employment

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Annual Grow Detroit's Young Talent program is now accepting applications for summer jobs. Young people aged 14 to 24 who live in Detroit have until the end of May to apply for employment and training in a really broad range of jobs over the summer. Organizers hope to match 8, 000 teens and young adults with employers.

As part of Detroit Public Television's Future of Work initiative, I talked with three people who are connected to the jobs program. Dana Williams of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Shana Hayward from Connect Detroit and Naima Muhammad, a past participant. Throw Detroit's Young Talent is one of my favorite, favorite programs.

Uh, it is one of the coolest things that we're doing here in the city of Detroit. So I'm really excited. To talk about what's coming up with it this year in 2024. Dana Williams, I will start with you. Talk about Grow Detroit's Young Talent. Remind us what year we're in for this and what we have to look forward to.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): Sounds wonderful. Thanks so much, Stephen. So it is an honor to say that this is year 10.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): 10. Oh my goodness.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): Incredible. Um, so we have actually done quite a bit of course in that time. Um, we've grown from around 5, 000 students a summer to now 8, 000. Certainly couldn't do that alone. The Detroit at work system is so glad to have partners, uh, like Sean's here with us and a host of other nonprofit agencies and workforce development companies that work with us really closely.

To deliver these experiences to young people, we're glad that this year we're going to be offering a range of experiences as we always do that really correspond to a young person's level of work experience. Right. So someone who's 14, never been to work, uh, certainly may have a different experience than someone who be 18, 19 or 20, maybe taking some college courses, um, and who may be on a real, what we call a career pathway job.

Uh, those will pay a minimum of 15 an hour. So real work, uh, real money this summer. And they're going to have a host of other customized experiences, get some professional development as well as they always do. Um, so in addition to resume writing and interviewing, uh, some financial coaching, um, they'll open a bank account, right?

We got to make sure young people are ready to receive the funds that we're going to give them, um, all these wonderful things. So really excited again about this 10th year.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Yeah. Shona Hayward, talk about how this fits in the kind of broader context of workforce and workforce development, the kind of things that we are always really worried about here in the city and that we need to be working a lot better.

Shana Hayward (Connect Detroit): Right. Um, well, first and foremost, we want our young people to know that there are resources. available to them and that there are a host of connections and opportunities in the city of Detroit, so that we not only grow our talent, but also retain our talent. So they need to understand that there are.

high growth, high demand sectors here that they can connect with. They can experiment with opportunities that they may be interested in, but you know, don't know too much about. So this just gives them a chance to kind of branch out, um, test out some things, see what they like, see what they may not like, but also importantly provide those important connections to caring adults to like minded peers.

and begin that task of building their skills and their network.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, Naima Muhammad, I want to bring you into the conversation here because you're someone who had this, uh, experience. Uh, tell me about what you did, what you learned and, uh, how you think of it today.

Naima Muhammad (Participant): Yes, absolutely. Um, so I did the program for three years.

And throughout the different experiences I had, I've learned so much. I actually am now a unmet Aeronautical vehicle pilot, which means I can fly a remote. Drones, oh my goodness. For profit commercially . I had the experience of working for two summers with a Tuskegee Airman because of Go Detroit young talent.

Mm-Hmm. I also had the opportunity to go to the GM plant for the electric vehicles, and I was honestly really excited about that. Mm-Hmm. because I just love EV and technology, so being able to see what all goes into building the, the, uh, the vehicle as well as. I spoke to some people and they actually said that, well, actually, you're not in where they design the vehicles, you're in where they build them.

So just being able to have those opportunities to have those conversations. And I also, through that experience, there were some people because, you know, you get that experience and they're excited to have young people that are interested in technology and vehicle designing and things of that nature.

They actually did mock interviews with me. They said, okay, if you decided to come here, This is what you need to learn. This is what you need to do. And let's actually sit down and ask those questions that you would get if you were in a real interview with us. It was exciting.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): So let's go back to the first summer.

You did this and maybe that first day. Uh, at work. Uh, did you know then that, uh, you would find a pathway to the thing that you're going to end up doing, uh, as an adult?

Naima Muhammad (Participant): Yes and no. I went in as, this is a summer job. My mom told me to come. So, let's

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): So, I gotta be here, right?

Naima Muhammad (Participant): So, let's just see what happens.

But actually going through the summit, meeting different, uh, very diverse group of young people, even though we're about, you know, about 15 or 16 when I first did it, just hearing some of their backgrounds and what they're actually interested in. There was another young man. He wanted to be a pilot.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): I'm

Naima Muhammad (Participant): still in contact with him.

He's now in college for it. So he's going to pilot school. Um, and then there were just, just the different avenues people took and hearing their stories of how they got to that point in their lives was interesting.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, Dana, that's gotta just absolutely warm your heart to hear what what a story, right?

She starts at 15 and now is doing something that that's related to what you guys gave her an opportunity for.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): That's exactly right. I am thrilled to hear stories like what I'm sharing with us here today. Um, and that's what we want to do, right? As Shanna said, we want to make sure that these young people are connected to the high growth, high demand jobs in the industries that are here, as we know, um, that are here in Detroit.

And. We also know that young people become what they see. And so the more they see, the more they can become. And so while someone might have a very clear picture about what it is that they want to be when they grow up, I'm still trying to figure that out too. Um, but they can also. Check out all sorts of different kinds of careers at the same time.

And we certainly have people who have been with us a number of summers now considering we've been here for 10 years. And it's just great to have more and more of these stories come out. And it's not just about, um, young people learning to how to work for other people, but we've got entrepreneurship career paths, right?

Cause we know that's also major interest of what our young people want to do today. So that's another possibility. And a pathway that they can go

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): down as well. So, so Dana, talk about, uh, what it takes to put all this together, uh, each, each summer to, to get the employers who want to do it, match them with, with interested, uh, young people.

It seems like quite the operation these days.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): It is. And, and Shanna can talk about this too. It is now a well oiled machine. Um, however, previous to maybe, maybe three or four years ago, we certainly were learning all along the way. Um, so they're quite literally the staff of hundreds, um, considering all the other nonprofit organizations that work with us to deliver these opportunities to young people.

Um, even though G E Y T is a summer program, we work on it all year long. So really, as soon as those young people go back to school in September, we start One, collecting our data. Um, and then two to continue to talk to philanthropy and to employers about next year and year round chances they want to bring to folks, um, as well as what they want to do next summer.

I can tell you as of today. So February 8th, I believe the portal opened. Um, we already have, um, nearly 7, 000 students. Oh,

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): wow. Wow.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): And the number of opportunities that our employers are bringing are nearly the same. Last year, it was actually a wonderful problem to have. We had to turn away employers. There were just so many of them that wanted to offer chances to young people.

Now we hope, um, to begin to have new experiences because of that great interest that we have. But now it's, it's simply a matching process between those young people and the employers that we have. We will do large career fairs. Where our participants will be able to come and check out some of those employers and experiences, um, and be able to register and get the tools that they need for the summer on the spot.

We'll do that a couple of times. And we don't forget about our parents either. So although the students have orientations, the parents do as well. You want to make sure the whole family knows, um, what their kids will be going through this summer.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Yeah. Yeah. Uh, Shana, I want to talk a little about the employer side of this as well.

Um, uh, employers are getting. Quite the, the, the sort of lift, I think, and, and, uh, benefit out of, uh, Grow Detroit's young talent, uh, as well. And, and the importance, I think, of having that connection between employers that exist in our city and the young people in our city is, is, it's immeasurable.

Shana Hayward (Connect Detroit): Yeah. And it's really critical and it is definitely a two way street, Stephen.

Um, The young people benefit, but the employers benefit just as much from having the young people in those spaces. Um, they change the energy. They bring new ideas. Um, and they also help those employers. see the potential that's coming down the pipeline and our young people and what they can bring to the table.

So it's very exciting. We, um, just have tons of interest and support. Um, Detroit is such a great city because especially when it comes to our youth, people are ready to get on board to support our young people. And so it's very exciting to be a part of it.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): So, um, when, when you're trying to, uh, put together the, the, the options, I guess, for, for young people and having, uh, employers, uh, do it, is it hard in some cases to, to get that initial commitment?

Uh, Shana, is it, is it, is it hard to, to, to say to an employer? Yeah, you ought to take this chance on this young person.

Shana Hayward (Connect Detroit): There's a lot in the process. There's a lot of cultivation. There's a lot of, um, here are all the tools that you'll need to be successful at this with our partners. We give them handbooks, we give them orientation.

We give them, um, here's what the first day should look like for a young person. Here's how you. create a space for them in your, in your, in your building. And so we really try to make sure that they're prepared. Um, we also try to level set around expectations because these are young people. They aren't professionals, you know, coming out, um, with, you know, You know, experience and things of that nature.

So, um, but a lot of work goes into getting our young people ready as well as getting our employers ready.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Getting the employers ready. Yeah. Yeah. Naima, you're talking about, uh, uh, flying drones and you're now Certified, I guess, Thio do that. Um, talk about the future for you. Um, is this where you wanted to get to?

Are there other things that you think you might go and do? And, uh, are you gonna stay here? In Detroit is the big question, right? I mean, it's one of our big problems is our most talented young people grow up, get a skill, and then they go somewhere else. We want you to stay here.

Naima Muhammad (Participant): Yes, sir. Well, I was actually born and raised here.

So I've been a Motor City baby since Um, but as far as, uh, being an unmanned air pilot, it's not what I thought I was going to go into when I started the program, but it's something that I actually do really enjoy. Um, my brother's a videographer and photographer

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): and he

Naima Muhammad (Participant): has his own business. So being able to help him kind of do video and photography through a different, a different view is interesting.

Just seeing what all goes into it. I've had many opportunities. I actually did some, um, I worked with GM. I was, I did some faucet cleaning, so I was like cleaning their windows, but I was able to meet some of the people that work there. I, this is not the only thing I would like to do, but this has definitely helped open doors for me.

I'm a designer by trade, and that is something I've always loved to do. My mother's a graphic designer, so I grew up. It's interesting how they say you need to have 10 years of experience right out of high school. I technically do. So being able to say that and being able to open doors, they're like, you have a baby face.

You look 13. Okay. So I definitely want to make sure I keep it even in the, um, in the circle of Motor City. And while also broadening my horizon and seeing where else it takes me.

Stephen Henderson (AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL HOST): Yeah. Yeah. There's nothing wrong with leaving. You just got to come back, right? Um, so before we, uh, we end a date, I want to make sure we, uh, make it clear how young people can apply, uh, to be part of grow Detroit's young talent.

Dana Williams (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation): Yes, the young people employers And anyone who wants to donate and be a funder can all go to G. D. Y. T. dot org. G. D. Y. T. dot org. It's very easy to navigate three boxes. Pick which one you belong to fill out that form. And I promise someone will get back to you extremely quickly.

Shown on Screen: www.GDYT.org