Inspired, motivated youth leave summit ready to seek jobs, pursue careers

By Eddie B. Allen Jr.

As a future fashion designer, patterns are a way of life for Rannie Johnson.

Whether he’s envisioning the cut of a men’s suit or studying the trends of success among people he admires, the 18-year-old uses a mental blueprint as his focus.

Rannie Johnson

Angelique Brooks

Johnson, a senior at Casa Richard Academy, is one of about 150 students who participated in the recent Youth Employment Summit (YES) at DTE Energy’s headquarters in downtown Detroit. Along with city officials, college representatives, business and community leaders, including coordinators from City Connect Detroit, nearly 400 guests participated.

Numerous guest speakers, including Skillman President & CEO Carol Goss, addressed the youth ages 14 to 18 in conference sessions and workshops designed to inform them about local job opportunities and help students like Johnson prepare for the challenge of pursuing careers.

“People doubting me, lack of inspiration, sometimes not knowing how to respond to having your feelings hurt when you’re working on a goal” are what Johnson describes as obstacles that he’s faced.

But listening to accomplished professionals at the day-long YES program who, like him, came from single-parent homes and tough circumstances, left Johnson motivated to achieve, he says. He plans to attend Ferris State or Eastern Michigan University after graduating.

Northwestern High School senior Angelique Brooks, 18, attended workshops with Johnson and other youth. A 16-point-per-game basketball standout, she plans to attend Oakland University and maybe play professionally. Brooks is also encouraged about the possibility of a career in nursing.

“It made me more confident, knowing that I could do it,” she says.

Having performed internships at Sinai Grace Hospital and Herman Kiefer Health Complex, Brooks says she shared her interest in the medical field with a city employee who attended the YES program. The employee was among professionals who emphasized the same message to students. Brooks adds: “There are people who want to stop you from reaching your goals and if you let them, they’ll cause you to lose focus.”

Funding from a Skillman Foundation grant to City Connect helped provide the platform for many words of encouragement. DTE Energy CEO Tony Earley set the tone for the event in his welcome to the participants.

“We’re all here to rally and inspire a call to action for putting Detroit's youth, its future, to work,” Earley told the guests. “I feel like I am preaching to the choir, because you wouldn’t be here if you didn't think workforce readiness is important. But we also know that to make great music, you can never have enough voices in the choir.”

Earley stressed the program’s goals of promoting both summer and year-round employment opportunities for youth, preparing for challenges and sharing important lessons.

“With tight budgets, full plates and a crummy economy, how do we provide youth with the quality training, experience and skills development needed to successfully compete in today’s workforce?” Earley said. “The passion, knowledge and answers are in this room.”

Anita Ashford, continuous improvement expert for DTE and liaison to City Connect and the Youth Consortium, says YES was a tremendous success. Ashford echoes the words of a city leader who addressed the audience, saying that professional development requires both capital and personal dedication from the business community.

“In terms of the involvement with the youth and the financial commitment, it all has to be personal in order for things to progress,” Ashford says.

Earley reminded the agencies and companies that attended YES, including Bank of America, the Detroit Department of Workforce Development and the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, that exposure is crucial for learning.

“All of the organizations that you represent are laboratories for trial and error,” Earley said. “Sharing how you've accomplished the wins, as well as the failures, is priceless information.”

DTE worked with The Skillman Foundation and the Children’s Aid Society last year to award jobs to 14 students.

“For six weeks, these students worked in various assignments at four DTE locations,” said Earley. “Once a week, they also attended training in workplace and life skills. They were provided journals and encouraged to track their experiences during their employment. At graduation, each student attended a celebration luncheon, received a backpack filled with school supplies, and, according to their job evaluations, earned a monetary gift card …What we learned – and what other companies who are able to do these kinds of things gain – is a source of bright, enthusiastic employees, future leaders for our companies.”

Cass Tech High graduate Brandy O’Kennard and Tre’von Sutton, a senior at Detroit Community High, say that they appreciate the support from Earley and other professionals.

“I came to learn about how I can inspire the other youth. I’m a mentor and I came out to help teach the other students how to better empower their lives,” says O’Kennard, 18, one of several deaf youths who attended YES. “I learned the importance of coming to work with an open mind. You never know who you’re going to meet at work.”

Sutton, also 18, says he liked networking with other students and leaders from throughout the city.

“It was nice getting to meet everyone,” he says. “It was fun.”

Along with fun and entertainment, Johnson says he got a lesson in preparation. Whether applying it to his anticipated career in fashion design or the principles of life, he says the message of persistence is the most valuable one he heard from speakers at the conference.

“If you don’t fall, you don’t know how to get back up,” adds Johnson.

— Eddie B. Allen Jr. is a Detroit-based freelance writer