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Youth Council take the stage at 2022 Mackinac Policy Conference
On Wednesday, June 1, Foundation President & CEO Angelique Power moderated a conversation at the 2022 Mackinac Policy Conference with three members of The Skillman Foundation’s Youth Council: Jeremiah Steen, Mohammad Muntakim, and Logan Newman. The session was entitled, “The Vision of Youth: Engaging Gen Z in Future Building.”
It was the first time—in the conference’s history—that youth will not only be in attendance but will be center stage and part of the conversation at Michigan’s most influential policy event.
The world has changed dramatically over the past two years, and ready or not, organizations and systems must change too. How do we get ready? Center young people.
Bringing young people into strategic planning ensures a future-forward vision; young people are tomorrow’s workforce, clients, customers, and leaders. And most importantly, young people are powerful, visionary, and different from industry leaders today.
The session discussed the defining characteristics of Gen Z, how adults can successfully engage young people in strategic planning, and what youth-driven agendas could look like—and accomplish—for the state of Michigan.
Watch the session:
Michigan leaders: Let us connect you with young visionaries. Take part in a youth listening session designed around an issue you’re wrestling with. Get started here.
The Skillman Foundation
The Skillman Foundation is a grantmaking organization established in 1960 by Rose Skillman. We have granted out more than $730 million and have served as a vocal advocate to strengthen K-12 education, afterschool programming, child-centered neighborhoods, youth and community leadership, and racial equity and justice.
We are in the process of developing a new strategic framework, co-designed with Detroit youth and their champions.