Category Archives: Blog
Nonprofits Aim to Create BIPOC Solidarity Network in Detroit
by: Michigan Nonprofit Association | Mar. 3rd, 2021 Read the original press release from the Michigan Nonprofit Association. DETROIT – Michigan Nonprofit Association, in partnership with Data Driven Detroit, is pleased to announce the release of the first-ever Nonprofit Leadership Census survey aimed at building a solidarity network among BIPOC-led nonprofits (Black, Indigenous, and People […]
Read more »The Skillman Foundation Launches President’s Youth Council
by: The Skillman Foundation | Mar. 2nd, 2021 This post was originally published by the Council of Michigan Foundations. Read the original post. To further engage youth voice in its grantmaking and change-making strategies, The Skillman Foundation launched its first-ever President’s Youth Council. Council members work with the foundation leadership to discuss issues that are important to them and […]
Read more »Why Detroit Students Miss School
by: Sarah Winchell Lenhoff, PhD | Feb. 18th, 2021 Even before the pandemic, more than half of Detroit students were considered “chronically absent,” missing 10% (18 days) or more of the school year. During the pandemic, attendance rates have gotten even worse, as students struggled with access to schooling, such as a lack of technology […]
Read more »A Remote Community Takes Shape to Support Detroit’s Struggling Young Readers
by: BookNook | Feb. 17th, 2021 “The most valuable aspect of this experience was our relationships we were able to form with our students. The trust they built in us throughout this process was inspiring, and my interactions with all types of students has solidified my initial aspirations to become an educator, a leader, and […]
Read more »Tonya Allen: 5 Lessons from My Experiences in Michigan Philanthropy
by: Tonya Allen | Feb. 15th, 2021 This article was originally published by the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF). Read the original post. Forward by Kyle Caldwell, president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations We often say that philanthropy is more than grants. This is very true and frequently we hold up the […]
Read more »5 Ways We’re Showing Love to Detroit Students & Teachers
by: Carmen Kennedy-Rogers | Feb. 15th, 2021 Today is Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to displaying admiration and love to others. I wish to take this opportunity to say: We love you, Detroit students and educators! It was not long ago that I myself was in the classroom and school community. Prior to joining […]
Read more »20 Black Detroiters Making History
by: The Skillman Foundation | Feb. 1st, 2021 Detroit’s Black History is astounding. Black Detroiters have been on the forefront of the movements, art, culture, and ingenuity that we and the nation at-large celebrate in February and all year round. We want to show the future of Detroit’s Black History. The Skillman Foundation asked the […]
Read more »I am a student Black Lives Matter activist. The Capitol insurrection didn’t surprise me.
by: Ama Russell | Jan. 14th, 2021 This piece originally appeared in Chalkbeat Detroit. Read the story. Your disbelief is not enough. If “shocked,” “surprised,” or “blown away” are words that describe your reaction to white domestic terrorists not being held accountable, then this much is clear: Your privilege is showing. I don’t share this […]
Read more »The Skillman Foundation Seeks Examples of Young Black Detroiters Making History
by: The Skillman Foundation | Jan. 8th, 2021 To celebrate Black History Month, The Skillman Foundation is looking for nominations of youth for our 20 Black Detroiters Making History campaign. The campaign will showcase Black Detroit youth making a difference in their communities. Detroit’s Black History is astounding. Black Detroiters have been on the forefront […]
Read more »Tonya Allen: Reflections on the Events at the Capitol
by: Tonya Allen | Jan. 7th, 2021 Like many of you, I am still reeling from the sights and sounds in the news yesterday. While the right to peacefully protest is a cornerstone of our country, what occurred yesterday was neither peaceful nor a protest; it was an attempt to subvert and derail our democracy. […]
Read more »A new season for The Skillman Foundation
by: Tonya Allen | Dec. 23rd, 2020 On December 23, 1960, Rose Pilhashy Skillman founded The Skillman Foundation with $60,000. Today marks our 60th anniversary; six decades of service to local children. Over our history, we have granted nearly $670 million and have grown our endowment to $500 million to serve children into perpetuity. That is the power of endowed philanthropy—to be able to hold long-term commitments and make generational impact. The Skillman Foundation has been led […]
Read more »Child advocates call on Detroit leaders and community facilities to step up in service of kids
by: Every School Day Counts Detroit | Dec. 18th, 2020 “This ain’t workin’!” These words can be heard anywhere you go in Detroit; from carry out diners to dining room desktops and zoom-enabled board rooms to virtual classrooms. It is the frustrated expression of isolated parents and caregivers, wrestling with devices that do not work […]
Read more »A Letter from Tonya Allen
by: Tonya Allen | Dec. 14th, 2020 Announcing my departure from The Skillman Foundation On December 1, 2020, I celebrated my 16th work anniversary at The Skillman Foundation. Never could I have imagined that I would spend so much time at one institution or that I would grow into the person that I am today. It […]
Read more »Tonya Allen to step down as president of The Skillman Foundation to lead the McKnight Foundation
by: The Skillman Foundation | Dec. 14th, 2020 DETROIT – Tonya Allen, who has served as The Skillman Foundation’s President & CEO since 2014, will be stepping down to lead the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Tonya has been a force at The Skillman Foundation and in Detroit. Representing the Foundation, she has held a […]
Read more »United we stand for talent, for equity, for Detroit
by: Punita Dani Thurman | Dec. 13th, 2020 This piece originally appeared in Crain’s Detroit Business. Read the original article. This piece was co-authored by Bill Moses, managing director for The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program. Now, perhaps more than ever, is the time to remember that there is a lot more that unites us than […]
Read more »Unite against the pandemic—and not against each other
by: Tonya Allen | Nov. 24th, 2020 This letter originally appeared in Crain’s Detroit Business. Read the original posting. We, the undersigned, representing a diverse group of women business leaders in Michigan, urge all our citizens, including our elected officials, to commit to following scientific guidance as we face a surge of COVID-19 cases in […]
Read more »The Skillman Foundation & The Parade Company Announce the Winner of the 29th Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest
by: The Skillman Foundation | Nov. 23rd, 2020 “The Genius of Children” Float Designed by Bates Academy 8th Grader to Debut in America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner-White The Skillman Foundation and The Parade Company today announced 8th grader John Baker IV, student at Bates Academy in Detroit, as the grand prize winner of the […]
Read more »2020 Skillman BMe Vanguard Fellows
by: Kumar Raj | Nov. 20th, 2020 Detroit residents—and their voices—are strong. Detroiters have played an instrumental role in shaping culture in their city, country, and world. But too often, their voices are missing from the forefront of shaping the policies, practices, and systems that impact their lives and communities. To help deepen the bench […]
Read more »Our community wants Wayne kids to win
by: The Skillman Foundation | Nov. 18th, 2020 A Wayne Kids Win! ballot proposal didn’t move in 2020, but paves the way for future efforts Our grant and changemaking strategies under the Opportunity Agenda for Detroit Children seek to drive change on three primary indicators: third-grade reading proficiency, meaningful high school graduation, and funding for Detroit’s afterschool system. We selected these measures as they are critical […]
Read more »A house divided cannot stand
by: Tonya Allen | Nov. 9th, 2020 The narrative we have bombarded ourselves with is that we are a country that’s highly divided; that there are two opposing sides as to who we are and what we want for our future. As election ballots were processed, tallies starkly displayed a combative “red versus blue.” Political pundits pit whole groups of people as for this or against that based on exit polls. “Black women are fighting for ‘X’.” […]
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